"WOLFF IS AT THE DOOR: The latest ornament to fall off the KMOX radio family tree? Don Wolff. Wolff has been hosting the five-hour, Saturday night "I Love Jazz" show for nearly 15 years. The tradition of broadcasting jazz at the station on Saturday nights goes back 30 years. When contacted about the change, Wolff said, "I have enjoyed my long association with KMOX and I'm sad to be leaving." The last broadcast of the show is scheduled for Sept. 29. Wolff's two-hour program "Justice for All," which airs on Sunday evenings is slated to have its last airing on Sept. 30. Tim Dorsey of KTRS radio, are you reading this?"
Given all the changes over the last couple of decades in the radio business in general and at KMOX in particular, I suppose this shouldn't come as a huge shock. But as a longtime occasional listener, often while driving home from a Saturday night gig, I'm sorry that Wolff is leaving KMOX.
His playlist may be somewhat retro, relying mostly on traditional jazz, swing, the Great American Songbook and an occasional smattering of bop, but Wolff generally displays good taste in recordings; interviews many musicians and talks up many local gigs; and his enthusiasm and love for the music has always been palpable. He'll be missed by many jazz fans not just in St. Louis, but across the Midwest.
While I suspect that some other station will want to make use of his talents, contacts and established audience, it likely will be one that doesn't reach as far as the 50,000 watt clear channel KMOX, which I'm told can be heard in more than 30 states at night. Still, I can't really imagine Wolff hanging it up completely, so here's hoping he finds a suitable outlet for his jazz DJ skills sooner rather than later.
(Edited slightly after posting.)
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