Winds of Change

 Winds of Change was a weekly radio show which aired on Community Station 90.1 FM KKFI Kansas City from 1989 through 1994. It featured Underground and Progressive music of the 60's and 70's which had a huge influence on the emerging Alternative Music scene. The program was originally produced and hosted by me, and began broadcasting on June 9, 1989. A few months later long time friend Jack Phinney joined in as co-host, adding his expertise in English Art Rock and early Punk along with his unique sense of humor. Jack had been an active participant in the Concert scene in Kansas City, and as an employee of several concert promoters in KC had much first hand knowledge and interesting anecdotes to add to the show. Later Brian Smith, Jay Dave and occassional guests would also co-host. The show featured the music of such varied artists as: Jefferson Airplane, Frank Zappa, John Prine, Soft Machine, Bob Dylan, The Grateful Dead, Touch, Moby Grape, Captain Beefhart, T.Rex, Janis Joplin, Nilsson, Sex Pistols, The Doors, Hawkwind, Talking Heads, Arthur Brown, Dave Edmonds, King Crimson, The Clash, Patti Smith, MC 5, Cream, etc.

Some of the music choices were obscure by today's Classic Rock standards, but was that heard on the first Underground and Progressive radio stations. It included atmospheric sounds and occassional comedy from National Lampoon, Firesign Theater, Monty Python and others. It was a throwback to the late 60's / 70's and patterned after radio shows like Beaker Street with Clyde Clifford. That program, which aired on 50,000 watt clear channel station KAAY 1090 AM out of Little Rock Arkansas from 1966 through 1972, is considered by many to be the first "Underground" radio program. Although it aired on an AM station, it greatly influenced the "Free Form" and "Progressive" radio formats of the years that followed.