The Internet provides endless alternatives to stuff that's no longer alternative, such as FM radio before
Big Brother took the mic.
Here at home, we've got
Radio Free Phoenix
a virtual station with an 10,000-song library spanning four decades, a freeform rotation that supports indie artists who produce their own music, and specialty programming like
Radio Freedom, which allows listeners to play DJ for an hour and program their own 15 faves.
The RFP mission statement,
You will not struggle through the repetitive madness that greets you at most commercial radio stations.
Instead, you will hear rock 'n' roll with a heart and a conscience, brought to you by those who understand the music and the connection to it.
RFP AIRSTAFF
Ken Rundel
Ken Rundel started out at a little 100 watt college radio station, WCMU, in Mt. Pleasant, MI.
Somebody should have stopped it right there in its tracks, but they didn’t.
It spread to other parts of Michigan: WFYC in Alma, WVIC in Lansing and then to W-4 in Detroit.
Then it really got out of hand.
Ken’s absolute favorite time in radio was at The Zoo, KZEW, in Dallas, where he was Program Director and did the midday show.
Later he did middays on the ABC Radio Network, Classic Rock format, heard in about 120 small and medium-sized markets across the country.
He also worked for Q-102, KZPS, The Oasis, WFAA, and KLDD in Dallas, KRBE/KENR in Houston, KXCC in Corpus Christi and KKEG, Fayetteville, AR. There may have been others … we can’t be sure.
Ken has also dabbled in acting, improv comedy magic and public relations. (Which are all pretty much the same, right?!) Join Ken for the RFP Morning show Monday - Friday from 6-8am (MST) on RFP.
Andy Olson
Since 1983, Andy Olson has been a regular player in the Phoenix Rock Radio market. Working on-air for the legendary KSTM (The Storm) for four years (1983-1987) before its untimely demise, and then KSLX (Classic Rock), six years (1987-1993) and the original KZON (The Zone), four years (1995-1999), Then back to KSLX (1999-2006). Andy has seen first-hand, the rise and fall of some great stations in the Phoenix area.
He's a Rock Musicologist and child of the 60's, and understands what's been missing from the radio. As the founder and major force behind Radio Free Phoenix, Andy Olson brings freedom of expression back to Rock Radio.
Hear Andy Olson, Monday through Friday from 4-6am & 8-10am (MST) on Radio Free Phoenix
"ASK ANDY" your rock Musicologist...
What's That song?
Who's that artist?
What the heck!
Cheryl Sweet
RFP's Cheryl Sweet is originally from Detroit and grew up with the rich musical scene of that town.
Arriving in Phoenix in 1979, Cheryl was an early listener of KSTM (the Storm).
She did semi-regular appearances on the Channel 10 morning show for several years and also News 5 and is glad to be back in the public eye and having a blast on
Radio Free Phoenix.
Listen for her unique spin on the tunes!
Check out Cheryl's myspace page here!
Hear Cheryl Sweet, Monday through Friday from 10-12 p.m. (MST) on RFP.
Liz Boyle
Liz Boyle
was one of those weird kids who laid on her bedroom floor listening to music for hours. "That's how I liked to listen to my Moody Blues album, which I had won on the radio when I was 12. I used to win stuff all the time. And I used to call radio stations. I remember Pat McMahon telling me I had a lovely voice!"
My friends and I would sit in my bedroom for hours playing stuff from the white album backwards on a mini reel-to-reel. I made a couple of 8 track tape (I had an 8 track recorder) montages that I played at a couple of our high school pep rallys. I was also a master of crank calling. I can't believe all the weird things I did as a kid, which would would serve me so well in my adult career!"Liz BoyleLiz started her major market radio career in Phoenix at KOOL-FM, worked the evening shift on the legendary KDKB, and spent many years at KSLX where she first met the man who would become one her closest friends in the radio business, Andy Olson.
"I can remember listening to Andy on The Storm KSTM, a station that I listened to exclusively in the mid to late 80's."
Liz is excited about the freedom and diversity of RFP and glad to be a part of it.
Liz is also high in demand for voice work in the Phoenix area and through out the country.
Check out LizBoyle.com for more info. Hear Liz Boyle, Monday through Friday from 12-4 p.m. (MST) on RFP.
Dave Cooper
Dave's professional introduction into radio occurred in 1994 when he answered an on-air ad for employment while listening to his then-favorite radio station 101.5 KZON, The Zone, in Phoenix.
Musically, The Zone rewarded Dave with eclectic sounds long absent in the Valley since the unfortunate demise in 1987 of a true radio experience, KSTM, The Storm.
His earliest influences came from listening to '70s "underground FM" radio at WXRT in Chicago. XRT's myriad of seemingly endless sonic offerings was Dave's musical retreat from the contemporary Pop tunes of the day. It was radio Heaven.At The Zone, and sister station 95.5 KYOT, The Coyote, Dave started doing promotions and various behind-the-scenes jobs.
He landed a regular airshift in '96 playing Smooth Jazz at KYOT, adopting the name Coyote Dave. He remained there until 2001, and then moved over to work with the Valley's NPR station, 91.5 KJZZ, where he hosted a nightly program playing traditional, acoustic Jazz.
Dave recently joined the air staff at Radio Free Phoenix and is excited to return to the 'airwaves' where he says "having the opportunity again to consistently listen to such an expansive, eclectic mix of sounds is fabulous; but being in the air-chair presenting it to our loyal listeners is incredible. I've always dreamed of playing this format, now I'm living that dream. Thanks for listening".
Hear Dave Cooper, Monday through Friday from 4-8 p.m. (MST) on RFP.
Carol Springer
All ready a veteran working in "the chair" over at
KSLX and KDKB Carol Springer was the first female mid-day host in Arizona.
It was at these radio stations that the paths of
Carol, Liz Boyle and Andy Olson would come together.
“I left KDKB with a heavy heart.
I was starting a family.
Soon got the news I was pregnant.
(with triplets!)
Amazing how that one moment would change my life.
AND...I knew I was leaving Radio...”says Springer.
7 years later Carol got a call from Liz and well,
here she is working with all her old friends
(and new)
here at
Radio Free Phoenix.com
Hear Carol Springer, Monday through Friday from 8-12am. (MST) on RFP.
Pete Michaels
Pete Michaels grew up in Tucson, Arizona and was a member of the Legendary KSTM (The Storm) Airstaff back in the mid 80's. He also spent several years at KLPX in Tucson along with gigs at Q105 & KUIK in Portland, Oregon. "I can't tell you how much this gig means to me! says Pete. I just love alternative radio and those good old days at the Storm where the best in my career."
Hear Pete Michaels, Monday through Friday from 12 midnight to 4 a.m on Radio Free Phoenix.
Shon White
Shon White grew up in Fountain Hills, and started his radio career at KFNN in Phoenix as weekend operations manager. He went on to do mornings in Memphis At WAVN and also worked at WKZB & WIQQ In Mississippi. He returned to the valley in 1992, and went to worked on air at KFMA and then overnights at KEDJ (The Edge) for a couple years. In 2000 Shon also runs The Point 99one FM In Queen Creek, Arizona.
Hear Shon White Saturday mornings from 6-10 a.m. on Radio Free Phoenix.
Paul & Anthony
Join Paul & Anthony on RFP Saturday mornings
from 10-3pm (MST)
Per Paul, We've got issues, bear with us.
Anthony ran away with the circus at age 16
(he plans on returning one day) and Paul insists
Marilyn Monroe and Jar Binks appeared in his cereal this morning.
Join the boys for a sometimes strange and abstract view of the world around them.
Originally joined at the neck, Paul & Anthony have crafted a world apart, yet connected to each other.
Special guest include cousin Vito, A.J. Cone and Carol Channing!
Mike Fimea
Mike Fimea is a Phoenix native and a recovering journalist. He spent his formative years reading Mad Magazine, watching the Wallace & Ladmo show, and listening to KRUX and KRIZ ("Joe Nasty says love it, or kiss off!") Late at night, he would hunch over a cheap AM/FM clock radio and tune in stations all over the Western U.S., including X-Rock 80 (Juarez, Mexico), the inspiration for ZZ Top's "Heard It On the X".
After graduating from Northern Arizona University in 1982, Fimea occasionally wandered in front of a radio microphone. He volunteered as a news reader for the Sun Sounds non-Mike Fimeaprofit agency in Phoenix, and he hosted guest-DJ shows on the late, great KSTM and the original incarnation of KZON.
A recent guest-DJ gig led to Fimea's current Sunday-night shift on Radio Free Phoenix. His musical tastes range from old school (Springsteen, Petty, R.E.M.) to new skool (Alana Davis, Blue Merle, Holly Williams). When he isn't helping spread progressive rock in cyberspace, Fimea follows the Phoenix Suns and waits patiently for them to win an NBA title.
Hear Mike Fimea, Saturday Nights from 8:00-2 a.m (MST) on Radio Free Phoenix.
Joe Catanzaro
Joe was born in Chicago and moved to Arizona in 1971 where he listened to KRIZ and KRUX. He thought radio was about repetitive bubble gum music and deep voiced DEE JAYS talking really fast until he heard the original KDKB and then KBBC, the short-lived K104 and the Storm, KSTM. Joe says "It renewed my faith in radio and I set out to get a job ..playing music that I liked and getting paid for it…what could be better than that? I found myself at a little community college in Yuma where they have a great radio program. At that station I got to do my version of underground radio which was just great.And now to the present--- Radio Free Phoenix has captured that special feel of underground radio (real radio) and I am glad to be a part of it".
Hear Joe Catanzaro Sunday mornings from 6-10 a.m. on Radio Free Phoenix.
