In the 1980s, RuPaul (left) and Rosser Shymanski costarred on The American Music Show, a weekly public access variety television program, produced in Atlanta.

In the 1980s, RuPaul (left) and Rosser Shymanski costarred on The American Music Show, a weekly public access variety television program, produced in Atlanta. / GPB

For the past three decades, Rosser Shymanski has played a critical role in almost every program you've watched on Georgia Public Broadcasting. Shymanski, GPB's television production manager, retires Friday after 31 years with the organization. He will say "Aloha" to his colleagues Friday with his final "Hawaiian Shirt Friday," a tradition that has become a mainstay of GPB, just like Shymanski himself.

But before Shymanski worked behind the scenes and won the hearts of his colleagues at GPB, viewers around Atlanta knew and loved him as DeAundra Peek – a character he created and portrayed for The American Music Show on People TV, a public access channel, from 1987 to 2004. The full collection is now archived at Emory University's Rose Library.On Second Thought host Virginia Prescott speaks with Rosser Shymanski.

Before his last day at GPB, Shymanski stopped by On Second Thought to reflect on his wide-ranging career.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-MC7GrDS8TE

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Rosser Shymanski as DeAundra Peek, a member of the Peek Sisters act on The American Music Show

Rosser Shymanski as DeAundra Peek, a member of the Peek Sisters act on The American Music Show / GPB

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