It’s not “Jammin’,” but there are echoes of R&B on KSYY (107.1-FM, “Sassy”), one of two new stations that debuted this week in an already crowded radio field.
“We came in trying to find a way to compete in a very competitive marketplace,” said Tim Maranville, director of operations for Denver Radio Co. Formats of the new stations were a closely guarded secret leading up to the debut at 6 a.m. Wednesday.
Two of “Jammin’s” former deejays are on “Sassy.” Gloria Neal, 5-9 mornings, and Dave Otto, 2-6 afternoons, were cut loose when the R&B station vanished abruptly in February.
“Sassy” and its sister station, KTNI (101.5-FM, “Martini”) are the brainchildren of Maranville, director of operations, and veteran Denver radio executive Steve Keeney, president and marketing manager.
“‘Martini’ is a tough one to describe,” said Maranville. “It’ll be interesting and relaxing with music from Norah Jones, Sarah McLachlan, George Benson and, occasionally, some Tony Bennett and Louis Armstrong. There is quite a bit of ‘Jammin’.”
“Sassy” is pitched to “active, adult women,” Maranville said. He’s talking women over 40 whose memories date back to Carly Simon, James Taylor and Chicago. Jackie Selby, who once spent mornings cavorting at KXKL 105.1-FM (“KOOL”), is doing an afternoon show and is also music director.
Weaver’s farewell
Actor/environmentalist Dennis Weaver leaves us with some good advice in his appearance on “The 11th Hour” (9:30 tonight, KBDI-Channel 12). Weaver, who died Feb. 24, taped the show in 2002.
“Keep life simple,” he encourages us in facing a world bent on grabbing possessions. “Enjoy life. Live it to the hilt – but don’t be attached to it. Nothing in this world is permanent. It comes and goes.”
We’re on TV!
The main reason to tune in to the cable-TV debut of John Sayles’s “Silver City” (8 p.m. Saturday, Starz Cinema, Comcast digital cable channel 538) is because it was shot in Denver.
Not surprising that it wound up on cable so quickly. Post movie writer Michael Booth called it “a terrible disappointment.” It stars Chris Cooper and Richard Dreyfuss.
Around the dial
A belated thanks for all that hysterical “team coverage” on the local TV stations that preceded the latest snowstorm of the century. I stayed awake all night for nothing … Tickets on sale Saturday for KBCO 97.3-FM’s annual Kinetics sculpture madness at Boulder Reservoir. Call 303-444-
5600 for info … Woo-hoo!: “The Simpsons” signed up for another two years by Fox (KDVR-Channel 31). … Quotable: “My feeling in general about radio is, not just jazz radio, or smooth jazz radio, or whatever-radio in general is, I would like to see a little more variety within each one station.” David Sanborn
Dick Kreck’s column appears Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. He may be reached at 303-820-1456 or dkreck@denverpost.com.
