HAAM Music Monday powered by FVF Regulation! Austin’s KAZI FM celebrates Black Music Month

As Black Music Month involves an in depth, Austin’s longest-running Black neighborhood radio station, KAZI FM 88.7, is reflecting on greater than 4 a long time of serving town by music, tradition, and neighborhood.

KAZI Common Supervisor Mykel Mitchell and “The Professor” Douglas Boone Jr. joined Trevor Scott to share extra concerning the station’s mission.

Based in 1982, KAZI 88.7 FM has develop into a staple of Austin’s media panorama, offering a platform for native voices, rising artists, and underserved communities whereas preserving the wealthy legacy of Black music.

“It is actually an achievement,” stated KAZI Common Supervisor Mykel Mitchellll, “And we’re proud that we have been right here so lengthy and have been capable of serve the neighborhood so long as now we have. Whenever you hear our name phrase, “The Voice of Austin,” we actually pleasure ourselves on being the voice for individuals who are underserved and who might not have a voice in any other case. Significantly for brand spanking new music and neighborhood occasions.”

The Soundtrack of American Historical past

Black Music Month acknowledges the profound affect Black artists have had on nearly each style of music, from gospel and jazz to Motown, hip-hop, and past.

“Black music has been part of our society and tradition from the very starting,” stated longtime KAZI host Douglas “The Professor” Boone Jr. “It actually represents what this nation is all about.”

Boone famous that the affect of Black music extends far past one style, shaping common music and tradition throughout generations.

Extra Than a Radio Station

For almost 44 years, KAZI has served as greater than only a radio station. Staffed largely by volunteers, the station gives alternatives for neighborhood members to get entangled each on and off the air.

“My hope is that individuals take away that this can be a place and a platform that actually is for them and by them,” Mitchell stated.

The station’s community-first method continues to honor the imaginative and prescient of founder Dr. John Warfield, whose mission of making entry and illustration stays central to KAZI’s work right this moment.

Boone, affectionately referred to as “The Professor,” has spent greater than 5 a long time in radio and continues to host his common program on KAZI.

“I will be 75 this yr,” Boone stated. “I am simply happy to nonetheless have the ability to do that within the method wherein I do it.”

He credit neighborhood radio with giving him the liberty to create significant programming and join with listeners in a manner industrial radio usually can not.

“After I first acquired there, they informed me, ‘Have a look at this as your canvas, and you’ll create your personal mosaic,’” Boone recalled.

As Austin continues to develop and alter, KAZI stays dedicated to amplifying native voices and preserving the cultural conversations which have outlined the station for greater than 4 a long time.

“All of us go concerning the enterprise of creating positive we promote the station and signify the station appropriately represented,” Boone stated.

Listeners can tune in to KAZI 88.7 FM and listen to Boone’s present Monday by Thursday from 10 a.m. to midday, together with a various lineup of programming that continues to make the station “The Voice of Austin.”