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10 Questions with ... Keefer
August 26, 2013
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BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
- College radio from 1977-1981 at Eastern Illinois University.
- 1982-1986, Nights at Top 40 WLRW/ChampaigniUrbana, IL
- 1986-1995, Afternoons/MD at AOR/Classic Rock WYMG/Springfield, IL
- 1995, Weekends, AAA The River/St. Louis
- 1995-1999, PD/MD/mornings, KBXR/Columbia, MO
- 1999-2012, MD/Studio C producer/Afternoons, KBCO/Denver.
- 2013-Promotions Coordinator/Session Producer CPR Performance Studio/weekend host, Openair, New Music From Colorado Public Radio.
1. How did you become interested in radio?
Hearing The Beatles on the transistor in '65, leading to a lifelong addiction to music and the radio.
2. Who were/are your mentors?
Steve Goldstein, John Bradley, Dave Benson, Scott Arbough, Mike Henry.
3. Explain the concept behind OpenAir 1340.
It's all about discovery. There's a whole universe of music that's not being played on the radio and OpenAir is trying to change that, whether it's the next cool band or an album track or an artist from another decade you may have missed.
OpenAir is also a big supporter of the Colorado music scene and we work to highlight the talent that exists in our own backyard.
4. Who is involved with the programming?
The vision came from PD Mike Flanagan and the engine that drives it is MD Jessi Whitten.
5. How would you describe the music on the station?
Eclectic. A lot of indie/alternative, but it's not uncommon to hear a deep Who track into Beach House or Gram Parsons out of The Stooges.
6. What would surprise people most about the station?
Gram Parsons out of The Stooges.
7. What are some of your biggest challenges as a public station?
For OpenAir, it's the fact that we are still pretty new and are still working to grow the brand. But if you look at some of our public broadcasting brothers and sisters around the country, once you get some traction, you can make a difference.
8. What has been your biggest career highlight (s)?
Where to begin ... radio has allowed me to meet a lot of my heroes -- Bob Dylan, Keith Richards, Pete Towshend, Lou Reed. Doing afternoons at KBCO and helping run KBCO Studio C for 13 years. And getting my foot in the door at a public Rock station. I've lived a full life in the front row, backstage, late nights and a card-carrying member of the Too Much Fun Club.
9. What is the best advice you would give to young programmers/promotion people?
Never close your mind to learning from the people who came before you or the ones who are making a difference in the here and now. Take what they did and put your own stamp on it.
10. If you wanted to completely change careers today, what would you do?
Wait, there's a career outside of radio? Completely out of radio, music, rock n roll? I always thought I'd travel the world doing benevolent work.
Bonus Questions
Last Non-Industry Job:
Canning vino at the Infinite Monkey Theorem Winery
First Record Ever Purchased:
I was lucky to have an older cousin who would constantly hand down his record collection to me. From the Stones to Ray Charles, I had the coolest vinyl collection of any 3rd grader in the world ... but the first album I purchased with my own cash was Abby Road
First Concert:
I remember my mom taking me to see Lefty Frizzell in the late '60s, but my first rock concert was an early '70s affair that was a triple bill of Mountain, Brownsville Station and Montrose.
Favorite Band Of All-Time:
Hands down, the Rolling Stones. I mean, c'mon, the riffs, the hair, the women.
What do you enjoy doing in your spare time away from work?
There are very few things in this life I like to do better than fish. And hang out with my dog.
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