Category: Radio

David Stafford, KKUP Folk & Bluegrass Programmer, Dies Of Heart Attack

David Stafford, best known as the longtime host of the Friday Folk Off program on KKUP Radio-Cupertino, died following a heart attack on March 21, 2023. He was 72 years old.

Stafford was a key player in making the community broadcaster the leading folk (including bluegrass) radio station in the Bay Area and Monterey Bay Areas. He joined the station’s volunteer staff as an engineer in 1990, went on-air in 1992, and did his last show a few weeks before his death.

Although best known for hosting his weekly Friday afternoon folk show, he began his tenure with a classical music show and was also doing a jazz program on the station in 2023.

He served on both the KKUP Board Of Directors and the Program Committee (which he helped initiate), was Station Manager for several years, and was the station’s Studio Engineer for over a decade. He was a hard-working volunteer and fundraiser for the non-profit station.

The popular Friday Folk Off featured both recorded and live in-studio performances by folk and bluegrass musicians. Dave supported music events throughout the South Bay & Santa Cruz areas.

David Stafford

KKUP Bluegrass Marathon Wrap-Up Show Is Monday February 20 From 6:00-9:00pm

The annual KKUP Radio Bluegrass Marathon ends today, but there will be a final Wrap-Up Show hosted by NCBS Vice-President Mike Russell from 6:00-9:00pm on Monday, February 20. The station needs a few more donations to ensure the continued success of bluegrass music on this station throughout the coming year.

KKUP-Cupertino is a community radio station with studios in San Jose that broadcasts at 91.5FM in the South Bay & Monterey Bay Areas and online at www.kkup.org worldwide.

KKUP Bluegrass Marathon Is This Weekend At 91.5FM & Online At KKUP.org

The annual KKUP Radio Bluegrass Marathon, set for this weekend, Friday, February 17 to Sunday, February 19. There will also be a wrap-up show hosted by NCBS Vice-President Mike Russell from 6:00-9:00pm on Monday, February 20.

During the marathon, all music played 24 hours each day will be bluegrass and related musical genres. Many bands will play live in the studio during the marathon. NCBS welcomes the marathon — it’s what all radio programming should be all the time!

KKUP-Cupertino is a community radio station with studios in San Jose that broadcasts at 91.5FM in the South Bay & Monterey Bay Areas and online at www.kkup.org worldwide.

The KKUP Bluegrass, Folk & Country Marathon!

KKUP Bluegrass Marathon Goes Live February 16-20 On Air & Online

The annual KKUP Radio Bluegrass Marathon, set for all day Friday, February 17 to Sunday, February 19. There will be a warm-up program from 7:00-9:00pm on Thursday, February 16 and a wrap-up show from 6:00-9:00pm on Monday, February 20.

During the marathon, all music played 24 hours each day will be bluegrass and closely-related musical genres. Many bands will play live in the studio during the marathon.

NCBS welcomes the marathon!

KKUP-Cupertino is a community radio station with studios in San Jose that broadcasts at 91.5FM in the South Bay & Monterey Bay Areas and online at www.kkup.org worldwide.

 

NCBS Welcomes The KKUP Bluegrass Weekend Marathon February 16-20 On Air & Online

The Northern California Bluegrass Society welcomes the annual KKUP Radio Bluegrass Marathon, set for all day Friday, February 17 to Sunday, February 19. There will be a warm-up program from 7:00-9:00pm on Thursday, February 16 and a wrap-up show from 6:00-9:00pm on Monday, February 20.

During the marathon, all music played 24 hours each day will be bluegrass and closely-related musical genres. Many bands will play live in the studio during the marathon.

KKUP-Cupertino is a community radio station with studios in San Jose that broadcasts at 91.5FM in the South Bay & Monterey Bay Areas and online at www.kkup.org worldwide.

Late California/Hawaii Bluegrass Musician Pete Hicks To Be Remembered On Hawaii Radio October 25

The late Pete Hicks, who died on October 9, 2022, will be remembered on a Hawaii bluegrass radio show on Tuesday, October 25 between 5:30–6:00pm California time. Guests will include NCBS Vice-President Mike Russell and Hick’s Bean Creek bandmate Billy Pitrone.

The program will be on KKCR Community Radio in Kaua`i (see website & livestream link below) and will air on 90.9 FM North Shore Kaua‘i ~ 91.9 FM Kīlauea to Kekaha ~ 92.7 FM Anahola & Moloa‘a ~ 88.9 FM Honolulu, O‘ahu.

The Homegrown Garden Island Bluegrass Show host is Steve, the “Xman.” Pete Hicks lived and performed bluegrass music in Hawaii for two years before settling in Northern California and had many island bluegrass musician friends.

KKCR Website & Livestream

Peter Hicks Obituary

 

Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival Preview On The Saturday August 6 Bluegrass Signal Radio Program

A preview of the storied return of the Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival will be presented on Peter Thompson’s Bluegrass Signal radio program this Saturday, August 6, 2022 at 5:00pm.

The program will be on KALW-San Francisco at 91.7FM and Online.

If you miss the original broadcast, the program will be available on demand for one week at https://www.kalw.org/kalw-music-player (select ‘Bluegrass Signal’) and will also be broadcast four times on www.BlueGrassCountry.org during the week of Aug. 22-28, 2022.

The program will present music from many bands playing the August 11-14, 2022 festival, which will be held at the San Benito County Historical Park in Tres Pinos. The GOF is a benefit for the Northern California Bluegrass Society.

 

Monday Evening Program On KKUP Will Wrap Up Annual Bluegrass Marathon

The KKUP Bluegrass, Folk, and Country Weekend Marathon ends with a wrap-up show on Monday, February 21, 6:00-9:00pm on the community radio station’s on-air signal at 91.5FM in the South Bay and Monterey Bay Areas, and worldwide Online.

NCBS Vice-President and longtime bluegrass radio host Mike Russell will host the evening Wrap-Up Show. The annual marathon supports bluegrass programming on KKUP, which broadcasts more bluegrass music throughout the year than any other station in our area. NCBS President Michael Hall will call in to discuss the  bluegrass news during the program.

The KKUP Bluegrass Marathon Takes The Air This Weekend!

The KKUP Bluegrass, Folk, and Country Marathon is this weekend on the community radio station’s on-air signal at 91.5FM in the South Bay and Monterey Bay Areas, and worldwide Online. KKUP broadcasts more bluegrass music throughout the year than any other station in our area.

The marathon proper will run from Friday, February 18 at 10:00am until Sunday, February 20 at Midnight. The fun will begin with a Kick-Off Show on Thursday, February 17, 7:00-10:00pm. A Wrap-Up Show will run 6:00-9:00pm on Monday, February 21.

Full Marathon Schedule

This will be a full weekend of great bluegrass and related music programming. Many NCBS favorites will participate. Listeners who donate in support our music on the station will be offered gifts, including tickets to area festivals. A limited number of tickets for the August 11-14 Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival will be available.