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, May 15, 2024

WMM’s 20th Anniversary Show w/ Calvin Arsenia, Julia Othmer, IVORY BLUE, Kasey Rausch, & Stephonne. Plus, Marion Merritt, Maria Vasquez Boyd, Nico Gray, & Necia Gamby.

WMM Celebrates our 20th Anniversary with Live Performances from: Calvin Arsenia, Julia Othmer, IVORY BLUE, Kasey Rausch, and Stephonne. Plus we welcome special guests from our WMM “Radio Family”: Marion Merritt, Maria Vasquez Boyd, Nico Gray, and Necia Gamby. WMM launched our very first show on Wednesday May 12, 2004. In these 1046 weeks, 2092 hours of shows, 30,000 hours of preparation, over 2900 Interviews, 2500 guests, 20,000 songs, from thousands of musical artists, we have made it our mission to jump over musical genres, play with themes, diversity, equality, free speech, and connect 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.”

1. “It’s Showtime Folks”
   from: Orig. Motion Picture Soundtrack All That Jazz / Casablanca / Dec. 20, 1979
   [WMM 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.]

10:02

Thanks for tuning into Wednesday MidDay Medley. I’m Mark Manning. Today we celebrate Wednesday MidDay Medley’s 20th Anniversary! with LIVE performances in our 90.1 FM Studios from some of our most favorite musical guests: Calvin Arsenia, Julia Othmer, IVORY BLUE, Stephonne, and Kasey Rausch! Plus we welcome our WMM Radio Family: Marion Merritt, Maria Vasquez Boyd, Nico Gray, and Necia Gamby.

Today’s show is a celebration of 1046 weeks, 2092 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 scene, “The Midcoast Sound.”

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, 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 interviews with Tommy Ramone, Iris Dement, Laurie Anderson, Lily Tomlin. Plus, our annual 4-week special: the 120 Best Recordings of the Year.

I am inspired by the women who created radio on 90.1 FM long before me: my friend April Fletcher who plays bass professionally in Los Angeles, and hosted Mix Well Before Serving on 90.1 in 1988 on KKFI’s first year of broadcast, and last 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. Anne was the proprietor of Recycled Sounds just down the street from us on Main. Anne helped to build KKFI from the very beginning and hosted the first ever Punk Rock Show on the radio called “Little Orphan Annie.” Anne helped start The KC Free Speech Coalition and the annual Culture Under Fire. 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, organizing an event, doing a radio show. We were all connected, she had loved us all and supported us, and some of us made a pact to do just a little bit of what Anne did, 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. And through collaboration, and shining a light, like Abigail Hope 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. I’m inspired by theses women, my sisters. I am inspired by the diverse, intelligent, motivated, listeners, looking for place on the dial, where they can connect to the stories & music & voice of our community.

Today we celebrate the native flower spirit of community radio, free form radio, radio that tells the story of the people who live here, the artists, the workers, the writers, the teachers, the performers. We celebrate 1000 weeks of WMM, the show that has brought us together, at this time, on this frequency, on these 90.1 FM community airwaves. Thanks for listening.

10:05 – Calvin Arsenia Interview

Calvin Arsenia released his newest 14 track album Paradise to fans on June 23, 2023. His most biographical album yet, with songs about Black Lives Matter, racism, being on probation, gay love and collaborations with Cheery, Kadesh Flow & Jametatone. Calvin Arsenia is one of our most frequent guests, who first appeared on WMM on July 25, 2012. 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 guitar, piano, banjo. He learned the harp, at the age of 20. His passion for stretching the boundaries saw him transform after a trip to Edinburgh, Scotland’s Fringe Festival early in his career. An Edinburgh church offering him a role as musical liaison between the church and the city that would change his life. Calvin released the albums: Cantaloupe in 2018, with a sold out gigantic spectacle at The Gem Theatre on Saturday, September 15, 2018. He 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 on the Soundtrack to “Summer in Hindsight,” a feature-length film created by The West 18th Street Fashion Show where Calvin also starred as an actor. 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. More info at: http://www.calvinarsenia.com

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

10:12

3. Calvin Arsenia – “Back To You” (LIVE)
   Also available on L.A. Sessions / Center Cut Records / September 20, 2019

10:16 – More Calvin Arsenia Interview

Calvin Arsenia one of our most frequent guests, who has been on our show, 23 times.

Calvin was voted KC’s Best Musician in The Pitch 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023. He has been featured in Billboard, NPR.org. Calvin is the recipient of the Charlotte Street Foundation 2022 Generative Performing Artist Awards along with The Black Creatures. Calvin Arsenia is a multi-instrumentalist, a renaissance man, model, actor, designer, artist, writer, teacher, friend, inspiration… Calvin shared his journey openly with his fans. His journey to find himself as a working artist, musician, coming out as Queer Artist, coming-out as Black, finding love, understanding his spirituality and the redefinition of beliefs.

Calvin transformed after living in Edinburgh, Scotland. An Edinburgh church offered him a role as musical liaison between the church and the city that would change his life. Two years and 300 shows later, Calvin returned to KC reborn as a humanistic songwriter / performer where at 24 he released his EP, Moments, in 2014, his EP Prose in 2015, and his Folk Alliance exclusive EP Catastrophe in 2016. On February 14, 2017 Calvin released his full length debut, Catastrophe, with a live show at recordBar in November 2016, involving 50 people: dancers, stilt walkers. After signing to Center Cut Records, Calvin released the albums: Cantaloupe in 2018, with a sold out show at The Gem Theatre on September 15, 2018. He then released, L.A. Sessions in 2019, the EP HONEY DEW, the EP Goddess with Quixotic, and 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. Calvin is also 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 Arsenia thank you for being with us on Wednesday MidDay Medley.

[Calvin Arsenia plays plays Manor Fest 6, on Friday, May 31, at 9:00pm at Greenwood Social Club, 1759 Belleview Ave, 2nd Floor, KCMO with Fritz Hutchison, and Julia Haile.]

10:21

4. Dimitri From Paris – “Prologue”
   from: Sacrebleu / Yellow Productions – Atlantic / June 11, 1996
   [Debut studio album. Dimitri from Paris was born Dimitrios Yerasimos, on Oct. 27, 1963. He is a French music producer and DJ of Greek descent. His musical influences are rooted in 1970s funk & disco sounds that spawned contemporary house music, as well as original soundtracks from 1950s & 1960s movies such as Breakfast at Tiffany’s, La Dolce Vita and The Party, which were sampled in his album Sacrebleu.]

10:22 – Interview with Marion Merritt

Today we celebrate WMM’s 20th Anniversary. 20 years of playing music that is just not really played on the radio enough, sometimes ever, and most of the time we were the first to ever play it. From the beginning we always wanted someone from a Record Store to be on the show, because record stores are like “community centers” for people who love music.

Marion Merritt has an empathic ability to know what music you’re seeking. She’s our most frequent contributor to WMM She grew up in Los Angeles and St. Louis and went to college in Columbia, MO. She studied art & musical engineering, and is a avid lover of classic films. She saw Talking Heads on their 1st tour at One Block West in 1978. For 20 years she’s been sharing her sonic discoveries and information from her musically-encyclopedic brain. Marion also writes about new releases as a contributor The Pitch. With partner Ann Stewart, Marion is the proprietor of Records With Merritt, a minority owned business at 1614 Westport Rd. in KC. Info at: http://www.recordwithmerritt.com

Marion Merritt, Thanks for being with us on Wednesday MidDay Medley

10:29 – Underwriting

10:31 – Interview with Julia Othmer

Today we celebrate WMM’s 20th Anniversary. We celebrate a radio show that endeavors to tell the story of the incredible musical and arts community of this Missouri river valley stretching across wheat fields to places like Topeka, on a good day, and Peculiar, and Tonganoxie and Platte City.

Julia Othmer grew up in Kansas City and is a graduate of Park Hill High School and studied at Columbia University in New York City. The child of European refugees, she draws from a broad and richly cultured palette of experience to create her intensely human yet otherworldly songs. Julia Othmer released her 2nd album “Sound,” on April 12, 2019, produced with James Lundie. She had been introduced to his music production and fell so deeply in love with his sonic architecture, she transported to the UK, and refused to leave until he listened to her songs. James married Julia in January of 2016, during the completion of the record. Julia Othmer & James Lunde released Seeds (Vol. 1) on November 13, 2020, and SEEDS VOLUME 2 on March 20, 2022 containing live songs selected from her 30-day Songs of September Project, where Julia performed a different live cover and broadcast the performance throughout the month on streaming platforms to inspire people to vote. In 2021 Julia and James relocated to Kansas City and recently unveiled their newest creation, THE FORCEFIELDS featuring, reimagined vintage synthesizers, video projections, one of a kind instruments. Their debut EP, BRIDGE, will be released in 2024.

10:38

5. Julia Othmer – “Whether” (LIVE)
   Also available on: Sound / Fricken Awesome Records / April 12, 2019

10:42 – More Interview with Julia Othmer

Julia Othmer‘s piano-driven performances are a mesmerizing and superconscious fusion of raw power, vocal artistry and joy. Julia moved to LA in 2006 to record her 1st album, OASIS MOTEL. Julia Othmer released “Sound,” on April 12, 2019, her second album, produced with James Lundie. Julia Othmer & James T. Lunde released Seeds (Vol. 1) on November 13, 2020. “Seeds” was Julia Othmer’s 3rd full length album and contained 10 live songs selected from her 30-day Songs of September Project, where Julia performed a different live cover of her favorite songs and broadcast the performance throughout the streaming social media platforms to inspire people to register and vote on November 3. From those songs Julia’s fans democratically selected their favorite tracks to be released together on “Seeds.” In March 20, 2022 Julia Othmer released SEEDS VOLUME 2, her 4th album of live recordings from her 30-day “Songs of September Project”, where Julia covered songs of protest & hope, to inspire people to vote in 2020.

In 2021 Julia and her husband James relocated to Kansas City. Julia Othmer & James T Lundie recently unveiled their newest creation, a new expanding sonic and visual aesthetic called THE FORCEFIELDS. Their sound is evolving into what is described as Annie Lennox hosting a full moon party with The Beach Boys and Portishead gathered round the fire. Their studio recordings feature James’ unique sonic tools, reimagined vintage synthesizers, audio gear and rebuilt, one-of-a-kind instruments, heard nowhere else in the world. Their debut EP, BRIDGE, to be released in 2024, is a sonic bridge between their previous work together and this new trajectory. Reinterpreting and distilling the essence of two of Julia’s previous songs, BRIDGE is a rhythmic, multi-layered and richly textured exploration of letting go and positive self realization.

10:47

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

10:48 – Interview with Maria Vasquez Boyd

Today we celebrate WMM’s 20th Anniversary on 90.1 FM KKFI Kansas City Community Radio. A radio show that gave birth to another radio show called ARTSPEAK Radio hosted by a woman who has sparkles that surround her because she is so very special.

Maria Vasquez Boyd, is a mother, grandmother, friend, writer, artist, published poet, teacher, trailblazer, daredevil, traveler, lover, angel, radio show host & producer. Maria is a founding member of the Latino Writers Collective. She is a graduate of the Kansas City Art Institute, where she has also taught in the Design/Illustration Department and for the Nelson Atkins Museum. Maria has served as the gallery coordinator for the Guadalupe Center and The Writers Place. She is a contributing Artist at Mattie Rhodes. Maria is host & producer of ARTSPEAK Radio, celebrating 11 Years on the air Wednesdays at 9:00am, on KKFI. Maria Vasquez Boyd is the author of THE WEIGHT OF RECOGNITION her newest book of poetry published by Spartan Press in September 2022. Maria’s art work is currently showing at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in an exhibit titled: A LAYERED PRESENCE featuring incredible new works from many Kansas City based Latinx artists.

Maria Vasquez Boyd, Thanks for being with us on Wednesday MidDay Medley

10:55 – Interview with IVORY BLUE

Today we celebrate WMM’s 20th Anniversary on community radio, fradio that tells the story of people who live here, people who make music. The story of our area musical community is the story of a giant tree with many branches, and roots the go very deep.

IVORY BLUE released her 2nd full length album, STARLIT LOVE CHILD, on Nov. 17, 2023, It was in the top 5 of WMM’s 120 Best Recordings of 2023. A free-spirited musician, IVORY BLUE has become an expressive multi-genre artist whose music is passionate rock, with a dash of pop hooks & a healthy dose of swagger. At the age of four, IVORY’s birth mother put her up for adoption. IVORY lived with eight different “foster parent” families, before running away at 15. Ivory turned to music to express her pain and personal story. In 2010 Klaartje Van Lue saw IVORY performing in a YouTube video. The Van Lue family adopted IVORY into their family. As a multi-instrumentalist, IVORY refining her style, using digital looping pedals to stack harmonies, giving tsolo shows the feel of a full band.

Ivory Blue thanks for being with us on WMM.

11:02 – Station ID

7. IVORY BLUE – “Elite Dreamland” (Live)
   also available on: COMPOUND LOVE / IVORY BLUE / February 25, 2022

11:06 – More Interview with IVORY BLUE

IVORY BLUE was born in 1986 in Peoria Illinois, as Devin James Miclettet. At the age of four, IVORY’s birth mother put them up for adoption. 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 “foster parent” families, before running away at 15. Ivory turned to music to express their pain and personal story. In 2010 Klaartje Van Lue saw IVORY performing in a YouTube video, captured from an open mike performance. Klaartje had moved to the United States from Belgium to marry her husband and then raise her son and daughter. Klaartje, a pianist and working mom, felt a connection, musically and maternally, sent a plane ticket for IVORY to fly to KC. The Van Lue’s adopted IVORY into their family. 10 years ago IVORY came out as “Transgender” helping to educate and to clear the pathway for a growing number of trans, queer, & non-binary musical artists who are part of KC’s diverse and collaborative music community.

IVORY BLUE released their full-length debut album COMPOUND LOVE on February 25, 2022. COMPOUND LOVE was in the Top Ten of WMM’s 120 Best Recordings of 2022. IVORY BLUE released the video of their song, “Family Table” directed by Mikal Shapiro, on August 21, 2021. IVORY BLUE’s debut EP, READY GET SET was released in June 2015. While the EP helped spread the word and give IVORY BLUE attention from regional radio and TV stations, a big break would come in 2017 when IVORY was among 1800 artists/bands that competed in neXt2Rock. IVORY won local & regional challenges and advanced to nationals in Los Angeles, California to win the top prize.

IVORY BLUE has played Boulevardia, Kauffman Stadium, Crossroads Music Festival, The Middle of the Map Festival, The Westport Roots Festival, Apocalypse Meow, the KCPT Screening of “Real Boy” at The KC Public Library, The Viper Room (L.A.), ULAH with You Found Music, Arts In The Park, The Englewood Arts Center, MiniBar, recordBar, Lemonade Park, Davy’s Uptown Ramblers Club, Records With Merritt, The Tank Room, and many others. More info at: https://linktr.ee/ivorybluemusic

Ivory Blue thanks for being with us on WMM.

11:10

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

11:11 – interview with Nico Gray

Today we celebrate the 20th Anniversary of WMM. Radio that tells the story of people who make music, who sing & play songs, who organize concerts & festivals in a metro region of 2 million people. Today we celebrate our little ole radio show that has brought us together,

Nico Gray is host and producer of Radio Nicopisa on Wednesdays, 12:00 Noon to 2:00pm on 90.1 FM KKFI. Nico contributed to Wednesday MidDay Medley for over 10 years, helping with shows about Glam Rock, David Bowie, and our Fund Drive Shows, and serving as Guest Producer for 12 different shows. In 2022 Nico own radio show, “Radio Nicopisa” was launched in the over night hours. Nico Gray is also a writer, performance artist, and has worked as an actor with Kansas City Repertory Theatre, Gorilla Theatre, 8th St. Cafe Theatre, Actor’s Craft, and Big Bang Buffet. He appeared in HBO film “Truman” and in the Robert Altman film, “Kansas City.” Nico was also in an early short film of John McGrath‘s that had a small role played by Emmy Award Winner Jason Sudeikis. Nico is currently a marketing & advertising consultant with Union Station.

Nico Gray, Thanks for being with us on Wednesday MidDay Medley

11:18

9. The Country Duo – “Goodwill”
   from: Little Lagoon Sessions / The Country Duo / TBA 2024
   [Recorded in Gulf Shores Alabama with former Head Engineer of Sun Studio, Curry Weber. // The Country Duo is Kansas City’s Kasey Rausch and Marco Pascolini. Armed with acoustic and electric guitars, a pedal steel, and a passion for good ol’ country music, you’ll hear them play Rausch’s original tunes as well as the classics from Patsy to Merle, Gram to Emmylou. After just a year of working together as a duo, 2016 found the two playing in Nashville at the Station Inn, recording at the legendary Sun Studio in Memphis, TN as well as being invited by Sun Studio to film the PBS Sun Studio Sessions. The episode will air on PBS stations across the country beginning Spring 2017, but look for the first audio recordings to be released by Winter 2016. // Kasey Rausch is a 5th generation musician, songwriter and co-producer of River Trade Radio on KKFI 90.1FM. Her family and musical roots can be found in Parkville, Kansas City, the Missouri Ozarks, Winfield, Kansas (home of the legendary Walnut Valley Festival), and deep Southeast Texas. Rausch’s third album Guitar in Hand (MudStomp Records 2014) debuted at #3 on the Roots Music Reporting charts and was voted one of the top three albums of the year by readers of The Pitch, KC’s weekly entertainment guide. She was named 2013’s Female Performer of the Year by The Farmer’s Turnpike on KMXN 92.9 FM, sharing the stage with Joe Ely, Peter Rowan, Grammy Winner Roland White, Kris Delmhorst, Jack Williams and many more. // Marco Pascolini is the stuff of guitar legends. For more than twenty years he has forged his path as one of the most well-respected musicians in Kansas City. Recognized as one of the region’s most influential musicians, his talent across a multitude of instruments has been acknowledged in numerous music media including The Kansas City Star and The Pitch, among others. Be it an electric guitar or a pedal steel in his hands, you’ll find him touring with Kasey Rausch’s Country Duo or on stage in his home town with Mr. Marco’s V7, The Naughty Pines or songwriter extraordinaire Scott Hrabko.  

11:22 – Interview with Kasey Rausch

Kasey Rausch is a 5th generation songwriter & musician who began performing at age 15. Two days after graduating from high school, she moved from Texas back to her hometown of Kansas City to live alongside her extended family while pursuing music. With pedal steel & guitar master Marco Pascolini, Kasey performs as The Country Duo. Kasey plays locally with classic country honky tonk band The Naughty Pines. She has shared the stage with Joe Ely, Dale Watson, Peter Rowan, Roland White, Kris Delmhorst, Jack Williams and many more. As Kasey Rausch turns 50 this year, she’s reflecting on her career and her upcoming album as half of The Country Duo with Marco Pascolini. The Little Lagoon Sessions album was recorded with former Sun Studio head engineer Curry Weber in Gulf Shores, Alabama. This is the fifth time the duo has worked with Weber on various projects, including their 2017 album Live at Sun Studio. More info at: http://www.kaseyrausch.com

Kasey Rausch thanks for being with us on Wednesday MidDay Medley

11:26

0. Kasey Rausch – “The Color and The Hue” (LIVE)
   from: Little Lagoon Sessions / The Country Duo / TBA 2024

10:30 – More Interview with Kasey Rausch

Kasey Rausch was one of the very first LIVE musical guests we had on WMM. If you look at our very first playlist from May 14, 2004 you’ll see a diverse mix, and equality between women and men, however there as hardly any “local” music. As I was learning how to do this radio show, it was the Kansas City and Lawrence area musicians who came on the show and taught me about the music community. Robert Moore’s Oxblood Records compilation First Blood became a road map. Midwest Music Foundation and Abigail Henderson shined the light. The Death of Anne Winter reminded us how close we actually are and how much we need each other. Social media and Facebook became the inter-office memo of the area music community. The birth of festivals: Crossroads Music Fest, Middle of the Map Fest, and Folk Alliance International Conference, the development of more studios and record labels, and the re-birth of record stores.

Kasey Rausch is co-creator River Trade Radio on 90.1FM on Sundays 9:00 to 11:00.

Rausch’s third album, Guitar in Hand was released on MudStomp Records in 2014, and debuted at #3 on the Roots Music Reporting charts and was voted one of the top three albums of the year by readers of The Pitch. She was named 2016 Best of the Northland Artist, 2013’s Female Performer of the Year by The Farmer’s Turnpike on KMXN 92.9 FM and is a four-time Pitch Music Award Nominee.

As Kasey Rausch turns 50 this year, she’s reflecting on her career and her upcoming album as half of The Country Duo with Marco Pascolini. The Little Lagoon Sessions album was recorded with former Sun Studio head engineer Curry Weber in Gulf Shores, Alabama. This is the fifth time the duo has worked with Weber on various projects, including their 2017 album Live at Sun Studio. More information at: http://www.kaseyrausch.com

Kasey Rausch thanks for being with us on Wednesday MidDay Medley

11:34 – Underwriting

11:35 – Interview with Stephonne

Today we celebrate WMM’s 20th Anniversary on community radio, freeform radio, radio that tells the story of people who live here, artists, writers, teachers. Today we celebrate 1046 weeks of WMM, the show that has brought us together, at this time, on this frequency.

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 Wednesday MidDay Medley

11:42

11. Stephonne – “Highlander” with Chad Brothers on guitar
    Also available on SIS: Side B [EP] / Glory Blue Music / June 24, 2022

11:45 – More Interview with Stephonne

Stephonne is a Board Member for Kansas City Folk Festival, this Saturday, May 18, at 12:00pm, at Washington Square Park, 100 E Pershing Rd, KCMO. This free, all-day city festival celebrates the music & arts of our neighborhoods, with song, poetry, dance, storytelling, art, demos, workshops, food trucks, and craft market. // KC Folk Fest features: ARQuesta del SolSoul, Madisen Ward, Love, Mae C., Jass, Weda Skirts, Sally and the Hurts, Rural Grit Happy Hour, No Divide KC Artist Showcase, Mariachi Estrella KC, HSN Youth Songwriter Contest Winners, poets Mary Silwance, C. Woods, Sheri “Purpose” Hall, a demo by Break Free KC Hip Hop School, and dance by Shashwat Chaurasia. // No Divide KC Folk Fest Stage – From 1-2pm! Featuring: Liney Blu (singer/songwriter), Waleska Barroeta (poet), Jocelyn Nixon (singer/songwriter)

KC Folk Fest is a community-led nonprofit organization that is free thanks to the support of Folk Alliance International, Missouri Arts Council, Neighborhood Tourism & Development Fund, & donors. Info at: http://www.kansascityfolkfestival.org

Stephonne thanks for being with us on WMM.

11:49 – Interview with Necia Gamby

Necia Gamby has been called “the Oracle of 39th Street” by Kansas City musician Calvin Arsenia. Necia currently serves on the Board of Directors of KC Folk Fest. She has served on the board of directors of the Volker Neighborhood Association and was vice president of the board of the MidCoast Radio Project. Necia is a massage practitioner in private practice and owner of Heartland Massage and Bodywork Center. She has been in practice 40 years. She uses Swedish (classical) massage technique. Over the years she has studied and practiced Hatha Yoga and is currently studying TaiChi. She founded and directed the Heartland School of Massage from 1988-1996. She has studied and incorporated Shiatsu, trigger point technique, lomi-lomi and a host of other philosophies and techniques into her massage style. Necia was an instructor for Johnson County Community College’s Certified Massage Program for 6 years. She taught Basic Swedish technique and Business Practices. Necia is the daughter of Sandra Brown a Kansas City Jazz pianist, and the mother Jamal Gamby a graphic artist and MC Joe Good for the acclaimed KC based hiphop duo SoundsGood with Miles Bonny. More info at: http://www.heartlandmassges.com

Necia Gamby, thanks for being us on Wednesday MidDay Medley

11:57

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

13. Jim The Blind Guy- “Hello This Is The Villa Incognito”
    from: Mark’s private recordings

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

Next week on May 22 on Wednesday MidDay Medley we welcome: Erin Keller, Betse & Clarke, Danny Santell and Lava Dreams .

THANK YOU to our incredible KKFI Staff; Director of Development & Communications – J Kelly Dougherty, Volunteer Coordinator – Darryl Oliver, Chief Operator – Chad Brothers.

This radio station is more than the individual hosts of each individual radio show. Instead it is about a collective spirit of hundreds of hardworking 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

Show #1046