KZSM–Interviews with unforgettable guests

The music and interview shows on KZSM. org reflect the many and varied interests of the community we serve. Our program hosts look back with pride on their conversations with all their guests—famous and not so famous. This column forms part of an intermittent series devoted to our most memorable guests.

“We the People” (Fridays 7-8 p.m.) covers political, economic, and other issues of interest to the local community. Host Rob Roark has talked with the Mayor, City Council members, School Board members, State Representatives, and State Senators. County Judge Ruben Becerra has dropped by or called in many times. “During the pandemic, he would always make himself available to speak with our listeners, Roark recalls. The underlying mission of “We the People” is to demonstrate that “one person can make a difference,” as Roark reminds his listeners on every show. So, for him, “one of the more memorable shows was when I had students from Texas State with Mano Amiga right after they had worked hard to get Proposition A passed on the San Marcos Ballot.”

On “Bookmarked” (Tuesdays 4-5 p.m.), hosted by your columnist, guests might be wellknown authors, people with special expertise, enthusiastic readers, or local poets. At the beginning of the pandemic, eight local poets read from works inspired by the crisis. Another “Bookmarked” episode featured host Steve Chelmsford of “The Moptops and the King” (Mondays 9-10 p.m.) and focused on some of the many books about The Beatles and Elvis Presley. Writer, librarian, and Beatles fan Jennifer Kabay, and librarian and Elvis fan Priscilla Delgado Hermiller talked with Chelmsford about their favorites books. Their enthusiasm and expertise so impressed Chelmsford that both became regular commentators on his show, which is heard on over 90 stations around the world. Jennifer narrates “The McCartney Diaries,” and Priscilla presents “Spotlight on Elvis.”

Another especially memorable episode of “Bookmarked” also involved music. A rare interview with novelist Paulette Giles, author of “News of the World,” featured a conversation about her most recent novel “Simon the Fiddler.” After the interview, Tony Wilson, host of “Roots and Branches” joined me to listen to the songs described in the book and talk about how they created the most moving moments in the fiddler’s story.

Tony is gone now, but we cherish what we’ve learned from him and from all our guests, and look forward to more to come.