The call was a bit late in coming, to put it mildly. By about 27 years.

I was forwarded a voice mail message yesterday from a musician looking for feedback on some songs he had submitted for airplay. He said I had told him the station would play them, and he was wondering what the audience reaction to them had been.

When I worked in radio, this was not unusual. I liked to support independent artists (still do) and was used to dealing with the musicians directly. A lot of the time the submissions weren’t suitable for the format, or just weren’t good enough, but I always found a kind word or two to encourage them to keep going.

However, it has been more than 20 years since I last worked for the station that forwarded me the voice mail. The musician said he had talked to me and given me the music in 1999.

A lot of songs have come and gone since then. I can barely remember the names of the core artists I was playing back then. As for independents? I haven’t a clue.

The name doesn’t ring a bell. He didn’t mention song titles.

I’m wondering why this musician waited so long to follow up? Amnesia? Caught in a time warp?

Given that I didn’t recognize the name, I’m wondering if his memory of our interaction is accurate. I would like to think I would recognize someone if I had promised to play their music. After all, at a social event recently I met someone whose music I hadn’t played when it was submitted to me. I recognized the name, though I didn’t bring up that old recording.

Perhaps this musician was the one I let down gently, but who didn’t hear the message. As he left the station he told the morning show host I had loved his music and that we were going to play his songs. I had been clear we wouldn’t, but people sometimes only hear what they want to hear.

There is one thing I am sure about though. Following up on this call is not my job. He should have called sooner, not waited 27 years.