Longtime community staple KTSU Radio (90.9 FM), known as “The Choice,” has recently enhanced their schedule and have introduced exciting new programming changes that went into effect on Monday, May 2. Now, music lovers and faithful radio listeners have something new to listen to every week on the radio airwaves of Houston, Texas.
Founded on June 23, 1972, KTSU (90.9 FM) is a college radio jazz-formatted radio station based out of the campus of Texas Southern University (TSU) in Houston. TSU Vice President for University Advancement Eva K. Pickens and new KTSU Radio General Manager Ernest Walker introduced the new changes by announcing a new schedule line-up, new shows and the names of all the hosts at KTSU. According to the university officials, KTSU will keep its focus as being Houston’s station for Jazz and will continue to feature R&B Oldies, Blues, Gospel, Zydeco, Neo-Soul and Hip-Hop as well as a source for balanced coverage of current news, features and events.
The Gentle Giant (James Eaglin), host of the popular Golden Oldies; and ChattaBox (Lary Hale) of Classic Café will remain on Fridays at their regular time slots, 6AM – 10AM and 10AM – 2PM, respectively.
Walker has made a number of significant changes since taking over as KTSU General Manager on March 22, including naming radio personality Donna Franklin as Program Director. Sheldon T. Nunn, KTSU’s veteran Jazz aficionado, has been promoted to the position of Music Director/Director of Community Engagement. Dr. Chris Ulassi, chair, TSU Radio, Television and Film department in the School of Communication, will work in concert with KTSU to assist with student involvement in all aspects of radio, including teaching/learning and community interest. Dr. Ulassi invited the students and KTSU to have a huge presence at this year’s Houston Igbo Festival, slated for July.
TSU students now have significant roles as hosts and interns at several levels as part of the new changes at KTSU. As part of the new line-up, TSU students Kris Walker, with his show After Hours Praise Party (Monday’s, 2AM – 5AM); and Noel Velasquez, with his show Fiesta Nights (Thursday’s, 6PM – 10PM), lead the student involvement as hosts of their own shows. Numerous other students have been tapped to be involved in the research and production of various news and music segments, as well as assisting with community outreach.
Also added to the new line-up are names most KTSU listeners are familiar with, including multiple Grammy award nominee and Dove and Stellar award winner Kim Burrell, who will host her own show Bridging the Gap with Kim Burrell (Sunday’s, 1PM – 3PM) starting Sunday, June 5. Other new shows added to the Monday through Thursday line-up are: Mornings with Mike and Val; Jazz by Design; and Jazz Gems.
Radio veterans Mike Caviel and TSU communications professor Val Wilson host the Mornings with Mike and Val Show from 6AM – 10AM every Monday through Thursday. The show features contemporary, smooth and fusion jazz; R&B music; as well as Caviel’s and Wilson’s candid delivery of the morning’s local news, features and information.
Donna Franklin follows with Jazz by Design from 10AM – 2PM every Monday through Thursday. The show offers KTSU listeners the opportunity to hear smooth and contemporary jazz and featured “CD” debuts.
Zoe Bonet, formerly of Sunny 99.1, makes her debut at KTSU with Jazz Gems from 2PM – 6PM. KTSU Listeners can enjoy a blend of smooth and contemporary jazz.
Other new shows include: The Blend (Monday’s, 10PM -2AM) with Freddie Brown, which features a mixture of Jazz and Blues; The Blend (Tuesday’s, 10PM – 2AM) with Deon Haywood, which features a mix of Jazz and R&B; The Blend (Wednesday’s, 10PM – 2PM) with Ms. Melodic (Melanie Murphy), which features a mixture of Jazz and Neo Soul; Throwback Jams (Friday’s, 10PM – 2AM) with Maxie T (Maxie Tarver) and Chop Star Jimmy (Jimmy
Jones), which features Classic Hip Hop from the 70’s-90’s; and Classic R&B Countdown (Saturday’s, 9AM – 10AM) with Tyrone Dubose, which is a syndicated show highlighting R&B Oldies.
To diversify its sound, KTSU has also added a Latin and Caribbean flair to its lineup. In addition to Fiesta Nights which is hosted by Noel Velasquez, his show is followed on Thursday nights by Caribbean Vibes with hosts DJ’s Supa Neil (Everad Gill) and Uncle L (Leigh Johnson) from 10PM – 2AM. Fiesta Nights features a mixture of Latin Jazz and other Latin sounds while Caribbean Vibes offers listeners Caribbean music as well as news and information from the Caribbean world.
On the weekends, DJ Chilly Bill Smith (Bill Smith), former Radio One DJ, joins KTSU to host Mid-Day Grooves (Saturday’s, 10AM – 2PM).
For more information on the new changes at KTSU (90.9 FM), please visit http://ktsu.info.