Readers who were in a position to listen to the Voice of America Jazz Hour (or anything on VOA, which was required to direct its signal away from the continental USA) will fondly remember its host, Willis Conover.
Conover sounded exactly the way he looks in the at-work portrait photo on Wikipedia. He had the kind of deep voice, combined with a General American accent, that was revered among American radio announcers as "a voice like God."
His leisurely delivery -- which was actually part of the job on VOA's Special English service -- was in any case soothing and had a special charm when those resonant tones caressed the name of Blossom Dearie, a singer for whom he had the greatest respect.
Readers who were in a position to listen to the Voice of America Jazz Hour (or anything on VOA, which was required to direct its signal away from the continental USA) will fondly remember its host, Willis Conover.
Conover sounded exactly the way he looks in the at-work portrait photo on Wikipedia. He had the kind of deep voice, combined with a General American accent, that was revered among American radio announcers as "a voice like God."
His leisurely delivery -- which was actually part of the job on VOA's Special English service -- was in any case soothing and had a special charm when those resonant tones caressed the name of Blossom Dearie, a singer for whom he had the greatest respect.