History

Background

The Rest is History…

2018
May 22

May 22, 2018 – KGNU Celebrates 40 Years of Broadcasting

A heartfelt thank you to all of the volunteers, staff, our listener community, and everyone who has supported KGNU over the last 40 years.

2017
Aug 28
Aug 28

2017: Boulder voters approve ballot measure 2M & 2N

Community Culture Safety

The measure includes KGNU as a recipient of a $1.25M matching grant from the City of Boulder for capital improvements and expansion.

2015
Aug 28
May 28

May 2015: KGNU & Boulder Bookstore Radio Bookclub debuts

Radio Bookclub

Our Radio Bookclub, in collaboration with the Boulder Bookstore, begins airing the last Thursday of every month and published on News.KGNU.org and as a podcast on iTunes.

2013
Aug 28
2010
Aug 28
2007
Aug 28
Aug 28
2004
Aug 28
2001
Aug 28
1998
Aug 09
1996
Aug 09
Aug 09
1994
Aug 09

1994: Signal and Format Updates

Marty and Tower

Signal boosted to serve Boulder’s mountain towns and the station begins transition from NPR to more local-based programming. KGNU produced Morning Magazine begins airing.

1992
Aug 09
1991
Aug 09
1988
Aug 09
1987
Aug 09
Aug 09
1986
Aug 09
1983
Aug 09

1983: New GM, Rocky Flats Coverage

Greg Fisher named general manager; 2nd major coverage by KGNU of Rocky Flats protests.

1981
Aug 09

July 1981: New Studio Space

KGNU Group Photo 1981

KGNU moves to space above the Aristocrat restaurant at Broadway and Spruce.

Aug 09

April 1981: KGNU Back On Air

“Friends of KGNU” sign station back on three weeks later with no federal funding, begins two-month on-air fundraising effort; Fergus Stone becomes station manager

Aug 09

March, 1981: KGNU Goes Off Air

KGNU loses CPB funds, runs out of money and is signed-off the air.

1980
Aug 09

1980: Financial Challenges

Station’s financial weakness leads to staff and board turnover, station in crisis.

Aug 09

1980: Local Music

Local favorites Washboard Chaz, Rare Silk, and Ray Bonneville perform regularly from Kabaret room

1979
Aug 09

1979: First Grateful Dead Marathon

Skeletons on the Mount

Broadcast of first Grateful Dead Marathon, continued today in our fund drive Grateful Dead “Rare Tapes” Special.

Aug 09

1979: Rocky Flats Protests

KGNU broadcasts protests by airplane from Rocky Flats Nuclear Weapons Facility.

1978
Aug 09

1978: Debut of Longtime Favorite KGNU Programs

Eclipse Crew

Debut of six favorite programs still on our schedule: “Indian Voices,” locally produced program covering Native American issues and music; “Old Grass Gnu Grass,” “Eclipse,” “Reggae Bloodlines,” “Ragtime America/Dixeland,” and “Blues Legacy”.

Aug 09

1978: Signal Power Reduction

July 1978: Citing “close channel interference” with KRMA channel 6, FCC forces KGNU to reduce signal power from 3000 to 1300 watts.

Aug 09

1978: KGNU & NFCB

KGNU is one of the founding members of the National Federation of Community Broadcasters (NFCB) representing community and public radio stations in the US.

May 22

1978: KGNU Inaugural Broadcast

1978: KGNU Inaugural Broadcast

Inaugural KGNU broadcast on May 22, 1978 from a cottage behind the Millenium Harvest House Hotel. Glen Gerberg named first station manager. John “Sal” Salamone, pictured here, was a DJ and also KGNU’s advertising manager. Boulder Bluegrass Band Hot Rize debuts on KGNU morning show from the “Kabaret” room, KGNU’s..Read..Read More

1977
Aug 08

1977: Studio & Broadcast Facility Planning

The Boulder Community Broadcast Association, licensee of KGNU collaborates to create studio space, transmitter and tower location, equipment, and personnel to put KGNU on the air

1976
Aug 08

1976 C.U. Boulder Radio Initiative

C.U. Boulder students raise fees to fund involvement in what becomes KGNU radio

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