Since 1983, Andy Olson has been a regular player in the Phoenix Rock Radio market. Working on-air for the legendary KSTM (The Storm) for four years (1983-1987) before its untimely demise, and then KSLX (Classic Rock), six years (1987-1993) and the original KZON (The Zone), four years (1995-1999), Then back to KSLX (1999-2006). Andy has seen first-hand, the rise and fall of some great stations in the Phoenix area. He's a Rock Musicologist and child of the 60's, and understands what's been missing from the radio. As the founder and major force behind Radio Free Phoenix, Andy Olson brings freedom of expression back to Rock Radio. Hear Andy Olson, Monday through Friday from 8-12 p.m. (MST) on Radio Free Phoenix.
Andy Olson
Liz Boyle
Liz Boyle grew up in Scottsdale and has been on-air in Phoenix for over 20 years. Liz has worked on-air at KSLX, KEZ, KDKB and most notably, she spent 14 years at the legendary 94.5 KOOL-FM. She quit CBS radio to pursue the new frontier of Internet radio. She currently hosts middays at Radio Free Phoenix.
Liz has voiced hundreds of local and national commercials. She is currently the female voice talent of KPHO TV-5 and is heard daily by thousands of Metro Phoenix bus riders, as the
voice of Valley Metro. Liz' national clients include ConAgra, Harrah's and JC Penney. Check out LizBoyle.com for more info.
Dave Cooper
Liz' ranch is home to 10 rescued dogs. She's a longtime volunteer with The Arizona Humane Society and is on the Board of Directors of The Arizona Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame. Hear Liz Boyle, Monday through Friday from 12-4 p.m. (MST) on Radio Free Phoenix.
Pete Michaels
annals of my personal collection. Still, I questioned, what else is out there?
By this time, “underground FM-radio” was gaining momentum, so I explored. Around 1976 I discovered WXRT: Chicago’s Fine-Rock Station. The raw, unbridled, eclectic sound emanating from 93.1 on my radio dial provided audio-sanctuary. I then realized, there is more. A lot more.
I was consumed in the glorious, wondrous realm of album-rock, beefing up my sound gear, increasing my record collection, sharing it with – everyone. My home was the place to be. I might as well have been on-the-air. That would have to wait.
Moving to Tempe, AZ. in 1983, underground FM-radio was again revealed by The Storm, and later The Zone in the early 1990s. Professional radio came to me in 1994 at KZON and KYOT – The Coyote – that is where my on-air experience would begin. It’s also where I met Andy Olson. I enjoyed 7½ years as Coyote Dave, later 1½ more in the Valley with K-Jazz.
In 2004, Andy invited me to join the burgeoning entity of Internet Radio. I am very proud to be one of the original members of commercial-free, listener-supported, free-form-rock, Radio Free Phoenix. Thanks for supporting Radio Free Phoenix for the past 5-years. Enjoy the music: It’s real. Hear Dave Cooper, Monday through Friday from 4-8 p.m. (MST) on RFP.
Pete Michaels grew up in Tucson, Arizona and was a member of the Legendary KSTM (The Storm) Airstaff back in the mid 80's. He also spent several years at KLPX in Tucson along with gigs at Q105 & KUIK in Portland, Oregon. "I can't tell you how much this gig means to me! says Pete. I just love alternative radio and those good old days at the Storm where the best in my career." Hear Pete Michaels, Monday through Friday from 12 midnight to 4 a.m on Radio Free Phoenix.
Mike Fimea is a Phoenix native and a recovering journalist. He spent his formative years reading Mad magazine, watching the Wallace & Ladmo show, and listening to KRUX and KRIZ ("Joe Nasty says love it, or kiss off!") Late at night, he would hunch over a cheap AM/FM clock radio and tune in stations all over the Western U.S., including X-Rock 80 (Juarez, Mexico), the inspiration for ZZ Top's "Heard It On the X".
After graduating from Northern Arizona University in 1982, Fimea occasionally wandered in front of a radio microphone. He volunteered as a news reader for the Sun Sounds non-
Mike Fimea
profit agency in Phoenix, and he hosted guest-DJ shows on the late, great KSTM and the original incarnation of KZON.
A recent guest-DJ gig led to Fimea's current Sunday-night shift on Radio Free Phoenix. His musical tastes range from old school (Springsteen, Petty, R.E.M.) to new skool (Alana Davis, Blue Merle, Holly Williams). When he isn't helping spread progressive rock in cyberspace, Fimea follows the Phoenix Suns and waits patiently for them to win an NBA title. Hear Mike Fimea, Saturday Nights from 8:00-2 a.m. on Radio Free Phoenix.
Shon White
Shon White Grew up in Fountain Hills, and started his radio career at KFNN in Phoenix as weekend operations manager. He went on to do mornings in Memphis At WAVN and also worked at WKZB & WIQQ In Mississippi. He returned to the valley in 1992, and went to worked on air at KFMA and then overnights at KEDJ (The Edge) for a couple years. From 2004-06 ran The Point 99one FM In Queen Creek, Arizona. He currently is Assistant Station Manager at Scottsdale's KWSS 106.7 Shon's thrilled to team up with a station that cares about music and the music and the listeners.
Joe Catanzaro
Joe was born in Chicago and moved to Arizona in 1971 where he listened to KRIZ and KRUX. He thought radio was about repetitive bubble gum music and deep voiced DEE JAYS talking really fast until he heard the original KDKB and then KBBC, the short-lived K104 and the Storm, KSTM. Joe says "It renewed my faith in radio and I set out to get a job ..playing music that I liked and getting paid for it…what could be better than that? I found myself at a little community college in Yuma where they have a great radio program. At that station I got to do my version of underground radio which was just great.
And now to the present--- Radio Free Phoenix has captured that special feel of underground radio (real radio) and I am glad to be a part of it". Hear Joe Catanzaro Sunday mornings from 6-10 a.m. on Radio Free Phoenix.
Ken Rundel & MJ Nolen
Join Paul & Anthony on RFP Saturday mornings from 10-3pm (MST) Per Paul, We've got issues, bear with us. Anthony ran away with the circus at age 16 (he plans on returning one day) and Paul insists Marilyn Monroe and Jar Binks appeared in his cereal this morning. Join the boys for a sometimes strange and abstract view of the world around them. Originally joined at the neck, Paul & Anthony have crafted a world apart, yet connected to each other. Special guest include cousin Vito, A.J. Cone and Carol Channing! Check out their myspace page here!
Paul & Anthony
The husband and wife RFP morning show team of Ken Rundel and M.J. Nolen were first drawn together by two mutual passions: a love of album rock and a fierce distrust of the government! The couple had been exchanging emails on an Internet dating service when, as Ken put it, “I read how pissed M.J. was about Cat Stevens being denied entry to the U.S. because he was a Muslim. And I just knew I had to meet her.” They were married a year later in Eureka Springs, Arkansas.
Ken’s extensive radio experience began in Michigan at WVIC, Lansing and WWWW, Detroit. Next up was the legendary album-rocker, “The Zoo” in Dallas, where he was program director and had the #1 rated midday show.
Other stops included Q-102, KZPS, KOAI, KRBE and KXCC in Texas, and the ABC Radio Classic Rock Network. Ken’s also done acting, improv comedy, and public relations.
M.J. grew up in St. Louis, Missouri, addicted to the heritage rocker KSHE-95. Her talent as an artist (and some awesome connections) gave her incredible backstage access to the early icons of album rock, including Cat Stevens, Alvin Lee, Jon Anderson, Donovan, Randy California, Elton John, Ian Anderson and Melanie. Her beautiful, mind-blowing posters graced their dressing room doors! Join Ken and M.J. for the early morning show on RFP, 4-8 a.m. (MST) on Radio Free Phoenix.
Cheryl Sweet
RFP's Cheryl Sweet is originally from Detroit and grew up with the rich musical scene of that town. Arriving in Phoenix in 1979, Cheryl was an early listener of KSTM (the Storm). She did semi-regular appearances on the Channel 10 morning show for several years and also News 5 and is glad to be back in the public eye and having a blast on Radio Free Phoenix. Listen for her unique spin on the tunes! Check out Cheryl's myspace page here! Hear Cheryl , Monday through Friday from 8-12 midnight (MST) on RFP.
Angela Allen
Angela started in radio as a teen-ager in southern Indiana. She was fired from her first job for recording over the commercials as they played, a mistake easily made by anyone who doesn't know to only push the green button, not the green button AND the red button. It was her first brush with reverse echo.
She arrived in Phoenix on a cool early March in 1987 was slapped on the air in middays completely ignorant of being the replacement for a Valley legend, Mike Farrell. In spite of that, eventually listeners succumbed to her incessant lampooning of the morning man and decided she was okay.
She got to meet famous people like Joe Bob Briggs, Bert Convy and Bart Starr, but more importantly, worked with Liz Boyle who would remember her with kindness the day she stood outside the Alpha Beta with an alms cup.
After working in Tucson and getting involved with improv, she moved to Los Angeles, got her butt kicked in auditions, got to take classes from Nina Foch and returned to Indiana in 1992. Back to Phoenix in 94-95, she worked with Andy Olson, then back to Indiana by way of New Orleans.
She's proud to be involved with Radio Free Phoenix, and is very glad to be welcomed back into the congress of radio folks who have a passion to do this amazing thing. Hear Angela Allen, Saturday Morning from 6-10 a.m. (MST) on Radio Free Phoenix.
Brad Scalf
Brad Scalf was born in Illinois and moved to Phoenix in 1965.(Phoenix was a small town back then!) He hung out with the hippies at Encanto Park and went to The Acid Vat and the Liquid Giraffe--both were underground clubs on 16th Street and Indian School. "I used to hang out at KCAC and was interviewed on the "new" KDKB back in 1972. This was back when the New Times was just starting and was distributed on all high school campus' in the valley until an uproar about a Planned Parenthood ad cause it to be removed forever. After a stint in the Coast Guard at 17, Brad moved back to Phoenix in 1998, "I've been turned on to a lot of good music in my day
and love the free form format, I've dreamed of doing radio since I was about 10 yrs old and the dream has come through!" Brad Scalf is the newest weekend jock on RFP and you can hear him every Saturday from 3-6 a.m. & Sunday from 7-11 p.m.
My earliest memories and influences of music came via WLS-Radio in Chicago during the mid-1960s listening to larger-than-life personalities Larry Lujack, John “Records” Landecker, and others. Radio created such an impact through those impressionable years – I just had to experience a DJ’s life.
The Beatles, by far, were my favorite band – the Toppermost of the Poppermost. Still are. Beatles’ music was the soundtrack of my childhood, but when their legendary magic dissolved, radio continued to fulfill my ravenous craving for music, but what’s next? Musical enlightenment was again revealed in 1972 with The Band’s “Rock of Ages” as my next major aural imprint. The Band’s innovative sound still fills slot #2 in the