KAZI – 88.7

I live for this station. I first started listening around ’99−00 time period but wasn’t a regular on it. Late 2000’s, I started listening to it more. Not only the music DJ’s but also the talk shows. They had a 7am show called «The Wake Up Call» hosted by Reverence Frank Garrett Jr. At first, I would be so frustrated listening to him but I came to love him. He was the heart and soul of 88.7 and his passing earlier in 2012 really touched me.
Special moments on this radio station? Hmm, how about when Lady J went up to Chicago to be with Tyrone Davis in his last days? How about when Bobby Blue Bland called into the radio station to talk with the DJ’s just days before he was supposed to play in Austin. Paul Mooney has also called in.
They have the greatest DJ’s in town, yes, for the music the play but also because of what they represent. Blue and Classic Soul, as music genres, are dying out. Lady J and Bobby Joiner are both struggling health wise and I pray that they are able to pull through. When their day comes to leave KAZI’s airwaves, it will be a major loss for Blues and Classic Soul listeners here in Austin.
Roger C. Brown is an incredible Jazz DJ and plays on Thursday evenings. Their talk shows really dig into the African American community and get to the topics that are of importance to them. I love the station. As the years have gone by, they have lost some great DJ’s and yes, the antenna issue is a concern. However, as far as «true Austin community» radio stations go, this is the best one in town.
Right now, it’s the onlys tartion I listen to. I feel like I have a personal relationship with the DJ’s over there. They are part of who I am.

I’m a fan of Austin and this station is like a radio station should be (imo) diverse and reflecting something of the community it serves yet there is room for improvement, as there always is but still being Austin, you think they could be a little better.

Woah shit, I can’t get enough of this radio station. I started listening about 6 months ago and I’m addicted. I haven’t listened long enough to know about specific programs, all I know is that every time I turn it on, I’m fucking jammin so hard. Soul, gospel, hip hop, R&B… sometimes they play really cool (some not so cool) local stuff. When I turn on the radio, I’m living my fantasy of being a sixty year old black grandma every day.

They might have poor equipment or are not using it correctly because at times, during call-​in shows you will have echos and distorted sound from both the caller and the host.
That is minor though when you consider that they are the only folks in Austin who have seen fit to broadcast one of the most informative and important news programs out there, «Democracy Now!»
I was shocked that the so-​called liberal Austin media over-​looked this amazing program. But KAZI did not disappoint. Give «Democracy Now!» a listen, weekdays at noon, and you will see how valuable a resource it is and how forward-​thinking and visionary KAZI is for Austin.

I give the station 5 stars for the show Talk time at midnight on Sunday nights. Richard Smith speaks the truth and allows callers to speak the truth. I also give the station 5 stars for the monday and friday Wake Up Call show. Once again, Richard Smith speaks the truth and covers relevant issues in our nation. The station itselfs has some awesome volunteers that provide great music most of the time and great commentary most of the time. NPR can be heard at 12pm, mon thru fri, and the reggae show on Sunday is grand. I also like the Hot Pepa show on Saturdays at 7pm… nice neosoul mix.

88.7 is a great station for full-​blown crackers like me to get a dose of hip-​hop, R&B, jazz and gospel I just won’t hear anywhere else.
Like «There Ain’t No Party Like A Brown Person Party.» They don’t play music like that on Kiss FM statiions…
As the oldest community station in Austin, KAZI has its finger on the pulse of what’s happening in its demographic, and is supported solely by personal and commercial support, and run almost entirely by volunteers.
A pleasure to stumble upon, and when I turn my dial to 88.7 to hear an in-​studio interview with Erykah Badu, you know they’ve got it going on.

I think this is one of the hidden gems on the dial in Austin, Texas.
They have a lot of fine programming, including Gospel, Walt «Baby» Love’s Countdown, and choice classic and contemporary R&B. You’ll also find good community information, feeds from local churches on Sundays, and independent news.
This station is probably one of the least known in Austin, but is one of my personal favorites to listen to.