WQSV Profile:
Don Hawks
How did you come to be involved with WQSV? And how long have you been involved?
Since May 2016, soon after the station went on the air. At a community meeting that the station organized, station manager, Tom DuMontier, learned of my interest in doing programming with more contemporary jazz and learned about my previous experience doing a similar program on the now defunct WEMC in Harrisonburg.
When did you start DJing? Are there any DJs who influenced you? Or something/someone else who influenced you?
My first DJing experience was for a 3 year period on WEMC, a radio station at Eastern Mennonite University. The station was discontinued a few years ago and the studio and transmitter transferred to the public radio station in Harrisonburg due to lack of interest by students in radio broadcasting. I got to know the station manager at that time and discussed my interest in radio and doing jazz programming. I did a program for about 3 years from 1998-2001 at least one night a week, sometimes two nights. I was interested in radio DJing since childhood but never pursued it as a career. The volunteer gigs at WEMC and now at WQSV have helped satisfy that interest.
Talk about your connection to music/the role music plays in your life.
Music has been a relaxing pastime throughout my life. I’m not musically talented but I have a great appreciation of music of most all genres.
Describe your show.
I describe it as relaxing sets of music combined with my interest in wine, hence the name Winelight Jazz, a title I adapted from Grover Washington. Jr.’s song Winelight. In addition to playing a variety of types of jazz, some blues, and soulful tunes I typically offer a brief wine review on each program.
Who are some of your favorite musicians and why?
I like the jazzy rock sound of Steely Dan and Donald Fagen. I enjoy the sax playing by Dave Koz but particularly appreciate his collaborations with other artists. Over the years, he’s worked with Burt Bacharach, Ray Charles, Natalie Cole, Celine Dion, Kenny Loggins, Shelby Lynne, Michael McDonald, and U2, among others. I have many favorite artists actually.
What is your first memory involving music?
Probably attending church as a child.
What was the first concert you attended?
Edgar Winter Group
How do you go about building your show?
I sometimes try to build themes around the seasons of the years; feature music from artists celebrating birthdays or birth anniversaries of those ones who are no longer with us; feature music in memory of artists who have died.
Do you have any particular criteria when selecting music for your show?
Selecting music that I enjoy and think that my listeners will enjoy.