CB Roy in studio hosting his show. Photo by Chandler Keller.
“If your life revolves around obtaining a substance, you’re a junkie, of whatever it is that you need to obtain,” he revealed. “Now if that’s heroin, then that’s a really tough break,” he half-jokingly spoke, exposing a grin underneath his silver mustache. “But for me, it’s music. I see myself as a new music junkie,” exclaimed CB Roy.
For 30 years, CB has been converting his music obsession into a legitimate passion with his “Mostly Blues” radio show. Before moving to the Cullowhee area in 2004, CB established his “Mostly Blues” radio show in New Hampshire at a local, private college in 1989. Since his move, “Mostly Blues” continues to broadcast throughout the Cullowhee area, every Sunday from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m., on Power 90.5, WWCU FM. The name of the show is connected to a live DJ show that CB and several friends had in the mid 80s in Scranton, Pennsylvania.
On March 3, 2019, CB rejoiced in the 30th anniversary of “Mostly Blues,” a show that has given his own life joy through musical expression. CB’s last show will air the first Sunday in August, Aug. 4. “Mostly Blues” will then continue with its new host Jim Elenteny, A.K.A. Guitar Jim. After his show, CB plans to donate about 70 percent of his blues collection to the Blues Society in Knoxville. As Roy explained they will use the music as a fundraiser so that “the music lives again.” Though his show has been a source of happiness over the years, CB is ready to venture into a relaxing and peaceful retirement filled with artists he has yet to meet, clubs he has yet to see and songs he has yet to hear.
CB developed his addiction to music as a young man. Through the years, he tried different careers, but music was a constant pulling him back. While the blues is one of many music genres that he enjoys, it also happened to lead him to his calling “Mostly Blues.”
“With blues, you have some people that are very traditional… but I look at it more as a spectrum,” he said, talking in details about “different shades of blues.”
“Mostly Blues” showcases a variety of music that has been sent to CB recently and throughout the years of his show. CB receives his music from record labels and promotors representing artists both well know and raising stars.
“This is something that has never paid me a dime, although it has gotten me free tickets to here and there,” he joked.
Over the years, CB has accumulated over 10,000 titles in a variety of music styles, such as jazz, rock and blues, stored in different sections of his house. Still, his ultimate joy comes from introducing people to a new genre of music they might not have considered or heard before. A mission he is devoted to, only missing very few shows through the years.
Growing up in the military, “everything was transient,” CB said. He attended schools in three countries, and four different states in the U.S.
“To be able to maintain anything for 30 years…. it’s kind of amazing in my head,” he chuckled. After attending eight different schools and taking a year sabbatical, CB graduated from Germantown Friends School, a Quaker school in Philadelphia.
CB first started radio in 1974 while attending college at Windham College in Putney, Vt.
“I used to wear a ball-cap,” CB said, as he picked up off the desk a faded, black hat with the logo of a red, “Blind Pig,” to demonstrate the first hat he wore in college radio. The ball-cap in college read ‘John Deer,’ so the first year CB was on the radio, he went by the name ‘John Deer.’ The following year, CB was inspired by his cowboy hat and a popular slang word for boy being used in his dorm at the time. From this inspiration, he created his current alias, C.B. Roy.
“If you get a compliment from someone who really doesn’t know you, they would have had to work at figuring out who the hell you are… so, it’s a real, live compliment,” said CB, as he explained his reason for using an alias. Although his drive for radio started in college, after school, CB ventured into a different passion of his.
After CB finished his bachelor’s at Windham College, he embarked on an 11-year social services career with a short break while he was in graduate school working on his MS in Child Development and Child Care at the University of Pittsburgh. During his early career, CB spent time living with and providing care for emotionally disturbed children. He additionally worked in adult residential inner-city drug rehab and eventually worked his way up to be the Director of Group Homes for Child and Family Services of New Hampshire.
“I was all in… I joined the associations, even started a regional chapter of the state-wide child-care association in Scranton.” CB found the work rewarding but the strenuous hours and heavy case loads started to weigh. Unfortunately, CB’s dedication to the job led him to an unintentional ladder climb.
“Before I was 35, I found myself with a director’s title…without really intending to… and that level of responsibility and being on call 24/7…I just couldn’t deal with. I got wound too tight,” he said adding as a joke, “I ran screaming.”
When CB Roy is not on the radio he can be found in the hallways of the Bardo Arts Center. Photo by Chandler Keller.
CB’s run lead him to a “one blinking light town” where he accepted a job as a grounds keeper at New England College in Henniker, N.H. Once learning about their radio station, CB decided to use his college radio experience and past DJ show to influence and help create his new show, “Mostly Blues,” which premiered the first Sunday in March of 1989.
Fifteen years later, he decided to move to ‘the Smokies,’ but did not want to give up his radio show. So, CB looked for work at colleges with radio stations.
“College gives you a certain freedom… and in a college situation, I’m stable, not being a four year student, which is rare,” he joked. Luckily, CB found WCU and Power 90.5. He says it is a good mix because Power 90.5 streams over the web allowing for anyone to listen, regardless of location. During the week, he works as the house keeper at the Performing Arts Center while, additionally, volunteering at the station. To volunteer at the station, you have to work at or attend WCU.
CB Roy has hosted Mostly Blues for 30 years of which 15 years has been on WWCU 90.5 FM at WCU. Photo by Chandler Keller.
“Life is timing or spin. Timing is the lucky part and other things are spin,” he paused revealing a slight grin. “I could say, ‘well shit I’m only a janitor,’ but any job worth doing, is worth doing well. It’s not brain science, so that cuts out the responsibility and I get to listen to music my entire shift,” CB expressed.
Walking around Bardo with his long pony tail, bandanna and thin black head phones leading to his old school Walkman, CB enjoys the reclusive nature of his job along with some of the sweet perks.
“It’s been unique in ways that one would not think of,” CB articulated. In addition to watching and meeting a Blues Brothers clone band, CB has meet Mickey Rooney and had a smoke ‘out back’ with Dicky Smothers, among other unique opportunities.
“Your joy can be anything, keep an eye out and you’ll fall into who knows what,” expressed CB.
As he is getting ready to move into his new home – an RV, and “headed out on the road” he is excited.
“Its time to do nothing…Chase live music… I’ll feed my jones that way,” CB said laughing.
The story was edited for clarity on Aug. 8, 2019.
