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KGNU STAFF Station Manager:
Sam Fuqua, sam@kgnu.org Music Director:
John Schaefer, music@kgnu.org News and Public Affairs Directors:
Joel Edelstein, joel@kgnu.org Maeve Conran, maeve@kgnu.org Membership Director:
Nikki Kayser, nikki@kgnu.org Community Development Director:
Shawna Sprowls, shawna@kgnu.org Denver Production & Volunteer Coordinator:
Dave Ashton, dave@kgnu.org Underwriting Sales:
Wally Wallace, wally@kgnu.org Kenneth Flowe, kenneth@kgnu.org Boulder Trainer
Joel Davis, rtc@kgnu.org Engineers:
Mike Pappas, Joey Kloss, Devin Shorb IT: David Hardy, nedernet.net In-House Counsel:
Greg Friedman
Editors: Sam Fuqua, Rick Griffith, John Schaefer Layout and Design: Matter (morematter.com) Contributors: Pua Aki, Dave Ashton, Maeve Conran, Sam Fuqua, John Schaefer Advertising Sales: Wally Wallace (wally@kgnu. org) Printing: Signature Offset KGNU BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Barry Gilbert, Chair Meredith Carson, Vice-Chair Chris O’Riley, Secretary Basit Mustafa, Treasurer Sam Fuqua, Station Manager, [ex-officio, non-voting] Ken Fricklas Steve Strenge Lucila Contreras Robin van Norman Publication Title: KGNU Radio Magazine Issue Date: 2012 Frequency of Publication: Annual Authorized Publisher: Boulder Community Broadcast Association, Inc. dba KGNU Volume 35, Issue 1
MISSION STATEMEN T : KGNU is an independent, noncommercial community radio station licensed in Boulder and Denver and dedicated to serving its listeners. We seek to stimulate, educate and entertain our audience, to reflect the diversity of the local and world community, and to provide a channel for individuals, groups, issues and music that have been overlooked, suppressed or under-represented by other media. The station seeks to expand the listening audience through the excellence of its programming without compromising the principles stated here.
KGNU STUDIOS: Boulder:
Denver:
4700 Walnut St, Boulder, CO 80301 Office: 303.449.4885 800.737.3030 Studio: 303.442.4242
700 Kalamath St., Denver, CO 80204 Office: 303.825.5468 Studio: 303.825.0619
CONNECT WITH US AT
Comment Line: 303.447.9911 dj@kgnu.org ONLINE: www.KGNU.ORG
ON AIR: BOULDER+DENVER: 88.5FM/1390AM NEDERL AND: 93.7FM
TABLE OF CON TEN TS KGNU:
STATION NEWS ON-AIR SCHEDULE PROGRAM DESCRIPTIONS
5-7 8 9-10
INTERVIEW: seun kuti KGNU TOP 30 ALBUMS ALBUM REVIEWS
13-15 16 17-18
MUSIC:
COMMUNIT Y:
INTerns connect GET INVOLVED MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS historical trauma INTERVIEW: Richard Wolff election coverage LETTERS Thank you UNDERWRITERS VOLUNTEER PROFILES VOLUNTEERs GREG O'Brien
19 20 20 23 24-25 25 26 26 27 27-28 28 29
COVER DESIGN: MATTER ( more matter.com)
2
New Mexico’s 8th Annual Celebration of World Music and Culture
Save now
PurCHAse Early Bird Tickets before JuNe 20!
September 21 & 22 National Hispanic Cultural Center Albuquerque, New Mexico
Discover the World on 3 Stages over 2 Nights
with performers from around the world, including Ali Akbar Moradi (Iran), Plena Libre (Puerto Rico), Zeb and Haniyah (Pakistan) and many more.
globalquerque.org 505-232-9868
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4
N E WS KGNU BRINGS STORYCORPS TO DENVER
If you visited the Denver Main Library last October, you probably passed a shiny Airstream trailer with a KGNU sticker on it. Inside, friends and loved ones recorded their stories. It was a month-long visit from the StoryCorps Mobile Booth. StoryCorps is one of the largest oral history projects in the world. Two people— typicaly family members or friends—spend an hour recording inside the sound proof trailer, with help from a trained StoryCorps facilitator. Everyone gets a CD of their session and all recordings go to the Library of Congress. Some are also played on the radio—KGNU featured several stories from the Denver visit on our Morning Magazine. KGNU partnered with the Denver Public Library, the Denver Art Museum and the Sheridan Public Schools to bring the StoryCorps booth to Denver. Finanical support came from the Piton Foundation, as part of their focus on the “Children’s Corridor”. The Corridor represents the Piton Foundation’s innovative and collaborative effort to enhance life-long success for Denver’s most vulnerable children living in a 14-mile stretch from northeast Denver to Green Valley Ranch. StoryCorps held a special field recording day at the Aurora Human Rights Center to gather stories from the Corridor. To hear a special program on The Children’s Corridor, go to: www.kgnu.org/ childrenscorridor MISSED A RECENT SHOW? CHECK THE ARCHIVE
We've made it easier to listen online when it is convenient for you.You can find archives of any of our locally produced shows at kgnu.org/schedule. Simply click on the link for the show you're interested in and you will be taken to a page featuring the most recent archives for that program. Once you've clicked through, take note of the web address at the top of the page and bookmark it or share it with your friends. For example, Honky Tonk Heroes can be found at kgnu.org/country and How On Earth can be found at kgnu. org/howonearth.You can stream the music shows or download the local news programs directly from the archive pages. Happy listening! 5
ANOTHER SECRET SUCCESS
Music lovers ascended to the historic Odd Fellows Hall in Boulder last December for KGNU’s second annual Secret Show. This year’s surprise musical guests were billed as the Holy Otter Clan Rangers and Bad Ripper. Their true, unscrambled identities: the Glenn Taylor Orchestra and Paper Bird. Both groups played beautiful sets of music to an appreciative crowd. Thanks to the bands, our sound crew: Peter Glenn, George Figgs and Tom Roberts, local microbrewers Twisted Pine and Avery, Liqour Mart and the members of Boulder Odd Fellows Lodge No. 9. And thanks to all the music fans who turned out to support KGNU! AWARDS, AWARDS, AWARDS
The talent and commitment of KGNU’s dedicated volunteers and staff continues to be recognized by a wide range of local and national organizations. Early 2012 brought news of several awards for KGNU folks: Theresa Halsey, host and producer of Indian Voices (Sun. 3:00 PM)—KGNU’s weekly program of Native American music and culture—was honored by the city of Denver’s American Indian Commission and the Indigenous Film and Arts Festival for her dedicated service to the local community. Denver Mayor Michael Hancock proclaimed March 21, 2012, “Theresa Halsey & Indian Voices— Community Radio Day” in the City and County of Denver. Theresa has volunteered her time as producer of “Indian Voices” for almost 30 years. She also publishes an internet newsletter for the local Native American community. Barry Gilbert was named Volunteer of the Year by the National Federation of Community Broadcasters (NFCB) in recognition of his tireless service to KGNU as chair of both our board of directors and our IT committee. Barry accepted the award at NFCB's annual conference this past June in Houston, TX. Co-News Director Maeve Conran was awarded Best Public Radio Mini-Series from the Colorado Broadcasters Association for her series on irrigation ditches in Boulder County. “How On Earth”— KGNU’s all-volunteer weekly science program (Tues. 8:35 AM)--took second prize in the Best Public Radio News Show category. Congratulations to all!
THANK YOU, MEMBERS!
KGNU thanks each and every person who contributed during our recent membership drives. None of what we do would be possible without the support of our listener-members. This is the model that has sustained our community station for 34 years: individual member contributions make up the majority of KGNU’s budget. If you’ve never been a member—or if you forgot to renew your membership—please join KGNU today. Click on the “donate” button at www.kgnu.org or call our office Mon-Fri, 9:30 am-5:30 pm, at 303-4494885. We have many great thank you gifts, including snazzy new t-shirts. DURLIN RETURNS TO FRONT RANGE WITH EMMA GOLDMAN
In April, KGNU was proud to present the Front Range premieres of “Beautiful Radiant Things”—a new musical play about legendary anarchist Emma Goldman written by former KGNU Station Manager Marty Durlin. The play focuses on Goldman's 50th birthday, June 27, 1919, spent in jail. A talented cast and crew from Paonia, CO—where Marty now resides— performed to appreciative audiences at Unity Church in Boulder and Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Theater in Denver. The shows were benefit events for KGNU. Thanks to Marty and her team for bringing Emma Goldman to life in support of KGNU! "I want freedom, the right to self-expression, everybody's right to beautiful, radiant things.”—Emma Goldman NEW BOARD MEMBER
Robin Van Norman is the newest member of our board of directors. She's been a listener/member for over ten years and a volunteer helping behind the scenes. Robin is a huge fan of KGNU's news and public affairs programming and appreciates that KGNU is independent, non-commercial, and provides coverage of issues that are not covered by other media. She especially enjoys KGNU's coverage of local issues. "There are very few communities in our country that have a radio station like KGNU that offers so much to their community,” she said. “I appreciate having such a unique and special resource in Boulder & Denver. I am honored and excited to support KGNU as a Board
N E WS member and hope that my work on the Development Committee will help increase fundraising and support for KGNU." Welcome Robin! COMMUNIT Y FOUNDATION PARTNERS WITH KGNU
In January, 2012, KGNU began a partnership with the Community Foundation Serving Boulder County, producing monthly radio as part of our Monday morning program "A Public Affair". On the fourth Monday of the month, Foundation staffer Morgan Rogers brings you in depth interviews on subjects within the Community Foundation's TRENDS report (www.commfound.org/ trendsmagazine). Interview topics cover
local topics as varied as: Health, Education, Arts and Culture, the Environment, the Economy, and Civic Engagement.
sustainers of local radio
More and more listeners are becoming SOLR (Sustainers Of Local Radio) members who give monthly to KGNU. For as little as $5 a month, you can make an on-going contribution to the station. Automatic bank transfers are the most economical way to sustain KGNU. No expiration dates, no fees, less postage & paper costs- it’s greener and more efficient all the way around. Also, it may be easier to
give $5 or $10 a month rather than write a check all at once for $60 or $120. SOLR members can still select a thank-you gift from KGNU during our membership drives. As an added incentive, we’ll give a bright yellow shopping tote bag with native wildflower & grass seeds inside from our neighbors at BBBSeeds and Botanical Interests to the first 100 people who set-up automatic bank transfers. Call the membership office at 303-449-4885 if you too want to go SOLR.
L-R Jeanne Rubin with IIIRM, Jennifer Bordeaux with the Denver American Indian Commission, KGNU’s Theresa Halsey and Darius Smith with the City of Denver's Office at the presentation of the proclamation from the Mayor of Denver declaring March 21, 2012, “Theresa Halsey & Indian Voices—Community Radio Day”. 6
MORE POWER TO THE PEOPLE! After over 30 years of broadcasting at 1300 watts, KGNU has tripled the power of our 88.5 FM signal to 4000 watts. Our FM signal now reaches thousands more listeners in Denver, Aurora and many other metro area communities. If you've never been able to receive KGNU on 88.5 FM, we encourage you to check us out at our new higher power. This map shows the approximate reach of 88.5 FM. Actual reception may vary depending on your radio, your antenna and your specific location. Listeners in the greater than 100 dBu and 80-100 dBu reception areas are likely to recieve KGNU's FM signal very well. Listeners in the 70-80 dBu area should be able to pull in KGNU's FM signal with relatively few drop outs. Listeners in the 60-70 dBu
KGNU EXp ANDS OUR FM COVER AGE AREA
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and 50-60 dBu reception areas may have some trouble pulling in a consistent signal. KGNU needs your feedback on the new signal. Please tune us in at 88.5 FM at your home or office and in your car, then let us know about the quality of the FM signal by sending an email to signal@kgnu.org Please note that, even with our new higher power, 88.5 FM still does not reach the entire metro area. If you're on the edge of the signal, you may want to take steps to improve your FM reception by checking out the information at www.kgnu.org/signal. KGNU is also available online at kgnu.org and on 1390 AM.
NORTH
P RO GRAM SC H EDU L E
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MORNING
5 Al Jazeera Radio 6 BBC Newshour 7 Democracy now 8 KGNU Morning Magazine How on Earth 9 COUNTERSPIN Alan Watts 10 Morning Sound Alternative 11 12
EVENING
AFTERNOON
12 1 2 3 4 5 6
6 7 8 9 10 11 12
LATE-NIGHT
12 1 2 3 4 5
TH
F
Connections
Afternoon Sound Alternative Metro Democracy Now
Metro Arts
BBC Newshour Free Speech Radio News Labor Exchange /La Luche Sigue
Outsources
Kabaret A Classic Monday The Present Edge
Blues Legacy
Hemispheres
Alternative Radio
ยกCorriente!
Seolta Gael Musica Mundi
Jazz & Beyond
Highway 322 Ragtime America/Dixieland Marmalade
Swing Shift
Dusty Grooves
Sound Lab Jazz & Beyond
Smash it Back
12 1 2 3 4 5 6
6 7 8 9 10 11 12 12 1 2 3 4 5
Sleepless Nights
Restless Mornings
Music
It's the Economy
5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Saturday Honky Tonk Heroes
Old Grass GNU grass
SUNDAY Gospel Chime Roots & Branches E-Town Tributaries
TerraSonic Reggae Bloodlines
Living Dialogues New Dimensions Bioneers W.I.N.G.S. Indian Voices Latino USA
African Roots
Making Contact Sprouts HMONG Radio Colorado
BBC Newshour Radiolab The Grateful Dead Hour
Eclipse
Electronic Air Under The Floorboards / The Lounge Hour
Dub Palace
Sleepless Nights
Sleepless Nights
Restless Mornings
Restless Mornings
News 8
N EWS PR OGRAMMING *All locally produc ed s hows ar e archived and acces s ib le on kgnu. org
Whether it’s local, national, or international, KGNU covers the entire news spectrum and showcases communities that are underrepresented in mainstream media. F re e Sp e e ch R ad io News mon-fri
5:30pm-6pm Progressive daily news
WEEKDAYS A l Ja z e era Ra d i o mon-fri
5:30-6:00am International news magazine with breaking news and features. The English version of the Arabiclanguage news network BBC Ne w s h o ur weekdays
6-7am
and
4:30 -5:30pm News from the premier international Radio Service D e m ocracy N ow weekdays
7am-8am & 3:30 pm -
rebroadcast at
4:30pm Award winning news program hosted by Amy Goodman and Juan Gonzalez Morning M aga z in e
8am Following the BBC headlines at the top of the hour, you’ll hear state and local news headlines, daily reports from the Capitol, when in session, and widecoverage of local andregional public affairs weekdays at
kgnu.org/morningmag C oun te r s pin
9-9:30am A critique and analysis of recent newscoverage from F.A.I.R. (Fairness and Accuracy In Reporting) mondays
Me tro
mon-thurs
3-3:30pm 3-3:30 pm Locally produced news and public affairs call-in show that looks at issues affecting the community metro arts fri
kgnu.org/metro kgnu.org/metroarts
Labo r Exch ange every other monday
6pm-
kgnu.org/laborexchange every other monday
6pm-
6:30pm (alternating with labor exchange) Locally produced news about Latin America and the Caribbean kgnu.org/laluchasigue Ou tso urce s
6:30pm-7pm Locally produced Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender news and interviews mondays
Interviews with local non-profits
8:25 am Local food and drink feature with John Lehndorff thursdays
9
BBC N ews hour
6pm-7pm News from the premier international radio service sat and sun
ra diolab
7pm-8pm Unusual topics explored in thoughtful and captivating ways. sat
Tribu taries
sundays noon-12:30pm
Interviews focused on healthy living
12:30-1pm View of the New Consciousness
kgnu.org/howonearth
sundays
9am-9:30am Presentations from the late philosopher and author who specialized in presenting Eastern spirituality to Western audiences He mi sp h e re s
6pm-7pm Interviews and occasional call-in focused on international and national issues tuesdays
kgnu.org/hemisperes Alte rnative R ad io
It’s Th e Ec o no my
am (just before
WEEKDAY SPECIALT Y SHOWS
sundays
tuesdays
wednesdays
6pm-7pm Call-in show featuring discussions on various aspects of the thursdays
5:30pm-6pm Hmong music and news sundays
WEEKENDS
8:35am-9:00am Locally produced science show featuring long-form interviews, features, and news about science Alan Watts
Hm ong Radio Colorad o
kgnu.org/hmong
Living Dialogues
tuesdays
5pm-5:30pm Magazine of alternative news
kgnu.org/connections
How On Earth
R a di o N ibb l es
6:55
democracy now)
8:30am-9:30am Call-in program covering a wide range of topics fridays
kgnu.org/tributaries
kgnu.org/dotorg
mon-fri
sundays
kgnu.org/outsources
6pm-7pm Talks by and interviews with dissident writers, academics, and activists such as Noam Chomsky,Vandana Shiva, and Michael Parenti
D ot Org
Sprouts
kgnu.org/itstheeconomy Conn ections
6:30pm (alternating with la lucha sigue) Locally produced interviews with local and national labor activists and workers La Luch a Sigue
economy
kgnu.org/livingdialouges N ew Dimens ions
1pm-2pm Uncommon wisdom for unconventional times
Kabaret
7-8pm Local musicians and bands play live in KGNU's performance studio. Kabaret has been a resource for Colorado's music talent since 1978. mondays
kgnu.org/kabaret A Clas s ic M onday
8-10pm Classical Music mondays
kgnu.org/clasical The Pr es ent Edge
10pm-midnight Exploring the leading edge of contemporary Classical Music, Avant Garde, and experimental sounds mondays
kgnu.org/presentedge ¡ Corriente!
2-2:30pm Environmental/spiritual news
7-9pm This show presents the music of Latin America, from traditional to modern.
W. I. N. G. S.
kgnu.org/latin
sundays
Jazz & Beyond
Bioneers sundays
2:30pm-3pm Women’s International News Gathering Service. News by and about women Indian Voic es
3pm-4pm Explores Native American issues, music, and culture sundays
kgnu.org/indianvoices Latino USA
4pm-4:30pm Latin American music & culture from NPR sundays
M aking Contac t
4:30pm-5pm News on grassroots efforts for change sundays
tuesdays
9pm-midnight / 10pm-midnight Explorations in traditional and modern Jazz. tuesdays
thursdays
kgnu.org/jazz Seolta Gael
7-8pm A weekly exploration of Celtic music wednesdays
kgnu.org/celtic M us ica M undi
8-10pm “Music of the world,” traditional international music wednesdays
kgnu.org/musica
MUSIC PRO GRAMMING *All locally produc ed s hows are archived and acces s ib le on kgnu.org
KGNU’s eclectic music format satisfies every musical desire. Explore our airwaves and archives to find your niche within our programming. Hig hway 3 2 2
R e gga e Bloodlines
Ec lips e
7-8pm Folk Music and Americana
saturdays
sundays
kgnu.org/reggae
kgnu.org/eclipse
African Roots
Dub Palac e
saturdays
sundays
1-4pm Reggae and its roots: Ska, Rock Steady, Dub, Dance Hall and more. The second longest running Reggae show in the U.S
thursdays
kgnu.org/highway322 R ag tim e A m erica
1st, 3rd and 4th Ragtime Music
thursdays
8-9pm
kgnu.org/ragtime Dix i e l an d M arma l ad e
2nd thursdays 8-9pm Traditional Jazz kgnu.org/dixieland S w ing S h ift
9-10pm Music from the Big Band and Swing Era thursdays
kgnu.org/swingshift Blu e s L egac y
6-9pm Blues from vintage and contemporary recordings fridays
kgnu.org/blues Dusty G ro ov es
9-11pm Classic Funk & Soul fridays
4-6pm Afrobeat, Jitjive, Rai, Soukous, African Jazz, Mbnaqanga and Afro-Caribbean rhythms. The only Colorado radio show focused on the sounds of Africa kgnu.org/africanroots saturdays
M orning Sound Alternat ive
7-8pm The only show on KGNU dedicated to a single artist, this show presents recordings of the band’s live concerts Ele ctro nic Air
kgnu.org/morningsound
kgnu.org/electronicair
weekdays noon-3pm
Th e Lo unge Hour
Smash I t Back!
U nd e r the Floorb oar ds
2nd and 4th saturdays 11pm-midnight Obscure DIY music and audio art kgnu.org/floorboards
H onk y To nk H ero es
6-9am Classic Country and new music steeped in that tradition saturdays
kgnu.org/country O ld G ra s s G nu G ra s s
9am-noon Bluegrass music from the traditional to the contemporary saturdays
kgnu.org/bluegrass T e rra s o nic
Noon-1pm New traditions in international sound saturdays
kgnu.org/terrasonic
9:30am-noon Diverse and eclectic sounds, on the mellow side. You’ll hear everything from Ambient Electronics to Reggae to Folk weekdays
9-11pm House, IDM, Breakbeat, and more. saturdays
kgnu.org/lounge
WEEKEND SPECIALT Y SHOWS
kgnu.org/dub
FREEFORM
kgnu.org/dust ygrooves
kgnu.org/smashitback
10pm-Midnight An exploration into the past, present and future of Dub
Th e Grateful Dead Hour
1st and 3rd saturdays 11pm-midnight Forgotten classics and remixes from the Lounge era
Fridays 11pm-Midnight Classic Punk and other junk
7-10pm Colorado’s longest running Hip Hop show. Old school sounds scratched with modern flavor
Go sp e l Chime
7-9am A weekly journey through the roots of Gospel music and its contemporary forms sundays
kgnu.org/gospel Ro ots & Branches
9am-11am Highlighting the traditions of American Folk music and the new permutations of this genre as interpreted by modern artists sundays
kgnu.org/rootsandbranches
Afternoon Sound Alternat ive
Diverse and eclectic sounds on the more adventurous side. Tune in for everything from Free Jazz to Hip Hop to Cumbia kgnu.org/afternoonsound Sound Lab
10pm-midnight Adventures in freeform from the late night lab wednesdays
kgnu.org/soundlab Sleeples s N ights
12-3am Combines the aesthetics of the Morning and Afternoon Sound Alternatives while leaving the door open for more extreme audio excursions. daily
kgnu.org/sleeplessnights Res tles s M ornings
3-5:30am Anything can happen as new DJs get their chops behind the mixing board. daily
kgnu.org/restlessmornings
E-Town
11am-noon Musical variety show, taped before a live audience sundays
10
Aspen Music Festival and School welcomes Music Director Robert Spano for the 2012 season
Join us for more than 300 classical music events
Robert Spano, Music Director Alan Fletcher, President and CEO
11
 June 28–August 19
970-925-9042 www.aspenmusicfestival.com
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12
I N T ERVIE W
Seun Kuti afrobeat ambassador
The youngest son of legendary Afrobeat pioneer Fela AnikulapoKuti continues the legacy of his father with a new message for a united Africa. Seun (pronounced Shay-oon, an abbreviation of Oluseun) Anikulapo-Kuti is the youngest son of Nigerian musician and political activist Fela Anikulapo-Kuti. Fela Kuti pioneered the genre of Afrobeat throughout the 70s and 80s from his Lagos home and studio, the Kalakuta Republic. At age 14, after the death of his father in 1997, Seun took over the leadership of Fela’s legendary band – Egypt 80. Now at age 29, Seun’s latest release From Africa with Fury: Rise features that same band with a new vision for Africa. KGNU spoke with Seun by phone as his tour bus moved through a barren stretch of Utah. KGNU: Do you have memories of the first time you were a musical guest onstage with your father at the Apollo in Harlem? You were 8 years old. SK: No, no, no. The first time I was on stage was at The Shrine in Lagos. The first time I decided to start singing was after watching my Father in the Apollo in Harlem. My first show, I remember it quite well, because all through we’d been doing rehearsals and during the rehearsals I’d look at the band and I’d do the songs with them. So during the show I did exactly the same thing. I was looking at the band throughout and my Dad came to me after the show and he said, “Seun, you gotta face the crowd man! You can’t face the band, you gotta face the crowd!” (laughs) So, I remember because of that. KGNU: Is it true that you began playing your instrument as a result of sneaking into your Father’s room as a child to play with his saxophones? SK: Yeah, yeah, I always play with his horns that he had in the house. So this is why he told me, “You know what? I’m going to buy you your own saxophone.” (laughs) I was a kid then, I was about 6. I was really young, this was way before I started singing. So he bought me my first sax. After that time, I played the piano for a long time until I was a teenager – about 14. That was when I picked up the sax again. KGNU: Are those the only two instruments you really focus on now? 13
SK: Yeah, yeah. I wouldn’t say I focus on the piano too much. I like to compose on the piano for the chords more than anything. But, the instrument that I really continuously focus on is my sax, a lot, you know? But, I do enjoy playing the piano. Those are my two instruments. KGNU: You still perform regularly at The Shrine in Lagos. What’s different about playing there now as opposed to when you were a kid? SK: For me, now it’s more music and music business. I still have the same passion I had as a kid except that now I’m a professional. I think that’s what’s different. KGNU: We were astonished to read that From Africa with Fury: Rise was recorded in just three days on a limited budget, and that it had to be grafted on the end of a festival appearance in Rio to happen at all. It’s mind-boggling that the pulse of Afrobeat today had to be, essentially, an import record into Lagos. SK: Well, that had a reason because… in Nigeria we don’t have enough people invested in the music business to record a world class album - you need a world class studio, with world class equipment. And, we don’t have that in Nigeria at the moment for big band music like my band, you know? So, I needed a place where the band could record properly. So, I was lucky enough to have a festival to play in Brazil, and with their history of big band music it was easier to find a really good studio with a really good engineer and – boom - we started to work. You know? But it helps when you are already playing the songs live because then playing it live we’re coming into the studio like a live session or a live gig.You know what I mean? KGNU: Yeah, you’re coming in with the songs already dialed in. But still, you recorded the whole album in only three days? SK: Actually, fifty hours. KGNU: Can you talk about the intensity of those recording sessions? I mean, this is a heavy record! SK: You know I wouldn’t talk about intensity because, really, during the recording of this album - my first album was intense, there was a lot of intensity in that recording - but this second time there was some kind of… I don’t know, it was almost a… cosmic calm in the studio, and everybody was just flowing. Everything moved
so smoothly. That’s why I was able to work so quickly. I was amazed as well! Everyone did a great job and Godwin Logie was in the studio with us. Everything was amazing. Then I took it off to London and mixed it there with John Reynolds, Tim Oliver, and Brian Eno! KGNU: Brian Eno, a seemingly unlikely producer to have working on your record. SK: Contrary to that, Brian had been a huge supporter of my music for about three years before we did the recording. He has been a lover of Afrobeat for about 30 years! KGNU: You are just shy of your 30th birthday and some members of your band, Egypt 80, who also played with your father, are in their 60s and 70s. In terms of the intensity of the recording process and your touring schedule, has it been difficult on members of the band to sustain the pace you are setting? SK: Well, not that I know of, you know. Some of these veterans in the band, they’ve got more energy than us sometimes. I think their good. My drummer is over 70 as well, but he still kicks ass on the drums, so what can you say? You know? You can’t beat that! Music gives a special kind of life force to people that practice it from their hearts. KGNU: The latest album is packed with politics and addresses many issues facing Africa and Nigeria today as well as multinationals such as Monsanto and Halliburton. On that subject, what is it about Afrobeat that makes it such a uniquely appropriate vehicle for political commentary and as a weapon of social change? SK: I don’t think that Afrobeat is the only thing, I think all art forms are appropriate vehicles to pass messages and inspire people positively. It’s just that Afrobeat has a rich history and is from a continent where it is more needed than anywhere else for art to represent it’s people. So I don’t think it’s the duty of Afrobeat music alone, in line of what you’re saying, I think all art right now in the world should represent the majority of the people who have no voice. Because about only 4 or 5% of the world controls what every other person does, thinks, hears, so… only art has that alternate means to beat their power and money, to educate people in the correct way. I feel we, as people blessed by these talents by nature should admit that we have a duty to the people to represent them with our art and stand for them and inspire them positively - not to continue promoting selfish gain. KGNU: To that point, in Nigeria - because
we know how the distribution of music works here in the US and the UK - in Nigeria, how are people hearing the music? SK: Well, people come to Shrine. They buy the records. The radio doesn’t play our music much, I don’t know why… well, I know why, you know, definitely because all media in Africa is controlled by the government or some politician or by some control, so nobody wants to lose business to the government because in Africa, government is the biggest business, you know? So people don’t want to talk, you know, or be associated with anti-establishment – with people like me in my country, because then they lose their government business. (laughs) But that being said, you can not hide the truth. People always find the truth, and Afrobeat has been able to inspire Nigeria like that for about 40 years. KGNU: So, walking around Lagos, would you be hearing Afrobeat records playing out of shops or restaurants? Or is their more of a concern about that? SK: No, it depends on where you go, you know? Yeah, definitely everywhere plays Afrobeat music - in the clubs, in the shops… things like that. But, it depends on where you go.You know what I’m saying?
‘‘
pro-Africa. So, why should we continue, in this day and age, to live along these borderlines by force? Why should we continue the white man’s experiment by force? It’s obviously not working. No country in Africa has peace. Because in every African country people feel neglected. So there’s always one part of the country that is in a no good area because there is war, there is this going on there… you know? We don’t need this in Africa. We need people everywhere in Africa to be represented accordingly. True federal system should run in Africa. If we’re going to continue to live along these borderlines then we have to enforce truth. Without true federality you cannot accomplish anything in Africa with these borderlines. And true federality is something that’s very difficult to achieve in Africa because of the corruption. So, why not let everybody control their own destiny, according to his own land and tribe and culture and historical values? KGNU: So would that be a re-drawing of borders in your mind? Or everyone exists based on who they are independently? SK: Yeah, but there’s no way to do that with-
Music gives a special kind of life force to people that practice it from their hearts.
KGNU: You’ve mentioned that the only way to unite Africa is to erase the current borders and allow for a government based on tribal lines, giving everyone a voice and then uniting in social and economic ways like the European Union. Do you still hold this view as a possibility for a united Africa? SK: Yes, of course, because I don’t believe that Africans deserve, in Africa, to be called a minority in any borders, in any country. For example, in my country, a lot of people are called minorities because they’re not from the three major ethnic groups.You know, I don’t believe Africans should be regarded in such ways. And, by the way, our borderlines are not something that was dreamt up by Africans who understood the people. It was something carved up in Europe in 1881 to benefit European economic ambitions in Africa. So this was not an African thing, it was not
’’
out redrawing of the lines. Because countries will break up and definitely, those lands will have to be shown on the map. KGNU: I guess on that point, then you’re uniting based on people, based on social and economic plans like the European Union. But we continue to see turmoil with countries within the EU, and turmoil with the EU debt crisis... seemingly every day. Do you have an altered view, having seen the EU model work, or not work as the case may be? Is there a different plan in your mind as to how that would actually function in Africa? SK: Well, you know, the truth is… you have to dream. And to be able to achieve the dream is to be able to… to make the dream work is where the effort lies. Whatever is going on in the EU today, believe me, I still think Africa, in a way, can be united along 14
IN T ERV I E Wafrobeat ambassador economic lines without such need for turmoil, because we’ve already gone through the debt issue.You know, Africa is in debt right now. The austerity issues in Africa, we’ve been living through them for about twenty years now. Serious austerity. What am I saying, twenty years?!? Almost about thirty years now we’ve been living in austerity. So, it’s new in Europe - we’ve been living through it! You know, we’ve understood these hardships of economy, economic sabotage, and backstabbing. So the people of Africa, I believe, should be able to, you know… I want to see in a model like the EU - still gonna be an African thing. The people of Africa will have to do our own, in the African style. It does not have to be like the EU’s model. Because, you know, after all has been said and done the economies of European powers, even like France and Italy, would not be what it is today without the Euro. The Euro gives them more strength. Imagine if Italy still had Lira, what the Lira would be like today? You know, with all the issues they have with the financial crisis in Italy, imagine how bad the Lira would be today without European Union backing. So, this is how we have to understand that the world, in a way - we have to all live for one another. We cannot live for ourselves, we can not say, oh, only us wants to thrive and survive. We have to try and live for one another, you understand? In Africa we have a huge advantage, which will run out soon if we do not take advantage of it, and that is our natural resources. The fact that Africa doesn’t really have to outsource anything if we’re going to develop - once we decide to take our own future in our own hands Africa can develop from within. I think this is a serious advantage that we have over economies in Europe. KGNU: Right, with the wealth of resources, if Africa could establish an infrastructure for manufacturing. SK: Yes, of course, in my country we don’t have the capability of
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manufacturing anything of quality. Everything in my country, all of the good things have to be imported, and that has to change. That’s how it is all over Africa, not just in my country. KGNU: If people were paying more attention to Africa, or as much as we’d like for them to, it might… SK: (cutting in) No, no. Trust me! Everyone is paying attention, at least economically, to Africa. Because, everyone is making money off Africans. Africa is the easiest place to go and these corporations can have things their own way and not have to give people their due because they bribe the hands of the politicians. KGNU: So for fans of your music, or people in the U.S. in general who aren’t necessarily dialed in to that reality. Is there one thing you would want people to understand about Africa today? SK: Well, the truth about Africa is that Africa does not represent Africans at the moment. But now, there’s a huge awakening in the consciousness of the youth of Africa. Because, I think we are the most educated generation ever. Since we were given our so-called independence, we have started to be civilized in Western ways, this generation is the most educated in Western ways. And we are going to be able to understand the system. So, there’s a huge awakening of our consciousness right now to retake our continent so it can begin to benefit Africans. KGNU: Thanks for taking the time to speak with us, and safe journeys there in the tour bus. SK: Ok, it’s all good!
THE TOP 30 The 30 most played albums on KGNU (January 1st – May 1st 2012)
1
Various Artists World's Funkiest Covers Cultures Of Soul
2
6
Various Artists:Bill Monroe Centennial Celebration: A Cl assic Bluegrass Tribute Rounder Records
7
Ry Cooder Pull Up Some Dust And Sit Down Nonesuch Records
Frente Cumbiero Meets Mad Professor Vampisoul
3
Novalima Karimba ESL Music
4
8
Shazalakazoo Karton City Boom Eastblok Music
9
Tom Waits Bad As Me Epitaph
Jimmy Cliff Sacred Fire EP Collective Sounds
5
Gillian Welch The Harrow & The Harvest Acony
10
The Black Keys El Camino Nonesuch Records
11
Buraka Som Sistema Komba Enchufada
12
The Wronglers With Jimmie Dale Gilmore Heirloom Music Neanderthal Records
13
Feist Metals Cherry Tree
14
Mary Flower Misery Loves Company Yellow Dog Records
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Various Artists The Legendary Studio One Records Soul Jazz Records
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Peter Tosh Equal Rights (Legacy Edition) Sony Legacy
17
The Barr Brothers The Barr Brothers Secret City Records
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Various Artists Wizards Of Country Guitar: Selected Sides 1935-1955 JSP Records
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Gauntlet Hair Gauntlet Hair Dead Oceans
20
Bjork Biophilia Nonesuch
21
The Little Willies For The Good Times Milking Bull Records
22
Megafaun Megafaun Clermont
23
Roots Manuva 4everevolution Big Dada Recordings
24
Various Artists:Sticky Soul Fingers: A Rolling Stones Tribute Mojo Music
25
Wilco The Whole Love Dbpm/Anti
27
Blitzen Trapper American Goldwing Sub Pop
28
Willie Nelson Remember Me Vol. 1 R & J Records
29
Various Artists Subway Salsa: The Montuno Records Story Vampisoul Records
30
Bad Weather California Sunkissed Family Tree Records
26
Various Artists: The Original Sound Of Cumbia: The History Of Colombian Cumbia & Porro Sound Way
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RE V I EWS
A deeper look at a few of the amazing albums heard daily on kgnu dr. john locked down
(Nonesuch Records)
Record Producers - they can save or destroy an album. Some of the least talented among them have been reassigned from the Pop posts of the 1980s to dwell in the insipid sub market of contemporary Christian artists. Others dip musicians in a vat of gloss so thick that any brilliance left from their artistry is muted to a dying glow. The best of them work as nearly imperceptible mirrors, reflecting the truly great aspects of a recording and often surprising an artist with their own genius. With Dr. John’s Locked Down album, Dan Auerbach of the Black Keys comes close to mastery in his latest attempt as producer. But, Auerbach’s efforts to conjure up the dark shadows of Dr. John’s 1968
Dr. John shines heroically on tracks like “Kingdom of Izness”, “Big Shot” and the title cut “Locked Down” - sounding like his early persona the Night Tripper gloriously resurrected from some shallow bayou grave. On other parts of the recording, Auerbach pushes too hard showcasing the legend as a Black Keys sideman or spotlighting him in front of exotic Ethiopian backdrops. The album missteps most clearly with “Ice Age” by drowning weak lyrics in a thick farfisa stew better left to vintage Mulatu Astatke records. Still, Locked Down will be difficult to remove from your personal cue for many weeks and even where it loses direction you won’t be inclined to skip ahead. At age 71, Dr. John is in top form and slowly stealing your soul from the other end of the record needle.
father john misty fear fun
chica libre canibalismo
(sub pop)
(barbes records)
Former Fleet Foxes drummer Josh Tillman has ventured out somewhere toward the deep end of the pool and its unclear if he can swim, or if he’s even trying to. With his latest release under his new moniker, Father John Misty, Tillman embarks on a twelve song adventure of remarkable craftsmanship and unprecedented oddness. The songs showcase Tillman’s careful approach to structure. Sometimes his arrangements are minimal, in other instances they run deep in thick layers of sound. Throughout Fear Fun, however, one thing is constant - each song has been given a proper foundation to weather the test of time. With the craftsmanship in place, enter the ornamental weirdness. Take a quick glance at songs like “Funtimes in Babylon” and you might overlook the apocalyptic and macabre underpinnings. But on other songs like “I’m Writing a Novel” the oddities are obvious and infectious. The opening line catapults the listener into an undeniable page turner – “I ran down the road / pants down to my knees / screaming ‘Please come help me, that Canadian shaman gave a little too much to me!’” It is clear that Josh Tillman is out to astound us on Fear Fun and by every stretch he has found success. But, has he created a sideshow that will be impossible to top? Only time will tell. 17
debut Gris-Gris fall short. It sounds like condemnation for Auerbach, who himself set the goal of re-capturing the Gris-Gris essence, but when the sun sets on Locked Down, true fans of Dr. John will rejoice with what is ultimately his greatest album in the last thirty years.
When Brooklyn’s Barbes Records began shipping off a compilation disc of obscure Peruvian music in the Fall of 2007, it’s unlikely they had any idea of the impact that it would have. That recording, The Roots of Chicha: Psychedelic Cumbias from Peru, spread like wildfire across the music world. What was this incredible music? Why had we not heard it before? Why had it been ostracized by the very country that created it? Where can we hear it performed? That final question rang through the ears of the founders of Chicha Libre. The music was so fresh, so exciting and its appeal so effortlessly universal that it still seems strange that it never managed to find an international audience. Chicha Libre was started as a way to pay tribute to the music. And while Chicha Libre’s repertoire has evolved somewhat, their sound and approach are completely indebted to the Peruvian bands they originally set out to emulate. Canabilsmo, their follow up to the 2008 debut, Sonido Amazonico!, documents a band that has grown dramatically in five short years. What started as a tribute to a then obscure genre has turned into a full-fledged original project, which has taken the band to a dozen countries, exposed them to new audiences, new ways
of looking at music, and allowed Chicha Libre to meet and play with some of the musicians who had originally inspired them. Encounters with such Chicha legends as Los Shapis, Ranil and Jose Carballo of Chacalon y la Nueva Crema have left an indelible impact with the band – one that resounds throughout the recordings on Canabilismo. This is the past and future of Chicha incarnate on a single recording. If you are already familiar with the classic repertoire, let this be your crystal ball and enjoy a glimpse of the future. If you’re late to the party, let Canabalismo introduce you to the hosts, they’ll be thrilled you could make it.You simply can’t go wrong with this recording.
Georgia Anne Muldrow Seeds (Entertainment One Music)
Listen closely to Georgia Anne Muldrow and you might just discover a path to inner peace and global unity. Not what you expected when you dropped the tone arm on her new collaboration with notorious beat genius Madlib? Well, that was your first mistake. Expectations only exist in the world of Georgia Anne Muldrow as road signs of places from which she has long since departed. Such has been the musical career of this bright young talent. On Seeds, Muldrow examines and explores her understanding of life and the interconnected nature of the universe. Her cosmic pondering is heavy and deep subject matter that initially feels strange juxtaposed against the R&B archaeological dig of sounds set forth by Madlib. Still, the vocal acrobatics and self-created choirs of Muldrow command our attention to focus on subject matter that has been seemingly alienated by this genre since Marvin Gaye’s What’s Going On. In fact, by some stretch of the imagination, Seeds feels like an organic extension of Marvin Gaye’s masterwork, delivered by some intergalactic Nina Simone prophet of the distant future.
Various Artists
This May Be My Last Time Singing: Raw African-American Gospel on 45RPM 1957-1982
(Tompkins Square)
You’ve probably never heard of Mike McGonigal, but if you are a fan of Gospel music he may be your new patron saint. McGonigal was the mastermind behind 2009’s three disc set Fire in My Bones: Raw + Rare + Otherworldly African-American Gospel (1944-2007) and has compiled collections for the incredibly elusive Mississippi Records and his own Sonic Music label. From his home base in Portland, Oregon McGonigal is painstakingly and single-handedly assembling incredible documents of the lost history of Gospel music. In this latest collection for the Tompkins Square label, McGonigal has focused on 45s that he has collected over the last decade. He made the decision to present a collection of material sourced entirely from small label 45s because of the do it yourself nature of the medium. Almost anyone could raise enough money to release a seven-inch single. Many of the 45s highlighted in the collection come from the 1960’s and 70’s and were funded by a church congregation or the artists themselves. McGonigal sums it up best in the extensive liner notes, “Maybe you’ll feel like I did on first hearing these tracks, that you’ve stumbled in on someone else’s tenderly private moment. Or that you’ve been swept up in a collective delirium.You’ll hear deep soulfulness here, with heavy admixtures of rhythm and blues and rock’n'roll. There are echoes of ’60s and ’70s pop too.You’ll also catch bits of country and western, and something like surf guitar. In another way, much here uncannily resembles the unruly sound and spirit of 1960s garage. Give yourself over to this compilation: there’s delight and surprise in every track.”
Muldrow pleads with us on the title cut, “Who is on the look out for the seeds? We took more than we really need. Protect the seeds. People look around you, what do you see? People hungry.” She encourages a life of moderation and awareness, understanding and harmony, but she also warns listeners of complacency in the days of strife, discord, and contention. Her advice coming most directly from a fleeting line in the bass thumpingly brilliant album highlight “Kali Yuga” - after laying out a breakdown of the current state of modern society she finally advises “…better google Kali Yuga” for anyone who still managed to miss the message. Seeds offers an alternative message to the intellectually devoid landscape of most beat-driven music. The collaboration between Muldrow and Madlib works effortlessly and naturally on every level, and is hopefully in itself a well planted seed for a brighter tomorrow.
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IN T ER NS CONNECT WITH KGNU
KGNU has an active student intern program where we welcome interns from various metro area colleges. Many students are studying broadcast journalism but others have an interest in community engagement and the non-profit world.
dio. "The dedication of the staff, volunteers and interns never fails to amaze me, and I hope they keep up the good work past my time here. I know they will, as I will continue to tune in to KGNU even when I’m no longer interning here."
Angelica Kalika is finishing her masters degree at the University of Colorado in Boulder, school of journalism and mass communications. Originally from Aurora, CO, Angelica completed her undergraduate degree at UC Berkeley. Angelica chose to intern at KGNU because it gives her a hands on opportunity to be involved in every aspect of radio - from engineering the board to producing and editing pieces for air. Angelica is the regular Thursday afternoon news host and has co hosted It's the Economy (Thurs. 6 pm). She’s also produced several news stories for the KGNU Morning Magazine. During her free time she blogs about food, teaches Dreamweaver, writes the Graduate Student Newsletter, and walks her doggy.
Lucas Polglaze is a junior at CU majoring in history with a minor in French and a certificate in Leadership through the INVST Community Leadership Program. It is the INVST (International and National Voluntary Service Training) program that originally brought him to KGNU. Despite not having a background in either journalism or communications, Lucas says he wanted to work with KGNU because of his interest "in educating people about issues and empowering them to take a stand and choose which side they support". Lucas feels KGNU does a great job of educating people on issues and in his time at the station he says he has come to appreciate how much work goes into what is aired on the ra-
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Shana Barrios is studying broadcast journalism and production at CU-Boulder. She began college in 2008 at Arizona State University. After then spending a year and a half studying at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Shana realized that she'd forever be a Colorado girl, so she moved back to Thornton to live with her family and started classes at CU Boulder. Shana was first drawn to KGNU because she loves working with audio. Now she says she's realized that interning at KGNU "is an opportunity to use my education to better the community". Ultimately Shana's goal is to use journalism as a tool to ensure justice. She says this starts here at KGNU, by spreading the word about local non-profits by producing Dot Org segments. "I firmly believe that the spread of information can prevent some of the world’s greatest injustices, and I am determined that my actions will change lives someday. My first step toward this goal is interning at KGNU."
GET INVOLVED WITH KGNU! KGNU depends on the time and talents of hundreds of volunteers. We have a variety of off-air and on-air volunteer opportunities. Whether you are interested in music, public affairs or working behind the scenes, KGNU welcomes you. KGNU hosts New Volunteer Orientations every other month at both our Boulder and Denver studios. Check our website (www.kgnu.org) or call 303-449-4885 for details. We have a busy schedule of community outreach events. If you’d like to help us spread the word about KGNU, call 303-449-4885 and ask about outreach volunteer opportunities.
More information about KGNU committees is available at www.kgnu.org or by calling 303-449-4885.
KGNU COMMITTEES KGNU Board of Directors
KGNU Board of Directors is the licensee of the station. The board meets on the second Monday of the month at 6:00 PM. Meetings alternate between our Denver studio (even-numbered months) and our Boulder studio (odd-numbered months). Community Advisory Board
Community Advisory Board (CAB) is a group of listeners who meet to discuss the station’s policies and programming goals. The CAB meets twice a year, once in Boulder and once in Denver. Meeting dates, times and locations are announced on our website and on-air. Budget Committee
Monitors the station’s budget. Bylaws Committee
Reviews and suggests revisions to the
station’s by-laws.
Development Committee
Supports KGNU fundraising Events Committee
Organizes KGNU benefit events. Executive Committee
Prepares the board meeting agendas and serves as the KGNU Personnel Committee. InfoTech Committee
Supports station computing needs and website.
Infrastructure Committee
Helps maintain and improve KGNU facilities and signal. Nominating Committee
recruits, interviews and recommends new board members. Program Committee
reviews station on-air programs and proposed new programs.
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UNDERSTANDING HISTORICAL Goodsoldier: I think there's a huge disconTRAUMA nect with our young people when it comes Throughout 2012, the KGNU news department is covering the work of the One Action/ One Boulder County project. Also known as Niwot's Arrow, the project is "a year-long arts inspired collaborative conversation and community action project that encourages us to learn about both the local and national histories of racial and economic injustice, and about the issues we face today". On the March 27th, 2012, Morning Magazine, KGNU co-director of News and Public Affairs, Maeve Conran, spoke with Elicia Goodsoldier from the Dine’/Spirit Lake Dakota nations. Goodsoldier was presenting a workshop in Longmont on Historical Trauma, part of the Niwot's Arrow project. KGNU: What is historical trauma? Goodsoldier: Basically historical trauma is defined as a cumulative and emotional psychological wounding across generations. The historical trauma that our ancestors... our great grandparents, our grandparents, all get passed from one generation to the next generation. So not only do we carry the traumas of our ancestors, but we also will carry our own traumas as well. KGNU: So what does this mean for Native Americans, and particularly for young people who are several generations removed from the history and atrocities inflicted on Native Americans? What is the reality now for Native Americans?
to our traditional and cultural ways. I think a really good example is the Wounded Knee massacre of 1890 in which 300 men women and children were gunned down by the US Army and thrown into a mass grave. And so with them went our culture, our language, our traditional and spiritual ways. And we can never measure the loss that went with those people. And so that has an effect on our young people because that wasn't able to get passed down - instead the trauma gets passed down. One of the most important things to understand is that after that trauma, we weren't able to grieve our people. At that point in our history we weren't able to stop and take care of ourselves and grieve. Instead we had to keep running, we had to keep away from the enemy. And so that has an effect on our young people. Pine Ridge Reservation where I spent probably the last 8 years or so, has high poverty rates and high suicide rates, and alcoholism and drug issues. I think a lot of our young people don't understand that all of that, our historical trauma, can have an effect on them. KGNU: And it's not just the Pine Ridge Reservation, but all across the continent Native Americans do suffer from higher rates of suicide, violence, alcoholism, lower achievement in education. Do you see this as being part of this larger narrative around historical trauma and it never being dealt with? And certainly when there are ongoing injustices for Native Americans in the US?
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Goodsoldier: Yes, absolutely, and I will say though that there are little pockets here and there of families and communities who are starting to return to those ways and I'm not sure if I'll ever see that come around fully in my lifetime or even in my children's lifetime, but I think that it's happening, there's a starting of a reconnection back to those ways. And so for Lakota people specifically, going back to learning the language and going back to the cultural and spiritual ways is a way to reconnect that, to heal from that trauma. KGNU: It’s obvious why Native Americans should be aware of their history and this issue of historical trauma, but why should nonNative Americans also be concerned and why should they attend your workshop? Goodsoldier: I always say the first step in healing is validation of our history... and so one of the first things that we should do is facing the trauma or addressing the trauma and then how do we transcend that trauma? And so I think that non native people have a role in that by understanding the trauma and being able to take that and share it with other people and also validating it and saying yes, that did happen and so what can we do, what can we do now? And so that is part of the reason I do what I do is so that people can take that information and share that and give back to the community.
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INTERVIEW RICHARD WOLFF ON TAXES AND LOTTERIES Richard Wolff is Professor of Economics Emeritus at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst and currently a visiting professor at the
New School in New York. The New York Times called him “America’s most prominent Marxist economist.” He is the author of numerous books, including Occupy the Economy with David Barsamian. This is an excerpt of an interview broadcast on “Alternative Radio”, a nationally syndicated weekly public affairs program heard Wednesdays at 6 PM on KGNU: David Barsamian: The Occupy Wall Street movement has certainly brought attention to some of the inequities and contradictions of the Tax Code, but in general, why is so little known about the intricacies of the Tax Code? Richard Wolff: I think partly, and the least important, it’s complicated. Again I remind you, take a look at the Tax Code books issued by the Internal Revenue Service and you will see. These are tomes. These are mammoth volumes of immense numbers of pages. The Tax Code is effectively reworked almost every year. If you’re wealthy enough to use a tax accountant, you will get a memo from the tax accountant at least once or twice a year simply letting you know what some of the major changes are each year that might affect you if you’re rich. This is a kind of income that is now more or less taxed. And a clever tax accountant, well paid by a rich client will move assets, will get rid of a horse ranch and buy a painting or get rid of a painting and make a contribution to some university, in order to take advantage of the constant changes. Most Americans have no incentive and don’t have the resources to take advantage of this. Remember, all the time, interests looking for a new tax break will pay high-priced lobbyists to do the work in Washington or the state house of a state to get the Tax Code adjusted, to get the regulation shifted, to get a new law passed. This adds up. That’s
why particular groups have what we’ve come to call loopholes—all those little arrangements that get slipped into a bill at the last stages of it going through passage. Just before it reaches the president’s desk or the governor’s desk for signature, a little amendment is stuck in. Nobody pays much attention, because it’s such a little deal that only 16 sugar farms will be able to take advantage of it. But they will save hundreds of millions of dollars, so it will have paid them to spend $10 million giving some lobbying firm in Washington the ability to hire 50 people to bother the six congressmen and congresswomen they need to vote in a different way, to give them all kind of contributions and all the rest of it to get the thing written that nobody will notice but will save them $100 million over the next five years. And by them saving $100 million of taxes, we all have to remember, the government has to make up somewhere else the money it’s not going to be getting from the people who have gotten that loophole.You add that up, all the people getting loopholes, that’s why we pay the taxes, those of us who can’t get that kind of benefit, under this system.
taxes, want their taxes cut. This has left the state in a kind of difficulty. How are you going to deliver all the services, particularly to the rich and the corporations who want those services, if you can’t get the taxes, either from them or from an angry population, to pay for it? One solution, one avenue of dealing with this that political leaders have found is gambling, that is, to reverse the long American distaste for gambling that has made it illegal to have lotteries, to have racetracks, to have all those things in most parts of the U.S. All that has had to be chucked out the window. We can’t afford these religious taboos. The government saw a way of taxing that they didn’t have to call a tax, so they wouldn’t have to admit, Oh, we’re taxing the people. They have to get rid, however, of the taboo on gambling. Why? Because the state could then become the monopoly gambler. Those who have ever lived in an urban area in the U.S. know that the numbers racket and lotteries have long been in existence, but they have been one of the black-market activities in our society, money to be made by illegal means, whether it’s run by criminal gangs or neighborhood folks.
David Barsamian: Lotteries, now run by most states are, you say, disguised forms of taxation. Explain what you mean.
Over recent decades, squeezed by the mass of people, angry about the taxes that have been shifted on them, even if they don’t understand that that’s happened, the politicians came up with lotteries. Here’s a way to tax the mass of people without calling it a tax while having the mass of people kind of enjoy the whole process. It’s a politicians dream—getting money out of the mass of people without offending them, without appearing to be doing what you’re doing because that can get you voted out of office, if you levy a tax.
Richard Wolff: Over the last several decades the American tax system has faced a revolt, understandably, by the middle- and lower-income people, who pay a disproportionate amount of taxes given what the tax system is supposed to do, which is in the sense of the federal income tax, tax people according to their ability to pay. In all the ways I’ve described, that goal, that objective, which is in the interest of most Americans, has been systematically thwarted, frustrated, and indeed the opposite has been produced. Therefore, it’s not surprising that Americans, in general, are angry about
Here’s how it works. The government establishes a lottery. It says to the mass of people, give me your money, in the form of buying lottery tickets. I’m going to 24
then give a tiny handful of you a ton of money and the rest of you are going to get a fantasy, a few hours in which you can say to yourself, gee, what would life be like if I won $1 million, or whatever it is. If you look at the statistics, here’s how it works. Every government—and it’s mostly been state governments—every government that has instituted a lottery takes in more money from ticket sales than it pays out. That’s the whole point of a lottery. So what we have here is a net flow of money out of the hands of masses of individuals in to the government to help pay for what the government already is doing, whether it be schools or highway maintenance or anything else. So it is a kind of tax. It’s taking more money from people than they otherwise would have. It’s just you’ve cleverly sold them a fantasy, an imaginary moment of thinking what life would be like if they actually won the lottery. But when you think about it, here’s two facts about it that should show you what the real meaning is. I once spent some time in the state of Connecticut, where I used to live, looking at a map of the state. It showed where people lived who had different levels of income: where the poor people lived, where the middle-income people lived, where the rich people lived. Superimposed on that map of Connecticut was a map of where lottery tickets were sold. Guess what? The lower the income level of the people, the more lottery tickets were sold. In other words, the lottery is a regressive tax: it takes much more money from middle- and lower-income people than it takes from the rich. So it not only pleased politicians to earn more money for the government, it also allowed them to do something that basically fell as a burden
on middle- and, particularly, lower-income people. Economically speaking, lotteries are also a disaster, and it’s easy to explain. What lotteries do is take $2 or $3 or $4 a day, often from poor people. Here’s what economics teaches us. The poor people and the middle-income people, who are the overwhelming majority purchasers of these lottery tickets, would have spent that money on goods and services that would have given jobs to other people. What the state does is take that money from all the little ticket sales and give a huge amount of it to two or three or four individuals, making them suddenly very rich. But here’s what we know in economics. If you’re very rich, if you’re suddenly a millionaire, a huge portion of your income will no longer be spent on goods and services, because you don’t need to, you’re now a very rich person.You will save a lot of it, you will invest a lot of it.You will buy shares of stock, you will put it in a foreign bank account.You will do all kinds of things other than using it to buy goods and services. So this is moving money from people who would have spent it and thereby created a demand for jobs and giving it all to a handful of people who will not spend a good portion of it. It is therefore the very worst thing you want to do in an economy that needs stimulation, that needs demand, that needs consumers buying things, because you’re basically invading consumption by moving money from the masses who would have spent it to a tiny number of people whose very wealth guarantees that they won’t spend a significant part of it. So it is economic nonsense. It simply solves the problem of bankrupt governments unable or, more likely, unwilling to tax the rich
ELECTION COVERAGE “Although our interests as citizens vary, each one is an artery to the heart that pumps life through the body politic, and each is important to the health of democracy” – Bill Moyers A presidential election year is an important time to check the health of democracy in the United States and in Colorado. KGNU will continue to cover the 2012 election till all of the November 6 ballots have been counted. We will consistently provide news and analysis of campaign finance, struggles over proposed voter ID laws which threaten to suppress voting by minorities and the poor, and laws and regulations governing access to ballots. 25
KGNU’s Jim Banks will report from Tampa, Florida on August 27-30th from the Republican National Convention and we’ll bring you coverage from Pacifica and the Democracy Now team, along with reports from Free Speech Radio News and the BBC. Liz Lane will report on the Democratic National Convention for KGNU from Charlotte, North Carolina September 3-6, with additional coverage from our national and international sources. KGNU will cover citizen action outside the arenas as well as what happens within. In November voters will decide on citizen initiatives at the state and local levels. The ballots will address issues from banning
and the corporations who have been exempted by their lobbying and their political contributions for the last 50 years. David Barsamian: You say lotteries are also powerful ideological and political weapons. In what way? Richard Wolff: They sustain illusions. They sustain that this is a system and a society in which you can become suddenly rich. It’s interesting that at a time when the job situation makes the idea of everybody becoming rich by work look further and further away, look less and less likely, people have an even greater need to turn to the fantasy of a lottery as a way to sustain the illusion that wealth, comfort are within reach. gee, by just buying one of those little tickets that’s available at every corner store. So, yes, it sustains that notion. Remember also that all the state lottery authorities make a big point of doing public relations, giving you the picture of the mother who won the lottery so you could imagine yourself, too, like her, being a winner. So it sustains the illusion. It plays the role that used to be played by the Horatio Alger myth.You tell a story about a person who came from poverty and worked real hard, and then he or she finally made it into the ranks of the rich. This is a story you tell to offset the misery and depression of all the people who can’t do that, who never did do that. The lottery keeps that going now that the notion of working your way to wealth has become the real fantasy. Richard Wolff spoke with David Barsamian on December 29, 2011, in New York, NY. Their l atest book is Occupy the Economy. For more information on Alternative Radio or the book, visit alternativeradio.org
hydraulic fracturing (fracking) in residential areas of Longmont, to statewide legalization of marijuana, to declaring that a fetus has the rights and standing of an adult citizen, potentially outlawing birth control. KGNU will broadcast debates with advocates both pro and con. Our election year coverage will be supported by the in depth interviews, discussions and call-in shows that round out the news schedule: A Public Affair, Counterspin, Metro, the Labor Exchange, La Lucha Sigue, Outsources, Hemispheres, Alternative Radio, It’s the Economy, Connections, Wings, Making Contact, Latino USA, and Sprouts.
Dear KGNU: I forgot to put this note in the envelope I sent with my quarterly donation, but want you to know how much I appreciate all you do for our community. Thank you, KGNU!!! Your service to our community is absolutely priceless. KGNU is the only media outlet that sincerely strives to (and has accomplished) providing the good folks in Colorado with objective news coverage (truly objective!).Your news provides people with real facts and not the regurgitated BS that is shoved down the throats of the American people by biased “news” sources (i.e., FOX, ABC, NBC, CNN, etc.). Not to mention your wonderful music! THANK YOU KGNU for all you do for our community! Sincerely, Carson Vaudrin Howdy KGNU, I’m actually living in Viet Nam but keep a Boulder mailing address. Currently I’m in Tuy Hoa, Phu Yen Province. I’m retired and do volunteer teaching on a part-time basis. I’ll be back to visit during the Fall 2012 pledge drive and will check in then. I’ve always raved about KGNU, and I’m still raving. Keep up the good work. It’s always
LETTERS good to hear you live over here. James R. Nelson, Boulder and Viet Nam I am usually in Colorado only on weekends, and in the mountains near Conifer I can’t get your FM signal, and the AM is good only after sunrise. But, I try to listen regularly to Honky Tonk Heroes on Saturdays, and often catch parts of Old Grass [Gnu Grass]…. I love HTH, and enjoy the “grass roots” portion of OGGG. And I support your progressive viewpoint. Dan Olincy, Morrison Dear Mr. Fuqua: On behalf of Labor’s Community Agency, I would like to thank you for your donation of children’s books, which were picked up on November 14th, through the help of Dennis Creese. Without support from organizations such as yours, Labor’s Community Agency would not be able to help individuals and families… [T]hank you again for your most generous donation. Sincerely, Maria D. Palacios, Executive Director Labor’s Community Agency, Inc., Lakewood
LETTERS FROM LISTENERS
Dear Sam: Thank you so much for everything you and your team have done to make our stay in Denver such a memorable experience. The community has been so warm and welcoming we hope to have done it justice with the stories we’ve recorded in it—and which we won’t forget…. Thank you so much for everything! We felt so welcomed and felt such support from you and KGNU. We couldn’t have had a better stay in Denver. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Bea, Erin & Virginia StoryCorps Mobile Booth Team (See the article on page 5.)
thanks to LOCAL Businesses for SUPPORTing KGNU
These fine local establishments donated their time, services and efforts to support KGNU's Spring membership drive — We encourage you to support the people who support KGNU!
AEG Live aeglive.com Annie's Café and Bar Arugula Bar and Ristorante arugularistorante.com Axios Estiatorio axiosdenver.com B.J.’s Pizza bjsrestaurants.com Bacco Trattoria baccoboulder.com Blackjack Pizza blackjackpizza.com Boulder Chophouse chophouse.com Boulder Cork bouldercork.com Brio Tuscan Grill brioitalian.com Buca di Beppo bucadibeppo.com Bones bonesdenver.com Café Aion cafeaion.com Casselman’s casselmans.com
Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom and The Other Side cervantesmasterpiece.com Chef Bob chefbob.sampson@gmail.com Chinook Book chinookbook.net Chipolte chipotle.com City O City cityocitydenver.com Colorado Shakespeare Festival coloradoshakes.org Comedy Works comedyworks.com Community Cycles communitycycles.org Cosmo’s Pizza cosmospizz.com EGo CarShare carshare.org E-Town etown.org Einstein Bagels einsteinbros.com Extreme Pita extremepitaboulder.com
Foolish Craig’s Café foolishcraig’s.com
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boulder shelter bakery Southside Walnut Café walnutcafe.com Spruce Confections spruceconfections.com
Garbonzo’s eatgarbanzo.com Greenbriar Inn greenbriarinn.com Hapa Sushi Grill hapasushi.com Hi Dive hi-dive.com Interstate Kitchen and Bar interstaterestaurant.com Julien’s Cliffhouse Kombucha John’s Restaurant johnsrestaurantboulder.com Larimer Lounge larimerlounge.com Las Brisas Le Peep lepeep.com Linger lingerdenver.com Little India littleindiadenver.com
Martini’s Bistro martinisbistro.com
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Racine’s Restaurant racinesrestaurant.com
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Murphy’s Grill murphysboulder.com
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Mustard’s Last Stand Noodles & Company noodles.com
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Old Louisville Inn oldlouisvilleinn.com Osteria Marco osteriamarco.com Ozo’s Coffee ozocoffe.com Pearl Street Steak Room pearlstreetsteakroom.com Pica's Mexican Taqueria picasboulder.com
Rudi’s Organic Bakery rudisbakery.com SALT Bistro saltboulderbistro.com Salt Box Street Food & Catering facebook.com/saltboxfood Silver Mine Subs silverminesubs.com Snarf’s eatsnarfs.com
Sushi Tora sushitora.net Swallow Hill Music swallowhillmusic.org Tahona Tequila Bar tahonaboulder.com Ted’s Montana Grill tedsmontanagrill.com The Village Cork villagecork.com Third Street Chai 3rdstreetchai.com Turley’s Restaurant turleysrestaurant.com Verde Food Truck verdefoodtruck.com Z2 Entertainment Zoe MaMa zoemama.com
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KGNU UNDERWRITERS 3rd Street Chai 3rdstreetchai.com Altermeds altermeds.com The Alternative Law Office Of Mark Milavitz alt-law.com Bart’s Music Shack Black & Read blackandread.net Boulder County Caregivers cdscenters.com Boulder Outlook Hotel boulderoutlook.com Boulder Weekly boulderweekly.com Celtic Connection celticconnection.com Colorado Blues Society coblues.com Colorado Education Program eduproject .com Colorado Piano Buyers Guide colorapianobuyersguide.com
Community Shares Colorado cshares.org Cottonwood Custom Builders cottonwoodcustombuilders.com Denver Foundation denverfoundation.org Denver Kush Club denverkushclub.com Edible Front Range ediblecommunities.com/frontrange Eight Days A Week 8days.com Grant Family Farms grantfarms.com Greater Park Hill News greaterparkhillcommunity.com Green Girl Recycling greengirlrecycling.com Greg Friedman Helping Hand Herbals helpinghandsherbals.com High Grade Alternatives
highgradealternatives.com Highlander Magazine highlandermo.com Independent Power Systems solarips.com Indian Peaks Spring Water indanpeaksspringwater.com Indra’s Net indra.net Justins Nut Butter justinsnutbutter.com Marquee Magazine marqueemag.com Mile High Welcome milehiwelcome.com Mountatin Ear themountain-Ear.com Mountain Sun Brew Pub mountainnsunpub.com Nexus Publishing nexuspub.com OHCO ohco.com The Onion theonion.com
One Love Garden Supply onelovegardensupply.co Pocket Coupon Directory pocketcoupons.com Ras Kassa’s raskasssas.com Rocky Mountain Institute Of Yoga & Ayruvedas rmiya.org Redstone Review redstonereview.com Redwood Lanscape redwoodlandscape.com Trident Booksellers tridentcafe.com Unseen Bean theunseenbean.com Unitarian Universalists coloradouu.org Urban Spectrum denverurbanspectrum.com Walnut Brewery walnutbrewery.com Washington Park Profile washingtonparkprofile.com Yellow Scene yellowscene.com
VOLU NTEER P R OFI LE S V O L U N T E E R P RO F I L E :
KENNY SKINNER
Regular listeners of KGNU’s Monday evening news and Kabaret show are familiar with the voice of Kenny Skinner. People in the Aurora and Denver communities may know him as ‘DJ Kenny’ from his tireless outreach efforts and street promotion of the station. But who is that sharp dressed man? Growing up in St. Louis MO (“the ghetto of the world!” he proclaims) was very hard for Kenny and his 2 brothers. Both their mother and father were killed by the time Kenny was 5. They were taken in by their grandmother, and thanks to VA death benefits from his father’s Navy service, survived the struggle. Opportunities to develop his inner gifts were
not there though. Throughout careers in the US Army and at United Airlines, Kenny was often told he had a voice for radio, and was popular on the mic at parties. The person who encouraged Kenny’s broadcast ambitions the most was his brother, who he lost to bi-polar disorder while first training at KGNU. Years giving support to his brother’s disability taught Kenny that bipolar people “need to be cared for, respected, and protected.” After grieving, Kenny came back with great focus and determination to learn broadcasting. He continues to hone his studio skills now that he is a board operator, noting “even if it’s a small thing, or something that’s been going on for years, we can still add life to it.”
KGNU has provided him with a sense of community beyond achieving childhood dreams of being on air. “In Boulder, it seems like every time I go up there, a light comes on, I feel good,” he says. Although his transportation is RTD or “the sole express” Kenny is out on a regular basis chatting up the public, handing out the KGNU pocket guides he always carries. Why? “I enjoy talking about KGNU because it’s real!” he says. His passion for the station is convincing, as several people have shown up at Volunteer Orientations after talking to DJ Kenny. Participation in KGNU has been transformative for him, and he wishes the same for others “People, in general, need to hear more about KGNU, and they will.”
V O L U N T E E R P RO F I L E :
BONNIE VAN DEURSEN
Bonnie Van Deursen found KGNU just four years ago by surfing the signal dial. Upon discovering this volunteer-powered radio station whose airwaves are woven through the community fabric enveloping Boulder, Denver, and Colorado’s Front Range, as well as the wider world beyond, 27
her reaction was “I am so sorry I didn’t find it sooner! Where have I been???” And after listening to KGNU’s morning news programs for just a few weeks, Bonnie knew she wanted to be involved. “I wanted to get to know these very interesting people who were discussing and exploring things that were so important,” she says.
action, Bonnie does KGNU outreach at various venues. She also helps at the plant sale and, of course, helps answer phones during pledge drives. She is also exploring expanding and deepening her volunteering commitment to KGNU, explaining “I am currently looking into joining the Development Committee, which I am very excited about.”
Translating her desire for involvement into
Asked about her favorite aspect of KGNU
or volunteering for KGNU, Bonnie answers, “I love the mission of the station.” (KGNU's mission statement can be found on page 2.) Perhaps with the mission statement in mind, Bonnie honestly adds that “Although the mindset of most of the KGNUers is the same and not very diverse, we are still open to listening to others and I think that’s really
great. The best thing about volunteering is all the really great, diverse and interesting people I have met.” Bonnie was born and raised in Ohio, but has lived in Colorado for more than half her life. She is also a fiber artist, working in fabric, mainly, and makes contemporary quilts as
VOLU NTEERS
wall art. “That’s another thing about KGNU,” she enthuses. “We profile local artists and give them a venue to hang their work.Very cool.” When asked if there’s anything else she has to share with listeners and fellow volunteers, Bonnie’s reply is, “Keep listening, everybody!”
Real and good people make great radio happen.
KGNU could not continue without the labor and love generously donated by over 300 volunteers. We thank each and every one listed here, and all others who dedicate their time to participate in independent radio. Gregory AbdurRasheed Puahau Aki Peju Alawusa Shareef Aleem Hussein Amery Christine Andresen Madame Andrews Arleigh Ty Arthur Ewket Assefa Dan Atkinson Charles Ballas Jim Banks Joe Barger Scott Barnes Joy Barrett Shana Barrios Michele Barrone David Barsamian John Baxter Kim Baxter Elijah Bent Donnie Betts Mike Bieszad Mike Bilos Andre Blackman Dave Blackwood Nathan Bloodsworth Art Blevins Stephen Brackett Michael Bradshaw Graciela BreeceRodriquez Melody Brinkley Jeannie Brisson Kate Brooks Daniel Brown Dave Brown Skip Brown Stephanie Brown Michael Buck Kellie Cannon Cory Campbell Duncan Campbell Ian Campbell Meredith Carson Sandra Chamberlain Jim Ciarlo Robin Claire Dark Cloud Brian Cockrell
Bjorn Coker Joanne Cole Ryan Collins Brian Comerford Holly Conrad Lucila Contreras Jen Cornell Tom Cowing Claudia Cragg Joe Craighead Dennis Creese Steve Cser Dan Culberson Martin Dadisman Robin Dadisman Kristen Daly Joel Davis Joe de Cordoba Nichole DeLorimier Marshall Demeranville III Ben Desoto Jonny DeStefano Joe Diamo Maria Diedrichs Beth Dobos Helen Dohrman Phil Dougan Mark Doyle Breanna Draxler Sharon Dryden James Duncan Sara Duniven Shay Dunne Daniel Edwards Robin Edwards Karl Eggert Nichole Elmore Wendy Emrich Roy England Paul Epstein Elaine Erb Brett Ericson Guy Errickson Brian Eyster Judy Feland Astrid Felter George Figgs Eric Figueroa Mike Finn Mary Fingland Lorraine Filomeno
Ron Forthofer Mary Forthofer Sandra Fish Kenneth Flowe Justin Forbes Briget Forsmark Jennifer Frank Kathy Frazier John Fredericksmeyer Ken Fricklas Gregg Friedman Little Fyodor Luna Galassini John Galm Miguel Garcia Jeff Garrison Susan GatschetReese Danielle Gauna Vanessa Gerhards Barry Gilbert Kathy D. Gilbert Dave Gloss Roxie Goss Chip Grandits Desiree Grandpre Rob Greene Leo Griep-Ruiz Rick Griffith Karen Gruber Matt Gushee Brandon Hagen Damon Haley Theresa Halsey Kenneth Hamblin III Karen Hammer Catherine Harley Justin Hartman Rebekah Hartman Jim Haynes Erik Helgeson Drew Henderson Laura Henning Leilani Rashida Henry Brian Hiatt Terry Hicks Holly Hirst Jeff Hlad Emily Hogg Jeff Holland
Sue Hollingshead Mike Hollingsworth Andrew Hogle Mateo Homan Dugar Hotala Len Houle Cathy Howell Dafe Hughes Josh Hukriede Sandra Hunter Terre Hurst Tyler Jacobson Jim Jobson Johnny Johnson Zach Johnson Joe Juhasz Remy Kachadourian Ross Kahn Angelica Kalika Ibrahim Kazerooni Richard Keifer Lisa Kelekolio Elena Klaver Alan Klaverstrom Evi Klett Cecilia KludingRodriquez Marcia Klump Jim Knopf Diana Korte Gene Korte Nat Kramer Karl Kumli Celeste Labadie Frank Lambrick Liz Lane Raymone Lee John Lehndorff Jason Leutheuser Mahlia Lindquist Elizabeth Lock Terri Loconsolo Tonja Loendorf Leslie Lomas Anne Marie Lombard Jessica Lovering Judy Lubow Jerry Maddock Lucila Maestas Bill Mahon Jacque Major
Donovan Makha Ludmila Matrosova Brigitte Mars Marcella Marschell Christine Marsh Kathleen Martindale Christian Martinez Matthew Martinez Mike Massa Neil McBurnett Lance McCarty Tim McCarthy Pat McCullough David McIntosh Dave McIntyre Heather McWilliams Scott Medina Gerald Mercaro Eva Mesmer Kathy Metzger Pete Miesel Skip Miller Steve Miller Yukari Miyamae Chris Mohr Matthew Molina Tom Moore Susan Moran Basit Mustafa Hannah Myers Sonia Narang Chris Nathan Pat Naylis Jim Nelson Chip Nesser Mollie O’Brien Jennifer O’Neill Chris O’Riley Danny Overby Annie Pautsch Neil Parker Joel Parker Kathy Partridge Leah Peebles Joe Pezzillo Tom Plant Kim Poletti Lucas Polglaze Jim Pullen Curtis Powells Steve Priem Stevyn Prothero
Suzanne Real Terry Reardon Skip Reeves Donna Rhodes Joe Richey Jacinto Rico Frosher Riox Barry Roark Erin Roberts Tom Roberts Tony Robinson Irene Rodriguez Morgan Rogers Rett Rogers Wendy Rochman Jill Rosenbloom Brad Rosenzweig Leland Rucker Jack Rummel Jordan Rundle C. Russell Steve Rush Luz Saldano Rachel Sapin Susan Savage Steven S-Boemeker LeAnne Schamp Stefan Schardt Shelley Schlender Greg Schultz Michael Schmidt Steve Schoo Selena Stephanie Sere Jon Shaw Jaime Shuey Katharine Shuler Michael Shuster Lamar Sims Kenny Skinner Sarah Slater Neil Smart Creighton Smith Kialah Smith Stephanie Smith Alan Sobel Cherrelle Speight Elane Spivak-Rodriquez Steve Stalzle Pavlos Stavropoulos Elle Steinfurth
Laurie Stephenson Fergus Stone Scott Stovall Juliette Strauss Steve Strenge Norman Strizek Miz Susan Mandy Sutyak Eve Szokolai Max Taffet Marge Taniwaki Nancy Taddiken Adam Taylor Deb Taylor Brad Thacker Ge Thao Mike Tipton Vols Toadd Judy Trompeter Dan Tulenko Sondra Tutela Doug Uhm T Valladeres Bonnie Vanduersen Robin Van Norman Steven Vey Mark Vignali David Vorzimer Brandon Walsh Jon Walton Soul Watson Carolyn Wegner Jennette Weisskopt James Weise Blair Weigum Courtney Welsh Wendy Welsh Roger Wendell Joan L. Wernick Stephen Whitehead Dan Willging David Wilson D. Douglas Wiseman Louis Wolfe Cary Wolfson Stephen Wright Moutiou Yessoufou Ricci Young Cheryl Zeeb Dale Zigelsky
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Greg O’Brien March 17, 1946 – March 26, 2012
have been overlooked, suppressed or under-represented by “the dominant paradigm” and its architects.
gade to Mahler, Miles Davis, Doctor John, Beethoven, The Clash, and – of course – Grateful Dead.
KGNU lost a longtime member of our family when Greg O’Brien, 66, died peacefully on March 26, 2012 at Manor Care in Boulder, after nearly a two-year battle with cancer. Greg was surrounded by family and friends who loved him dearly.
Over the past twenty years, Greg volunteered in many capacities at KGNU. He served as a member of the Board of Directors and of many committees, and helped with numerous activities, including creative fundraising events.
We are all richer for having had Greg in our lives, and he will be missed greatly. Greg influenced so many who knew him, inspiring us to work for a more sane and just world, and reminding us to eat, drink, laugh, and love to the fullest on the journey. In the words left on Greg’s answering machine, “You know what to do. Tallyho.”
Greg was the oldest of six children. Close in age, the siblings remained close throughout life. In the late 1960s, Greg graduated from a Catholic college (where he had been granted a scholarship) and worked as a VISTA volunteer, an early step in a lifelong commitment to peace and social justice. It’s not surprising that Greg became passionate about KGNU as soon as he moved to Boulder. Greg’s life commitment mirrored the Station’s mission to know and advocate for individuals, groups, and issues that
In 1994 Greg married Janet Fraser also a member of the KGNU community – at the KGNU studio. Though they subsequently separated, they remained best friends forever. One of Greg’s many talents was his sense of humor. He used it often to punctuate intense political discussions, sharing laughter and a broader perspective. Greg’s most prized possession was his collection of 5,000 books. He also loved and knew much about wine, food, art, history, and a wide array of creative music. His record collection ranged from songs of the Lincoln Bri-
Is You r Wi l l Your Way ? “We have made KGNU a beneficiary in our will because we want to help the station thrive long after we’re gone. We know that money given to KGNU will be used in an efficient and effective manner. It’s really important to us that the voices, the news and the music on our local, independent media will continue to be available to future generations.” – Anonymous couple from Boulder What are Planned Gifts? Planned gifts are a variety of charitable giving methods that allow you to express your personal values by integrating your charitable, family and financial goals. Making a planned charitable gift should involve asking the advice of a qualified estate and/or tax professional. KGNU is happy to meet with you and provide information that will help you start planning a gift and can recommend a financial planner for your needs. Planned gifts can be made with cash, but are often made by donating assets such as stocks, real estate, life insurance or business interests— anything with value. Planned gifts can provide valuable tax benefits and/or lifetime income for you and your spouse or other loved one. The type of gift that is most frequently made is a bequest to a charity, made through your will. Other popular planned gifts include charitable trusts and charitable gift annuities. Why Should I Make a Planned Gift? 29
Many people want to make charitable gifts but need to do so in a way that helps meet their other personal, family, or financial needs. Frequently we hear from members “I wish I could do more.” Planned gifts give you options for making your charitable gifts in ways that may allow you to: • Make a larger charitable gift than you thought possible • Increase your current income Plan for the financial needs of a spouse or loved one • Provide inheritances for your heirs at a reduced tax cost • Reduce your income tax and/or avoid capital gains tax • Diversify your investment portfolio • Receive income from your personal residence or farm • Plan for the transfer of your business • Leave a charitable legacy for future generations How Can I Make a Planned Gift? For information about how to make a planned gift to KGNU and ensure volunteer powered listener-supported community radio for future generations please contact Community Development Director Shawna Sprowls at shawna@kgnu.org, 303-449-4885 or by mail c/o KGNU, 4700 Walnut Street, Boulder, CO 80301. KGNU is classified by the Internal Revenue Service as a 501 c 3 charitable organization. Contributions and gifts are tax deductible as applicable by law.
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