from
Kirk Surry, Rocky Mountain Public Media
Published on
DENVER — Rocky Mountain Public Media is inviting all KUVO JAZZ listeners to join us in celebrating Carlos Lando’s more than 50 years of contributions to the music industry and his outstanding role in establishing KUVO JAZZ as one of the most best jazz radio in the world.
Lando announced that he will begin transitioning from his position as general manager at the station to devote more time to executive production and hosting “The Morning Set with Carlos Landon” and contributing to jazz community events throughout Colorado.
“I look forward to reconnecting one-on-one with listeners in our community. The opportunity to do this on a daily basis is an honor and is sacred in terms of the relationships KUVO JAZZ has with so many people in our community,” said Lando. “We’re reaching our second generation of listeners, the generations that grew up with us. That’s so valuable, and getting back to the front lines of these community relationships is what’s most important to me.”
Lando’s Career: More than 50 years in music radio, 40 years in Colorado broadcasting, 35 years at KUVO JAZZ
Lando’s career spans more than 50 years in the radio industry. While still in high school, he began an internship maintaining the music library at a local radio station. Lando’s first night on the air was January 13, 1968, on the Armed Forces Caribbean Network in Puerto Rico. Until 1969, he worked for WABA “La Grande”, one of Puerto Rico’s top commercial AM radio stations. In 1970, Lando was the weeknight host on WOUR in Utica, NY, one of the first “underground rock” FM stations in the country.
Lando returned to Puerto Rico in the mid-70s, where he produced and hosted a new show on WZAR, called “Jazz Where It’s Been and Where It’s At.” During this time, he met and interviewed many jazz greats, including Count Basie, Betty Carter and Dexter Gordon.
After moving to Denver in 1980, Lando spent five years as Music and Program Director and midday host at nationally recognized soul music station KDKO. He worked for a year at KBCO in Boulder, before joining KUVO 89.3 FM in 1987.
“When Carlos first came to us as program director, it was like coming home because his passion and depth of knowledge about jazz is truly amazing. Carlos and his team were able to build important relationships with the community, reinvent our format and put together some very successful fundraising events that literally saved the station,” said Flo Hernandez-Ramos, who co-founded KUVO 89.3 FM and served as president and CEO of the station for 23 years. “It’s really gratifying to see Carlos getting back to what he really loves, getting back to his roots and focusing on programs that support the community of jazz and Colorado’s musical heritage.”
As program director, Lando helped establish KUVO JAZZ as one of the most respected community-based jazz stations in the world. In 2005 and 2006, KUVO JAZZ was named the leading market Jazz Station of the Year by Jazz Week and twice named among the best jazz stations in the world by Telegraph.
According to Lando, KUVO bridged a musical void in Colorado when the station’s core format shifted to jazz in 1987. Before that, KUVO was a Latin fusion music station.
“KUVO JAZZ is a reflection of the diversity of our community, manifested in the music and voices you hear on the air. The music is rooted in the station’s early days with a Latino-centric format, emphasizing Chicano music and traditional music from the American Southwest. With our transition to a jazz format, we were able to expand into a wider range of traditional and contemporary music, including Afro-Caribbean and Brazilian influences, and build a musical journey that included discussions of indigenous community issues. America. We were able to bring context to the music in terms of why this music is important, realizing that this music didn’t happen on its own,” says Lando.
Lando became President and CEO of KUVO JAZZ in 2012 and his influence has shaped the station’s diverse cultural programming with significant appeal to people in the Latino and African American communities.
“The future of music is always about what’s happening in the present with the awareness that nothing stays the same. People, families, communities and their music are constantly evolving. KUVO JAZZ is a part of this change, bringing newer musical elements to our mix that are relevant to new generations of listeners. Because of this broad reach, no other jazz station has the diversity of listeners we do,” added Lando.
Next steps, conversations and community celebrations
The relocation of Lando’s position will occur gradually over the coming months with an anticipated completion date of late October. Following his transition from general manager, Lando will serve for a year as senior radio advisor to Rocky Mountain Public Media president and CEO Amanda Mountain and COO Karla Hanlon to support the continued building of the station’s legacy and relationships his deep connection with the community and culture. According to Mountain, a successor to the KUVO JAZZ general manager position will be determined and announced at a later date. Meanwhile, program director Max Ramirez will continue to manage the station’s day-to-day operations.
“Over the decades, Carlos has built KUVO JAZZ to be a place of belonging for so many listeners, volunteers and staff, bringing together community, culture and music,” Mountain said. “It is a privilege to continue to build on this strong foundation to ensure that KUVO JAZZ remains a home for many generations to come.”
Rocky Mountain Public Media is hosting an ongoing series of KUVO JAZZ Community Conversations, which is a chance for staff and volunteers to address questions and share ideas about the future of public radio and KUVO JAZZ.
We invite our community to join us this summer to celebrate Lando’s contributions to the jazz community and meet the KUVO JAZZ team during the station’s 17th annual signature event, Live at the Vineyards, on Saturday, August 13 . For more event details, visit www.kuvo.org/events.
