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KXCI: Celebrating 25 Years

by Jim Lipson

[Editor’s note: Jim Lipson has been associated with KXCI since before it went on the air in 1983. In addition to being one of its original programmer/deejays, he produced two benefit concerts, a live studio concert series and sold underwriting. He continues to help with on-air pledge drives and remains an occasional substitute programmer. From 2002-06 he served as a member on KXCI’s Board of Directors.]

Some say there must have been something in the water 25 years ago that made Tucson such fertile ground for so many alternative and creative endeavors. More likely it was collateral damage from the early Reagan years that gave rise to such lasting institutions as the Tucson Weekly, Access Tucson, the Tucson Blues Festival and KXCI Community Radio, all of which are at or on the cusp of celebrating their silver anniversaries.

KXCI, or the notion of a commercial free radio station, actually began sometime in the mid to late 1970s, a collective gleam in the eyes of Frank Milan, Roger Greer and Paul Barrington, aka Paul Bear. These three founding fathers took this idea and raised just enough money and gumption to jump through all of the FCC’s regulatory hoops while navigating their maze of bureaucratic hurdles. When all was said and done, the Foundation for Creative Broadcasting, doing business as KXCI was born, and in late November of 1983, KXCI was on the air. The following is an abridged historical window into 25 years of community radio.

The Big Broadcast.
This was conceived to satisfy the FCC’s three week testing period.. It began with nothing but static before evolving into a recorded history of sound. It was billed as The Big Broadcast of 1983 and included electronically generated nature sounds, whales, Gregorian chants, some of Tom Edison’s earliest recordings and a memorable afternoon of wild percussion recorded live as it happened in KXCI’s original storefront digs on the corner of Sixth Ave. and Congress St. What followed was a musical orgy--days of programming beginning with the earliest in New Orleans jazz, then moving to swing and the big band era, to straight ahead and bee-bop jazz, to delta and urban blues, and finally rock, with a full weekend of 12 hour marathons focusing on the ‘50s, ‘60’s, 70’s and beyond. On Monday, December 6 all this culminated with several local bands playing live in the storefront. The next day, KXCI, would officially begin.

The Music Mix.
Much of the broadcast day would be occupied by the Music Mix. Back then, this was seen as radical approach to programming. With the exception of college radio, programming at most listener sponsored stations (Pacifica and NPR) were dominated by single interest specialty shows catering to devoted but relatively small audiences. The idea behind the Mix with its combination of blues, rock, reggae, folk, bluegrass, jazz, instrumental, local music, new releases and old hippie rock, was that if the tunes were good, a large and diverse listenership would follow. Bruce Cockburn, Lucinda Williams, Michael Franti and Nancy Griffith are all examples of artists who were featured on the Mix long before they found a national audience.
Despite having undergone many subtle (and not so subtle) changes in format, the Music Mix remains a staple of KXCI’s daytime programming.

Specialty Shows.
This was the domain of evenings and weekends where programmer/producers were free to create their own audio product, often bringing in their own material. In the beginning there was much experimentation including shows that featured live performance art (Dennis Williams), political and topical news and music (Ted Warmbrand), children’s programming (Roger Greer), literature (Dale Hopper) avant-garde jazz (Steve Hahn), free form (Bill Lutz), and German (Andy Babich). Many of these were short lived and while some passed on from natural causes others suffered deaths that were…less than natural.

Shows that have prospered from the earliest days include the Saturday morning Bluegrass Show, the Blues Revue and the Gospel Truth where Shirley Moore stands alone as KXCI’s only remaining original programmer. Dave “Kid Squidd” Squires was on a show called Mystery DJ in KXCI’s first month. His Roots Rock show, later renamed Kid Squidd’s Mystery Juke Box, remains one of the stations most popular shows. Other shows with more than 15 years on the air and are KXCI monuments include Carol Anderson’s Ruby’s Roadhouse, Matt ”Moon” Nelson’s Global Rhythm Radio and Jeff Rogers’ Halftime at the Apocalypse. Over the years there are some who have argued that no one program or programmer should have an indefinite lifetime pass, but it’s been hard to argue with the success many of these shows have attained.

Democracy Now.
More than a simple specialty show, this syndicated Pacifica Radio hour embodies so much of what people love about this station or want it to be—controversial, edgy and unabashedly political in its leaning towards the far left. Its expanded coverage during 9/11 and beyond was riveting. Unfortunately it’s been moved around the schedule like a struggling tv sitcom. Still, its ratings are consistently strong. It airs weekdays from noon-1 p.m.

News and Public Affairs.
From the beginning it was clear that music would drive the majority of KXCI’s programming but that public affairs would always have a place on the air. There was also a hope that public affairs programming would grow out of the handful of locally promoted specialty shows that have been relegated to Sundays. The left leaning the left leaning A View From Slightly Off Center hosted by David Yerkey and the feminist program Broad Perspectives with Susan Banes are shining examples of long running locally produced public affairs programs. More recently 30 Minutes, hosted by Amanda Shauger has been a welcome addition to this mix. Shauger, a longtime volunteer has also been elevated to the position of the station’s first News Director. Hopefully in time, news and public affairs will expand out from its designated slots on Sunday.

Queen Ida, the El Casino Ballroom & The Houserockin’ Concerts.
In the spring of 1986, Frank Milan, KXCI’s GM, convinced the station to bring in a middle aged African American woman from Louisiana that almost no one had heard of, to play a funky ballroom in South Tucson where almost no one had ever been to, performing an ethnic strand of Cajun music that almost no one was familiar with--and in the middle of the week no less. This was not the first time KXCI had done a show at the El Casino Ballroom. Six months before going on the air, three years earlier, about 150 people came out to see Hans Olson and the Midnite Blues Band in KXCI’s first public benefit show. If not empty that night, the El Casino seemed a cavernous and intimidating room to fill.

When Queen Ida hit the stage, however, much to even Milan’s amazement, there were almost 900 people packed onto the El Casino’s huge wooden dance floor. In the years to follow, Queen Ida would play many memorable shows for KXCI, but none more remarkable than the first. In addition to the killer band she brought that night, it was a joyful celebration of community, and perhaps the first time KXCI fully experienced the power it had to bring people together en masse.

Within the next few years Paul Bear and Jeb Schoonover would produce many great shows at the El Casino. These concerts came to be known as Houserockin’ shows and there was no occasion that wasn’t worthy of a Houserockin’ event. Mardi Gras, Rodeo, Halloween, New Years Eve, or any weekend night were all fine reasons to throw a Houserockin’ bash. Many of these shows specialized in blues. Bear and Schoonover were also connecting with the rich music scene in Austin, TX and so Tucson audiences were treated to many of these great bands. As good as the music was, the El Casino also provided its own rich experience, becoming an audience draw in and of itself.

These shows came to an end in May of 1990 when Bear was fired and Schoonover resigned in protest. The sold out King Sunny Ade show in June of that year would be the first KXCI show in the post-Houserockin’ era.

Fundraising and Pledge Drives.
In addition to concert events and underwriting announcements which are brief unobtrusive business announcements (governed by many rules and regulations), there are the ubiquitous pledge drives. Ever since WBAI, Pacifica’s flagship station in New York City, was threatened with being shutdown by the IRS in 1967, the pledge drive has been an integral part of listener sponsored community radio. It was during their first marathon (as it was then known), in 1967 where Arlo Guthrie debuted the telling of Alice’s Restaurant for the first time to a large audience.

Over the years begging, pleading and bribing with premiums has become a time honored tradition and art, inspiring some of the best (and worst) in what community radio has to offer. KXCI now has just three pledge drives annually each with a goal of $91,300. These funds support the handful of staff positions as well as equipment upkeep, building maintenance and the mortgage on 220 S. Fourth Ave.

Politics and Governance.
Unless you are a fully enlightened being, it can be said that we all have attachments, and for many, none more personal than these original 3,000 watts of Frequency Modulation. People are passionate about this radio station, especially when it comes to either doing things their way or rising up in protest because of things not being done their way. This of course is not unique to KXCI and is both the strength and weakness of most community endeavors. Google the history of Pacifica Radio (the father of all community radio) and you’ll get an eyeful. For better or worse, KXCI is no different. Everyone has a story and everyone of course is right!

KXCI is governed by a board of directors and managed by a staff that has been overworked and underpaid since day one. And there are many stories to be told regarding the political history of KXCI’s, staff and Board. They are rife with tales of in-fighting, power struggles, ego maniacs, megalomaniacs, obstructionists, chronic do-gooders and visionaries. Sometimes lost in this shuffle are the many hundreds of volunteers whose only agenda was to be a part of good radio. True, they do not create or execute policy, but the volunteers have remained the one constant these past 25 years.

KXCI’s Board consists of a majority elected by the membership with some board appointees and a volunteer representative. Membership of course comes from your $35 (minimum) annual donation and is essential to the lifeblood of the station. Consult the website (kxci.org) for info on how to become more involved.

Randy Peterson.
Randy was recruited by former General Manager Tony Ford in 1999 as an Underwriting Sales Associate. Within six weeks he was promoted to Membership Director, a position whose name has evolved to Membership, Community Outreach and Development Director. In addition to these duties, he is in his third extended stint as KXCI’s Interim General Manager. In other words he has been the central stabilizing force that has helped KXCI weather the comings and goings of three different GM’s, all of whom have had issues that have polarized volunteers, staff, the BOD and/or the community at large. And while Peterson has also been perceived as controversial at times, he has a work ethic that is second to none and has somehow been able to maintain good working relationships with all of KXCI’s various stakeholders. A thankless task, but…somebody has to do it!

Anniversary events.
Rather than one huge event, KXCI has been commemorating its quarter century with a series of smaller events and on-going activities. The website has been polling people for the top albums of the last 25 years and there have been rumors of bringing former dee-jays back onto the air. On Thursday, December 4, KXCI is sponsoring political activist Tom Hayden. He’ll be at the First Christian Church at 740 E. Speedway at 7 pm. $5-10 suggested donation. On Sunday, December, Al Perry and friends will present a free concert at the El Casino. Other bands will include Big Galoot and Shrimp Chaperone. And on Thursday, December 11, the legendary Petey Mesquitey will present a slide show at Old Town Artisans at 7 pm with $5 admission.