Radio: September 29, 2017
Helen
Borgers started her tenure at KKJZ (88.1 FM) long before it WAS KKJZ.
Before it was even owned by the Cal State Long Beach Foundation. The
station was KLON and it was owned by Long Beach City College when
Borgers joined in 1979. Such an expert on jazz and blues, Borgers earned
the reputation among many as a jazz educator.
She
managed to stay on board for almost 40 years until she was let go from
the jazz station last June. Cost cutting, I believe, but that is not the
point.
In
being let go, she lost her medical insurance coverage and her
replacement policy apparently is not as good as the old. Soon after her
layoff, she became ill; while she awaits lifesaving surgery which cannot
be performed until her health stabilizes, her medical bills and -- due
to not being able to work, living expenses -- have piled up. She’s
already gone through her savings and is looking at huge bills in the
future.
The
jazz community that she supported for so long has stepped up to support
her, and has put together a benefit concert to be held this Sunday,
October 1st at the Orange County Musicians Union Local 7, 2050 South
Main Street in Santa Ana. Proceeds will go to help pay for Borgers
mounting bills.
Still
subject to change as more musicians are added to the list of
performers, here are some of the artists scheduled to perform:
• The Tom Kubis Big Band
• Ernie Andrews
• Barbara Morrison
• Christian Jacob
• Richard Simon
• Dewey Erney
• Mongorama (led by Jose Rizo ... perhaps with Pancho Sanchez)
• Sal Cracchiolo with Melanie Jackson
• Dewey Erney
• Gordon Goodwin’s Little Phat Band
So
many artists have joined the fundraiser concert that the time has been
extended. Originally scheduled for 1 to 5 p.m., the concert at press
time was already pushing past 7 p.m.
A
freewill donation will be taken at the door, and you can donate using
cash, checks or credit cards. For details you can write to Ken Poston,
General Manager of jazz-formatted KSDS/San Diego, who is organizing the
event. Reach him at info@lajazzinstitute.org.
World Record
Don Barrett reported at his LARadio.Com
that Art Laboe has -- as of last weekend -- broken a Guinness World
Records for “longest career as a radio presenter/dj (male).”
The
legendary DJ launched his 75th year on the air, which began on
September 23, 1943 at KSAN/San Francisco. The young 92 year old is
credited with saving the original KRLA (1110 AM) back in the mid 1970s
by creating a hybrid current-oldies format that attracted listeners from
East Los Angeles to Palos Verdes and all parts in between. He also
launched the Oldies But Goodies album series and ... well, suffice to
say his accomplishments would fill this entire column.
Laboe
is one of the few DJs who can connect with multiple generations at
once. Now heard on 11 stations in three states, he can be found locally
on KDAY (93.5 FM) Sunday nights from 6 p.m. to 12 midnight.
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