Joe Reilly

HOST OF: The Guest List, The Wavelength

YEAR STARTED: 1982

Almost since I can remember I have LOVED radio. I recall sitting by the radio and listening to countdowns and contests as far back as when I was 8 or 9 years old in Gander, Newfoundland. So when I finally got the opportunity to create radio near the end of my second year here at Carlton University it was amazing!  ... and it completely changed the direction of my life. Becoming part of the programming team at CKCU and for three years filling the role of funding drive coordinator set me on my way to managing the Ottawa Jazz Festival, meeting my wife Beth and eventually working on array of festivals and special events in our community.  It all stems from my love of music and my desire to share music with anyone who will listen... just ask poor friends that I pestered with music they "had to listen to" even as a teenager (although most of it was pretty bad back then.)  CKCU opened me up to a much broader range of music and I have so many people here to thank for that.  And that broad range of music is reflected in the two shows I host each week. 

The Wavelength is a program that I produce and host about half of the year - and Dave Alburger does a great job of producing and hosting the other half of the year. We both love a broad range of music and that is what you get on Monday nights from 9 to 11 p.m.  When I'm on board you might hear anything from ambient soundscapes to chilled out funky grooves, and from thoughtful folk to gritty rock and from... well you get the picture.

The Guest List is a program that I've proudly worked on since Diane Laursen and I launched it back in 1984.  Every week I take you behind the scenes of the music industry, talking to artists who have released new music and are frequently coming to town to play somewhere - whether it's a small club or the massive stage at Bluesfest.  I love understanding more about what goes into the making of all that music we love to listen to and really enjoy talking to artists about their craft. 

And I'm only one small part of an amazing team of community volunteers creating this programming week after week - bringing independent voices to the airwaves and keeping us in touch with our community.  This kind of connection is of increasing importance in our fractured world and I'm proud and honoured to be part of the great heritage of CKCU. 

Thanks to you for listening... spread the word about what we're doing here... it really matters!