KTSU has cancelled the “Jazz Latino” show hosted by Juan Flores, telling him that "the administration doesn't like Latin jazz." This show has run on KTSU for 12 years on Saturdays from 6 – 10 PM. Juan's show is the ONLY program that features Latin jazz in the Houston area. Juan is the consummate professional DJ, and his knowledge of the music and history of salsa and Latin jazz is unrivaled in Houston. He consistently discovers and shares with his listeners some of the most hip and cutting edge music heard anywhere. For a station whose motto is “Jazz in All Its Colors,” Latin Jazz is certainly an important color on the palette, and its loss on Houston’s airways diminishes our cultural and musical richness and diversity. I, as well as Latin Jazz fans everywhere, hope this decision is reconsidered and reversed. “Jazz in ALL Its Colors?” Let’s hope so.

If you'd like to see Latin Jazz stay on the air in Houston, please contact the station at 713-313-4354 and/or email them
http://www.ktsufm.org/contactus.html

The link to the KTSU website form to contact them does not appear to be working. I'm looking for another email address where complaints can be sent and will post it here as soon as I obtain it.

Well said Mark.

Here's the link. It's working now:

http://www.ktsufm.org/contactus.html

The link works - it is the form on the KTSU site that doesn't work. I'll post an alternate method to contact them when I obtain it.

I really love saturday evenings on KTSU! So much so that last weekend I tuned a neighbors radio in to listen after their 4y olds birthday party had wound down and we sat around in exhaustion. I did this knowing that we were in a part of north Houston which doesn't receive a clear signal from KTSU. I preferred to listen to the latin jazz program with some static over the commercial radio which had been on too long. If anything, a minimum of 4hours of the same music could be played sometime during the week, It would surely be missed otherwise. I'll send an email of support.

I'm sorry that the KTSU message board does not work! Please send your concerns to George Thomas and Charles Hudson, the Station Manager and Program Director at:
Thomas_GX@tsu.edu
Hudson_CL@tsu.edu
Thank you for helping. The same music will not be played at any other time. BTW this was NOT a financial decision; Juan received no compensation for his show.

I'm sad at hearing this news. Perhaps the latin jazz show would be a better fit on KPFT... Re: FM reception in fringe areas; Radio Shack sometimes sells a pocket FM radio w/ a MONO button. Switching to mono doubles the reception range of FM stations. I wish car radios had that option. It would seem to be a no brainer.

Drag. I always enjoyed his show.

From what I've gathered so far, the best bet is to contact KTSU Program Director Charles Hudson at Hudson_CL@tsu.edu
and that there is a good chance that making some noise about this will achieve our desired result of seeing Latin Jazz return to KTSU. The problem with Juan doing his show on another station is that he works another job that limits the time that he CAN do the show to Saturday nights only, and the other stations (KPFT, KTRU) already have their programming set for that spot. So please contact Mr. Hudson and let's make this happen.

UPDATE: I have heard that the person to contact is in fact the president of TSU, Mr. John Rudley (RudleyJM@TSU.EDU), since it was his decision to take the show off the air. That might be a good place to send an e-mail if you would like to try to get the show back on. Mr. Juan Flores really had a quality show that absolutely filled a cultural hole in Houston's fine arts scene.

Yes, let's work together to keep this issue alive. (It's actually DR. John Rudley). Losing Latin Jazz from Houston's airwaves is a great loss.

Greetings, I don't know what would be the financial concern, ( 6 to 10 PM), is considered the, Prime/Time. If it is the only radio in Houston with this show, a little bit of marketing would canalize more traffic to the program. They also could bring interviews of Latin Jazz players to spice it up,(taking into consideration the program format). Gerry Zaragemca

URGENT CALL TO ACTION:

George Thomas: Thomas_GX@tsu.edu
Charles Hudson: Hudson_CL@tsu.edu
Dr. John Rudley: RudleyJM@TSU.EDU

Please contact all three of these individuals if you'd like to see Latin Jazz kept on the air on KTSU. From what I've learned, THE EMAILS AND PHONE CALLS ARE BEING NOTICED and there is a possibility that they may reverse their decision and restore the Latin Jazz show, although at a different time (possibly earlier on Saturday, during late afternoon.)

Please contact them now, as this is coming down to the wire.

Also, CALL 713-313-7591 between 9am and 5pm M-F and voice your support for the Latin Jazz show's return.

KTSU is very good at what they are. They are a Jazz Radio Station, affiliated with an African American University, with a history of corruption, in an African American Community, targeted at an African American Audience. A large percentage of their revenue, comes from the Federal Government, which would dictate a significantly more balanced program menu. But as a result of the corrupt management, they are determined to keep KTSU rooted in the Ghetto. The feeling is that if it ain't black, it don't run on KTSU.

I won't name any names, but I have personal knowledge for anyone who would like to discuss it in private. Several years ago, I was a member of the Community Advisory Board. I worked to bring in sponsorship advertising. I brought a Sponsor to the office one time, and was told to have the check made out to a Station Individual. Does that smell bad to you? Shortly thereafter, I ended my relationship with KTSU.

They would like to get some of the Financial Support from the more affluent suburban audiences, and from some of the more "White" businesses, but until they get more ethnic balance, they will remain a week, distant, sound. Why would a White Suburban Business advertise on KTSU??? Why would a Hispanic Business.

They have aspirations of being like WCLK in Atlanta, but the current management, won't let them extend their reach.

Download Pandora, and get the jazz you want on your computer, and your telephone.

I know this may be too late, but the added value of "Jazz Latino" on KTSU is that Juan Flores presents Latin jazz and talks about Latin jazz from a historical point of view. His interviews and input make the show more than just spinning records. It's nice to know that there is (or was) someone out there working to further our cultural awareness of this music.

Juan Flores aired a great interview a few months ago with Norma Zenteno that spoke of family and generations of music. I hope those moments can some how be sustained on KTSU.

I heard that Donn Fanklin said the Latin jazz is not gone on KTSU but moving times.

I hear ya, Paul! Yeah, those were the times. I am happy to report that KTSU has re-instated the Jazz Latino program with Juan Flores. It will air from 8 - 11PM on Saturday nights. I want to thank everyone who wrote-in and expressed dissatisfaction concerning the cancellation. Sometimes good things happen...

YEa -- Now I can look forward to Saturday night radio again. I am going to write down all the names of the songs because they are the best music I have ever heard !! THANKS, KTSU-- from Kathi, a nice WASP girl in Houston who has listened to KTSU for 25+ years & to KCOH before that.

Yes, officially as of yesterday 3/3/10, the Latin Jazz show is back! The calls and emails definitely made the difference. The time is slightly shifted (now 8pm - 11pm instead of 6pm - 10pm). The show returns beginning this coming Saturday. Thank you to all who called and emailed. We did it!

Just to clarify, my post saying Donna Franklin saying the time changed wasn't to imply that this was a simple time change (that it was planned to change the time), instead of the huge mistake of taking it off the air. I was reposting something a friend posted on my facebook wall after I had asked for people to call the station.

This is an example of how we can make a difference and also why community radio work. The people should dictate content.

Thank you Mr. Towns.