Vienna Teng and John Bommarito

John Bommarito, Folk Music Director at WHFR in Dearborn since August of 2002, is happy to be a volunteer DJ at the station making waves, WHFR.FM.  His love of music and broadcasting developed as a child, getting up early Sunday mornings to hear Kasey Casem’s American Top 40.  In those preteen years, the show served as an education in what was to become a life long passion.  Despite being turned down by a local high school radio station in 1983 (only because it was outside of his school district), John eventually revisited the dream of being the host of his own radio program almost 20 years later.

            Between the high school rejection and the present, John has become a reliable, in-demand mobile disc-jockey and is still recognized by customers of a record store he spent nearly 10 years at.  It was at this record store (Record Time - at one time the favorite record shop of Kid Rock, Uncle Kracker and Eminem) that his appreciation for music expanded beyond the narrow scope of the Top 40.  Once discovering this new world of independent and underground music of all types, John’s goal in life seemed to change.  It became important to him to turn people on to new music-the kind that commercial radio wasn’t playing in his hometown radio market of Detroit.

            Influenced by a favorite on-air personality of many Detroit area residents, Ann Delisi, as well as by the excellent nationally syndicated program Acoustic Café, John got the opportunity to have his own show on the FM dial as part of the non-commercial radio station at Henry Ford Community College in Dearborn.  Starting with a blend of singer/song writers, modern folk and Celtic music, Acoustic Alternatives was born in July 2002.  Since its inception, the show has had the pleasure of hosting live guests such as Vienna Teng (pictured), Shane Nicholson, Brian Vander Ark, Darden Smith, Willy Porter and Rosie Thomas as well as many great local artists.  The success of the show has caused John to reconsider his dream of being a radio show host.  Ultimately getting paid to put on a quality program would fit well with his plans.  Anybody out there looking for a new program?