Relaxing in his built-in home studio, Steve Bronson, more widely known as Wildman Steve, turns a record in his hands, carefully places it on his vinyl turntable and listens.
Bronson, local music icon and creator of Wildman Steve Radio, sifts through piles of music each day deciding which songs will appear on his Internet radio station. He operates his soundboard right next to his vinyl turntable, combining old methods with new technology.
Bronson said he has knowledge of all musics such as jazz, heavy metal, bluegrass, funk and reggae and describes himself as a “modern day musicologist.”
He also said he loves his vinyl.
“If I had my way, CDs would go away, and we would all go back to vinyl,” Bronson said. “Because it just sounds better. That’s all there is to it.”
In 1987 Bronson, well-known in the music world, said he moved to Auburn and opened the first record store in town, Wildman Steve’s Records, located where Moe’s Original Bar B Que is now.
Bronson, a professional musician with a degree in music composition and percussion from the University of Florida, opened the store on his father’s birthday after finding Auburn was the only college town without an independent record store.
From the start Wildman Steve’s Records was the No. 1 store in town, according to Bronson.
“Lots came in and tried to compete with me,” Bronson said. “I was the last one standing in 2001 when I finally gave up the ship when I saw the writing on the wall for the industry.”
When the music industry steered away from records and toward digital, Bronson turned to radio.
“Honestly, I wish I still had my record store,” Bronson said. “I loved that. It was so much fun because I got to talk directly to people and turn them on. When I played something for them, I could see the look in their face. I could see if they liked it or not.”
Bronson said his radio show was as successful as his record store 13 years prior. In 2004, he became program director and said he won Station of the Year four years in a row and the Program Director of the Year Award for two years.
In 2008, he switched to Internet radio, which he said was tough at first. Bronson said he plays a variety of music on his radio with the exception of rap.
“I can kind of consider that folk art, because honestly I see the value in it, the cultural value in it, but musically, come on, they’re stealing riffs from other songs,” Bronson said.
He said the change in culture has caused young people to see music as the soundtrack to their lives rather than entertainment.
“That is beautifully illustrated by the SkyBar,” Bronson said. “Just walk in there, and nobody’s paying attention to the music except the two rows of girls that are trying to get laid by the guys on the stage.”
He said it’s sad to him, because the younger generation is missing an enriching life experience and have lost the art of actively listening to music.
“I look around me and 30 percent of the crowd is actually paying attention to the band,” Bronson said.
For Bronson, music is life, and he said he enjoys sharing that.
David Pifer, one of Bronson’s friends, was one of Wildman Steve’s Record’s first customers.
Pifer said when they met he “felt like they knew each other for years.”
“I cannot imagine anyone living their life without music being a part of it,” Pifer said. “It’s just central to everything that’s happening in our life it seems.”
Jeremy McCoy, 24-year-old music enthusiast, listens to Wildman Steve Radio and respects Bronson’s love of true music.
“I guess as the years go by, younger generations just lose more and more touch of culture when it comes to music,” McCoy said. “People are brought up listening to the radio and nowadays what’s on the radio is about making money.”
Do you like this story? The Plainsman doesn't accept money from tuition or student fees, and we don't charge a subscription fee. But you can donate to support The Plainsman.
