Ron Ackerman / DJ

Born in 1955, I grew up in a little town just outside of Dayton, Ohio, called Xenia, which became famous for being blown away in a 1974 tornado. While growing up, I would see shows like Hee Haw, Barn Dance, and, of all things, Lawrence Welk. However, I spent my formative years listening to Rock music, playing music in school bands, and singing in chorus and ensemble. I started playing piano and trombone at a young age but then switched to baritone and eventually tenor saxophone, and I played sax for all three years of high school.
One experience with bluegrass music was in the ’70s during a summer job as a roofer. The boss would take a radio up on the roof and listen to the country music station, which played a lot of bluegrass music, although I don’t believe they called it bluegrass at the time. Although I didn’t admit it at the time, I very much enjoyed the music.
Starting my military career in 1974, 1979, I left the Air Force and joined the Air Force Reserves. On my way to weekend training, I would listen to a radio station from Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio, WYSO. The radio show was “Rise When The Rooster Crows”—hard-driving bluegrass, which I would crank up. Returning to the Air Force in 1981, I finished my Air Force career, eventually returning to Ohio, then moving to North Carolina where I would listen to and record an online bluegrass radio program for my mp3 player.
Listening to more and more bluegrass music, I was more than a fan. Upon moving to Goldsboro, North Carolina, a good friend’s grandparents lost everything in a fire. I decided to do a benefit for them, and someone suggested that I contact Annette Grady and Cousin Brossy to be the emcees. While doing that, I found Annette and started listening to her radio show. Getting increasingly involved in bluegrass, I began a search for the North Carolina Bluegrass Association. Not finding one for the state, I got with Annette, and together, we started the North Carolina Bluegrass Association.
Also, during this time, I expressed an interest in learning how to play the fiddle. Then Santa Claus surprised me by putting one under the tree. It sat for about a year before I started taking lessons, and now I’m trying to get a new bluegrass band together.
Regarding radio, I have sat in with Annette a few times and did a little emcee work during the North Carolina Bluegrass Association festival. So I told Annette that being on-air with her was fun and that I might like to do some DJ work. Everyone starts somewhere, and I thank Annette Grady for letting me start with her station.