About Us
We are musicians, broadcast professionals, web developers, businessmen and women, entrepreneurs and marketers. First and foremost, however, we are passionate about the excellent and abundant talent that is available right in our own neighborhood.
Our goal is to create a bridge between performing artists and the people who are hungry for new and unique musical entertainment. These are the same people who regularly visit coffee shops and other local venues in search of such talent. They are tired of the monotonous entertainment that is repetitiously served up by the mainstream media, and are desperately seeking new sounds and experiences they can relate with and enjoy as their own.
On the same front is the independent performing artist, who is seeking those individuals who appreciate his or her talent, but find it difficult to "get the word out" about that talent. Many of these individuals are working with limited resources, most of which is spent on performance or recording expenses, with little or no funding left over to adequately promote their talent.
At KC Café Radio, our goal is to bridge that gap between performer and consumer, using an approach we believe is not currently available. We accomplish that goal utilizing a combination of resources, including: an online streaming radio station; a website that acts as a resource listing of available talent in the region (an artist's showcase, if you will); a calendar of scheduled performances, and other services limited only by the imagination!
We envision this project as an ever evolving one – one that grows and expands as the needs of the independent performing artist and consumer grows.
We can't do it all ourselves, however! This effort requires the help and input from others who are also enthusiastic about this project. It requires participation on behalf of individuals who have talent and experience in the media, technical and business management fields. It requires participation on behalf of music enthusiasts who provide the input and feedback on what they value in a resource such as this. It also requires business resources, providing the support and financing of this project. And, most importantly, it requires the support and participation of the independent performing artist, who not only stands to gain the most from this resource, but is at the heart of what makes it possible.
We are a small group that has been throwing this idea around among ourselves for several years. We are musicians, broadcast professionals, web developers, businessmen and women, entrepreneurs and marketers. First and foremost, however, we are passionate about the excellent and abundant talent that is available right in our own neighborhood. We encourage you to join us on this quest to share this talent with the world!
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John Dutton
John also has a love for meterology, and hopes to go on a tornado chasing expedition someday.
Mark Riddle
Mark owns Effective Marketing Kansas City a consulting firm that helps local retail and service businesses create more profits Mark is also an accomplished composer of music, which started for him when he was in his teens. His works include creating original music for broadcast, video and audio production. His most recent project involved scoring the complete music soundtrack for a video production promoting a major health care product. |
Kathy Forste
Kathleen Coleman
Kathleen is somewhat of a creative person herself. She's always loved the arts and enjoyed growing up singing with her best friend. Before going to college at Central Missouri State University to major in Graphic Arts, she had aspired to be a musician. But as life happens, priorities change and she found her true calling in the customer service arena. With over 20 years of customer service experience with companies such as Ozarks Public Television, Sprint PCS, and Girl Scouts USA, Kathleen looks forward to putting this experience to use working with KC Cafe Radio Performing Artists. She has extensive experience troubleshooting and resolving issues with a motto of, "I'm the buck, and here's where it stops!" She says she looks forward to being a musician's advocate, where no issue is too small to resolve. |
When John built a low-power AM transmitter for his high school science fair project, he had no idea what he would be getting into. His first stint in "real" radio was at country station KLTI in Macon, Missouri, where he read news and hosted a weekly talk show. He later went on to work in Public Radio, at station KTBG in Warrensburg, Missouri, where he still serves as the local host of "Morning Edition." John is also host of a weekly classic country radio show on KAYQ in Warsaw, Missouri.
Mark possesses a unique mix of marketing, electronics and musical talents that complement the vision of the KC Café. He is a 1977 graduate of Missouri Institute of Technology. Since 1995, Mark has been involved in a number of Internet marketing projects, one of which reached over 150,000 members in 2000.
Kathy Forste graduated from Central Missouri State University with a degree in Broadcasting and Film and a minor in music. KC Café Internet Radio is a realization of her two passions, broadcasting and music. Kathy has worked in television and radio for the past 23 years in various capacities. The last twelve years she has been the Programming Coordinator for KMOS-TV (PBS) in Warrensburg, Missouri. Kathy’s passion for music began as a child. At the age of 13 she wrote her first “real song” and has been writing songs and playing guitar ever since. She started performing live about 15 years ago as a solo artist in Oklahoma. She has played everywhere from Seattle, Washington to the Bluebird Café in Nashville. Kathy has written, recorded and produced three CD’s, “Mojo Hum”, “Too Late For Regrets” and “Home Fires”. She now performs regularly in the Kansas City area with her band Swink.
The newest member of the KC Cafe Radio team, Kathleen Coleman says she "…is very excited to have this opportunity to work with the creative songwriters and musicians as the new Director of Artist Relations at KC Cafe Radio."