No broadcaster can match program director Ken Smith's special passion for early rock 'n' roll or his insider's perspective on the decade. That's because back in the '50s, Smith wasn't just listening to the music, he was making it happen as a performer and recording artist.

Smith appeared in shows with the likes of Frankie Ford, Fats Domino, Larry Williams, and Frankie Avalon during the Eisenhower years. He re-entered the business while attending college in Mexico City, where he recorded American rock 'n' roll in Spanish for RCA Victor.

"Now I find myself at XM heading up a channel dedicated to an era that I love and remember well," says Smith. "God is good."