Photo: Adam Schweigert/WFIU
Joe Bourne at last year's Jazz Fables concert, a celebration of his 25 years as host of "Just You and Me."
For 26 years on WFIU, the “me” in Just You and Me has been Joe Bourne. Now, Joe is stepping down from his everyday duties as our senior jazz host.
The program will continue: Joe will be passing the baton to Afterglow and Night Lights host David Brent Johnson. But don’t miss a minute of Joe’s final week of shows, beginning Friday, June 24, at 3:30. Joe and David will be live in studio, spinning some classic tunes, sharing some priceless stories, and chatting with some musicians and experts who are well-known to longtime Just You and Me fans. Special guests for the last week are scheduled to include Stew Cobine, son of the legendary bandleader Al Cobine; jazz musician and impresario David Miller; David Baker, the head of IU’s Jazz Studies program; longtime jazz announcer Dick Bishop; and singer-songwriter Carrie Newcomer.
It will be an on-air celebration of Joe and the music he has brought thousands of grateful listeners for more than a quarter-century. Feel free to leave your tribute to Joe’s service by emailing us here.
Here’s what some listeners have told us:
“Joe, I just heard the announcement that your last few days at WFIU are coming up. I’m heartbroken! I came to IU shortly before you did and I’ve been listening to you ever since. I’m not the only listener who will miss your voice, your personality, your musical choices, your depth of understanding, your humor … you. The worst part is that I’ll be out of town for many of your last days. I hope everything goes well for you and Paula from here on out, that we’ll hear your voice once in a while, and that we’ll see you around Bloomington once in a while.” — Ken Pimple
“I suppose everyone has a right to retire, but I’m surely going to miss hearing you, Joe, on ‘Just You and Me.’ Through the years I learned to truly appreciate and enjoy jazz and its many moods. Thank you. May you do well as you move one to the next chapters of your life.” — Sharon Kirk Clifton
“I moved to Indiana and Bloomington area in 1992. Since then I’ve tuned in to ‘Just You and Me’ every chance I could. Probably more times than all the other programs, on all the stations, put together. Thanks for all the music and turning me on to artists I had never heard of. Bonne chance Joe!” — Allan
“Hi Joe, you have been a stalwart supporter of local musicians and we love you!” — Craig and Lori Brenner
“Joe – I ‘found you’ a few days after moving to Bloomington in 1986. It was a great welcome to this community. I learned about Hoagy Carmichael, local and visiting artists, and danced with my little ones to R&B on Friday afternoons. Thanks for all you’ve done, and continue to do.” — Jennifer Bass
“I am one of the thousands who’ll miss Joe Bourne terribly. My pet bunnies and I (who have listened pretty much daily since my return from Calfornia to B’ton in 2002) wish him and his family all the best and great happiness in his retirement. Thanks for all the music and joy!” — Karima Amos
“Oh, how I will miss hearing Joe Bourne’s comforting voice in the late afternoons. No matter how the day has gone, having Joe bring it on home into the dinner hour has been such a glorious end to the work day. Thank you, Joe. You will be greatly missed! Enjoy the new adventures ahead.” – Jan Grant
“Our very best wishes to Joe Bourne in whatever he elects to do from now on. His popular music and jazz programming was truly outstanding, it would have attracted a huge audience had it been nationally broadcast or on some larger-audience station. How fortunate we were to have him in Bloomington! We grew up listening to WFMT in Chicago and doubted that we would ever find that quality of programming elsewhere, but Joe Bourne proved us very wrong. ‘Bye Joe” — Chuck and Betty Watson
“I’ve been listening to your show since the beginning (back in my student days). We in the community have benefited greatly from your multi-faceted contribution to the music scene over the last 25-plus years. I have so many snapshot memories: your interviews with local and visiting artists, your movie reviews, your narration at the IU Big Band Extravaganza, you introducing groups at Jazz in July, and tuning in whenever I could to hear “Just You and Me.” I will forever associate Count Basie’s ‘Lady Be Good’ with you and your show! Your support of local musicians has been such an important hallmark of your tenure at WFIU. Personally, I can’t thank you enough for your willingness to promote events that I have been involved in and for the many opportunities to talk with you in the studio on air. I always found it striking to be driving to Bear’s Place to play with Jazz Fables and to hear you featuring the music we were about to play. It doesn’t get any better than that! Thank you so much for everything you have done to promote jazz on the air. The knowledge and experiences you have shared has enriched our lives, and your voice is indelibly etched in the memories of everyone who has listened over these many years! Wishing you a happy and fruitful retirement” — Tom Walsh
“Joe. thanks for your service and the rich and insightful pleasure of your program over the years. Even when I bugged you with my annual “whatever happened to…?” questions, you were prompt and generous in your responses. Enjoy ‘retirement,’ which is not truly retirement but a new chapter that offers new adventures of your making. Cheers” — John McCluskey, Jr.
“I am so sad to hear that Joe Bourne will no longer be hosting his wonderful show! I have been a regular listener since 2003, and I’ve always enjoyed Joe’s warm voice, his interviews and his musical selections. He has introduced me to so much great music! Thanks so much, Joe. All the best to you!” — Nicole Kauffman
“These words can hardly bespeak of my deep appreciation for the music, narratives, warmth, and moments of genuine joy Joe Bourne had given us. Coming to Bloomington, I had a cursory knowledge of jazz. I suspect that this is still the case with one baffling and qualifying caveat: jazz music, to which I was for the most part oblivious, came to have an inexplicable nostalgic lore for me. The culprit to be sure is Joe, intuitively targeting the mystery of a moment with an arresting piece of music and his quasi confessional, self deprecating, and unpredictable utterances, moving us to smile with delight. Thank you kindly for showing us how to enjoy jazz, Joe, and, metaphorically speaking, the last dance is yours—absolutely. Wishing you and your lovely wife many years of joy and health” — An indebted listener
“Joe: although not a regular listener to your weekday afternoon show, I have certainly heard portions of it many times throughout the years, in addition to hearing you at other times on WFIU, including the annual fund drive. Especially memorable to me about that is your song/chant of the phone number to call and pledge! I am also aware that you’ve been a staunch supporter of local musicians (of which I suppose I could loosely consider myself, as a member of the former local band Carlyn Lyndsey & Snake Doctor), and for that I thank you as well. May the next phase of your life bring wonderful things to you and Paula. Enjoy retirement! It is what most everyone works for all their life.” — Dave Everton
“HAPPY RETIREMENT JOE…i hope you will enjoy it has much as we have..Tell Paula she was Bourne with the BEST..lol…LOVE YOU ALL very much….” — Laura Lyons Hein
“@wfiu Take 2: Joe Bourne is kinda like my Oprah. I’ve spent 7yrs with him, almost every afternoon, and feel better for it.” — @sevcrawford (via Twitter)
“’They say that HAPPINESS is just a thing called JOE … he’s got a way that makes the flowers want to grow …
He’s got a smile that makes the angels heave a sigh …
When they see my Joe passing by.
Sometimes the table’s empty and the cupboard’s bare.
But when he kisses me, it’s Christmas … everywhere.
Troubles fade away and life is easy go …
Does he love me … GOOD … that’s all I need to know.
Because HAPPINESS is just a thing called JOE.’
Thank you dear Joe for all the years on the air, all the unpaid overtime for WFIU and WTIU fund drives, all the efforts to share your passion for jazz and art … during dark days and cloudy, sunshine and shade.
Now, I have you as my one and only love … the new title of your daily, weekly, monthly show is ‘Just Joe and MOI.’
To my forever friend and lover … come be with me as we start a new adventure together.
Your own — Paula”
