First Peoples in a New World:
The first Native Americans

Indigenous Peoples' Day Special with Al Stahler

Monday October, 12th 2009

Columbus, of course, did not discover a new world ... the western hemisphere was colonized tens of thousands of years ago by the ancestors of today's native Americans.

But who were the true discoverers, and where did they come from? And when?

I spoke recently with Dr. David Meltzer, Professor of Prehistory at Southern Methodist University, and author of First Peoples in a New World -- Colonizing Ice Age America, published by the University of California Press.

In Conversation with Peter Yarrow

Monday October, 5th 2009

These haven't been the easiest of times for our guest, Peter Yarrow, part of the legendary folk music group Peter, Paul and Mary, with the passing of one of his longtime partners, Mary Travers, just weeks ago.

In fact, Peter began singing with Mary in December of 1960, Noel "Paul" Stookey joining them shortly after. The trio became unbelievably popular in a short time, making songs like "Blowin' in the Wind," "IF I had a hammer and "Where Have All the Flowers Gone" enduring anthems of the 1960s protest movement.

Co-author of the song phenomonen "Puff the Magic Dragon," Peter himself has been a lifelong activist on everything from the anti-nuke movement to anti-bullying education campaigns, and now has a burgeoning career as the author of a series of unique children's books -- including the recently released "Day Is Done" based on one of his original songs ...and Volume III of the Peter Yarrow Songbook called "Let's Sing Together."

In Conversation with U.S. Poet Laureate Rita Dove

Monday May, 11th 2009

Around 9am Molly Fisk and Steve Baker talk with former U.S. Poet Laureate Rita Dove.

America's first African-American Poet Laureate, Rita Dove reads poetry Monday on the Morning Show...and explains how the image of a black violinist flashing on-screen in a movie propelled her to write "Sonata Mulattica," her startling new collection of lyric poetry and dramatic dialogues. Rita Dove will also be appearing this week at the California Lecture series at the Crest Theater on Wed. May 13th.

That's Rita Dove - a Pulitzer Prize winning poet by age 35 - doing everything except singing opera -- except she could -- in conversation with KVMR's Molly Fisk in the 9 o'clock hour Monday on the Morning Show.

In Conversation with Bill Crews

Monday April, 6th 2009

Bill Crews -- Iowa's first openly gay elected mayor, served as the mayor of Melbourne, Iowa from 1984 through 1998 -- talks about the state's unanimous Supreme Court ruling that gives gay people the right to marry. Click here for a short biography of Bill Crews on Wikipedia.

In Conversation with Country Joe McDonald

Monday April, 6th 2009

He started his career busking on Berkeley, California's famous Telegraph Avenue in the early 1960s, and he's still a Berkeley resident. Currently, Country Joe McDonald is keeping busy with Woody Guthrie, Florence Nightingale and Woodstock's 40th anniversary, you can check what he's up to by clicking here for Joe's web site.

Country Joe McDonald will be appearing Thursday, April 9th at The Nevada Theater performing "This Land Is Your Land" his tribute the life and saga of Woody Guthrie, A two act play with music in a benefit concert for the Foothill Theatre Company.

In Conversation with Jim Lehrer

Tuesday March, 31st 2009

Originally scheduled for Monday, Jim Lehrer, longtime anchor of public television's News Hour and presidential debate moderator visited with Steve Baker and Laura Miller on the Tuesday Morning Show about his new novel, "Oh Johnny" - his 19th and his upcoming appearance at the Crest Theatre for the California Lectures series of lectures. Listen again and learn how this PBS host can combine news anchoring with novel writing and other interesting stories from the longest running, prime time news anchor - ever, that's Jim Lehrer live on KVMR's Morning Show Tuesday, March 31st.

In Conversation with Leo Kottke

Monday March, 23rd 2009

Legendary guitarist Leo Kottke has a professional music career going back more than 40 years. On the Monday morning show, Kottke talked about his personal guitars, 12-string guitar and names some of the best guitarists he ever saw. Kottke plays Friday, March 27th at the Crest Theater, downtown Sacramento (tickets.com). Wonder if his fingers ever get tired? Check out the interview

Barack Obama, The Remix

Monday January, 19th 2009

Produced by Peter Bochan, "Barack Obama, The Remix" The journey to the White House, reMixed in words & music-introduced by Robert F. Kennedy and featuring Bill Cosby, Oprah Winfrey, John McCain, Chris Rock, Colin Powell, George W. Bush, Sarah Palin, Steve Harvey, Will. i. am, Hillary Clinton, The Pointer Sisters, The Drifters, John Legend, Homer Simpson, Moby, Bruce Springsteen, Ted Kennedy, FDR, The Little Rascals, Kevin So, Branford Marsalis, M.C. Yogi, Martin Luther King Jr, Sam Cooke, John Lewis, Quiet Village, David Letterman, Tim Russert. Katie Couric, Charles Gibson, Matt Damon, Roy Budd, Iron & Wine, Dephazz, Curtis Mayfield & The Impressions, The Edwin Hawkins Singers, various politicians, excited voters...and Barack Obama. Click for producer Peter Bochan's web site

A Shortcut Through 2008

Monday January, 5th 2009

Produced by Peter Bochan, "A Shortcut through 2008" is an hour-long retrospective that celebrates this incredible year with an exciting, emotional blend of the sounds, music and historic events of the past twelve months, including looks at the collapse of Wall Street and the economy, the financial and political scandals, the wild fires, the ice storms, and our fragile ecology, the shifts in media and culture and one of most memorable political campaigns in history, ending with a personal tour of the White House conducted by past, present and future Presidents. Click for more "Shortcuts" produced by Peter Bochan on his mixedup.com web site.

U. Utah Phillips, Public Enemy?!
...FBI Surveillance Records Released,

Monday January, 5th 2009

The FBI -- apparently based on reports from informants and "redacted" sources -- kept a record of meetings and actions involving KVMR's late, beloved good friend when he lived in Salt Lake City during the '60s.

A generous read of the files shows Phillips apparently guilty only of opposing the Vietnam War, atomic weapons and capital punishment. And running for the U.S. Senate in the fall of 1968.

Did Utah ever want to see these FBI files? "No, why should I?," he told pal Mark Ross. "I already knew I was doing a good job."

We'll read some of the files on the Monday Morning Show January 5th and KVMR's Evening News plans a special on the FBI actions and files later the same week.

The current Sacramento News & Review -- available free at many newstands and stores -- also has coverage of the FBI file disclosures:

Rosalie Sorrels In Conversation

Monday November, 3 2008

Folksinger Rosalie Sorrells talks about her long friendship with U. Utah Phillips and reveals who took she and Arnold Schwarznegger out to lunch at the same time.

Travus T. Hipp Arrested for Medical Marijuana

Monday November, 3 2008

On Thursday morning Oct. 30th, shortly after his 7:30 AM segment, "All The News You Never Knew You Needed To Know Until Now," Travus T. Hipp, News commentator for KVMR, KPIG & KMUD was arrested during an on-air broadcast from his home in Silver City Nevada for medical Marijuana (14 plants). This is whu his Friday morning commentary was missing from Jerianne's Friday Morning Show. Thanks to the folks at KPIG, we were able to acqire a copy of Travus's last commentary from Halloween morning on KPIG that explained his incarceration. Here's a link to a story in the Nevada Appeal, from Sat. Nov. 1 about the raid and arrest, and here's a link to some related info at Bay Area Indymedia, Fri. Oct. 31, 2008

Starting this morning, Travus T. Hipp's son, Sean, will be substituting for his father until this situation is cleared up.

James Moore, author of "Bush's Brain" and "The Architect"

Monday October, 6 2008, 9:00 AM

James Moore is a longtime TV journalist and is co-author of the acclaimed political biographies, "Bush's Brain" and "The Architect", about the life and career of political advisor Karl Rove. Moore knows his politics and his economics and made predictions about both on The Morning Show Monday, October 6th.

A visit with Ray Benson of Asleep At The Wheel

Monday September, 29 2008, 9:00 AM

During the 9 o'clock hour Steve's guest is Ray Benson, founder and leader of the venerable country swing band, Asleep At the Wheel, click here for their web site playing at The Center for the Arts Sunday, October 5th with Cousin Cricket opening.

Code Red guitarist and founder, John Morris

Monday September, 22 2008

Interview with John Morris of the band, Code Red from Sacramento, CA appearing at Cooper's Sat. night Sep. 27th. Click to visit the Code Red web site.