COLUMBUS, Ohio — A former business major turned college radio show host is making his mark.

A few years ago, Evan Brandao combined his love for business, advertising, and marketing with his love for rock music from the 60’s and 70’s. That's after he switched his major from business to communications.

Now, what he didn’t think he could do, he’s doing that and much more. More includes sitting down in the WOBN campus studio every Thursday night to host his own radio show, The Boulevard.

Brandao admits he’s not your average college student when it comes to music.

“I remember being 12, 13, 14 just playing the vinyl," he said. "We had a turn table at home…had these wing back speakers.”

Growing up on rock music from the 60’s and 70’s, that's how Brandao developed a love for it all, but he never thought in a million years he’d have his own show until he finished his first year or so of college. After a conversation with an advisor, he decided to make the switch from majoring in business to communications, for a chance to mix his passions.

“I just always knew that if I was going to do a radio show," he said. "I would love to talk to the people that influenced me… these cultural icons.”

That included talking to rock music artists and business owners.

"I’ve always wanted to learn about how successful people regardless of their field got there, and what they have to teach other people about their mistakes, their successes,” he said.

So, he got up enough courage to start with calling and writing emails to agents and managers of his favorite rock artists. The first two letters went to Kip Winger and Jack Russell’s Great White.

“I was like, neither of these people would ever want to talk to somebody who does college radio,” he said.

Brandao figured that if he could just get one interview by graduation time, he would have accomplished something.

“It was within 24 hours when Kip Winger actually responded, well not him, but someone from his management, and said we can get you on the phone with him, and I was like oh my god, I was shocked," he said. "And I think it was later that day when I heard back from Jack Russell's Great White.”

Before he knew it, one interview turned into dozens with people like Huey Lewis of Huey Lewis and the News, Tommy James of Tommy James and the Shondells, and BJ Thomas who is known for the song, Rain Drops Keep Falling On My Head. All of them spent time talking about their music and giving advice about their successes and failures. 

While it’s been a wild ride, Brandao’s biggest hope is that as he continues his show, peers at Otterbein will get something out of it too. He said he hopes students will  “learn from the mistakes, and maybe take that knowledge and apply it to your class to sell personally and hold it with you after graduation because I know I will.”

Brandao hopes to either start a podcast or even work for iHeart Radio after graduation.

Brandao’s radio show, The Boulevard, may be heard on 97.5 FM WOBN every Thursday night at 8 p.m. or streamed live by clicking here.