Draft:John Aielli

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John Aielli (1946 - 2022) helmed the Austin radio show “Eklektikos” for nearly fifty years. He was a unique host who shared his passion for music with the KUT radio audience.{{cite news |last1=Bhuchele |first1=Mose |title=Eklektikos host John Aielli, who flew by the seat of his pants, dies at 76 |url=https://www.kut.org/life-arts/2022-07-31/eklektikos-host-john-aielli-who-flew-by-the-seat-of-his-pants-dies-at-76 |access-date=July 31, 2022 |publisher=KUT |date=July 31, 2022}}

When Aielli began his job at KUT, the station manager, Bill Giorda, christened his show “Eklektikos”, from the Greek word that means “"to choose the best”.{{cite news |last1=Gibson |first1=Gwen |title=Beat John Aielli: 46 Years in Austin - Radio Host |url=https://www.austinmonthly.com/john-aielli-46-years-in-austin-radio-host/ |access-date=August 2, 2022 |publisher=Texas Monthly |date=January 2013}}

In the beginning Giorda restricted Ailli to playing classical music, but Ailli pushed to add film scores and Indian classical music. Eventually he was allowed to play whatever he chose. {{cite news |last1=Fairies |first1=Robert |title=Surfing Indra's Net |url=https://www.austinchronicle.com/music/1998-11-06/520559/ |access-date=August 2, 2022 |publisher=Austin Chronicle |date=November 6, 1998}} A comment by Robert Faires of the Austin Chronicle:

{{block quote|But Eklektikos fans -- who are legion, as is clear from any KUT fund drive -- will tell you that the breadth of musical programming is only the jumping-off point for the program's singular and compelling broadcast mix. What makes the show more than just an alternative to commercial radio, more than just entertainment, something that approaches -- hang on, readers, I'm really gonna say it -- art, is Aielli's willingness to use any piece of music as a point of departure for some sort of journey: an exploration of theme, of musical form, of cultural commentary, of artistic interpretation.}}

Best of Austin › 1998 › Readers Poll › Media

https://www.austinchronicle.com/best-of-austin/year:1998/poll:readers/category:media/john-aielli-kut-90-5-fm-best-radio-talk-show-host/

At 74 Aielli suffered a stroke. In the spring of 2020 Taylor Wallace replaced Aielli in his weekday morning drive time slot after he chose not to return to work regularly.{{cite news |last1=Rascoe |first1=Rachel |title=Faster Than Sound: Taylor Wallace Takes Over KUTX Morning Show |url=https://www.austinchronicle.com/music/2020-09-18/faster-than-sound-taylor-wallace-takes-over-kutx-morning-show/ |access-date=August 2, 2022 |publisher=Austin Chronicle |date=September 18, 2020}}