Happy KSER New Year - 2013

Happy New Year from everyone at KSER.

We're honored that you've made KSER part of your listening habit in 2012 and we look forward to continuing to serve the Pacific Northwest in 2013.  We couldn't do it without your support.

We feel like all 365 days of KSER broadcasting in 2012 were highlights...but a few events do stand out more than others.  In October, Amy Goodman of Democracy Now! came to Everett to support KSER and spoke before a standing-room only crowd at Everett Community College.

Amy Goodman at Everett Community College

In November we were honored to present the 5th annual KSER Voice of the Community Award Ceremony.  This year's awards were presented to the Snohomish County Music Project; MS Helping Hands of Edmonds and Lillian Ortiz-Self.

Roger Pawley; Jan Vance; Lillian Ortiz-Self

Every week of 2012, KSER's Ed Bremer featured local newsmakers and community leaders on Sound Living, weekday afternoon's at 4 p.m.  One of the top stories featured in 2012 was the closing of the Kimberly-Clark paper mill and the debate over what to do with the valuable water-front property.  A number of local leaders talked with Ed about the future of the Kimberly-Clark site, including Everett Mayor Ray Stephanson.

Everett Mayor Ray Stephanson talked with Ed Bremer

You'd be amazed at the famous people who want to be interviewed by KSER's Ed Bremer.  In July, we had an in-studio visit from Ben Franklin.

Benjamin Franklin

Dozens of local bands and musical artists visited KSER during the year, including Left Hand Smoke; Sightseer; Northern Departure; Tony Lucca, Ian McFeron and a lot more.

In September, KSER's Sondra Santos was named a hero. Really! By the government, no less. The Snohomish Health District presented its Public Health Hero award to the host of KSER's morning news show for her weekly interviews on health issues in the northwest.

Suzanne Pate; Sondra Santos; Dr. Garry Goldbaum

Speaking of health, our own KSER doctors answered your questions every Thursday afternoon for 52 weeks in 2012. Primary Care Physicians Kasra Pournadeali, Rebecca Dirks, and Stacy Wells, have been answering listener calls live on KSER since 1998. This summer the weather was so nice, we actually moved them outdoors in August...to do a live show from the sidewalk on Wetmore avenue. Now that's taking the doctors to the people!

KSER's Sidewalk Doctor Show

In 2012 KSER's Jim Hilmar celebrated 15 years of hosting Frettin' Fingers, the popular Saturday guitar music show and KSER's Jeff Hofman, host of Dusties on Saturday afternoon, marked 25 years of doing public radio.

Jim Hilmar; Jeff Hofman

We started what we hope is a long-running new tradition this holiday season with the first ever Tim Noah Thumbnail Theater Kaddywompas Holiday radio show.  Tim and his crew are working on a few more specials...maybe more...for 2013.

Tim Noah

And, actually, 2013 is an important anniversary for our predecessor.  KRAB-FM started broadcasting 50 years ago.  One of the country's first true community radio stations started broadcasting as December turned to January in 1963. In 1991 KRAB became KSER and moved to Snohomish County. In 2003 we moved to our current location in Everett.

If you'd like to make sure that great independent public radio continues in the north Puget Sound, you can help with a donation. Most of our operating income comes from individual listeners like you.  It's easy to make a contribution.  You can go to our website KSER.org and click on the 'donate now' button.  We're a non-profit and your contribution is tax-deductible...a great way to get one more deduction before the end of the year.

Some people also take advantage of our easy-to-use automobile donation plan.  You can also do that online here. It's fast and easy, we do all the paperwork. And you may be eligible for a tax deduction.  Running or not, we'll be happy to help.

And if you accidentally left somone off your holiday gift list, you can support KSER and buy a nice gift for someone at the KSER Store.

So thanks for your support and thanks for listening to KSER.

And Happy New Year!

More Great Artists on KSER

You never know who's going to show up on KSER.  Listeners to the KSER Sunlit Room this week were treated to a special performance by Seattle singer-songwriter LeRoy Bell!

LeRoy Bell in KSER's Sunlit Room

LeRoy Bell talked with KSER's Ron Taffi about his music and his star performance on the X-Factor and played a few of his songs.

Speaking of a great local artist, just two weeks ago Ron also had a visit from singer-songwriter Pepper Proud.

Pepper also performed a few of her songs while visiting KSER...

Pepper Proud; Ron Taffi

You can see more videos of some of the artists who've recently visited KSER here.

And if you missed our KSER Kaddywompas Holiday Special last week, you can still hear this special hour of fun radio on Christmas Day at 6 p.m. on 90.7 FM or online at KSER.org. The Kaddywompas Radio special was performed before a live audience at Tim Noah's Thumbnail Theater.

Tim Noah and his Thumbnail crew wrote and produced an incredible hour of entertaining music and storytelling and you get another chance to hear it as a Christmas Day special, Tuesday the 25th at 6 p.m.  It's the start of a new KSER holiday tradition. And stay tuned for more Thumbnail specials in 2013.

Happy Holidays!

KSER Kaddywampas Holiday Special

This past weekend, before two nights of packed audiences in Snohomish, Tim Noah and his Thumbnail Theater troupe performed a live KSER Kaddywampas Holiday Special!

And now you can hear all the fun on KSER 90.7 FM three different times between now and Christmas.

The one-hour, fun-filled music and story-telling KSER Kaddywompas Radio Show Holiday Special will be broadcast at these dates and times:

• 8 a.m.  Sunday, December 9, 2012
• 2 p.m.  Friday, December 14, 2012
• 6 p.m.  Christmas Day, Tuesday December 25, 2012

If you weren't one of the lucky ones in the audience at Tim Noah's Thumbnail Theater this past weekend (or even if you were) make sure you don't miss what may be a great new KSER tradition.

Tim Noah, getting ready to take the stage.

Special thanks to Tim and his remarkable cast of musicians, performers and volunteers for all the planning, writing, rehearsing, long hours, work and effort that went into putting together this great hour of fun radio!

KSER's Jeff Hofman - 25 Radio Years!

This Saturday, KSER's Jeff Hofman celebrates doing 25 years of playing great music and doing great radio in the Pacific Northwest.  Jeff is the host of Dusties, every Saturday afternoon at 5 p.m. on KSER 90.7 FM featuring some incredible soul and R&B music.

Not only does he play music from great artists, but frequently he has them in the studio. For example, see the picture below of Jeff at KSER with the legendary Brothers of Soul and JJ Barnes.

Richard Knight; Bobby Easton; Jeff Hofman; Ben Knight; JJ Barnes

But Jeff has also interviewed Martha Reeves; Tony Drake; Sam Andrew of Big Brother and the Holding Company...and a lot more. 

Jeff started doing his weekly radio gig 25 years ago this month and he'll have a special show this Saturday, December 8, 2012 to mark the occasion. 

And here is some show-name trivia (and a photo) that may stir your memory....

Jeff Hofman - The Early Years

Some of Jeff's early radio work was on a show called 'Nuggets' and then the 'Rock and Soul Shack', and then the 'Grab Bag.'  At KSER his show stared out as 'Rising Soul', but eventually he settled on the name 'Dusties' in honor of great old records that sit around gathering dust.

 Jim Hilmar of KSER's Frettin' Fingers fame with Jeff Hofman

If you love great Soul and R&B and music you probably haven't heard in a long time...if ever...make sure you catch Jeff Hofman and Dusties, especially this Saturday when he marks 25 years in radio (which is like 500 years in normal life!).

Jeff is part of the great KSER Saturday lineup that starts with Tim Bliss at 5 a.m.; The Academy of Comedy at 7 a.m.; Steve Ward's Big Bandstand at 9 a.m.; Frettin' Fingers at 11 a.m.; Jon Noe's Juke Joint at 1 p.m. and Pull the String with Van Ramsey at 3 p.m....all followed by a great Saturday night of KSER music on Audio Indigo; Blues Odyssey and The Dawghaus.

The hardest part for some people to believe is all these great KSER music shows are all prepared, produced and hosted by dedicated hard-working volunteers.  And, remember, if you want to contribute to KSER and ensure this kind of independent public radio continues, just visit KSER.org and click on the Donate Now button.