Anthony ‘Ijah’ Umi grew up in southern New Mexico singing in gospel and soul groups as a child and throughout college. Ijah was a pianist for the ENMU jazz ensemble, attended Berklee College of Music in Boston, played with AZA (reggae) for several years before starting his own band Iyah in 2006. Ijah composes his own music, including vocals, keyboards and percussion. He is retired from State government and has a Master’s degree in Social Work.

Ijah founded and is currently co-host of the Iyah Music show (reggae) on KUNM at the University of New Mexico. He started Soul Notes (an eclectic mix of soulful music, including R&B, Gospel, Jazz, Hip-Hop, World Beat and more) at KSFR in 1999.

For Ijah, radio is an “ear-audio” experience that moves the soul in a different way from a visual experience. In his words, “I love music that is entertaining and message music that expresses the deeper truths or meaning of life.” He enjoys the creative flexibility allowed at KSFR and is grateful to be able to share his Southern NM soul roots to Northern New Mexico.

I am Desiree Mays, producer of Yoga Moments on Fridays just before 5pm and Sundays just before 8am. The idea for Yoga Moments is to provide a quiet two minutes in busy times to relieve stress and provide a little food for thought.  My readings and books  come to me and cover all faiths and philosophies  from the Dalai Lama to Yoga for Chickens (visualize meditating standing on one leg, chicken-style - Tree pose for those in the know).
I produced CenterStage for years for KSFR, an interview format with music speaking to classical music people. Now I talk about the Santa Fe operas on Radio Cafe with Mary-Charlotte in the spring and summer months. Radio is fun, informative and sometimes uplifting.

Bruce Taylor Hamilton (aka "Uncle Homey" or "Joe Bob Biscuit")

I joined KSFR about 15 months ago. It came about because of my teaching indoor cycling at clubs around Santa Fe where I build class playlists from all types of musical sources (blues, jazz, pop, Arabic, north African, Brazilian, even some classical, among others). Because of the popularity of my playlists, it was suggested that I try to find a slot at KSFR to play the many kinds of music I use. I did so, and have savored doing my show ever since.

Part of my interest in music come from a traumatic personal cessation of early musical lessons, which has led to a life-long desire to always be involved with music.

I seem to be able to find great music, or at least interesting music, within almost any musical genre. As a result, I have tapped dozens of different types of music and used them both in my classes and my show. 

I am retired, but for nearly forty years I worked in publishing; as an editor, book designer, director of a press, and judge of many book design contests. The editing and designing of a book has much in common with the process of creating music—if it has flow when years of experience and a clear idea of where you wish to go are seen or heard in the final result.

I was lucky enough to be reared by two music lovers, and, even as an infant, taken to concerts (both jazz and classical) that imbued me with an inclination to the depths of music. Don’t even ask me how many concerts and performances I have seen, those were gifts I gave myself.

I find it fascinating the process of “building” a show. To date, all of my programs have been theme shows, and the process of creating a flow within that theme and timing it in such a way that, even with my commentary (which I spend a great deal of effort in creating), the show fits neatly between station breaks.

Ron Hale was born in Mexico and has lived in New Mexico for over 30 years.  Ron has been doing radio since the 1960s—first at WRSN in Swarthmore, PA, then at WGDR in Plainfield, VT, and then in New Mexico at KUNM in Albuquerque and KSFR in Santa Fe, where he is part of the Acoustic Explorations team of DJ’s.  Ron has been involved with folk, bluegrass, and traditional country music since high school and college, playing guitar and singing in a number of acoustic bands—currently with the Atomic Grass bluegrass band (with fellow KSFR DJ Phil Vergamini).  Ron has a strong interest in the history of traditional American country music and in how that history is reflected and expressed in contemporary culture and music.  In his other life, Ron has worked for many years as a consultant to non-profit organizations, primarily in health and human services.  He also serves on the boards of several non-profits, including as president of Outside In, which brings music and performing arts into institutional settings and produces the Santa Fe Bandstand concerts on the Plaza each summer.

Ron was involved in the very early meetings in Santa Fe that eventually led to the establishment of KSFR as the city’s first and only public radio station.  He has been doing Acoustic Explorations for a number of years, since the departure of the show’s founder, Peter Nathanson, who moved away from Santa Fe.  Ron believes that public radio is a powerful means of enriching our lives, keeping us informed, and building a strong and vibrant community.

With more than a decade of experience in the world of communication Tara joined the KSFR on-air family in June of 2009 with the launch of Indigenous Foundation. She has worked as a broadcaster, newspaper reporter, photographer and documentarian across the country. She currently is a part of the live national radio show Native America Calling. 

Each Saturday from 1-3 p.m. (Mountain Time) Tara helps to unleash Indigenous Music from all over Turtle Island and beyond. Her show, INDIGENOUS FOUNDATION is where the music is the foundation of any conversation. 

"We’re lending an ear to the Indigenous music that shapes our world through thoughts, words and sounds. It’s a take on the music Indigenous Peoples are making, listening and connecting to including the beats of traditional, contemporary and independent music. It's everything under the sun with personal reflections by Indigenous musicians, actors, artists and the boys and girls next door who love and just can’t get enough of those Indigenous beats."  -- Tara Gatewood