Jody Knol (photo credit: WKAR)

This past Tuesday, WKAR-FM (East Lansing) classical music host celebrated 40 years of sharing his voice and love of all things classical with Mid-Michigan and beyond.

In a story published on WKAR's website, Knol's career began as a student announcer at the station in 1982 with a chance encounter with a Grand Rapids television personality while waiting tables at a summer job.  Jay Johnson, who was a MSU alumnus, worked for WOOD-TV asked Knol if like classical music?  At the time, Knol said he was studying music at Calvin College, now known as Calvin University, and was planning on transferring to MSU that fall.

Before leaving the restaurant, Johnson left Knol his business card. Written on it were instructions for WKAR’s then program director Hal Prentice. “It said, ‘Hal Prentice, give this guy a job, he knows music, Jay,’” Knol told WKAR's Melorie Begay.  Knol said Johnson suggested he work at a public radio station at MSU because “they’re always looking for students who talk about classical music on the air.”

Knol officially began his 40-year journey as a classical music host on January 13, 1986.

Now four decades later, Knol said that it’s his relationship with listeners and the music that has kept him behind the mic all these years. “The real reward for me is to be out in the community, talking to listeners, many of whom tell me things like, what you do makes a difference in my everyday life," he said.