Step back in time each week with The Year That Was — a music journey through the songs, stories, and cultural moments that defined a memorable year in music history. Each episode spotlights a selected year and brings it to life through the songs, stories, and cultural moments that defined it.

From classic rock and soft rock to country, metal, and beyond, the show blends familiar hits with hidden gems to create a soundtrack that captures the spirit of the era. Along the way, listeners will hear artist trivia, chart history, memorable news and pop culture moments, and stories from the community tied to that featured year.

Whether you remember cruising with these songs on the radio or are discovering them for the first time, The Year That Was offers something for every music fan. One week may celebrate the outlaw country and arena rock of 1974, while the next dives into the grunge explosion of the early ’90s or the pop-rock crossover hits of the 2000s.

More than a playlist, the program is a shared musical time capsule — connecting generations through the music that shaped their lives. Listeners are invited to participate with memories, requests, trivia, and stories from the featured year.

Join KSVY each week for The Year That Was — where every year has a soundtrack.

Host Bio:

Born in Scotland and raised across four continents, host Tom Slone brings a lifelong love of music and culture to The Year That Was. His wide-ranging background and curiosity about the world help shape the show’s unique blend of music, memories, and historical perspective.

Tom’s broadcasting roots began at Washington State University, where he hosted college radio programs on KUGR-FM and later worked in public radio at KWSU FM/AM. After a successful career in financial services, he retired and returned to one of his longtime passions—sharing great music and the stories behind it.

When he’s not spinning the tunes, Tom stays active in the community as a volunteer amateur (ham) radio operator. He is a member of both Valley of the Moon Amateur Radio Club and Sonoma County Radio Amateurs Club, where he supports local bike races as an aid station operator, network controller, or rider support vehicle driver. Tom also serves with the Sonoma County Department of Emergency Services Auxiliary Communications Service, helping provide emergency communications support when needed.

Tom’s interests are as varied as the music featured on The Year That Was. He enjoys traveling, reading, fishkeeping, amateur radio, and discovering the connections between music and the moments in history that shaped each era. 

Proud to call one of the most beautiful places in the world, Sonoma Valley, home, Tom is excited to share the soundtrack of the past with listeners each week—one unforgettable year at a time.