Free to play at WQNA

Several years ago, in an effort to promote local music and create a fun fundraiser, the station sponsored a concert and produced a fulllength CD of songs featuring area bands and musicians. On any given program, DJs often air music by local bands and musicians and/or feature live in-the-studio performances by area performance artists. Larry Corley, WQNA DJ of “Jazz Now and Then,” received the 2010 Silver Dome award for first place from the Illinois Broadcasters Association for Best Local Show. Along with these efforts, the continuing commitment of the DJs drives the spirit of the little station that could. The result is a striking alternative to the pre-programmed commercial stations.

Free to play Jim Pemberton, community program director of WQNA, admits to having the broadcasting “bug” since being three years old. He attended the CAVC as a student in the mid-80s, learning the ropes of radio from instructor Jim Grimes. After spending time working for radio stations in various capacities after graduation, Pemberton became the first volunteer WQNA DJ in May of 1999.

“I’d stayed in touch with Grimes over the years and one day he called and told me they were ready to be on the air 24 hours a day with automation but wanted some live DJ time too,” recalls Pemberton. “I asked him what he wanted me to do and he said just do anything I want. I couldn’t believe it. That’s all it took for me.”

Pemberton contacted his friend Dennis Clark, collected recordings for the show, then proceeded to play whatever music he cared to on the radio all night long.

“That first night we played the Bonzo Dog Band and Janet Jackson, just whatever came to mind. Then we got to brainstorming about the station and thinking how to start this new thing,” he says. “Dennis called Bill Hickerson, who called back about six months later wanting to know when he could start. From there people just gradually started calling asking if they could do shows until now we have more than we can air. It’d take two stations to get them all in.”

The remaining DJ from the early days besides Pemberton is Mike Goza, a state employee by day and the on-air voice of “Blues Power” every Monday night from 4 to 7 p.m. The former commercial radio broadcaster had two shows for awhile but it got to be too much to do and he’s happy and settled with his three hours a week on the air and a few more hours preparing his show.

“I knew some music but I had to learn about the blues when they offered me the show. I went to the library, read books and magazines. I emceed some of Mike Townsend’s Blacks, Whites, and Blues festivals in the ’80s and met real blues players and heard great music,” he says. “I try to incorporate as many different kinds of blues into the show as I can get. My show is three hours of love and I get to do what I thought would be my career. I’ll spend more time out here when I retire.”