Most of our programming at KZSM.org originates right here in the San Marcos area, but we do broadcast a few carefully selected shows created elsewhere. Of those, one of our favorites is “The Mop Tops and The King” (Mondays, 9-10 p.m.) produced by Steve Chelmsford from Chelmsford, Massachusetts. In addition to the music of The Beatles and Elvis Presley, this lively, upbeat show includes history, anecdotes, and brief interviews with Chelmsford’s listeners from all over the world.
“The Mop Tops and The King” came about through Chelmsford’s association with Radio Goldfield (KGFN 89.1FM), a small community radio station in the Nevada desert. Since that beginning in 2011, the show has expanded to over 80 community radio stations world-wide, as distant as South Africa and the Philippines.
Chelmsford demonstrates his ongoing commitment to community radio by maintaining personal connections with the many stations that feature his show. Voices from those stations identify his show, offer brief comments, or converse on “The MTK Hot Line” about their stations and about their own experiences of “the greatest two artists in the history of Rock & Roll!!”
Tomorrow on “The Mop Tops and The King,” your columnist will represent KZSM.org on the “MTK Hot Line.” Since I host “Bookmarked” (Tuesdays 4-5 p.m.), we will focus on a literary reference to The King. Alice Walker, author of “The Color Purple,” created a fictionalized version of Elvis Presley in the short story “1955,” included in the 1971 collection “You Can’t Keep a Good Woman Down.” The story alludes to the song “Hound Dog,” first recorded by Big Mama Willie Mae Thornton, as the Elvis character repeatedly asks the older Black woman narrator about the meaning of the song. We will discuss both versions of “Hound Dog,” and Chelmsford will play my favorite.
“The Mop Tops and The King” includes all kinds of sidelights and insights into the music that has been celebrated by so many for so long; I am gratified to have the opportunity to offer just one of them.
“Our goal is to spread a little joy and happiness to the entire world one listener at a time through the music of Elvis and The Beatles!, Chelmsford says. We strive to keep the show entertaining and fun.” We at KZSM. org proudly spread that joy and happiness to our community. In turn, we are happy to participate in the worldwide community that Chelmsford has created.
