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The First Radio DJ: March 5, 1907

Blue Lake Public Radio | By Foley Schuler
Published March 4, 2026 at 4:57 PM EST

March 5, 1907 marks the first time in history that music was ever played over the radio—making the originator of that transmission, radio pioneer Lee de Forest, essentially the first radio DJ. Tune in to our longtime afternoon DJ, Foley Schuler, and we'll hear the piece that was played that day in 1907—and much more—this afternoon on Blue Lake Public Radio.

On March 5, 1907, the first radio broadcast of a musical composition took place when Lee de Forest, sometimes known as the "Father of Radio," transmitted a performance of Rossini's William Tell Overture from Telharmonic Hall in New York to the Brooklyn Navy Yard. While not a commercial radio broadcast, this 1907 transmission marked a crucial step in the development of radio, allowing music to be transmitted rather than just Morse code. We'll recreate the event here in West Michigan on Thursday afternoon, as we hear the famous Rossini's William Tell Overture in honor of this important anniversary in radio history, as well as several other pieces (including works by Aaron Copland and Gerald Finzi) that were written in the decades to come, especially for radio broadcast.

You can hear Foley Schuler's musical selections—and stories behind the music—every weekday afternoon from 1 until 5 on Blue Lake Public Radio.

Foley Schuler
Encouraged by creative parents, Foley began his music career at age 7, studying violin with Jean Manning at North Muskegon Public Schools. As a Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp camper, he became Blue Lake Public Radio’s first high school intern. Foley earned an English Literature degree from Hope College, and Masters in Fine Arts degree in Creative Writing from the Warren Wilson College. He has performed with the West Michigan (formerly West Shore) Symphony; served on the English Department faculty at Muskegon Community College, and been the Music, Art & Theatre reviewer for the Muskegon Chronicle. He follows his love of the arts around the globe, but says, “There is no place like the Blue Lake setting, sharing extraordinary music with our listeners.” Foley hosts Blue Lake Public Radio’s weekday classical music from 1 to 4 p.m. and “Sunday on Blue Lake”.
See stories by Foley Schuler