Delilah (radio host)

Delilah Rene Luke (born February 15, 1960) is an American radio personality, author, and songwriter, best known as the host of a nationally syndicated nightly U.S. radio song request and dedication program, with an estimated eight million listeners. She first aired in the Seattle market as Delilah Rene, though she is now known simply as Delilah.

Early life

In 1969, Delilah's family moved from Coos Bay, Oregon, to neighboring Reedsport, where she attended school. At age 13, she secured her first radio job after winning a school speech contest judged by owners of KDUN, a local radio station. After graduating from high school in 1978, she worked at numerous stations in Oregon and Seattle before creating the format she became known for at KLSY in 1984.

Radio show

Format

The show, known simply as Delilah, begins at 7 p.m. and ends around midnight local time. She takes calls, emails, and letters sent in through her radio station’s website from her listeners. She encourages and supports her listeners and receives musical dedication requests. It is based in the Pacific Northwest.

One of the cornerstones of the show is its use of callers. Most of the time the caller tells Delilah their situation or story and then Delilah chooses the song that she feels best matches the caller's situation. Callers are recorded during the show and replayed later, sometimes within the hour. Delilah also plays songs by direct request.

Originally heard only on weeknights, stations that carry the show have the option of carrying it six or even seven nights a week, with most stations airing at least one night of the weekend (usually Sunday) in addition to a weeknight show.