Barry CourterFor many years, Jaime Roberts was an on-air personality for several area radio stations including KZ-106 dating back to 1979. You can still hear Roberts spin records, but these days his medium is the internet.
He started The Train at www.thetrain.fm earlier this year and hosts an evening show each day. Former colleague Charlie Fox does an afternoon show on the station, which plays classic rock.
Roberts says the station operates 24/7 out of his house and is currently commercial-free, though at some point bills will have to be paid and that means commercials will be added.
He also says he's been happy with the growth in listenership since launching last May, especially since adding IOS and Android apps. He's been especially happy and surprised at the numbers of listeners in foreign countries.
"We have listeners in the UK, Germany, Israel, Greece, Brazil, Japan, Sweden and Mexico. It's quite a weird thing, but everywhere people love this music."
» Speaking of attracting listeners in foreign countries, and forgive the shameless plug, but since launching The What: Which Bands That Matter This Year, a podcast produced by Hits 96's Brad Steiner and me, we've had listeners from 10 countries including Ireland, Japan, France, Germany and Korea.
The whole idea is to take a deeper look into the artists and events that make up the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival up the road in Manchester, Tenn., in June. We've done two episodes featuring Anderson .Paak and then Sturgill Simpson. Next week's live guest is Ashley Capps, one of the co-founders of the event that started in 2002.
Donald BrownWe will do one a week leading up to Bonnaroo. You can check it out at www.thewhatpodcast.com and maybe even win a pair of tickets, with camping, to the festival.
» And in keeping with the local radio theme and folks taking on new roles: Ken Dryden is well known for his work both on and off the air at WUTC for many years, and for being a prolific jazz critic for several publications.
He and wife Nancy are helping put together a benefit concert on May 5 featuring jazz pianist Donald Brown at Brainerd Presbyterian Church. All proceeds will benefit Volunteers in Medicine, Channels of Love and Youth for Christ.
Tickets are $15 in advance and are available at www.eventbrite.com/e/an-evening-with-donald-brown-jazz-pianist-tickets-42754903066 or the church on Jenkins Road in East Brainerd.
Contact Barry Courter at bcourter@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6354.