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New
Music Director
Mark
Simmons wants you to know that he's just
a regular guy. He's approachable. And
first impressions are likely to reveal that very thing. Mark
grew up in Independence, MO, married a hometown girl and together
they raised two children. The simple things like backyard
BBQs, a good book, good music, and time spent with friends are
all on his list of what constitutes a perfect day off.
But
if you go a bit beyond casual conversation, you'll discover
there's a lot more to this Midwestern family man. He's
a musician, lay minister and published author with six novels
to date, with three translations in the Czech Republic and
three more scheduled to appear in Russian beginning next year. His
hobbies range from filk singing to fencing. (And
no, you didn't just see a typo. Filk singing
is an obscure category of folk singing enjoyed mainly by sci-fi
fans.)
In
his childhood, Mark quickly took to music. He remembers, “I
was young when I started learning the trombone. Back
then I could barely reach 7th position!” He
went on to study E-flat tuba, double B-flat sousaphone, piano,
guitar and voice. While his band days are long behind
him he still is invited to perform at various science fiction
conventions throughout the Midwest.
While
attending college at Central Missouri State University, Mark
began working in TV and Film. At one point, he even hosted
his own musical variety show on public access. In 1978
he graduated with a double major in Mass Communications and
Theater, but afterwards ended up working in public relations. Mark
jokes, “If you want to make God laugh, tell him your
plans.”
In
1981 Mark had his first taste of radio. He explains, “I
cut my teeth at one of the few commercial classical stations
around, KXTR-FM in Kansas City.” By the time KXTR
moved its classical music to an AM spot on the dial, Mark had
moved to Southeast Kansas and begun his public radio career
by helping to put KRPS-FM on the air. Six years later
he went down to Louisiana and KEDM-FM where he served as Music
Director, Program Director and eventually General Manager.
Now
he's back in the Midwest. “This is home for us,” he
says. “Most of our family and friends live in Kansas
and Missouri. And Radio Kansas is a dream come true. Programming
and playing the music of the masters for listeners in this
part of the country? Well, I can't think of anything
I'd rather do—and with over twenty-five years in
broadcasting, I've actually got some perspective to back
up that sentiment. It's good to be back!”
Contact
Mark
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Jul
6, 2008 - 10:43 AM
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