Sam Wood, 36, has spent more than half of his life in music, from playing guitar with punk bands in the 1970s to hosting his own punk and blues-folk radio shows on WXPN-FM (88.5) in Philadelphia during the late 1980s.

These days, Wood's guitar playing is done at home, but his radio career continues. Wood's latest broadcasting gig is hosting and co-programming the "21st Century Swing Show," on the air from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturdays on the Bala Cynwyd, Pa.-based talk station WWDB-FM (96.5).

Wood, who shares programming duties with his brother, Joe, says the show is a mix of the new and old, with a specific focus on overlooked swing music.

"We're hitting great stuff from the late 1950s and early 1960s that was kind of ignored at that time because rock 'n' roll supplanted it," he says.

There's no telling how long the mainstream public's current fascination with swing will last, but WWDB-FM appears to be committed to Wood, who has a two-year contract with the station.

"It could be that the swing revival is just a fad," Wood admits. "We'll see how it goes. Swing is very inclusive and it's also hip, and as WWDB-FM looks to attract a younger audience, this show is a great way to do it."

This article originally ran on February 25, 1999 in The Courier-News