Mike Plaskett

Membership Manager and Cohost, Rhythm Sweet & Hot

Mike Plaskett wears two hats at DUQ. Since 1982, he has co-hosted Rhythm Sweet & Hot with Dale Abraham on Saturday night from 7 pm to 10 pm. Since 1991, Mike has been Membership Manager for the station, responsible for serving and encouraging the thousands of persons who support the non-profit radio station financially.

Mike was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, the son of an Ohio-born drummer-entertainer who made the Crescent City his adopted home. Inspired by an uncle who was both a print journalist and a reporter on New Orleans' WWL, Mike discovered a lifelong interest in radio broadcasting. At the age of five, he persuaded his mother to take him to visit at a local radio station. When his family later moved north, the 13-year-old called on stations in the Youngstown, Ohio area. Eventually, he encountered a local disc jockey who encouraged him to write and produce a series of big band programs on Youngstown's WKBN.

After several years working in radio/TV writing and production capacities in Ohio, Mike moved to Pittsburgh's KDKA-TV. As a young film editor, he produced a series, Flashback, based on vintage films. He managed the promotion department for KDKA Radio and, subsequently for WJAS. Later, he worked in Pittsburgh ad agencies in promotion and commercial production and hosted a dance band show on a suburban radio station.

From childhood, Mike loved jazz - especially listening to the music "live" at home and in the homes of musician relatives. As a youth, instead of listening to rock and roll, Mike memorized the recordings of Bix Beiderbecke, Sidney Bechet, Wingy Manone and Armand Hug. He has been building his personal collection of jazz, swing and dance band recordings for over 40 years.

Soon after moving to Pittsburgh, Mike became acquainted with fellow record collector Ken Crawford, with whom he would eventually join forces on the radio.

In 1980, Mike and Ken offered their concept of a distinctive collectors' jazz program to WQED-FM. The show acquired a following. After a year however, WQED made a format change. At the behest of DUQ's Dr. Ken Duffy, Mike and Ken moved to 90.5 FM, naming their new program Rhythm Sweet & Hot.

In 1998, Rhythm Sweet & Hot was syndicated by DUQ to stations around the country. Now more than 30 stations from San Juan, Puerto Rico to Melbourne, Australia carry the show weekly. The program is produced with the energetic help of Dale Abraham.

Rhythm Sweet & Hot listeners hear the well-known, big names of swing and are also able to discover the music of artists whose records "can't be found at the local mall." Their great joy is to share recordings that have been passed over in the changing fashions of the music and radio businesses.

Rhythm Sweet & Hot welcomes requests. Send an email to rsh@wduq.org or write to WDUQ, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh 15282.

In 2001, Mike was asked to select the music for a new Glenn Miller CD containing original Miller performances. An avid Glenn Miller fan, he also wrote the liner notes for the disc. "Glenn Miller: America's Bandleader" is on the BMG Bluebird label.

Mike Plaskett is a member of the St. Paul's Episcopal Church chancel choir and lives with his wife in the North Hills