Snowball’s Chance in Hell
That’s what Arturo Gómez probably thought about working at KUVO JAZZ. So was it an omen that it snowed when he and Maggie Pelleya (RIP) first came to Denver in 1993 from WDNA in Miami, Florida? He wasn’t job hunting because he was the Program/Music Director at WDNA and Maggie was the CEO/General Manager.
As part of a training program sponsored by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, The BluePrint Project paired the two major market, Latino-controlled public radio stations, WDNA and KUVO. Arturo was mentored by Carlos Lando while Maggie was to spend time with Tina Cartagena reviewing fundraising strategies and with Flo Hernández-Ramos to compare administrative techniques and responsibilities.
Over the next ten years Arturo and Carlos became friends based on mutual a knowledge of jazz, Latin jazz and many genres of music. They both were committed to presenting that music in the public radio space and a deep respect for musicians and involvement in the community.
Arturo was recruited by Carlos Lando and soon, Arturo was driving across the country. On April 21, 2003 Arturo began his career at KUVO as Music Director and on-air host. Just as he had done in Miami, Arturo incorporated New Music Monday into his five-day a week noontime program, which he called Lunchtime! At the Oasis.
A notable feature of Lunchtime! is Arturo’s signature sign-on, “Iiiiiiiii’m …….Arturo Gomez.” The widely popular introduction started on a live mike when he dropped his pencil and bought some time to retrieve it by stretching out the I’m. Callers asked Arturo to “do it again” and a catch phrase was born. Some people have said it sounds like Arturo is falling off his chair; others are quite amused by it; everybody expects it. Because of his love of and deep knowledge of music he has been a substitute host for a wide array of KUVO’s programs. Although jazz is Arturo’s “favorite four-letter word,” his true love is hosting Salsa con Jazz on Sunday afternoons at 2 p.m.
As Music Director, Arturo cultivated relationships with major music label representatives to ensure that KUVO received the latest releases. Working in an analog era required Sharpies, paper, loads of colored dots and hours of listening. Every week, Arturo gave the DJ’s new music from a carousel he had loaded with the latest CDs, appropriately color coded. For special shows like Christmas, Mardi Gras, Jazz Month or artist tributes Arturo created extensive song lists that fit the theme. Arturo’s outstanding dedication and meticulous curation of the music resulted in a unique and consistent format for KUVO and played no small part in KUVO being given the Major Market Jazz Station of the Year award by JazzWeek magazine in both 2005 and 2006 and being designated one of the planet’s three top jazz-and-soul internet radio stations by The Telegraph (UK) in 2014.
Arturo is well-known and respected throughout the public radio and music industry. Since 2004 he has been receiving national and local awards (see listing), and in 2025 he received the McPartland-Willis Conover Award for Career Achievement in Broadcasting from the Jazz Journalists Association.
Arturo’s constant presence at jazz and community events, his outgoing personality and his colorful fashion statements made him the perfect person to be named KUVO Jazz’s Cultural Ambassador in January of 2025. Whether it was leading the Five Points Jazz Festival Parade, ensuring there is King Cake at KUVO’s Mardi Gras parties or emceeing at night clubs, in the RMPM Masterpiece studio, festivals and events, Arturo represents the values of KUVO well.
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