Here's a collection of radio specials and interviews I've done over the years.

It all started back in the 1980s. I had been collecting audio tapes of Hendrix for a few years, and had read that KPFA (listener sponsored radio in Berkeley) did annual Hendrix tributes. I gathered up a shoe box of some my best recordings and headed down to the station. When I arrived, it happened to be the same day they were planning a 12-hour Hendrix marathon (the station was very open back then). After getting to know everyone (David Henderson, Barri Scott, and Craig Street), it turned into an annual event.

I then approached KFOG (San Francisco). They were a fairly new commercial rock station and had a wild open-format slot called "The Sunday Night Idiot Show," hosted by M.Dung. Since the ratings for this time period were low, we could play anything. For a little over ten years, I would do two different Jimi Hendrix Bay Area radio shows around his birthday in November.

These were fun shows to do, and I hope you enjoy listening to them. I've removed all the music (had to), but the interviews and discussions remain intact. The podcasts are in MP3 format and compressed to 128k. Check back here often as I will be adding new shows.

Steven Roby

KFOG 104.5 FM, San Fransisco, 1991
Notes: On this broadcast I'm joined by percussionist Juma Sultan. Juma had just moved to California from New York, and lived close by. We had just returned from Los Angeles where Hendrix had just received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. I was a little reluctant to mention it on the air, but Are You Experienced LTD was too cheap to pay the cost ($4,800) to have it installed. It took the Black Rock Coalition and Warner Bros. Records' efforts to make it happen. Juma and I discuss the event and Juma talks about what it was like to record and perform in concert with Hendrix. There's also an excerpt of Vernon Reid's speech at the WOF event. This recording was done in the studio. More KFOG podcasts coming soon! File size:17.4mb, Total time: 19:03.

KDBK 98.9 FM, San Francisco, 1992
Notes: This was my ninth Hendrix special with M. Dung. KFOG had just let Dung go, but he found a new home at KDBK. The Sunday Night Idiot Show tradition continued; open format, play what you want. On this broadcast, Straight Ahead was entering it's fifth year of publication. We were promoting a 50th Jimi Hendrix Birthday Bash concert which featured Wavy Gravy, Billy Cox (via video tape message), a premiere for the video Jimi Hendrix: Woodstock,  and live music from Rosa Lee Brooks, and Juma Sultan. I gave away two tickets to the event to the first caller who correctly answered the trivia question. The first few seconds of the recording are warbled, but quickly improve. KDBK did not survive, and Dung moved onto Sacramento.  This recording was done at the studio. File size: 18mb, Total time: 18:41.

KPFA 94.1 FM, Berkeley. 1992
Notes: Featured on this broadcast is a phone interview with engineer Eddie Kramer who discusses his new book Setting The Record Straight. Barri Scott asked some specific questions about Hendrix's business matters, but Kramer was reluctant to answer them. In the studio were Juma Sultan, Bari Scott (host), and yours truly. There's also an interview with Billy Cox which was featured in Straight Ahead. This was recorded off the radio so at times there's some static. More KPFA podcasts coming soon! File size: 21.2 mb. Total Time 23:09.

KPFA 94.1, Berkeley, 2007
Notes: Here's the latest Hendrix Birthday Tribute broadcast.  The link will take you to the KPFA page where you can listen to the two hour broadcast. It had been 10 years since I'd been in the studio. It's only a few blocks from where Jimi played in 1970.

Straight Ahead interview with Melody Jones - 1994
Notes: I conducted this interview in 1994 with pianist Melody Jones for our special issue on Seattle. When Jimi was a teenager, he and his father would do gardening work for her. Ms. Jones sheds light on what Jimi was like a young man; eager to learn more about music and the wild New York nightclubs Melody had played. "I wanted him to study music, but he didn't want to. I tried to explain to about basic chord structure, but he'd rather take a short cut and get there in a great big hurry. We'd really go at it." File size: 12 mb. Total time: 13:07

Jeff Day interview 1994
Notes: This interview was also part the special feature in the March 1994 issue of Straight Ahead. The article was titled "Seattle Speaks: Family and Friends Talk Jimi." Jeff Day: "Around the time I was 9 or 10, Jimi and I used to play for a junior football team called 'The Fighting Irish.' We used to practice down at Garfield playing field. The team was an all black team except for me. I was the only Irishman. The only guy with red hair. Jimi would play left end and I would play right end... File size: 2.6 mb. Total Time: 1:53

2002 interview with Steven Roby
Notes: I was interviewed on a nationally syndicated radio show during my book tour in 2002. The host actually played some of the material I discuss in my book, and I answered questions from callers. This is in the Real Audio format so you can't download, and you will need the Real Audio Player to listen. Total time 14:00.

Seattle Library Lecture September 19, 2008

I was invited to give a lecture in Jimi's home town of Seattle 38 years after his passing. Over 100 people attended and had many though provoking questions.