Freedom, Community, and Jazz: KCSM’s 60 Years on the Air

Episode overviewKCSM 91.1 FM has been a lifeline for Bay Area jazz for six decades. Station Manager Dr. Robert Franklin joins Steve to talk about the station’s live-curated sound, its massive library and preservation work, and the new documentary celebrating KCSM’s history and community impact.Dr. Robert “Bob” Franklin — Station Manager, KCSM 91.1 FM; Executive Producer of KCSM: 60 Years of Broadcasting and Jazz.KCSM is one of the nation’s last full-time jazz stations. Its curator-driven programming, archival footprint, and education mission make it a cornerstone of Bay Area music culture.·       How KCSM’s “live curator” model builds a real-time bond with listeners.·       Inside the library: scope, preservation, and digitization efforts.·       The documentary’s purpose—putting faces to the voices and placing KCSM within Bay Area cultural history.·       Student pathways via College of San Mateo and Studio 91.·       KCSM’s community compact: listener support, local artist visibility, and freedom on the air.·       What “keeping jazz alive on Bay Area radio” looks like over the next decade.Host & Producer: Steve RobyShow: Backstage Bay Area Contact: backstagebayarea.comScreening InformationEvent: KCSM: 60 Years of Broadcasting and Jazz (documentary screening)Venue: Alameda Cinema, 2317 Central Ave., AlamedaDate & Time: Friday, November 1, 2:00 PMExtras: Post-film reception with refreshments; live DJ set by KCSM’s Harry Duncan; tours of the California Historical Radio Society’s vintage radios, historic studios, and hands-on broadcasting exhibits.Tickets & info: https://californiahistoricalradio.com/event/kcsm-documentary-screening-at-alameda-theater/Listen & support KCSM: https://www.kcsm.org