show menu

KBBF RadioLand By Serena Makofsky - July 2019

Francisco Frank Pardo II understands the power of music to evoke memories, especially association with special people and places. That’s why his show—Mañanitas Capirana—is all about nostalgia.

Frank airs his show on KBBF Thursdays and Fridays from 6am to 8am. That way, this programmer is up with the sun and playing the music and memorias his listeners, many of whom are campesinos doing long, hard days of agricultural labor. He wants workers who listen to experience joy as part of their day. Frank observes, “What I say on the radio, people listen to. The fieldworkers listen. I speak their language.” In his mind, the show is a way to express his gratitude for these laborers and the fruits and vegetables they harvest.

He follows his Thursday show with “Cantares de mi Tierra,” an hour-long tribute to the conjunto de arpa. This is a musical genre made famous in the rural areas and ranches of Michoacán. The musicians include two violinists, two guitarists, and a harpist that also uses the instrument for percussion. Smithsonian Folkways describes arpa as “driving sones, sentiment-saturated ranchera songs of love, and farcical valonas (poemic narratives), all with a disarming directness that is the hallmark of one of Mexico's best-kept musical secrets.”

On Fridays, Frank airs “Recordando el Ayer” from 8am to 9am. These are older classics from Mexico that many older people recall fondly. Frank hopes that, by keeping these songs alive, he reminds listeners of their origins while also introducing the music to younger generations. Think of it as a Mexican musical history lesson.

Audiences of the shows typically hail from Mexico, with others from Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras. They share a love of diverse classic songs, including ranchera hits, mariachi music, and arpa.

Music is the heart and soul of the show, but there is also time for commentary. Frank provides insight into community issues and concerns. He also keeps his lines open for callers during airtime. It can be a lot to handle, but Frank likes it, saying, “It keeps me busy.”

With all this nostalgia happening, it is only natural that many callers want to mention loved ones past and present. Frank explains, “They dedicate songs to people from when they were younger.”

KBBF has been fortunate to have Frank working at the station since 1992.

Oyster Run

The Santa Rosa Chapter of Chicano Style MC and KBBF present the fifth annual Oyster Run motorcycle rally on July 27th. Registration is from 10-11am and the pack leaves at 11:15am sharp from 1700 Corby Avenue. All bikes are welcome. Low-riders can join up at the ending spot, as well as friends and family, also at the Corby Avenue location. The $25 donation covers a taco dinner, drink ticket, and run shirt. Oysters are sold separately. For more information, contact Chico at 707 484-8235.

Support KBBF

Join the growing membership of KBBF supporters. Check out the KBBF.org website to make a monthly donation or a one-time gift. GRACIAS!

We've moved our commenting system to Disqus, a widely used community engagement tool that you may already be using on other websites. If you're a registered Disqus user, your account will work on the Gazette as well. If you'd like to sign up to comment, visit https://disqus.com/profile/signup/.
Show Comment