SalinasRadio.com

After a LONG move, SalinasRadio is finally back up and running! We still aren’t 100%, but we’re off to a good start! While our live streams are not yet up and running, our On Demand Player is working fine. Given the amount of popularity the On Demand Player has gained, and the current generation of listeners we are entertaining, we may even work towards making all of our music available On Demand and do away with the live streams all together. We’ll see.

For now though, we’ll work on getting the streams back up, getting some new bands promoted, featuring some new music in our On Demand Player, and hopefully setting up some more shows!

Grassroots organization, South Monterey County Center for Arts & Technology (SoMoCoCAT), is offering digital media workshops for the first time in Monterey County’s ‘salad bowl of the world.” A ‘lettuce curtain’ isolates residents of rural Salinas Valley from opportunities in a 21st century creative workforce.  SoMoCoCAT has therefore started a movement to cross the a ‘digital divide’ and part the ‘lettuce curtain” to bring free arts and technology training to underserved, mostly Latino, agricultural communities in South Monterey County.

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On top of the three already available, “A Life on the Road,” “Hollis Brown,” and “A Table for Two,” we have added a bunch of new Ken Girardey songs to the “All Genres” radio stream, the “Rock, Metal, and Acoustic” audio stream, and the On Demand Player!

The new songs added are as follows: “Ali,” “Apache,” “Down in the Hole,” “For a Missing Cat,” “Life’s One Act Play,” “No Mo Joe,” “Smoking Gun,” “World in a Jug,” “Yes it is, it’s True,” and “You Belong to Me (Clara).”

Here is the press release for a few of the songs, written by Mr. Girardey himself.

A Table for Two…. this all original unique CD is a story about the life of Jack Kerouac and his daughter Jan Michelle Kerouac. It’s a fantasy fiction piece about a Father and Daughter who never really connected in life, and although they were like two peas in a pod, they seemed to pass each other like ships in the night. The story takes place after Jack passes away and is on his journey to his final destination where he gets one last chance to connect with the daughter he never took the time to get to know. The original story is narrated by the Author Ken Girardey and features lots of colorful sound effects and original music performed by the author.

Emmy nominated Producer of Thirty Something and Handwritten Theater, Joseph Dougherty, gave it 5 Stars and stated, “Ken Girardey confidently sculpts music, language and wishful thinking to create a contemplation of loss and regret on the road to eternity. Perfect overnight programming, this passes my test for appropriate audio company on a late night drive across the desert.”

Noted Producer and Peabody award winner Marjorie Van Halteren gave it a 4 star review. “Good writing, nice voice, full of music, sound, and humour, and truly from the heart.

- Ken Girardey

You can now call or text SalinasRadio using our new number. Text or give us a call at (831) 275-04SR!

You can now contact us at:

email us at: Mike@SalinasRadio.com
Text us at: (831) 275-0477
Leave us a voicemail at: (831) 275-0477

Our ad is live in rotation at LiveEnVivo.com and will be featured as a print ad in the next Live En Vivo Magazine! Give these guys props and check out their service. They provide news on local musicians. Concerning local music, they are to newspapers as we are to radio.

Check them out at LiveEnVivo.com or pick up one of their magazines, hitting a news stand near you!

Congratulations to Akura Davis (@AkuraDavis,) for winning the August Sky CD Twitter Promotion! We’ll be sending him his free CD this week. Keep an eye out for our next promotion! Follow us on Twitter, MySpace, and YouTube to stay informed on new SalinasRadio events and promos!

We have also made a monetary contribution to the Food Bank for Monterey County. Remember, for every donation of $10 or more, we will send you a free August Sky CD (while supplies last) and donate 50% of the proceeds to the Food Bank for Monterey County. Contact me at Mike@SalinasRadio.com to donate!

Please welcome Donnie Williams and Park Place to SalinasRadio.com, accompanied by LaToya London and Terrell Williams. Here’s some promo on the two albums we will be featuring on the station.

“Just Like Magic” -
Two American Idol Finalists Donnie Williams & Latoya London backed by Park Place, an all-star band. Have released a great new Cd on Chump Change records. The Cd is titled “Just Like Magic” and contains 15 outstanding songs with styles to enlist even the most discriminating taste, produced by Paul Tillman Smith,Norman Connors and Nelson Braxton. Suitable songs for: Urban R&B, Soul, Love Songs, Smooth Jazz, Easy listening, adult contemporary, lite rock formats, Gospel & Inspirational, Contemporary Christian.

“The Power” -
Chumpchange Records and Paul Tillman Smith have assembled a tremendous group of legendary musicians and singers and producers to produce a fantastic new Maxi Single Cd of Inspirational and healing songs that will be marketed to all Recovery and Rehabilitation centers in the USA, as well as churches and ministries seeking to help people suffering from addictions of any kind. The song “Higher Power” is already being called the “National Anthem of Recovery”.

The promotion and distribution of this life saving product will be supported by tours with Donnie Williams and Park Place where they will perform live at Rehab centers & Churches across the country.

The musicians and singers contributing to this product include: Paul Tillman Smith, Nelson Braxton Composer/Producers Vocalist: Donnie Williams, Latoya London, Nelson Braxton, Terrell Williams, Derick Hughes, Freddie Hughes, Denise Stewart, Michael Cheadle, Paul Tillman Smith, Yolandra Rhodes, Musicians: Pharoah Saunders, and The Saint Gabriel’s Celestial Brass Band horns, Paul Tillman Smith, Raoul Smith, Nelson Braxton,Vincent Lars, Charles Spikes, Troy Lampkin

The” Higher Power Project” is a non-profit project of Chumpchange Records and all Profits and donations generated through the sales and distribution of this Product will be spent to support Rehabilitation programs and Recovery Programs.

Check out (and hopefully purchase) both CD’s from Chump Change Records. Show some love!

Sorry for the lack of updates! We’ve even been missing out on local shows! We have a LOT on our plate right now, and you should see some really great new stuff coming out very soon. However, being that I am the only employee of SalinasRadio, it sometimes takes me longer to get things done, haha. Expect some really big changes very soon! For the better!

We spoke with Ryan James the Rapper, our newest addition to SalinasRadio.com, to find out more about this upcoming rapper from Soledad, CA. Here’s what he had to say.

Mike: Were you always Ryan James the Rapper? Or did you have other names or nicknames?

Ryan James: Well, initially when I started out, I had many different monikers. I went by EZ, The Definition, J-James. All sorts of different meanings to each name, but I’ve just decided to make my official name Ryan James The Rapper, because it is me. No gimmicks.

Mike: When did you start in the Rap and Hip Hop scene?

Ryan James: I started rapping in like 2003, a friend of mine (C.B.) had been rapping for a few years already and I’ve always been in love with music, so he was freestyling one time and wanted me to try it out, so I did, and I really enjoyed it so much that I decided to try and stick with it. Progressively I had gotten better, even just making parodies of songs, or just freestyling it, it advanced to me taking the art form seriously, and I have’nt regretted it one bit.

Mike: When did you decide you wanted to go pro, and really push yourself into the music scene?

Ryan James: I would say around the summer of 2005, I decided that I wanted this to be my future, because ever since I took my first breath I’ve loved music, and I knew I had the drive to get done what I needed to be successful at it.

Mike: What inspired you to start up? Who are some of your current inspirations?

Ryan James: Musical inspirations of mine are always changing, not forgetting where my passion originated, but influence wise I would have to say Kanye West, 2pac, Jay-z, Slaughterhouse, Little Brother, Murs, Slum Village… And even some people that I have worked with closely, like C.B., M3, Klassic, Young Flames, 9-1, Tre, Yung Klue… etc. They’ve all inspired me in at least one way or another.

Mike: Do you do any live shows? If so, where are some of your favorite places to perform?

Ryan James: Performances are a rare thing for me, but I’ve done a few open mics, parties, and what not. Actually in the near future, I’m gonna have alot more opportunities, because another artist I work with has some major things going on and he wants me to be a part of the TAKEOVER.

Mike: How hard is it to come up as a rapper? I know the majority of local musicians are in the Rock, Metal, Acoustic, and Jazz scenes, you don’t see too many, or at least, as many, up and coming Rap and Hip Hop artists in the area.

Ryan James: Well the thing is, you might not notice it but it seems like 1 out of every 3 young guys is “A Rapper”, it’s like they say it to be cool… In reality the only thing “cool” about being a rapper is that you constantly have creative energy. This gimmick you see on TV is just what helps them get marketed to different crowds.All these little horrible dance songs and whatever, are ridiculous. Not one of these “dancers” have a bit of lyrical ability. Now I’m not dissing there music, but seriously, these guys are a waste of record deals.

Mike: What kind of message do you want to get out to your listeners and fans?

Ryan James: The message I’m sending with my music, is as real as it can get. I have a point to my music, but I still know how to appease each audience equally. I can rap about personal issues that I have had, that people can agree with, I can write songs that can get you pumped up, I have club songs, but each song serves a purpose. Just Listen.

Mike: What songs do you hear the most about? Which ones do your fans seem to like more?

Ryan James: Well, I get a mixed reaction. Obviously the ladies love “One thing” and “Ride 4 Me”,while the guys like “Doin’ That” and “Goon Music”, but across the board everybody has given me fair and honest opinions about my music, which motivates me so much, that since I know that I can reach them through it, I can never give up.

Mike: How have you progressed since you first started?

Ryan James: Wow, well I honestly progress every time I write a new song, and it’s strange because I wonder how far this can take me. Before I started really taking it seriously, my songs werent bad, they just were’nt structured correctly, like I would have a hook and 4 verses,or 2 verses and no hook but I would have a bridge… just didnt make sense back then. haha.

Mike: Is there a CD in the works? What can we look forward to in the near future?

Ryan James: My next CD is in the works, it’s gonna be titled “Married To The Music”, its gonna feature… Klassic, Yung Klue, C.B., King Wize, and a few other special guest which I’m excite about. Should be out by the end of the year.

Mike: Where can your fans listen to your music and buy your CD’s?

Ryan James: The fans can come to http://www.myspace.com/ryanjamestheofficial and hear new music constantly.

Mike: Are you local to the area? Where are you from?

Ryan James: Im originally from Akron, Ohio, but I’m living in Soledad, CA. I’ve met some great people here though, and as much as I miss my city. I wouldn’t trade this experience for anything.

Mike: Is there anyone you would like to thank for their help and/or support over the years?

Ryan James: Just all the people that have doubted me… THANK YOU! And of course my closest, M3, C.B., Mike, Jay, Klass, D, Castro, all the people that have been around me and kept everything real with me… and to H.E.R.

Mike: Any last words?

Ryan James: Hit up the myspace and let me know wahtever your thoughts are. also for some really dope music go to http://www.blackdynasty4life.com/

A big thanks to August Sky for donating 9 of their CDs to benefit SalinasRadio.com and a local non-profit! We have decided that 50% of the profits will go to the Food Bank for Monterey County.

For every donation to SalinasRadio.com of $10 or more (while supplies last) you will receive a free August Sky CD, and 50% of the proceeds will be donated to the Food Bank for Monterey County! Please email Mike@SalinasRadio.com for more information and to donate.