Legacy
Our Story
That a community radio station in a major market would survive with a largely consistent format over 40 years is so remarkable, one wonders how it all got started. Mostly from the steel-trap mind of founding CEO Florence Hernández-Ramos. We’re happy to share the details of the effort to put KUVO JAZZ on the air in 1985. Non-profit and organizational nerds will probe the mechanics of board governance and legal strategy. Entrepreneurs will marvel at the bold and tireless creativity that the early team employed to raise the first $150,000 budget to get on the air – and all with a Chicano/Latino/bi-lingual emphasis.
Here are all the dirty details.
1980s
1986
1st Anniversary
John Muñoz and His Fabulous Vibrotones (now Chicano Music Hall of Fame members) at the parking lot of KUVO Studios, 4460 Morrison Road.
1987
2nd Anniversary
Dave Valentín at Mammoth Events Center (now The Fillmore).
1988
3rd Anniversary
Hilton Ruiz at Civic Center Park.
1989
4th Anniversary
Eliane Elias at The Wharf (now The Stampede on South Havana St.).
1990s
1990
5th Anniversary
Arturo Sandoval at MCI Atrium (now called the Atrium Campus, Denver Tech Center). In the dry Colorado heat, Sandoval cracked his lip during the concert and was forced to play piano for the rest of the night. 200-300 concertgoers leaving a show at Fiddlers Green began to gather on a hill overlooking the venue, attracted by the music.
1991
6th Anniversary
Johnny Adams, Sam Mayfield Blues Revue with Howard Bomar, and (with a 17-piece all-star band directed by Leslie Drayton) at Denver Design Center on South Broadway.
1992
7th Anniversary
Jimmy & Jeannie Cheatham and the Sweet Baby Blues Band at the Crystal Rose event space on East Hampden (now The Yak & Yeti Restaurant).
1995
10th Anniversary
Concert featuring the three musical pillars of KUVO, with Gene Harris (jazz), Eddie Palmieri (Latin jazz), Ruben Ramos (Tejano), plus a “Casino Night” fundraiser, held at the “old” El Jebel Shrine on West 50th Avenue.
2000s
2003
18th Anniversary
An in-studio celebration performance Hilton Ruiz and Dave Valentín at the Phyllis A. Greer Performance Studio at KUVO, 2900 Welton St., Denver.
2005
20th Anniversary
René Marie, Joe Bonner, Lew Tabackin, Phil Urso and The Marian McPartland Trio (Colorado band directed by Hugh Ragin, with Darren Kramer and William Murray, Jeff Jenkins, Ken Walker, José Espino and Paul Romaine) at the Teikyo Loretta Heights campus. Artist Eric Matelski painted portraits on site for the auction.
2006
1st Live at the Vineyards Event at Balistreri Vineyards
Marc Sabatella and Wendy Fopeano. In 2006, KUVO also hosted a 21st anniversary broadcast performance on August 29 from the Phyllis A. Greer Performance Studio featuring the Winard Harper Sextet.
2008
LATV
John Boutté was the first national artist to perform at KUVO’s Live at the Vineyard event. He was accompanied by New Orleans guitarist Todd Duke.
2009
LATV
The Sam Mayfield Blues Revue.
2010s
2010
LATV (KUVO's 25th Anniversary)
The Ken Walker Sextet (Al Hood, Dave Corbus, Peter Sommer, Jeff Jenkins, Paul Romaine), featuring René Marie.
2011
LATV
Junior Mance Trio.
2012
LATV
“Mambo at the Vineyards” with Steve Turre and special guest José Madera (first event held at Balistreri Vineyards’ new event building).
2013
LATV
Poncho Sanchez & His Latin Jazz Band.
2014
LATV
New Orleans All-Star Rhythm Revue, featuring Donald Harrison with Leo Nocentelli and Detroit Brooks, and special guest Henry Butler.
2015
LATV (KUVO's 30th Anniversary)
H2 Big Band featuring Kevin Mahogany, and the Dianne Reeves Quartet.
2016
LATV
Monty Alexander and The Harlem-Kingston Express.
2017
LATV
Bobby Watson and his All-Star Quartet & Kansas City Jump Band: Curtis Lundy-Bass, Lewis Nash-Drums, Stephen Scott-Piano, Dan Thomas-Tenor Saxophone, Chalis O’Neal-Trumpet, Lisa Henry-Vocalist.
2018
LATV
Spanish Harlem Orchestra.
2019
LATV
Kermit Ruffins & the Barbecue Swingers.
2020s
2020
Live at the Vineyards – On the Radio!
With the outdoor, in-person gala at Balistreri Vineyards suspended by the COVID-19 pandemic, KUVO relied on its airwaves to check in with previous Live at the Vineyards artists, and playback a few LATV memories throughout September.
2021
LATV
The H2 Big Band with special guest Rich Chiaraluce, and the Sam Mayfield Blues Revue with special guest Erica Brown.
2022
LATV
Spanish Harlem Orchestra.
2023
LATV
The Count Basie Orchestra featuring Carmen Bradford. The Carlos Lando Educator Award was presented to Paul and Christine Romaine, Colorado Conservatory for the Jazz Arts.
2024
LATV
Delfeayo Marsalis and the Uptown Jazz Orchestra. The Carlos Lando Educator Award was presented to Keith Oxman.
2025
The Spanish Harlem Orchestra featuring vocalist/sonero Herman Olivera and The Sam Mayfield Blues Revue. (Fun fact: The Spanish Harlem Orchestra and The Sam Mayfield Blues Revue are the only artists to play at three Live at the Vineyards events.)
Support the Music
Your donation supports the programs on-air, online and in-person that you count on. Listener support fuels KUVO JAZZ and keeps the music going.
