Pine Island man fulfills lifelong dream on the radio
Each Sunday evening, Pine Island resident D.J. Hoyle entertains his listening audience from behind the microphone at WMYR AM 1410 radio. Based in Fort Myers, the Christian radio broadcast station covers a 35-square-mile range stretching from Port Charlotte to Marco Island, and features talk radio programs as well as local news, broadcasts of the Miracle Baseball games and music.
Hoyle has been broadcasting at the station since May 17 and is living out a life-long ambition.
“Ever since I was a kid, I have dreamt about being on the radio. I would go around the house with a microphone pretending I was on the air and couldn’t wait to get old enough to work at a radio station,” said Hoyle. “I remember once my mother had won some concert tickets in a radio contest. She took me with her to the station to pick them up and that is when I knew that I wanted to be on the radio. As it turned out, today I am working at that same station my mother had taken me to as a child.”
Hoyle began working at the station one year ago doing odd jobs and advertising sales prior to hosting his own show.
“Recently, I got to meet Dave Knight, someone I had listened to on the radio for years. He has been very supportive of my dream and even recorded the intro for my show,” said Hoyle. “He also gave me a big stack of LPs and 45s that he used to play on his show and now I am playing them on mine.”
Hoyle said he is trying to bring back the radio of yesteryear because he had become disillusioned with today’s broadcasts.
“I don’t work from a script and I have control over my own play list,” Hoyle said. “It is a fantastic opportunity to play what I want to play because that just doesn’t happen at radio stations anymore. I think people are tired of hearing the same 10 songs over and over. Not only do I try not to repeat songs too often, we are the only station in the area offering traditional as well as new bluegrass music. I like to bring listeners something they like and perhaps something new that they can fall in love with.”
In addition to lively commentaries, Hoyle’s audiences are also treated to a variety of musical offerings, including new bluegrass, bluegrass gospel, old time string band, instrumentals and acoustic music.
According to Hoyle, WMYR is the second oldest station in the area and was started in 1952.
“In its heyday, many big name celebrities had visited the studio, including Elvis Presley,” Hoyle said. “I also was lucky enough to acquire one of the original control broads which I recently donated to the Fort Myers Museum of History for everyone to enjoy.”
Hoyle’s show, “Bluegrass Express Radio Hour,” can be heard at 1410 AM on Sunday evenings from 5 to 6. Hoyle is open to suggestions and requests and he can be reached by e-mail at bluegrassexpress@gmail.com.
The parent organization for WMYR is Starboard Media Foundation, Inc. offering a religious format.