Wednesday MidDay Medley
Produced and Hosted by Mark Manning
90.1 FM KKFI – Kansas City Community Radio
TEN to NOON Wednesdays – Streaming at KKFI.org

Wednesday, June 28, 2023

WMM’s 1000th Show!

WMM Celebrates 1000 Shows with Live Performances from: Madisen Ward, Mikal Shapiro, Calvin Arsenia, IVORY BLUE, Stephonne and Poet Jen Harris

1. “Main Title Instrumental – It’s Showtime Folks”
   from: Motion Picture Soundtrack to All That Jazz / Universal / Dec. 20, 1979
   [WMM’s theme]

2. Sufjan Stevens – “Inaugural Pop Music For Jane Margaret Byrne”
   from: The Avalanche: Outtakes And Extras From The Illinois Album / Asthmatic Kitty / July 11, 2006
   [A press release on the Asthmatic Kitty website reported that the Illinois album was supposed to be a double record (with somewhere near 50 songs), but the idea was eventually scrapped. After the success of the album, Stevens returned to his analog 8-track recorder in late 2005 and began the process of finishing 21 of the previously abandoned songs, which would eventually become The Avalanche. Stevens has stated during interviews that although he doesn’t like The Avalanche as much as Illinois, he felt it was important to release the songs in light of the success of his most recent album. He has also said that he decided to release the album in order to buy time until his next “The 50 States” project,” release.]

Thanks for tuning into Wednesday MidDay Medley. I’m Mark Manning. Today we celebrate 1000 Shows! 1000 weeks of radio broadcasts, with LIVE performances in our 90.1 FM Studios from: Madisen Ward, Mikal Shapiro, Calvin Arsenia, IVORY BLUE, Stephonne, and Poet Jen Harris.

Today’s show is a celebration of 1000 show, That’s 1000 consecutive weeks of radio broadcasts (and I’ve only missed one show), 2000 hours of radio, 30,000 hours of preparation, over 2900 Interviews, 2500 guests, and over 20,000 songs, from thousands of musical artists.

We have made it our mission to mix musical genres, playing with themes, diversity, equality, free speech, connecting artists and venues and listeners and communities.

Wednesday MidDay Medley has proudly endeavored to help tell the story of our growing Kansas City area music community, “The Midcoast Sound,” as we like to call it. We have dedicated a majority of our programming to New & MidCoastal Releases.

We’ve happily presented new formats in radio, with our popular, “A Story In A Song” series, and our special shows featuring: Apocalypse Meow, The Crossroads Music Fest, Folk Alliance International, The Outer Reaches Festival, Manor Fest, Innovation Fest, Boulevardia. KC Fringe Festival, Owen Cox Dance Group, Bach Aria Soloists, KC Pride Fest, and our annual tribute shows to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., David Bowie, Iris Dement, Pioneers of Punk, Visual Art, The Spoken Word, Gay Pride, Civil Rights, Black Lives Matter and our inteviews with Tommy Ramone, Iris Dement, Laurie Anderson, Lily Tomlin. Plus, our annual 4-week special: The 120 Best Recordings of the Year.

To say I’ve been inspired by the KC music community, is an understatement. The KC music community is fueled by a collaborative and generous heart that is beating in so many of the artists I’ve met while doing this show.

I am inspired by the women who created radio on KKFI 90.1 FM long before me: my friend April L Fletcher who plays bass professionally in Los Angeles, and hosted Mix Well Before Serving on 90.1 FM in 1988 on KKFI’s first year of broadcast, and this year returned after 35 years to host and produce WMM.

And my friend Anne Winter, who left us in 2009, and reminded us how we’re all connected. At Anne’s funeral I realized that I was connected to hundreds of other people who Anne had touched with her gentle, wise, guidance and had nudged into taking a job, going out on a stage, organzing an event, doing a radio show. We were all connected because she had loved us all, and supported us, and some of us made a pact, to pick up just a little bit, of the work that Anne did, and if we all did a little, we could continue her work, to help build our community. That is how I keep Anne alive in my heart. Doing her work.

And through collaboration, and shining a light, like Abigail Henderson, who we lost in 2013, but not before she ignited a movement to create the Midwest Music Foundation supporting heath care needs and mental health care for the music community. Abigail was a guest several times on the show. She was always radiant. She performed in our “A Story In A Song” LIVE show at recordBar. She told me early on, “We like to think of Wednesday MidDay Medley as OUR show.” After I thought about what she said, I realized what one could really do with a radio show, if you check your own ego, and realize you are part of something bigger. Abigail taught me to dive deep into the incredible musical world of our area, and to never be deterred by the bullshit artists, and the naysayers, and the hypocrites, and the people who sit around judging and doing nothing, while others continue the work of building our community for a better place for those who follow.

I’ve always known that a radio show at KKFI is not mine. It belongs to the community. And every radio show at KKFI is only as healthy as the radio station itself, and like a cooperative grocery store, if you want a discount on your groceries, you got to stock the shelves. At KKFI, our station exists because of those generous programmers who volunteer for the station in addition to doing a radio show. It is the most selfless work you’ll ever do, and you’ll have to always remind yourself that it is for the mission, it is for the community, it is to keep the airwaves free.

Like water off a duck’s back, let it slide away. Let the people who project their own fears on to you, slide away. Let the folks that’ve stopped dreaming, that are left unimaginative, the selfish people, let their fear slide away. You do not need to absorb their darkness. Just remember how much you love music, and how much you love the music community, and how much you love talking with other people about music, and how much you love collaborations and learning from others. Love is always going to be stronger than the fear that “lost souls” will try to throw at you. And you’ll let it slide away, like water off a duck’s back.

I’m inspired by the diverse , intelligent, motivated, listeners, looking for place on the dial, where they can connect to the stories and music and voice of our community. 90.1 FM KKFI.
And I want to especially thank Marion Merritt of Records With Merritt, for her musically encyclopedic brain, and all of the great shows she produces, over the last 19 years, and all the support she and Ann Stewart offer at every fund drive. And I want to thank my “Radio Wife” Maria Vasquez Boyd, Host and Producer of ARTSPEAK RADIO and Nico Gray, Host and Producer of Radio Nicopisa. Two shows that were first developed on Wednesday MidDay Medley and grew, organically, over time to become their own great radio shows, serving KKFI’s Mission.

Today we celebrate the pure idea of community radio, free form radio, radio that tells the story of the people who live here, the artists, the writers, the teachers, the performers. We celebrate 1000 weeks of WMMy, the show that has brought us together, at this time, on this frequency, in these community airwaves. Thanks for listening.

Live in our 90.1 FM Studios…This is Calvin Arsenia

10:05

3. Calvin Arsenia – “The Painted Ladies of San Francisco” (LIVE) (4:00)
   also available on: Paradise / Calvin Arsenia / June 23, 2023

10:09 – Calvin Arsenia Interview

Calvin Arsenia is one of our most frequent guests, who has been a guest on our show, 22-times, since he first appeared on WMM on July 25, 2012. // Tim Finn Music Writer for KC Magazine has hailed Calvin as ‘equal parts opera, symphony, musical theatre, rock show, all built around its creator: a charismatic 6-foot-7-inch harpist with a 3 and ½ octave range, natural stage command and knack for gilding gold and painting lilies.’ // Born in Orlando, Florida, Calvin’s creative journey began when he moved to Olathe, Kansas, teaching himself the guitar, piano, banjo. He learned his signature instrument, the harp, at the age of 20. His passion for stretching the boundaries of musical expression saw him transform a trip to Edinburgh, Scotland’s Fringe Festival // In 2012, Calvin traveled to Edinburgh, Scotland’s Fringe Theatre Festival, and found himself accepting a role as musical liaison with an Edinburgh Church that became a life-changing musical mission, where Calvin found himself. // Two years later Calvin returned to KC reborn with a new confidence, a new sense of self. At 24 he released his 2nd EP, Moments, in 2014, and his EP Prose in 2015, and his Folk Alliance exclusive EP Catastrophe in 2016. On February 14, 2017 Calvin released his critically acclaimed full length debut, Catastrophe, with a live show at recordBar in November 2016 that involved a company of 50 people, dancers, stilt walkers. // After signing to Center Cut Records, Calvin released the albums: Cantaloupe in 2018, with a sold out gigantic spectacle at The Gem Theatre on Saturday, September 15, 2018 that involved a huge band, dancers, and at the end of the show Calvin led the entire audience out of the theatre and down the street on a street parade that ended on the steps to the Mutual Musicians Foundation, where the music continued. // Calvin then released, L.A. Sessions in 2019, and the EP, HONEY DEW, and the EP, Goddess with Quixotic, the Holiday album, ALL IS CALM. // In 2020 Calvin collaborated with Mike Dillon on the Soundtrack to “Summer in Hindsight,” a feature-length film created by The West 18th Street Fashion Show that starred Calvin as an actor. // During the pandemic Calvin became the co-creator of the podcast “We Were Christian Kids” created with childhood friend Justin Randall who is a stand-up comedian working in New York City and now Los Angeles. // Calvin is also the published author of EVERY GOOD BOY DOES FINE, a collection of Poetry & Prose published on October 5, 2021, by Andrews McMeel Universal. // Calvin was voted KC’s Best Musician in The Pitch 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022. // He has been featured in Billboard, NPR.org. NEWNOWNEXT, Pride.com, and GRAMMY.com. Charlotte Street Foundation awarded Calvin the 2022 Generative Performing Artist Awards along with The Black Creatures. // Calvin Arsenia is a multi-instrumentalist, a renaissance man, a model. and actor, a designer, an artist, a writer, a collaborator, a teacher, a friend, an inspiration… Calvin has shared his own journey openly with his fans. His journey to find himself, his journey as a working artist and musician, his journey to find love, his coming out as a Queer Artist, his coming-out as Black man, his journey to understand his spirituality and the redefinition of beliefs.

On June 23, 2023 Calvin released his newest album PARADISE with two gigantic shows July 23 and July 24 at The Emerald with a team of over 50 people making the show happen.

Calvin Arsenia thank you for being with us on Wednesday MidDay Medley.

19:18

4. Calvin Arsenia – “You Are Not Your Crime” (LIVE)
   also available on: Paradise / Calvin Arsenia / June 23, 2023

10:22

5. The Whittlers – “Touch The Artist”
   rom: Touch The Artist / Independent / Summer 2002
   [One of four full length releases from Tom Livesay and Phil Wade released between 2000 – 2004. The album was made up entirely of covers with the exception of this song where Phil and Tom edited together excerpts of records from their collections. Ike Sheldon played piano and keyboards on several tracks.]

10:23 – Underwriting

10:24 – Intro

Today we celebrate the pure idea of community radio, free form radio, radio that tells the story of the people who live here, the artists, the writers, the teachers, the performers, the lovers. Today we celebrate 1000 weeks of Wednesday MidDay Medley, the show that has brought us together, at this time, on this frequency, in these community airwaves. Thanks for listening.

Live in our 90.1 FM Studios…This is Poet Jen Harris

10:24

6. Jen Harris – “Regards” (LIVE)

10:28 – Interview with Jen Harris

Poet Jen Harris (she/her) is a writer based in Kansas City, Missouri. Jen has been featured on NPR, Netflix Queer Eye, Creative Mornings, TEDx, and many more, Harris is the author of 3 books of poetry and the recipient of numerous accolades. A sought-after performance artist, Jen has collaborated with Owen Cox Dance Group, Gilda’s Club, Big Bang Buffet, InterUrban ArtHouse, Artist Inc, KC Artist Coalition, Mid America Ats Alliance, Shelf Life, Eddie Moore Trio, Midwest Music Foundation and Apocalypse Meow. Jen Harris is the founder and host of The Writing Workshop KC, whose mission is to nurture creative curiosity and inspire confidence within prompt-based writing workshops. She hosts weekly classes and offers creative coaching to private clients. Additionally, Jen is one half of the artist-to-artist indie podcast Confessing Animals. Her firstborn community love child, Kansas City Poetry Slam, sold out monthly for seven years.

Jen Harris, Thanks for being with us on Wednesday MidDay Medley.

10:37

7. Jen Harris – “Untitled” (LIVE)

10:41

8. Mexican Institute of Sound – “My buddy @julps”
   from: Politic0 / Nacionao Records / July 17, 2017

10:42 – Intro

Today we celebrate the pure idea of community radio, free form radio, radio that tells the story of the people who live here, the artists, the writers, the teachers, the performers, the lovers. Today we celebrate 1000 weeks of Wednesday MidDay Medley, the show that has brought us together, at this time, on this frequency, in these community airwaves.

Live in our 90.1 FM Studios…This is Madisen Ward

10:42

9. Madisen Ward – “Mr. James” (LIVE)

10:46 – Interview with Madisen Ward

Madisen Ward was born in Oklahoma, and grew up in the outskirts of Kansas City, Missouri. He graduated from William Chrisman High School in 2007. Madisen’s journey to become a musician, was “melodically passed down” through the songs of his mother, where Madisen grew up watching his mom perform at local coffee shops. Eventually he began to learn to play the guitar, and poured his talent for writing into the music to create original songs. From there Madisen Ward and the Mama Bear were born. They started playing in coffee houses and then quickly garnered international acclaim, and new fans from all over the world. They opened for BB King at The Midland. They signed with Glassnote Records in 2014 and recorded their debut full length album in Nashville with acclaimed producer Jim Abiss. They performed their debut single “Silent Movies” on The Late Show with David Letterman, they’ve toured across the United States, and Europe, more than once. They were featured on CBS Sunday Morning, NBC’s The Today Show, and ““Later With Jools Holland” and played Bonnaroo, Pilgramage, and the Newport Folk Festival, and the Ryman Theatre, in Nashville. Madisen Ward is now performing as his first ever solo project, still crafting his own personal brand of Americana music. The same sound which launched the careers of the Family Folk Duo Madisen Ward and the Mama Bear.

We first played your music on this radio show in early May of 2013 after our mutual friend Joel Nanos of Element Recording sent me a copy of your independent EP, “We Burned The Cane Field.”

Madisen Ward is playing the Fortune Fest in Columbia, Missouri on Saturday, August 12. And Madisen Ward plays The Ship on Thursday, October 12.

Madisen Ward thanks for being with us on WMM.

10:56

10. Madisen Ward – “I’ll Never Dance With You Again” (Live)

11. Be / Non – “Journey”
    from: A Mountain of Yeses / Unipegadong / 2009

11:00 – Station ID

12. The Magnetic Fields – BBC Radiophonic Workshop
    from: Holiday / Merge / 1994

11:01 – Intro

Today we celebrate the pure idea of community radio, free form radio, radio that tells the story of the people who live here, the artists, the writers, the teachers, the performers, the lovers. Today we celebrate 1000 weeks of Wednesday MidDay Medley, the show that has brought us together, at this time, on this frequency, in these community airwaves. Thanks for listening.

Live in our 90.1 FM Studios…This is Ivory Blue

11:02

13. IVORY BLUE – “Elite Dreamland” (Live)

11:06 – Interview with IVORY BLUE

IVORY BLUE‘s debut EP, Ready Get Set was released in June 2015. In 2017 Ivory was among 1800 artists/bands that competed in neXt2Rock. Ivory won local & regional challenges and advanced to nationals in Los Angeles to win the top prize. Ivory Blue was born in 1986 in Peoria Illinois, as Devin James Miclettet. Ivory’s birth mother put them up for adoption at the age of four. Ivory speaks about how it was difficult to find trust in people offering their home to someone denied it for so long, Ivory lived with eight different families, before running away at 15. In 2010 Klaartje Van Lue saw Ivory performing in a YouTube video and contacted them, flying Ivory to Kansas City, and adopting Ivory into the Van Lue family. During the past 10 years Ivory came out as “Non-Binary Transgender”. As a multi-instrumentalist, Ivory began refining their performance style, using digital looping pedals to stack harmonies and guitar parts live on stage, giving their solo shows the feel of a full band. IVORY BLUE released their debut album COMPOUND LOVE on February 25, 2022.

Ivory Blue thanks for being with us on WMM.

11:15

14. IVORY BLUE – “Family Table” (Live)

11:19

15. Wagon Christ – “Rennie Codgers”
    from: Tomorrow / Ninja Records / March 29, 2011

11:19 – Underwriting

11:20 – Intro

Today we celebrate the pure idea of community radio, free form radio, radio that tells the story of the people who live here, the artists, the writers, the teachers, the performers, the lovers. Today we celebrate 1000 weeks of Wednesday MidDay Medley, the show that has brought us together, at this time, on this frequency, in these community airwaves. Thanks for listening.

Live in our 90.1 FM Studios…This is Stephonne

11:21

16. Stephonne – with: Zachary Arias “The King’s Gambit” (Live)

11:25 – Interview with Stephonne

Stephonne describes himself as the lovechild of Prince & Billie Holiday. He grew up in KCK and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music from Benedictine College, and Masters in Entertainment Business from Full Sail University. Singer, songwriter, actor, model, artist – Stephonne Singleton keeps very busy, organizing Tribute Shows, working as a Resident Artist at Charlottee Street studios, playing Music Festivals, Lemonade Park, Lawrence Pride, Manor Records, Midwest Music Foundation, The AIDS Service Foundation of KC, InterUrban ArtHouse, The Black Box, The Folly Theatre, collaborating with The Black Creatures, Calvin Arsenia, Miki P, Jass, Eboni Fondren, putting out EPs, and singles. Stephonne released his EP SIS: Side B on June 24, 2022 it was in the TOP TEN of WMM’s 120 Best Recordings of 2022. Stephonne was a featured performer at the 23rd Annual West 18th Street Fashion Show on Friday, June 2, 2023.

Stephonne thanks for being with us on WMM.

11:34

17. Stephonne – with: Zachary Arias “Highlander (There Can Be Only One)” (Live)

11:38

18. Monta At Odds – “Little Chance is Left”
    from: Gringo / Montamusic / June 11, 2008

11:38 – Intro

Today we celebrate the pure idea of community radio, free form radio, radio that tells the story of the people who live here, the artists, the writers, the teachers, the performers, the lovers. Today we celebrate 1000 weeks of Wednesday MidDay Medley, the show that has brought us together, at this time, on this frequency, in these community airwaves. Thanks for listening.

Live in our 90.1 FM Studios…This is Mikal Shapiro

11:39

19. Mikal Shapiro – “Demolitions” (Live)

11:42 – Interview with Mikal Shapiro

Mikal Shapiro is founder of State City Films creating documentary and experimental filmmaking practices. Mikal studied Film History, Film, & Writing at Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, New York. She received her MFA in Film/Video/New Media/ Animation from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 2012. Artist, filmmaker, puppeteer, ring-leader, Mikal Shapiro is a KC songwriter whose musical influences span popular songs, psych rock, lounge, classic country and old time spirituals. She has toured extensively across the United States and has recorded 5 critically acclaimed albums Mikal also performs with Shapiro Brothers, and Monta. Mikal was the original co-host and co-creator of River Trade Radio. She is also the creator and co-host of Siren Song, Saturdays at 11:00 AM on 90.1 FM KKFI KC Community Radio. Mikal also serves as Coordinator of Kansas City Folk Fest.

Mikal Shapiro thanks for being with us on WMM.

For Wednesday MidDay Medley, I’m Mark Manning, Thanks for listening

Once Again… Mikal Shapiro

11:51

20. Mikal Shapiro – “Out Of This World” (Live)

11:55

21. Les Petits Minous – “À la claire fontaine”
    from: À la claire fontaine – Single / Musicreche / September 25, 2008

22. Noel Coward – “The Party’s Over Now”
    from: Noel Coward in New York / drg / 2003 [orig. 1957]

Special Thanks on our 1000th Show go to: Marion Merritt, Maria Vasquez Boyd, Nico Gray, Joelle St, Pierre, Kelly Dougherty, Darryl Oliver, Chad Brothers, Mary L. Bass, Aurora Nicol, Necia Gamby, Calvin Arsenia, Jen Harris, Madison Ward, Ivory Blue, Klaartje Van Lue, Stephonne Singleton, Zachary Arias, Chris Haghirian, James Carter, Barry Lee, John Todd, Diana Griffin Ennis, and all of our listeners and friends!!!

Next week on WMM on July 5, 2023, we shine a light on the 19th annual KC Fringe Festival, July 14-30, 2023, with 52 productions, 38 visual artists, unjuried, uncensored performing, film and visual arts featuring performers and creators from Kansas City, national and international artists. At 10:30 Mark talks with KC Fringe Executives Director – Audrey Crabtree. At 11:00 members of Voler Aerial Academy join us to talk about their KC Fringe production DISCO DAISY SAVES THE CITY FROM ROCK & ROLL, July 21 – 29 at Union Station City Stage. At 11:30 AM Mark welcomes Beth Byrd who shares details abut her KC Fringe show, 2 MIMES IN A POD – Students of Marcel Marceau, July 21 – July 29, at The Center for Spiritual Living. More info at http://www.kcfringe.org

Big THANK YOU to all of our wonderful listeners and friends who generously and thoughtfully donated to support KKFI 90.1 FM – Kansas City Community Radio!!! During our Wednesday MidDay Medley Spring Fund Drive shows on June 7 and June 14, and through social media, we raised $4742.00 from 59 individual Donors! Thank you to our diverse and beautiful listeners who generously donated to allow us to continue our great mission here at 90.1 FM KKFI.

THANK YOU to my incredible Fund co-hosts: Betse Ellis & Marion Merritt & Nico Gray, and our wonderful staff KKFI Director of Development and Communications, J Kelly Dougherty, Vounteer Coordinator Darryl Oliver, and Chief Operator Chad Brothers. And to all of our fantastic phone volunteers for donating your time to take our donations over the phones.

This radio station is not about the individual hosts of each individual radio show. Instead it is about a collective spirit of hundreds of wonderful people, unselfishly setting aside ego, to work for the greater good of community building and the gigantic goal of keeping our airwaves free, non-commercial, and open to all! Congratulations and thank you to all programmers & volunteers who went the extra effort to keep our station alive.

Our Script/Playlist is a “cut and paste” of information.
Sources for notes: artist’s websites, bios, wikipedia.org

Wednesday MidDay Medley in on the web:
http://www.kkfi.org,
http://www.WednesdayMidDayMedley.org,
http://www.facebook.com/WednesdayMidDayMedleyon90.1FM

On your local radio dial 90.1 FM or
STREAMING LIVE at: kkfi.org

Show #1000