After 55 years on the air, Michael Jewett retires from WEMU
The public radio station of Eastern Michigan University, WEMU, 89.1, last year celebrated its sixtieth year on air, and for much of its existence it has focused both on news and community affairs as well as on jazz and blues.
The dedication to jazz began in 1977; five years later Michael Jewett began working there and now, 55 years later, he has announced that he is moving on to new adventures in retirement, albeit he promises to retain his association with the station that has meant so much to his adult life.
He started hosting Sunday Best, a classic jazz program, before moving to afternoon jazz programming, when his characteristic radio voice became a staple of every local jazz lover’s day. He currently hosts both morning and afternoon jazz shows, followed by the award-winning Bluestime Hour, weekdays at 3 p.m. As if this were not enough, he is also the Operations Manager of the station. Over the years he has also hosted live performances in various places, including the Detroit Jazz Festival and at Ann Arbor’s Blue LLama Jazz Club.
Jewett's long-time service ends a specific era of jazz broadcasting in Southeastern Michigan, dominated by his voice as well as those of already retired Linda Yohn and the late Michael G. Nastos at WEMU, together with several others, all with encyclopedic musical knowledge, strong opinions, and unique radio voices. For many of us, these voices became part of our lives, and we will miss Michael’s wonderful broadcasting presence and will always be grateful for what he gave us, but we wish him all the best in his new-found freedom. WEMU will be different but will remain strong, with jazz people such as Jessica Webster and the blues spun by Joe Tiboni, not to mention others covering a variety of roots music forms. Times are hard for public radio, so please support your favorite station!