HARVEY MCKNIGHT

Harvey McKnight hosts Jazz and Blues programs here at WGVU and currently is the host of “Jazz Spotlight,” which airs Sundays from 11 AM to 3 PM on WGVU 88.5 and 95.3 FM. Harvey has been hosting this show for the past 13 years.

He began his broadcasting journey in radio at the early age of 10 or 11 and would often pretend to do his own radio program while listening to the radio in his bedroom.  Harvey had dreams that he would be in radio and knew that if he dreamed it, he would do it. Shortly after high school he completed a course in radio broadcasting and then went on to work at WPON in Pontiac, MI as well as WGPR in Detroit, MI.   

He is a connoisseur of all types of music but his primary passion is Jazz. Harvey also plays the saxophone, flute, and piano and will sometimes have a live set on his show with local musicians. “Jazz has been called America’s classical music, and for good reason. Along with the blues, its forefather, it is one of the first truly indigenous music’s to develop in America,” says Harvey, who believes jazz is making a comeback - although it never really went anyway.      
 
Harvey comes from a musical family, his mother is a well known vocalist in Gospel circles plus he has other relatives who have performed professionally. Harvey has a 14 year old daughter, Maiya, who has been practicing clarinet at school for a few years, and also accompanies him to many jazz musical performances. “Seeing the youngsters being encouraged to get in and stay involved in music will make sure the future of Jazz is certain.”  He looks at all the new music received weekly here at WGVU and realizes there is no way he will ever be able to listen to it all. So he plays what he can to entertain his listeners.