KAMU Local
(2008-06-04)
COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS
(kamu) -
Longtime host of the Saturday Night Bluegrass Show, Rodney O'Connor, has hung up his microphone and signed off after his final show aired Saturday, May 31 at 7 p.m. 
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A reception in O'Connor's honor was held during his final day at KAMU-FM, complete with cake, punch, close friends and an on-air performance by local group, the Brazos Barbershoppers.
O'Connor has presided over and produced the Saturday Night Bluegrass Show since Nov. 5, 1988.
For the first time in O'Connor's 20-year history of working at 90.9 KAMU-FM he sang alongside the Brazos Barbershoppers and played his banjo on-air during the two-hour Saturday Night Bluegrass Show special.
Rodney O'Connor grew up in San Antonio, Texas and moved to College Station in 1972 to work at the College Station Fire Department, from which he is now retired. He and his wife, Julia, have been married for 38 years and have two children and one grandson.
"Rodney is extremely dependable and generous," says Rick Howard, KAMU-FM Program Director. "He would give the shirt off his back if he could."
O'Connor was not a passive host or listener; he has traveled the world searching out new bluegrass sounds at festivals all over the country; collecting music and memories to share with listeners.
"Nothing gets you wound up like some good ole fashioned gospel bluegrass music," states O'Connor.
He said his favorite thing about working at KAMU was the people he got to meet in the studio and out on the road.
"I've had a ball over the years," says O'Connor. "I'm a volunteer and don't get paid, but I love it."
O'Connor plays banjo, guitar and mandolin and can be heard cranking out his bluegrass tunes every Monday night at 6:30 p.m. at J.Cody's in Bryan, Texas.
He has sat along side Allison Krauss, Vince Gill and Dolly Parton, hosted countless shows and put on bluegrass festivals all over the country.
"Rodney enjoyed bluegrass music so much," explains Howard. "It's going to be really hard to lose a volunteer as passionate as him."
O'Connor's show will be replaced by a new show out of Nashville, Tenn. , the Bluegrass Express, but his dedication and passion for bluegrass music will not be forgotten.
Mark Edwards, KAMU traffic director says, "I wouldn't be surprised if sometime in the near future we hear Rodney's voice or banjo grace the KAMU-FM airwaves once again."
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