Monthly Archives: January 2016

On January 1, 2016, the fees Radio Free Phoenix pays to keep the music flowing increased over 400%. This now make streaming copyrighted musical content prohibitively expensive for many small to mid-sized internet radio stations including Radio Free Phoenix. We have opened a RFP GoFundMe page to raise the funds needed to keep RFP on the air in the upcoming year – This is a serious threat to independent internet stations and many will be going silent. We hope to stay on-the-air but need your help like never before.. Please click HERE to help

https://www.gofundme.com/radiofreephoenix

It was 2 years ago on Thanksgiving, that the First Lady of Phoenix Rock Radio passed away. Her name was Nina Joy and her name reverberates into a smile for those that knew her and listened to her on the radio in the 70’s. RFP  invites you to join us for a special encore presentation of Our Tribute to Nina, this Saturday at November 18th at  5pm (AZ/Mountain time) and Sunday, November 19th at 12 noon

She came from Vermont and got her start in Arizona radio on KWFM in Tucson – a year later she was hired by Bill Compton and joined the staff of the underground KDKB. Her name was Nina Joy, Arizona’s celebrated first lady on FM radio. As one of the early female rock radio air talents, her distinctive style quickly garnered her a faithful following and earned her the status of “radio legend”.

Nina passed away in late November 2016 and we here at Radio Free Phoenix wish to honor her this weekend with a musical tribute to her life along with reflections from many of those that worked with Nina.

Nina will be fondly remembered by many of those that knew and worked with her including Janie Snyder (of KWFM), Scott Niccolson (KDKB’s evening DJ) Ted Stratton (KDKB news guy), Mark Mykanen (KDKB news director), Steve Zind (KCAC, KDKB & KWFM), Barry Everitt (KDKB morning host era 1976), Johnny D, Bob Boze Bell, Lee Powell, Hans Olson, Marty Manning, Jack Alves and many others. Join RFP for this moving tribute to the memory of Nina Joy as hosted by Andy Olson.

It’s a celebration of the life of Nina Joy this Saturday, January 30th at 5pm & an encore presentation Sunday, January 31st at 3pm Arizona Time on Radio Free Phoenix.

Listen to  “TRIBUTE TO NINA JOY” Below



 A note from Nina’s sister, Laura……

Nina was beyond gifted in her ability to get under the lyrics as well as the music/to mix the unexpected tracks/to make political and personal statements all her own through the songwriting of others whom she respected so much (even as her own writing evolved). Her potential even in this unexpected last stage of her life was boundless. In the early days of her radio, she was thwarted only by her lack of business savvy and self-confidence: she was an artist and didn’t know, in a time where there were so few women let into rock’n roll (even worse than now!), how to play that game. It broke her heart but never stole her spirit or her humor.  I am forever grateful to have been her sister and do not know how to deal with a world without her.  She inspired me, annoyed the hell out of me and made me laugh so hard that we were forever grateful that there were always two bathrooms in the house when we were together.I send this on to share this small piece of my magnificent little sister with you. There was so much more we will never get to experience.
Doug Smith – Host of KDKB’s News Views recorded his song
“Toad & Hank & Bill” at the RFP Studios in 2009
Listen to it Here