Station news
MC Richardson Celebrity Golf Tournament and Career Fair - Monday, 06/09/08
KKFI programmer and board member M.C. Richardson was the inspiration for the combination celebrity golf tournament and career fair hosted by the United Minority Media Association, Inc. (UMMA) on Friday, July 18 at Swope Park Memorial Golf Course.
The M.C. Richardson Celebrity Golf Tournament and Career Fair was created as an innovative way for minority high school juniors, seniors, and college students to interact with professional media managers and personalities in both an informal setting – on the golf course – and in a structured career fair setting. Both events are open to the public. Tee time for the golf tournemt is 8 a.m. The Career Fair begins at 9 a.m. Swope Park Memorial Golf Course is located at 6900 Swope Memorial Drive in Kansas City, Missouri. Students and participants should bring 15-20 resumes, news clips, published stories and information on industry experience. UMMA will offer prizes, drawings, refreshments and lunch for attendees. For more information, call (816) 822-1313 or email ummaseventyfour@yahoo.com.
Jazz & KKFI Lose Ed Fenner - Monday, 05/19/08
Ed Fenner died Sunday after being hospitalized for a heart procedure.
Ed Fenner was known as the Jazz Guy for good reason. He compiled the Jazz Calendar for KKFI and for the Jazz Ambassadors website, and he sold ads for the ambassador's JAM magazine. He loved Jazz and was often spotted at jazz events throughout the city. He signed his email messages with "Jazzily, -Ed".
Generous with his time and energy, Ed was a frequent KKFI volunteer and with any number of other worthy non-profit organizations.
Ed will be missed by his friends at KKFI. The loss to the jazz community is immeasurable.
KKFI in the KC Star - Friday, 04/11/08
Read about the process of founding the Mid-Coast Radio Project and KKFI in the April 8th 2008 edition of the Kansas City Star:
PLEASE NOTE: The link below leads to external sites not affiliated with KKFI or the Mid-Coast Radio Project. By clicking on these links, you will leave the KKFI web site and enter other web sites created, operated, and maintained by other organizations.
http://www.kansascity.com/news/neighborhood/kansas_city/story/566656.html
KKFI Volunteer Receives Governor's Distinguished Award - Wednesday, 02/27/08
Richard Mabion, longtime 90.1 KKFI volunteer and member of the station’s Board of Directors, was honored by Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius as one of the Governor’s Distinguished Award recipients. The Award was presented on February 12, 2008 in Topeka.
Mabion was one of several notable Kansas community leaders honored. The Award was co-sponsored by the Office of the Governor; the Kansas Hispanic & Latino American Affairs Commission; and the Kansas African American Affairs Commission.
Richard Mabion’s passion for the diversity and eclectic programming at 90.1 KKFI-FM is only matched by his dedication to promoting the historic Quindaro Underground Railroad site, his interest in organic farming and renewable resources, and the creation of a multi-cultural coalition that led to the successful "Breaking the Silence" conference held last fall in Kansas City, Kansas.
The staff and volunteers at 90.1 KKFI-FM congratulate Richard Mabion for receiving this award!
Station founder, Woody Crane, passes away - Wednesday, 02/27/08
On February 19th, 2008, one of the founders of KKFI, Woody Crane, passed away. He was the original Chief Engineer for KKFI and was the Chief Engineer for WGN TV and Radio in Chicago for 25 years. He was also the father of Tom Crane, the host of KKFI's World Sound show and another station founder. This article about Woody was published in the September/November 1988 KKFI Radio Wave.
KKFI History & Archive Project - Thursday, 02/21/08
Long time KKFI volunteer Tom Crane has created a KKFI History and Archive link to help us celebrate our 20th Anniversary.
Check it out:
Blues Programmer Toni Sheffield, host of Blues Overnight, Dies - Friday, 01/18/08
KKFI has lost another veteran volunteer programmer. Toni Sheffield, former host of Blues Overnight passed away this week.
Visitation for Toni Sheffield will be held on Saturday, January 26th, from 10am to 11am at the United Methodist Church, 6300 Swope Parkway. Services will be at 11am.
Condolance to Toni's family and firends.
On Line Auction a Success: Thanks! - Friday, 12/14/07
KKFI's first On Line Holiday Auction was a success. We raised funds for KKFI Community Radio and winning bidders got some great holiday shopping bargains.
As always, thanks to donors, bidders and listeners for supporting KKFI 90.1FM Community Radio.
Gary Deal, 52, Original Real Deal Host, Dies - Tuesday, 11/27/07
Gary R. Dieleman, nom de radio Gary Deal, passed away from a heart attack on Friday, November 23.
Gary was the original host of the Real Deal. Mike Lytle, the current host, tells the story of tuning into KKFI by accident one night and hearing the great music that was playing on Gary's show. He called the station and Gary invited Mike Lytlte to come down and visit the station.
Mike was astonished by the invitation and came down to meet Gary.
They became good friends and, eventually, Mike took over the show. Gary was a monthly guest host with Mike Lytle on the Real Deal.
Gary loved music and had a great knowledge of popular music, finding obscure gems to include on his playlist.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association.
Award Winners! - Tuesday, 12/05/06
Congratulations to Judy Ancel and Tom Klammer, part of the Heartland Labor Forum team, for receiving honors from the International Labor Communications Association's 2006 Media Awards.
Judy's report "Work for Less: The Scam Formerly Known as Right to Work? which aired on May 19th, 2005 took First Place for Broadcast Radio: Short Programs produced by Union Members/Staff.
Tom's report "Learning About Labor: Union Summer & A Class at Avila University" from August 11th, 2005 was a Third Place recipient for Broadcast Radio: Long Programs produced by Union Members/Staff.
The award winning Heartland Labor Forum is heard Thursday evenings at 6:00pm on 90.1FM KKFI, with a repeat airing on Friday morning at 5:00am.
Award Winners! - Wednesday, 11/01/06
KKFI's Hip-Hop music program, Show Me Mix, was declared the Best Hip-Hop Radio Show by The Pitch newspaper for 2006! Congrats to Ms. Shai for receiving this honor. You can check it out via this condensed link to the article: http://tinyurl.com/yddn4q
Also, KKFI's Barry Lee's submission to Oxford American magazine - http://www.oxfordamericanmag.com/ - for their annual compilation CD of music was accepted for their upcoming release. Barry suggested Uncle Dave Macon's "Keep Your Skillet Good And Greasy" among some other titles. Barry's picture, brief bio and some nice comments about 90.1 KKFI are in the magazine, but not available on their website.