[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 148 (Wednesday, September 14, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E932-E933]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    RECOGNIZING GEORGE GRAHAM FOR HIS 50 YEARS OF SERVICE TO WVIA FM

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. MATT CARTWRIGHT

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 14, 2022

  Mr. CARTWRIGHT. Madam Speaker, today I honor George Graham for his 50 
years at WVIA FM, our region's NPR affiliate. George was celebrated by 
his colleagues, family, and friends on August 29, 2022, for his service 
to our region and public radio.
  George was born and raised in Carbondale, Pennsylvania. After high 
school, he enrolled at Duke University to study electrical engineering. 
During his time at Duke, he served as the program director of the 
student radio station, bringing eclectic, contemporary music radio 
programming to the Durham, North Carolina-based university.
  After graduating magna cum laude in 1972, George returned to 
Northeastern Pennsylvania where he was hired as the first employee of 
WVIA Radio to do studio design and construction for WVIA-FM. With his 
impressive background of on-air work at Duke, he soon found himself 
with a regular on-air spot.
  While on the air, he introduced his popular show Mixed Bag which has 
become the longest, continuously running album adult alternative 
program in the country. The show features weekly album reviews, new 
release segments, and a Friday night request show. In 1976, he started 
Homegrown Music to highlight regional artists from a variety of genres 
including rock, folk, bluegrass, jazz, blues, and World Music. 
Performances have been held in the studio weekly with a monthly concert 
for a live studio audience. George also hosts All That Jazz, which also 
highlights and provides live radio coverage of regional jazz festivals 
from the Delaware Water Gap and Scranton.
  When WVIA acquired Chiaroscuro Records, a 50-year-old jazz label, in 
2010, George was appointed the director of artistry and repertoire, 
overseeing the extensive archive and production of new recordings and 
reissues. With his impressive background in the industry, he has 
written for many regional publications and lends his time and expertise 
as a

[[Page E933]]

freelance recording engineer, producer, and mastering engineer.
  George has been an essential voice over the air waves championing 
regional musical talent, and generations of music connoisseurs and 
casual fans alike have tuned in to discover new music and listen to 
George's impeccably curated shows. I am honored to recognize George for 
his five decades of service to Northeastern Pennsylvania public radio 
and wish him all the best in his future endeavors.

                          ____________________