Joel Allen Platfoot was a man of many talents — webcaster, PHP developer, web designer, DJ,
musician, a great friend, loving husband and father, and just an all-around amazingly great guy.
Joel's greatest talent was making everyone feel welcome.
Early 2000s
Joel founds Generation Rock Radio from his home in Paducah, Kentucky. Running SAM Broadcaster
with a passion for classic rock, metal, and everything loud, he builds GRR into one of the premier internet rock stations.
2004
GRR goes 24/7 with 13 relay servers across multiple formats — MP3, OGG, AAC+, and Windows Media.
Joel co-founds WebcastersUnited.com and becomes a pillar of the internet radio community.
He becomes a customer of Mediacast1 and volunteers at CasterClub, helping countless broadcasters
with SAM Broadcaster, OddSock DSP, Live365, Shoutcast, and Icecast questions.
US Army Service
Joel served his country in the United States Army. He carried that discipline and dedication
into everything he did — from running the station to building the community.
February 8, 2006
Joel was hit head-on by a young driver going too fast on a slippery road in the tri-state area.
He was airlifted to a hospital in Indiana where he fought hard to keep his legs.
He was winning the battle.
The Last Call
From his hospital bed, Joel called Dave (DJ Pulse), who was also recovering from surgery in another hospital.
They sat there laughing their asses off about how they were both crippled up and had left Art hanging with
all the work running Mediacast1 and CasterClub. Joel thanked God that SAM Broadcaster was automating GRR
while he healed. That call — two friends laughing through the pain — was the last time they spoke.
February 24, 2006
Joel succumbed to complications from blood clots as a result of the accident.
He was moved to rehabilitation in Kentucky and couldn't wait to get back on the air.
His wife called Dave the next day with the devastating news. Joel left behind his wife and
his young son Dekon, who was just 4 years old.
The Legacy
Joel willed Generation Rock Radio to Dave. His wife shipped Joel's broadcasting machine,
and Dave took over everything. The station continued on generationrockradio.net after someone
stole the .com domain following Joel's death. In 2026, after 20 years, the .com domain was finally recovered.
GRR lives on — rebuilt, modernized, but forever carrying Joel's spirit.
