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WMM presents Michael McQuary + Joey Arias and a special show about Queer Performance in NYC in the ’80s, ’90s, & beyond.

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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, June 11, 2025

WMM presents Michael McQuary + Joey Arias and a special show about Queer Performance in NYC in the ’80s, ’90s, & beyond.

Michael McQuary returns to WMM for a Special Pride Show about Queer Performance in NYC in the ’80s, ’90s, & beyond. Michael grew up in Portland, Oregon. In 1980 he was awarded a scholarship to attend the New York Academy of Dramatic Arts. Michael performed on NYC stages at the River West Theatre, the Divine Theater and the Cooper Square Theatre. His one-man shows played the West Village cabarets, Eighty-eights, the Duplex, and the Trocadero. He premiered his show, The Secret Power of Fu Manchu at Cooper Square Theatre alternating the late-night spot with RuPaul & Mona Foote. Michael played downtown NYC clubs: the SoHo Grand, with Joey Arias & Susanne Bartsch, the Pyramid, Boy Bar, and Starlight Bar & Lounge. Uptown, Michael performed at Danny’s Grand Sea Palace, Don’t Tell Mama, The Bon Soir and Rick Talbots Ladies. Michael premiered his one-man production, Crystal Allen Strikes Back, by Jon Michael Johnson at Danny’s Grand Sea Palace. After 33 years in New York, Michael relocated to Kansas City, where he premiered his one-man show, I’m Hollywood, at KC Fringe Fest. Michael also works in film, starring in CORVALO for Mile Deep Films, Keeper and Love Shadow, for Bill’s Eye Cinema, MADEYE, Connections for Cooper Square Productions and two documentary films about his work: Portrait of an Artist for Cooper Square Productions and Man of 1001 Faces, for Taishi Studios. Michael McQuary also played seven characters in 2022’s television situation comedy, Daddy’s Divas on Amazon TV. He will soon be seen in the upcoming feature film by Patrick Rea, “Super Happy Fun Clown.” Michael McQuary will perform his one-man show, Sunday, June 15, at 2:00pm at Englewood Arts Center, 10901 East Winner Road, Independence, Missouri.

At 10:30 Mark interviews Joey Arias, avant-garde artist based in New York City, best known for work as a performance artist, actor, and cabaret singer, but also as a published author, comedian, stage persona and film actor. One of the original Groundlings in Los Angeles. Joey left for NYC in 1976 and embarked on a new career singing with his best friend Klaus Nomi on stage, in videos, and with David Bowie on SNL in 1979. Arias gradually became involved in the burgeoning 1980s performance art scene, appearing at downtown venues including Club 57 with John Sex, Ann Magnuson, Kenny Scharf, Keith Haring, and Basquiat. Joey also began a career in cabaret, channeling the vocal style of Billie Holiday. Joey can be seen in the films: Wigstock: The Movie with Lady Bunny, Jackie Beat, Debbie Harry, Leigh Bowery, and RuPaul. Joey is also in Big Top Pee-wee, a 1988 sequel to Pee-wee’s Big Adventure starring Paul Reubens as Pee-wee Herman. Joey is featured in Mondo New York with Karen Finley, Lydia Lunch, and Ann Magnuson; Elvira: Mistress of the Dark starring Cassandra Peterson as Elvira. Joey also has roles in Flawless, starring Robert De Niro and Philip Seymour Hoffman; and To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar starring Wesley Snipes, Patrick Swayze, and John Leguizamo. In 2003 Arias moved to Las Vegas, for Cirque du Soleil’s Zumanity at the New York-New York Hotel & Casino. In addition to starring in the show, he co-wrote two of the show’s songs. After six years, Arias returned to NYC where he starred in Arias with a Twist, with puppeteer Basil Twist at HERE Arts Center. The show was also produced in Los Angeles and Paris. Arias continues to perform in venues such as Joe’s Pub and Feinstein’s/54. Recently Joey released his new album, Past Present Future.

Joey Arias will share stories about his friendships with Klaus Nomi, David Bowie, Saturday Night Live, Andy Warhol, Pee Herman aka Paul Reubens, Lady Bunny, Cirque du Soleil and More! We’ll spin musical tracks from: Klaus Nomi, David Bowie, Joey Arias, Dana Gillespie, Yma Sumac, Kiss of The Spiderwoman, William Stromberg & Moscow Symphony Orchestra, and More!

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

Show #1099

WMM presents Michael McQuary + Paris Williams + The Sexy Accident

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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, October 9, 2024

WMM presents Michael McQuary + Paris Williams + The Sexy Accident

Mark will spin more New & MidCoastal tracks from: Supermoto, Paris Williams, Eboni Fondren, LYXE, Daniel Gum, Hembree, The Creature Comforts, Leigh Adams & The Phantastics, Mikal Shapiro & The Musical, The Sexy Accident, Okay Kaya, Nilüfer Yanya, and Yma Sumac.

At 10:30 we talk with The Man of a 1001 Faces, Michael McQuary who started as a child actor at The Portland Civic Theatre and left for New York City as a scholarship recipient at the New York Academy of Dramatic Arts. In NYC, Michael McQuary worked at River West Theatre, Divine Theater and Cooper Square Theatre. Michael’s solo shows played in the West Village at: Eighty-eights, the Duplex, the Trocadero, and the cabaret space in the Cooper Square Theatre with his show, Astonishing. He premiered his show, The Secret Power of Fu Manchu at Cooper Square where he alternated the late-night spot with RuPaul and Mona Foote. Michael was featured in the downtown clubs: SoHo Grand with Joey Arias & Suzanne Bartsch, the Pyramid, Boy Bar and Starlight Bar & Lounge. Michael also performed Uptown at: Danny’s Grand Sea Palace, Don’t Tell Mama, The Bon Soir and Rick Talbots Ladies. Michael premiered his one-man show, Crystal Allen Strikes Back by Jon Michael Johnson, at Danny’s Grand Sea Palace. Michael currently makes Kansas City home where he premiered his show, I’m Hollywood, at KC Fringe Fest. Michael works extensively in film and starred as CORVALO for Mile Deep Films, Keeper and Love Shadow, for Bill’s Eye Cinema, MADEYE, and two documentary films on his work, Portrait of an Artist, by Cooper Square Productions, and Man of 1001 Faces, by Taishi Studios. McQuary was featured throughout the first season of the Amazon television series, Daddy’s Diva’s playing seven hilarious characters. Michael McQuary joins us to share details about his show, One Night Date with Michael McQuary, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024 at 7:00pm, at Englewood Arts, 10901 E Winner Rd, Independence, MO. More info at: http://www.englewoodarts.art

At 11:00 Hip Hop Recording Artist and Producer Paris Williams returns to WMM. Paris Williams shares details about his new singles: “Ayo!” released September 18, and recorded with Globetotters, & Kaleab Samuel, featuring TyFaizon (of BLACKSTARKIDS), “C’est La Vie” released September 14 and also recorded with Globetotters, & Kaleab Samuel, and “Talk’n” released June 25, 2024. Last year Paris Williams released the single “Pack Light.” It was a follow up to his EP, REBEL HEART released on January 31, 2023 on Bitter Sweet Sounds. Paris Williams is originally from Muskegon, MI. Previously Paris Williams released the single, Hopscotch” on June 21, 2022. He released, “Chunky” on April 20, 2022. He released the single, “Sunsets & Solariums (feat. Bloom Allen)” on October 21, 2021 through Bittersweet Sounds. Earlier this year Paris Williams with Bloom Allen released the Official Music Video for Sunsets & Solariums, filmed in Kansas City. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlW25EdHwco

At 11:30am Mark talks with Jesse Kates of The Sexy Accident, about the band’s new single “Becoming” to be released soon. Earlier this year on June 13, 2024, The Sexy Accident released their 4-song EP, Live at Prospero’s Bell Tower, recorded at Prospero’s Books in Kansas City on December 9, 2023. The current lineup of The Sexy Accident includes: Jesse Kates on vocals & guitars, Ramone Hall on drums, Ryan Leip on keyboards, Mack McKinney on bass, Rachel Jaggard on vocals. The Sexy Accident has released 17 albums/EPs and multiple singles. Many of their albums have been released in creative very ways including a hardbound book of lyrics, interviews and original artwork, and as a board/card game. More information at http://www.thesexyaccident.com

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

Check Out NeciaFest, Sunday, October 13, 12:00 to 6:00pm at The Brick

Show #1064

WMM presents Alex Kimball Williams + Ivory Blue + Adria Patterson

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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, October 2, 2024

WMM presents Alex Kimball Williams aka Bad Alaskan + Ivory Blue + Adria Patterson

Mark will spin more New & MidCoastal tracks from: Making Movies, Krystle Warren & The Faculty, Ivory Blue, Jolson & The Fear of Snakes, Seyko, Bad Alaskan, Redder Moon, Amado Espinoza, and Emmaline Twist.

At 10:30 we talk with special guest Adria Patterson who is a swimmer, a life guard, and instructor teaching adults how to swim, helping people overcome their fear of water and end generational cycles of aquaphobia. She is a Certified Life Coach and Certified Swim Instructor. Through education and passion, Adria has held positions in the financial service industry as well as the educational arena, earning numerous awards and recognitions for product development and sales. She has served on the board of advisors for successful non-profit organizations, a local church body, and the regional and general boards of a large denomination. She is currently the founder of PC Swimming, encouraging communities to develop a healthy and safe relationship with water. Adria is the mother of two prominent young men. She is not only a swim coach but a prayer coach that swims. More information at http://www.PCSwimming.com.

At 11:00am we’ll talk with Alex Kimball Williams a Lawrence, Kansas based multicultural artist, community organizer, researcher, & educator. Her work includes ethnopolitics, medical activism, & climate justice. Alex provides DEIA+ consulting to businesses, organizations, & local governments with organizational transformation & community engagement. She leads teams in a justice-forward approach toward establishing & strengthening group values & ethics. As a community organizer, Alex cofounded several groups including B.L.A.C.K. Lawrence & Sanctuary Alliance. She has won several awards for her collaborative work in cultural equity including the MLK Dreamer’s award, Community Hero in Best of Lawrence 2021, & the 2023 Juneteenth community award. Bad Alaskan is her ambient synth project combining influences of EDM & Indigenous traditional music. Alex identifies and celebrates her Native Alaskan / Black / Portuguese origins, with the motto: “Music is Medicine,” and released her album, Red & Black on June 19, 2023. It was #5 on WMM’s 120 Best Recordings of 2023.

At 11:30 we welcome IVORY BLUE back to the show. Her single, “Olé!” will be released October 4, 2024. “Olé!” is her sixth single this year including: “Breathing Underwater” (Aug. 9), “Bad Dreams” (June 7), “Batter Up” (April 22), “Flashback” (March 15), and “Howl” (Feb. 16). IVORY BLUE released her second album, STARLIT LOVE CHILD, on November 17, 2023, It was in the top 5 of WMM’s 120 Best Recordings of 2023. 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. IVORY BLUE was the grand Prize winner of the nation-wide talent competition Next To Rock in 1017. More info at: https://linktr.ee/ivorybluemusic

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

Show #1063

WMM is Spinning Records With Marion Merritt

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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 29, 2024

WMM is Spinning Records With Marion Merritt

Mark welcomes Marion Merritt, of Records With Merritt, who joins us as “Guest Producer” to share sonic discoveries and information from her musically-encyclopedic-brain. Marion Merritt has an empathic ability to know what music you’re seeking. For 20 years Marion has been serving as co-producer of our show. She’s our most frequent contributor to WMM. Marion 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. Marion also writes about new releases as a contributor to The Pitch. With partner Ann Stewart, Marion is the proprietor of Records With Merritt, a minority owned business at 1614 Westport Rd. in Kansas City, Missouri. More info at: http://www.recordswithmerritt.com.

Marion will spin tracks from: Ana Frango Elétrico, Shabaka with Moses Sumney, Shabaka with Floating Points & Laraaji, Hermanos Gutiérrez, Phosphorescent, DIIV, Isobel Campbell, Beth Gibbons, Kamasi Washington, Fay Victor & Herbie Nichols, Gloria Coleman Quartet with Pola Roberts, Leyla McCalla, Valerie June, Swamp Dogg, Kleenex, Lucy Rose, Ghost Funk Orchestra, Mdou Moctar, and The Lostines.   

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

Show #1048