Jill Riley has been a host at The Current since 2005 and has been instrumental in the station’s evolution. Originally from central Minnesota, her earliest memories involve playing 45s on a Fisher-Price turntable, and later she was a host at her college radio station, KVSC-FM, at Saint Cloud State University. As perhaps The Current’s biggest resident vinyl enthusiast, Jill loves showcasing her collection by spinning a song on the studio turntable for the Vinyl Tap pick each weekday. It’s gratifying for her to hear from long-time listeners inspired to buy a turntable for the first time in decades, and younger listeners hitting up their parents for their first one.
Jill loves music with lots of sonic texture, great songwriting, and good hooks. She’s a lifelong Beatles fanatic, and grew up on the music of her parents’ generation: the Beach Boys, the Doors, Creedence Clearwater Revival, etc. She feels fortunate to have connected The Current’s audience with their favorite musicians with interviews with artists like Elvis Costello, Dave Gahan of Depeche Mode, Garbage, Robert Plant, Ben Gibbard, Jim James, Mavis Staples, and even Paul McCartney!
Her passions include connecting listeners to music history, putting artists in context, and introducing the audience to new music. For her, it’s not just about rattling off knowledge, but inviting listeners to deepen their appreciation of a variety of genres and eras, and to try music that they might not have listened to before.
Jill hosts The Current Morning Show, which airs Monday through Fridays, from 5 a.m. to 10 a.m., and includes the popular 9:30 Coffee Break, which is a set of music based on a different topic each weekday morning. Jill has grown The Coffee Break from a regular three-song set to a vibrant community of people requesting songs through the online chat at thecurrent.org and social media, as well as building real-life bonds around music.
