The Webguy’s Introduction

Howdy Hello Everyone

Allow me to introduce myself… John Button, KVMR’s webmaster and Techie 2nd Grade.

I’ve been around KVMR since 2000 when I returned home to N.California from a 12 year absence while working in the semiconductor industry.

I first became aware of the Nevada City and Grass Valley area while I was the soundman at The Shire Road Pub in Fair Oaks, CA for their first couple of years of existance.

That was in 1972 and 1973 and while KVMR wasn’t in operation, I became acquainted with an amazing number of musicians that came out of that area.

Now, back before that, I had the wonderful opportunity to work at KZAP in Sacramento, CA for a couple of years around ‘70 & ‘71. Those were wild times and I was absolutely blown away by all the great music that the KZAP broadcasters were playing. The late ’60s and early ’70s were incredible as far as the creative new music that was being played and recorded… and being just a couple of hours from San Francisco sure helped utilize all those free concert tickets we were given to promote concerts.

KZAP was a commercial radio station that probably didn’t make a buck until after it was sold after the first few years of its lifetime. I could go on for years about what happened at KZAP, but for those that are interested … here’s a link to some KZAP history that might be fun… and sometime in November of 2008 we are going to have another reunion to see who’s left and who can remember anything?!

Anyways. shortly after KVMR went on the air in 1978, I gotta a call from an old KZAP & Shire Road Pub friend, Paul Emery. At the time he was part of a musical collaboration that was reminiscent of earlier jug bands, The Greater Charmichael Traveling Street Band and Scantified Singers with Brother Lee Love.

Paul and Brother Lee Love were going to be interviewed on KVMR and they might get to play a little live music, so they wanted someone along to help make sure everything sounded just exactly perfect. Instead they were able to get me to join them. At this point KVMR was broadcasting from the transmitter shack on Banner Mt. and when we got there. I learned that there wasn’t enough room in the control booth for everyone and so I got to listen from outside.

Since that period of my life, I’ve been around the western states involved with a small welding shop of another good friend, Alan Hiatt. Hiatt’s Metal Fab is now in Plymouth, CA, but he started his shop in Folsom, where I hooked up and spent 12 years becoming a metal fabricator.

My next career was in the semiconductor industry that took another 12 years and lead me to Samel, OR for a few year and finally to San Antonio, TX. It was there that I finally had enough of working for big business and dealing with all the stress that working with seriously toxic chemicals on a daily basis.

About this time KZAP was having their 30th anniversary and after that party I knew I had to come home to N. California. It wasn’t too long before I was listening to KVMR and and calling in requests and membership pledges.

It was also about this time that I decided that KVMR’s web site needed a little help and I volunteered. After another several months, I gotta call from another old KZAP buddy, Paul Paterson who was KZAP’s chief engineer. He had recently been hired as KVMR’s engineer and he as looking for a room mate. And that was it, we found a place on Zion St. and I’d found my home here in Nevada City. Since then we’ve each found our own homes, but we’re both still home in Nevada City and at KVMR!

Ok now, I’ve introduced myself … it’s your turn

KVMR takes a look back… Joel Sotelo

Originally published KVMR Listeners’ Guide Aug./Sep. 2003

It’s been over 20 years now since my experience as a KVMR DJ. My friend is a part of the new breed at KVMR and has been pestering me to tell my tale.

I wasn’t anyone famous, just a journeyman grunt who, like so many people in those days, thought it might be a hoot to trudge on up to the foothills once a week or so and put on a radio show. The best shows back then were Phil Givant’s blues show and the various programs hosted by Mikail Graham and George Parsons. Together, George and Mikail did a show called Mr. Filter’s Unusual Music on Thursday nights that I was particularly devoted to and it was that show specifically that made me want to try my hand at being a DJ myself.

KVMR takes a look back… Thomas Greener

Just a couple memories worth mentioning, from the Ragged But Right dude: 1. Moving day, from the Miner’s Foundry, to the Bridge Building. The discovery that the new record (LPs) room floor would not support the anticipated load. Several broadcaster/ carpenters, led by Paul Dahms & myself, installed a support beam, under the floor. This was on the day that we were moving into the Bridge Building at 401 Spring Street. Ragged But Right show was one of the last shows broadcast from the Miners Foundry location on that Saturday. The Outro Song at 2 p.m. was “Packin’ Up” by Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee. It was learned much later, that the same song, by the same artists, was the last song that KFAT broadcast, prior to going off the air, in January, 1983. Sounds kinda cosmic, to me.

KVMR takes a look back… John Rumsey

Originally published KVMR Listeners’ Guide Jun./Jul. 2003

There are so many memories but two particularly stand out. Brian Terhorst, our General Manager required long term hospitalization with a severe case of pneumonia. Glen Farr, Board Chairman; and Dawn Fischer, Board Secretary; volunteered their time, and along with Erica Randall, formed a management triumvirate that kept the station running smoothly for several months.

Secondly several years ago during our live Saturday broadcast from the County Fair, a truck knocked down the phone lines, breaking our communication link to the station. After a number of vain attempts to wade through the phone company bureaucracy on a weekend, Eric Rice climbed the pole, sorted out the wire and made the splice and put us back on the air. Another exhibit of the can do leadership that got our new tower in the air.

by John Rumsey

KVMR takes a look back… Jim Diffey

Originally published KVMR Listeners’ Guide Jun./Jul. 2003

My first memory of KVMR is the friends I have made. To me they are like family. Sharing a pleasant conversation and a joke or two has been a highlight of every week. I looked forward to doing my show because I knew I would see many of my friends.

My shows. From Tuesday mornings 1-4 a.m. then Thursday mornings 4-7 a.m. And finally alternate Wednesdays 2-4 p.m. The music and interviews have been fun and rewarding. But the phone calls and mail (real and electronic) have been extra special. People taking time from busy lives to express how much they like the music.

KVMR takes a look back… Jenny Michaels

Originally published KVMR Listeners’ Guide Jun./Jul. 2003

I have so many memories that come to mind after only 11 years, it’s hard to choose just one. But, the first one that comes up is my earliest memory and brings a smile to my face every time.

I was but a green broadcaster back in the spring of ‘92, freshly certified,when I volunteered for the first of many pledge drives. The little table sitting in the lobby of the foundry (our old home), had only two phones on it (I think they were old rotary phones if memory serves). Brian Terhorst, another class of ‘92 alumni, and I,were answering phones for none other than John Nichols and Annie O’Dea Hestbeck during John’s Saturday Morning Wireless program.

KVMR takes a look back… Wes Robertson

 Originally published KVMR Listeners’ Guide Jun./Jul. 2003

When I started Rockin-N Stompin in ‘90 Dave Chafin came on after my show at 4 p.m. Driving up from Sacramento, he was notorious for calling me on his cell phone somewhere between Auburn and Nevada City to explain that he was running late and to request that I cover for the beginning of his show. Somewhere along the way I got the idea of keeping a cassette tape cued up to an air-check that featured the beginning of his show-just waiting for the next time that he called me. Sure enough on another given Sat., he called me and asked me to cover for him and as usual my reply was “no problem.” Once my final song ended at 4 p.m. I started the cassette that had Dave’s opening song–Van Morrison’s Wavelength- start followed by his voice coming on after the track saying his normal goodbyes to Denny Axel (Original co-host of Rockin- N-Stompin) and I. It was at this point that Dave called me back and laughingly he said that it sounded like I had everything under control and he really didn’t need to come in!!! He did show up and continued the set I started and when he finally came on to back announce (approx. 4:30 p.m.) he said he didn’t want to say anything except sometimes that Wesley is a very clever guy.

by Wesley Robertson

KVMR takes a look back… Chamba Lane

Originally published KVMR Listeners’ Guide Jun./Jul. 2003

KVMR, from its inception has always broadcast superb music. But spoken word programming on KVMR is rather recent. in fact it wasn’t until Paul Emery became program director that proponents of spoken word shows had anyone on staff to champion their cause. Paul believed spoken word shows had a place in our broadcast spectrum, and in spite of the fears of the music only crowd, created an effective balance between music and spoken word shows. So my favorite moment has to be when I learned that KVMR finally had a program director who believed in the value of spoken word. And after 4+ years of being turned down for every time slot I applied for, I finally got my chance to do the kind of show I had originally become a broadcaster to do.

by Chamba Lane

Lee Amundsen, KVMR Founder

Originally published KVMR Listeners’ Guide Jun./Jul. 2003

KVMR’s founder, Lee Amundsen, is a dreamer. He’s always coming up with ideas and then takes action to make things happen. Lee’s vision for a radio station started in the mid-70s. His plan to start a radio station was born out of necessity, simply because there was no radio station in Nevada City. His original intent was to start a commercial radio station. A local realtor, Leonard Carey, introduced Amundsen to David Osborne and Charles Woods, founders of the American Victorian Museum in Nevada City.

KVMR takes a look back… Steve Baker

 Originally published KVMR Listeners’ Guide Jun./Jul. 2003

A pregnant Carolyn Crane was hosting a morning show and training a new broadcaster when suddenly she didn’t feel well. She apparently went into full labor, and the nervous trainee had to take over until I could run to the studio and bring a sense of calm to the scene. Carolyn gave birth in the record library about a half hour later, as I answered a frantic string of phone calls.
The date was April 1, 1997, four months before Carolyn’s son actually arrived. It was, after all, one of the most convincing April Fools jokes ever played on KVMR listeners.
by Steve Baker, Program Director