Marcus Atkinson has worn a lot of hats in his 56 years.

He’s been a consultant, hosted talk shows on WQLN, led the nonprofit ServErie, helped launch Erie’s East Side Renaissance, and serves currently as interim leader of the Martin Luther King Center.

Long before any of that, though, he was a kid who loved music.

“I was the mix tape guy,” he said. “I was always making mix tapes for people. It was the thing that enabled me to tell stories through different artists. Storytelling has always been a part of my DNA.”