Doug Blakely, WBFO's Jazz host, has twenty years of radio experience. Doug first became interested in radio while growing up on Buffalo's East Side, in the same neighborhood as several of the big name announcers who were on the air in the 1960s and early 1970s.

"I remember watching these guys from a distance, and always admired them for having what seemed to be such a great job." Though he was intrigued by radio, Doug didn't pursue a career in radio until several years after he graduated from Seneca Vocational High School. That's when he decided to leave his job at Westinghouse Electric Corporation to become an announcer at local AM station WUFO, and he has been addicted to radio ever since.

Doug has been a WBFO Jazz host since September of 1996. "I am really proud to be a part of WBFO's jazz programming. I believe that it is an important effort because jazz is such a valuable part of America's musical history, and we cannot allow it to be lost."

Doug adds, "I love jazz because it successfully incorporates so many different elements, including blues, gospel and popular American vocal standards. Some of the Young Lions are going even further in new and exciting directions. And a part of what we are attempting to do at WBFO is to pay less attention to the labels on the music, and more attention to the quality. So it's OK to like Miles Davis, Diana Krall and Incognito or Kurt Elling. It's all good music."

Outside of radio, Doug and his wife LaVerne are both active in their church, and love to spend time with their children Joseph, Jessica and Dennis.

You can send Doug an e-mail message at dblakely@wbfo.org. His direct line is (716) 829-5761.