WBGO Celebrates The Career Of Michael Bourne Ahead Of His Retirement
(NEWARK, NJ) -- After thirty-eight years on the air, Michael Bourne, current host of Singers Unlimited and Blues Break as well as previous host of Afternoon Jazz, will retire from WBGO at the end of 2021. A live, star-studded radio program on Sunday, January 2, Michael's last as a WBGO employee, will cap a month-long celebration of his legacy on WBGO.
Ever since Michael played his first song on the air at WBGO on New Year's Eve in 1984, he has approached the job with intelligence, passion, wonder and fun. Several years ago, Michael professed, "the passion that we all feel is mirrored back at us by the passion of all of our listeners."
"Naturally, America's #1 radio market has a distinguished history of gifted and revered broadcasters, and for nearly 4 decades WBGO has been the sole home of one - Michael Bourne," WBGO President and CEO, Steven Williams reflected. "Those of us who had the rare fortune to share the studios with "MB" are exceptionally proud to call him a member of our family and for us, his retirement elicits a bittersweet reaction, on the one hand we take great pride in being so close to a genuine legend in our chosen profession, on the other hand, it's difficult to imagine the airwaves without him."
With a doctorate in theater arts, Michael is a great storyteller, a fact his audience has enjoyed for many years. In addition to reviewing theater for WBGO, Michael has also told many of his fantastic personal stories on the air. And Michael has not just told stories while on the air at WBGO, he has created memories through his countless interviews and his booking of the Jazz on the Mountain Series at Mohonk Mountain House.
"I don't know of any one person today who could fill all of the roles that Michael Bourne has played for WBGO." said former Midday Jazz host Rhonda Hamilton.
Michael retires from active jazz duty just weeks after his birthday. Looking back on his career, Michael said, "December 4th was my 75th birthday and December 31st will be my 37th anniversary on WBGO. A stroke knocked me down a year ago but did not cripple my always vivid memories, so I'm actually scribbling a memoir, mostly about my travels and about extraordinary artists I've gotten to know.
I've been very lucky to be able to do all that I've done, and I am always grateful." He continued, "Sunday January 2nd will be my last show. I wrote down favorite songs while I smoked a cigar, and I'll be playing a cigar's worth of Singers Unlimited."
During the month of December, WBGO will celebrate Michael Bourne through on air tributes, special web content, testimonials from colleagues and listeners, and a culminating live radio event on January 2 during Michael's last Singers Unlimited as host, where there will be many surprises. The festivities can be found online at WBGO.org/MichaelBourne.
WBGO is a publicly-supported cultural institution that preserves and promotes jazz, blues, Latin jazz and classic rhythm & blues. From its home base of Newark, New Jersey, public radio station WBGO has long been an anchor institution in community engagement through its music and news programming, live performances and partnerships. WBGO reaches a diverse audience from its broadcast location in America's number one media market, the New York/New Jersey metro area. Through programs such as Jazz Night in America, produced in partnership with NPR and Jazz at Lincoln Center, the organization’s reach extends to millions more across the country, and around the globe through WBGO.org and the WBGO mobile app and social media plus Facebook Live broadcasts. WBGO is broadcast at 88.3 FM in the NY/New Jersey area and may be streamed from WBGO.org.
