I've worked in the music business for over half my life. One of the great privileges is to hear an amazing unknown artist and then have the opportunity to introduce them to the world. So I can only imagine what Jonathan Poneman was feeling the first time he heard Nirvana.

Before Nirvana literally changed the fortune of Sub Pop Records, Jonathan and his partner, Bruce Pavitt, were rolling right along putting out records by Soundgarden, Mudhoney and Green River who featured future members of Pearl Jam. Eventually, the label and its artists created a musical and cultural revolution. 

If I gave my episodes a name, I suppose that this one would be called Sleepless In Seattle. So sit back and listen to how a kid from Toledo parlayed his bar mitzvah money into one of the world's coolest record labels.

In 2013 Jonathan started talking to the press about how he discovered that he had contracted Parkinson's Disease. It's obvious that Parkinson's never slowed him down or curbed his enthusiasm for music as Sub Pop continues to find and release the music of great indie artists.  You can check out the current roster and their latest releases at subpop.com.  While you're there, sign up for their newsletter and get the latest Sub Pop news delivered right to your inbox.

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The Creationists is mastered in post-production by Paul Farrant.