Tom Cole

Host and Producer, G-Strings

Tom Cole is a veteran of the D.C. media landscape and a cornerstone of the WPFW family, having been a programmer with the station since its very first year in 1977. A second-generation Washingtonian and a proud graduate of the District's public school system, Tom's career in broadcasting spans several decades and includes significant roles at some of the nation's most prominent public media outlets.

Tom's journey behind the board began at the age of 24, when he started as a volunteer engineer for a children's program and a blues show. After he submitted a proposal for his own music program, Denise Oliver awarded him a Sunday morning slot and named the show G-Strings, a program Tom has hosted and produced ever since. He is also a keeper of the station's unique history, recalling the early, creative days when studios were separated by sheets hung on strings and the doorbell was a bucket of rocks attached to a window string.

Through G-Strings, Tom focuses on the beauty of stringed instruments, primarily the guitar, to showcase the deep connections between different peoples and cultures. His program is driven by a belief that music has a universal ability to unite us and that public radio should serve as a vital alternative to the mainstream. He finds great joy in introducing listeners to unfamiliar traditions and sharing music they may have never heard before.

Beyond his decades at WPFW, Tom's professional resume includes nearly ten years at WAMU as a board operator and Production Manager, three years as a producer for Voice of America, and a distinguished 33-year career as an editor and producer for NPR's Cultural Programming and News Divisions. Outside of the studio, he remains dedicated to his D.C. roots, volunteering his time during the school year to tutor students in reading.