"Cuzin'  Isaac was born in March 1983." That epithet was chosen by Don Malcolm, then aspiring radio DJ who had just landed a job at a small Christian radio station in Walpole, New Hampshire.  He needed a new name just because all radio personnel have a nom de plume that they like to use because it's easier for listeners to remember. Throughout this history lets refer to him as Cuzin'  and that will simplify things.

Over the years from about 1950, Cuzin' had been very interested in country music and especially bluegrass which formerly was known as "hill billy" He began collecting records as rapidly as his budget would allow and now has approximately  2000 LPs, 45 RPM, old 78 records, and of course CDs.

His show on WTIJ (We Trust In Jesus) was strictly bluegrass and was 3 hours in length. To his surprise the show was an immediate success and his listeners were calling from as far away as 50, 60 miles. He was even encouraged to produce a variety show with several friends he had made in his audience which was presented in a theatre in White River Junction, Vermont. The show continued to gain success and Cuzin' found himself able to MC a couple of local bluegrass concerts. I guess the program would have lasted longer except that the station went belly up and Cuzin' lost his show.

Not to be outdone, he located another spot at a station in White River Junction and was able to play "old-Time" country, again gaining listeners all across the upper Connecticut River valley.  This opportunity, however, was also short-lived as that station was sold and turned to  Adult Contemporary.

A retiring DJ just across the river in Hanover, NH called Cuzin' and offered his position at Dartmouth College on Sunday evenings for 3 hours of bluegrass and country. It was here that he got involved with more local bluegrass bands and began to have them appear live on his show. Again success seemed assured but the Lord had other plans as he was to find out later. The Sunday night series of programming at Dartmouth ended rather abruptly a year or two later and Cuzin'  was again summoned in another direction, this time to Worcester, MA where he inherited a Sunday night 5 hour show all devoted to bluegrass. It was public radio station and like so many of these at times ran into hard times with funding dwindling and his show was soon shortened hour by hour until it only had 2 hours. Too far to travel, Cuzin' decided that nearer to home was desirable. It was then that a call came from WMUA at UMass and Cuzin' jumped at the chance. He stayed there a couple of years but again travel was a problem so he returned to his home in Langdon.

Since 1995 Cuzin' has been content to DJ two shows simultaneously, one on WKBK AM in Keene, and the other at Keene State College WKNH.

Currently on vacation from Keene State, he managed a 1/2 hour gospel show on Sunday at 11:30 AM on WKBK 1290 AM.

For a much more extensive look at Cuzin'  Isaac's festival career and MC activity from 1985 to 1998, click on the major article which was written for Bluegrass Unlimited magazine but never published on "Cuzin'  Isaac A Bluegrass Legend" (link coming soon)