KPLU Jazz and Blues Hosts

Jazz & Blues Hosts

The KPLU and Jazz24 family includes many distinct and memorable voices. Meet the local jazz and blues hosts who entertain and educate our listeners each day of the week.

	Nick Francis *Music Director* A native of Los Angeles and graduate of UCLA, Francis began his radio career in 1983 at KLSK-FM, an eclectic-based jazz station in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Since then, he has programmed jazz radio at stations all around the country, including KKSF/San Francisco and WJZZ/Atlanta. During his seven years as Program Director at KYOT/Phoenix, he helped it become the first jazz station in America to achieve number-one status in the ratings. He joined the KPLU team in November 2005. His most memorable KPLU radio moment was meeting and interviewing Mose Allison. He lives in North Tacoma, and is married to photographer Sharon Styer. E-mail Nick at nfrancis@kplu.org
	Dick Stein Midday Jazz Host Dick Stein has been with KPLU since January, 1992. His duties include hosting the morning jazz show and co-hosting and producing the Food for Thought feature with the Seattle Times’ Nancy Leson. He was writer and director of the three Jimmy Jazzoid live radio musical comedies and 100 episodes of Jazz Kitchen. Previous occupations include the USAF, radio call-in show host, country, classical and top-40 DJ, chimney sweep, window washer and advertising copywriter. His most memorable KPLU moment: Peeling Alien life form from Erin Hennessey’s face after it leapt at her from the biohazard refrigerator he picked up cheap for the station at an FDA garage sale. Dick is married to nationally noted metalsmith, jewelry designer and cowgirl “Calamity” Cheryl DeGroot. Email Stein at dstein@kplu.org
	Abe Beeson Evening Jazz Host Abe grew up in Western Washington, a 3rd generation Seattle/Tacoma kid. It was as a student at Pacific Lutheran University that Abe landed his first job at KPLU, editing and producing audio for news stories. It was a Christmas Day shift no one else wanted that gave Abe his first on-air experience which led to overnights, then Saturday afternoons, and he's been hosting Evening Jazz since 1998. His most memorable KPLU radio moments include introducing Dave Brubeck, Ray Charles, Oscar Peterson and other greats; attending the San Sebastian Jazz Festival in Spain with a group of KPLU jazz fans; and locking himself out of the station on a particularly cold winter night. E-mail Abe at abeeson@kplu.org
	Kevin Kniestedt Jazz on the Grooveyard and Weekend Edition Saturday Host Kevin began his career at KPLU in 2003, where his first responsibility was to eradicate the KPLU Jazz Library from all Smooth Jazz CD’s. Since then he has hosted, at least once, almost every single program on KPLU. Kevin is also the author of KPLU’s Groove Notes jazz blog, has interviewed several world class jazz artists, produced local news features, and helped make the KPLU Grocery Tote famous. His most memorable KPLU radio moment was his interview with Edgar Martinez right before his last home game. Kevin lives the seemingly never-ending bachelor life in downtown Tacoma where you may find him hitting a tennis ball, catching an independent film or eating a massive plate of nachos. E-mail Kevin at kkniestedt@kplu.org Click here for Kevin Kniestedt's stories
	Robin Lloyd *Midday Jazz Host* Robin Lloyd was born and raised in the Detroit area. She performed radio plays in junior high and high school, took various radio apprenticeships in high school and college, and has held a number of different positions at community and public radio stations in Michigan and Western Washington, including Jazz and Blues Host, Producer, Production Manager, Station Operations Manager and Program Director. Robin is married to drummer Michael Slivka; together they manage a household full of dogs, cats and percussion. Her most memorable KPLU moment: dancing with the Wild Magnolias Mardi Gras Indians on stage at Jazz Alley on my birthday. Email Robin at rlloyd@kplu.org
	John Kessler *All Blues Host* John has worked as a professional bassist for 20 years, including a 15 year stint as Musical Director of the Mountain Stage radio program. John has been at KPLU since 1999 where he hosts “All Blues”, is producer of the BirdNote radio program, and co-hosts “Record Bin Roulette”. John is also the recording engineer for KPLU “In-Studio Performances”. Not surprisingly, John's main musical interests are jazz and blues, and he is still performing around Seattle. His most memorable and satisfying KPLU radio moment was getting an email from Jimmy Lane, a bluesman and the son of blues legend Jimmy Rogers, who said something like “You’re playing the good stuff, keep it up!” E-mail John at jkessler@kplu.org
	Mary McCann Saturday Jazz Matinee Host Mary McCann is a poet and performer and madly in love with music. She’s written three one woman shows and had her poetry published by Arizona State University. Broadcast radio was her life from age 17 on. In 1999 she had a pioneering role in Internet radio during the dot com boom in Silicon Valley. Mary is currently the World Music Director at AOL Internet radio and one of the narrators for BirdNote. She started at KPLU in June of 2008 as the host of the Saturday Jazz Matinee. Her most memorable KPLU moment was my first fund drive. She says, “It was a thrill to talk to people about shared values through music. It still is, every time I take the mic.” Email Mary at mmccann@kplu.org
	Rich Germaine KPLU's Underwriting Voice Rich is the voice of KPLU’s underwriting and many promotional announcements. His career in radio and TV spans more than 30 years. His "on-air" radio gigs have included Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle for such notable stations as KFOG, San Francisco and KIRO, Seattle. His passion for jazz includes a syndicated Gospel Jazz show heard every Sunday on the Internet radio station: Jazz Radio Network. His most memorable KPLU radio moment was experiencing his first fund drive as a co-host with Dick Stein. “A wild and crazy ride...and lots of fun.” Rich lives in Port Orchard, Washington with his wife Cherie. They are the proud parents of four grown children and two grandchildren.
	Paige Hansen Jazz Host Paige Hansen has been paid to talk since 1993. Paige began in radio as a music announcer at KUNC in Colorado where she was raised. After college she spent three years as News Director at KMST in Missouri where she met and married water engineer Jeff Hansen. At KPLU she’s been a news host (1998-2006) and a music host (since 2006.) Her most memorable KPLU moment involves mispronouncing the word 'erratic' when reporting on dangerous drivers. Erotic driving sounded so much more fun! She has a background in music and theater and enjoys singing jazz and playing her own original songs. She lives with her husband and two young sons “The Mighty” Quinn and Mac “The Knife” in Lakewood. E-mail Paige Hansen at phansen@kplu.org Click here for Paige Hansen's stories
	Nick Morrison Production Manager/ Jazz & Blues Host Nick began working at KPLU as a program host in the late 1980’s and, with the exception of a relatively brief hiatus, has been with the station ever since. Along with his work as a Midday Jazz host, Nick worked for several years as KPLU’s Music Director. He is now the station’s Production Manager and also serves as a fill-in host on KPLU’s jazz and blues programs. Among his many memorable KPLU moments, Nick vividly recalls his pleasure and amazement when jazz guitarist, Larry Coryell, visited the studios during his program and performed a solo, acoustic guitar version of George Gershwin’s ‘Rhapsody In Blue.’ It still stands as one of the most wonderful live music performances he’s ever seen.

	Ruby Brown Sunday Side Up Jazz Host It’s never too late to dream, or to follow that dream… Philadelphia native Ruby Brown was in health care in her mid-thirties; but it wasn’t her heart’s work. So - back to school. At Evergreen State College Ruby pursued her dream – radio. Ruby helped Olympia’s KAOS for 5 years as on-air host and staff. After graduation she went to a major Seattle station for another 5 years. Commercials never warmed Ruby's heart, so she returned to public radio with KPLU. Currently Ruby hosts Jazz Sunday Side Up (9am-1pm Sundays) and occasionally fills in on other jazz shows at KPLU. Her most memorable KPLU moment – hearing from a listener overseas and realizing she was bringing her work worldwide. E-mail Ruby at rbrown@kplu.org
	Jason Parker *Jazz Host* Jason is a professional musician by trade. He plays his trumpet in his own Jason Parker Quartet, the Bitches Brew-inspired Water Babies and more. When he's not here at KPLU you'll find him in the clubs blowing his horn. Jason has held many different radio jobs in his 20-year career, including DJ, Music Director, Program Director, and Consultant to some of the finest stations in the country. Jason’s most memorable KPLU moment was his first shift on the air, February 6, 2006. After years of rock radio, it was a thrill for him to be playing the likes of Miles Davis, Thelonious Monk and Herbie Hancock on the radio! You can check out Jason's musical endeavors at his website, oneworkingmusician.com. Email Jason at jparker@kplu.org
	Jim Wilke *Jazz Northwest and Jazz After Hours Host* Jim has been a fixture on Seattle radio since 1961. His Jazz After Hours on Public Radio International has been heard on stations across the US including KPLU since 1983. Jazz Northwest is a weekly program featuring regional musicians and jazz performances Jim records at various locations. His most memorable KPLU moment was hosting the 20th Anniversary Live at Jazz Alley show, two hours of live music. He is also a recording engineer and writer. Jim has been named one of the top jazz radio producers nationally by JazzTimes and the Jazz Journalists Association. He is in the Seattle Jazz Hall of Fame and several musicians have composed songs in his honor. Email Jim at jim@jazzafterhours.org
	Ken Wiley *The Art of Jazz Host* Ken joined the KPLU staff on July 10, 1982 when the first Art Of Jazz aired that night from 10pm -midnight. Six months later the show moved to Saturday and Sundays from 3:00pm -5:00pm. Then for the last 16 years it has aired on Sundays afternoons from 3-6 pm. Ken was raised in Tacoma and schooled in many universities. He studied English as a major emphasis with music composition and history. Ken writes poetry, plays the trombone at the New Orleans Creole restaurant in Seattle and taught English for 35 years. He has a cat named Mr. Hook-T-cat-Tacit.