Ray Ford is the program director at CMU Public Radio, making him responsible for the program schedule and the overall sound of the radio station. He is also the host of Take 5, a program of blues and jazz that has been on the air for over twenty years (in addition to helping his colleagues by covering shifts for them for vacations and sick days).

A veteran of military action in the Navy during the Viet Nam era, he used the benefits of the G.I. bill to continue his education. Originally from the town of Mesick (30 miles south of Traverse City), Ray first attended Northwestern Michigan College in Traverse City and then Central Michigan University, where he received both a Bachelors and Masters degree.

A long time ago, he worked as a student music host and reporter at WCMU-FM, when it was only one station located on the third floor of Warriner Hall. He also worked at WQDC-FM, a “Beautiful Music” station that was located in downtown Midland. Ray is married to one of the world’s most tolerant people, Patty, for 32 years (and counting). According to Ray, the best day of the week is Saturday because of his Take 5 program. “The building is locked, nobody wants anything, the only phone calls are from listeners who are in the same groove, a hot microphone, and a library full of the world’s greatest music. You can’t get any closer to the purity of my industry than that.”

See your favorite artists in person with our local jazz listings.

Playlists