Social historians were turning to all sorts of non-traditional historical sources, including rock 'n' roll. Stewart Vanderwilt, the station manager at Ball State's WBST-FM, was intrigued and asked me if I would like to do a radio show based on the book. He didn't have to ask twice. I had been waiting for almost 30 years for someone to ask me that question. We did several specials on National Public Radio in 1995 and 1996.
Shows focus on specific performers, various rock styles, the music's history, or particular themes.
Doing this program has been a dream come true for me. It has given me the chance to demonstrate to millions of listeners that rock 'n' roll is a valuable source of social and cultural history. It's been a learning experience for me, too. I found out very quickly that there were vast differences between producing a radio show and teaching or writing about history. To reach a wide variety of listeners with different interests and educational backgrounds, I had to learn how to entertain as well as educate.