Tribute from Linda Yohn

SUBMITTED BY: Linda Yohn, host of “The Swing Set” on WRCJ-FM

Thank you, WDET for presenting a 60-year career tribute to a father of jazz radio, Ed Love. I join the score of appreciative devotees who have learned much about radio professionalism and the joy of jazz from Ed Love. 

Before I moved to Southeastern Michigan, I started in jazz radio in Columbus, Ohio at WBBY-FM in 1977. The Detroit Jazz Festival purchased an advertising schedule on the station and two members of the WBBY crew attended the inaugural event. They returned raving about the festival, the sound of Detroit jazz and jazz radio in Detroit – including Ed Love. 

The next year, it was my turn to attend the festival and check out Detroit jazz radio (we had no role models in Columbus, and this was long before streaming on the internet). I, too, was astounded by the festival and the great jazz radio presented by Ed Love. Could that man pace a program! Classic bebop, ballads, soul grooves, swinging big band and the best new talent came together in one show. It was evident that Ed thought long and hard about the best tunes.  When he started to tell a jazz story, you hung on for every word and every detail. I hung on to my “boom box”, it’s extra batteries and cassette tapes and recorded as much Ed Love brilliance as I could. These cassettes were prized by WBBY staff members as essential jazz radio primers. We learned how to truly relate one-on-one to jazz listeners through music and warm, sincere conversation.  That’s the essence of radio’s magic and Ed had it!

When I joined the WEMU staff, I hardly knew what to say to Ed Love, my Detroit jazz radio role model when we eventually worked together on the Detroit Jazz Festival. I continue to be in awe of Ed’s knowledge, drive and showmanship. Thank you, Ed Love, for all you have done for jazz internationally and for Detroit. You will always be an example of the essence of radio’s magic.