Linda Yohn Named Jazz Week Magazine’s “Jazz Programmer of the Year”

WEMU’s music director and morning jazz host, Linda Yohn, was named 2009 National Jazz Programmer of the Year in Markets 1-25, by Jazz Week Magazine Saturday, June 20, in Rochester, New York.

JazzWeek is the definitive jazz national radio airplay chart—a weekly report of the top fifty jazz recordings played on radio stations across the United States and Canada. Its mission is to strengthen the format and to improve the connections between radio stations, record labels, and retailers.

“I was speechless and very, very proud to accept this award on behalf of WEMU,” said Yohn who has been WEMU’s music director since 1987. “ I do have to credit our program director Clark Smith, who has encouraged me to program more aggressively to keep the sound contemporary and exciting. It’s working.”

“This is a tremendous award for Linda, and frankly, it's overdue, said Smith. “Linda has worked tirelessly to keep our jazz and blues music programs up-to-date, accessible, and entertaining. All of us are happy to see those efforts being recognized on a much larger stage.”