Karl Pearson

Karl Pearson first discovered the music of the big bands as a teenager, listening to 78 RPM records that were in his dad’s collection, including several by Glenn Miller. With his father’s encouragement he began collecting 78s and LPs, and discovered music by Tommy Dorsey, Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, and others. With the assistance of Chuck Schaden, Karl hosted his first big band radio show at the age of 17 at a small AM radio station in Evanston. Thus began his long association with both Chuck and ‘Those Were the Days’. Karl makes several appearances on the program, now hosted by Steve Darnall, when he will both present big band radio broadcasts as well as discuss the music.

Karl’s music interests have expanded over the years, and now additionally includes music by small groups, groups from the 1920s through the ‘60s, and even Western swing. He collects music in a number of formats, including CDs, LPs, 78s, reel-to-reel-tape, and transcription discs.