Local blues expert and pianist/keyboardist Ken Harris will make his debut on Boise Community Radio Monday when he premieres his new radio show. Ken takes over for longtime Boise Blues aficionado, radio announcer and bass player for the great local band Jake Leg “Mojo Mike” Witmer, who is relocating to Washington. He will do the 8-10pm show on the first Monday of each month. Ken Harris on the Monday Night Blues Block will be a monthly showwhile Ken will also do occasional Monday DJ fill-ins where needed for KRBX.
Ken Harris brings a wealth of experience to this new show. He got hooked on blues radio from elementary school on while listening to blues radio on KOBY in San Francisco during the 1950’s. Classic blues, as well as never bluesy-rock music from Chuck Berry and Jerry Lee Lewis, attracted him to not only listen but to perform as a musician, playing keyboards for several local bands as well as having backed such blues greats as Pinetop Perkins and Coco Montoya. He currently is playing with local bands The Hoochie Coochie Men and other local groups as well as performing solo.
Starting in 1987, he had a blues radio show on WBRS in Waltham, Massachusetts. In 1993 he moved to Boise, where not only did he does blues shows on local radio stations KFXD-AM and KJOY-AM, but was also instrumental in helping start the popular Blues Bouquet nightclub in downtown Boise. As an active member and VP on the board of the Boise Blues Society, Ken has helped shape the state of the blues in Boise. He has also had a hand in many great local events such as the Boise Blues Festival and the Sapphire Room’s Fat Tuesday Blues Celebration.
Ken’s radio show on KRBX (KRBX 89.9/93.5fm) will cover classic blues from the 1920’s onward as his part of the Monday Night Blues Block. Also on the agenda will be many other types of music and blues influenced by traditional blues. The show promises to share a wide range of music and show what the blues is all about. We’ll be sure to be listening to Ken Harris on the Monday Night Blues Block starting Monday!
