My Place Host Joel Najman was honored with a resolution from the Vermont Legislature yesterday, congratulating him on 30 years as “Vermont Public Radio’s rock and roll impresario.”
Representative Leigh Dakin of Windsor introduced the resolution. She wrote to VPR earlier this month and explained that she and her husband have been listening to My Place for many years. When she heard Joel mention that it is the program's 30th year, she decided he and his contributions to Vermont’s musical heritage should be celebrated.
We understand a devious plot was hatched to get Joel to the Statehouse in order to make the event a surprise. The resolution was read in the well of the House on Wednesday with numerous VPR staffers in attendance. You can read the full resolution here.
A friend of Joel’s also read aloud a letter to Joel from the great American singer-songwriter Dion, who had more than a dozen Top 40 hits in the late 1950s and 1960s.
Joel will be Jane Lindholm’s guest on Vermont Edition next Monday, April 29. He’ll speak with Jane about his long broadcasting career and we'll sample some of the music he loves so deeply.
The resolution comes at the close of the second annual Public Radio Music Month, which celebrates public radio stations’ invaluable role in America’s music culture and connects local public radio stations, artists, and audiences in communities across the United States. VPR has been featuring exclusive interviews, performances, and more throughout the month of April.
Congratulations, Joel!
