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

Wednesday, February 25, 2026

WMM Celebrates Black History with 15 Black Artists & Bands from KC + Sinple + Mará Rose Williams + D. Rashaan Gilmore + Sandra Draper

WMM Celebrates Black History spinning tracks from 15+ of our Favorite Black Artists based in Kansas City: Julia Haile & Les Izmore, Calvin Arsenia, Stephonne, Hailes, Malek Azrael, Paris Williams, Jass, Eboni Fondren, Ty Faison, FlareThaRebel, Various Blonde, TheBabeGabe, Broderick Jones, Cuee, and The Freedom Affair.

At 11:00 we welcome back Jesse Bartmess who records and performs under the moniker of Sinple. Jesse’s new album, MUSIC FOR MACHINES Vol. 4, will be released February 26, 2026. Since his debut release Us in 2014 he has released 15 albums and 24 music videos. Many of his recordings were inspired by Brian Eno. In June 2018 Jesse Bartmess left KC and moved to Los Angeles, California where he continued recording and playing in bands. Last September Jesse moved back to KC. As a live performer he has opened for Phantogram, The Soft Moon, EMA and Class Actress. Jesse played keyboards for Bad Dreamer with Joe Stanziola, and The Wild Type. He has also played in the bands: High Tatras, and Boy Detective. His music can be found at: http://www.sinple.bandcamp.com

Joining us for the entire show: Mará Rose Williams, D. Rashaan Gilmore and Sandra Draper, our special co-hosts, will help encourage YOU, our beautiful listener, to donate to KKFI’s Winter On-Air-Fund Drive. We need YOUR support. Please call 888-931-0901, or visit http://www.kkfi.org to support 90.1 FM KKFI – Kansas City Community Radio during our Winter Fund Drive Show.

Mará Rose Williams is The Kansas City Star’s Assistant Managing Editor for race and equity issues. She has served as a member of the Star’s Editorial Board and is an award-winning columnist. She was a writer on The Star’s 2020 “Truth in Black amd White” project, and the recipient of the 2021 Eleanor McClatchy Award for exemplary leadership skills and transformative journalism. Mará Rose Williams was the creator and host and producer of Voices of Kansas City an award winning special series created by the KC Star with KKFI.

D. Rashaan Gilmore is host of “Unbossed and Unbothered with D. Rashaan Gilmore,” on KKFI Saturday nights at 5:00pm. D. Rashaan Gilmore is a two-time Emmy Award winning host and producer of Flatland In Focus on Kansas City PBS. D. Rashaan is Founder and President/CEO at BlaqOut KC, which seeks to organize and mobilize the black, gay community in Kansas City and develop a leadership core. Gilmore has previously managed multiple significant HIV/ AIDS awareness and prevention grants for the Kansas City CARE Clinic.

Sandra Draper is a retired federal employee, and graduate of the University of Missouri – Kansas City. She is a mother of four, and grandmother of more. Sandra is a volunteer at The Folly Theater and also at KKFI where she serves on KKFI’s Board of Directors and hosts SylkySan Soul Sensations, a dynamic radio show that blends a variety of genres every Monday from 4:00pm to 6:00pm on 90.1 FM KKFI.

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

Show #1136