About KLZR

KLZR’s Mission Statement

To be a local, sustainable, interactive community radio station committed to reliable, informative, timely and entertaining programs for everyone living in the Wet Mountain Valley.

Support KLZR Volunteer

KLZR 91.7 FM

A 501(c)(3) non profit organization founded in 2004, KLZR, broadcasting from Westcliffe, Colorado at 91.7FM, serves the Wet Mountain Valley and beyond through our internet stream. One hundred percent community-powered with volunteers, KLZR provides musical programming 24/7, local concerts and other events throughout the year in our Valley.

Listener-supported, KLZR strives to create reliable, informative, and entertaining content for our listeners. We’re the Valley’s only local station broadcasting and we take seriously our mission to keep our local community not only entertained but informed about important and emergency news around weather, wildfires, public health and road conditions.

We strive to understand and represent the diversity of our community through both music and talk programs. The station maintains an extensive library of music of all kinds – over 50,000 songs – with a cadre of DJs who curate a unique mix of music for all interests. All of the station’s musical programming is controlled by our DJs who play what they love. Local programs reflect the interests, talent and activities going on in our community.

But our work is broader than broadcast. KLZR has a history of bringing unique live experiences to the Wet Mountain Valley – whether concerts with musical talent, or conversations with local leaders, creators and innovators. Through our events, volunteer program and community outreach we build community connections. Our High Peaks Music Festival is ten years old and brings the best of Colorado Americana to Westcliffe every fall. Rock ‘N’ Soul Jam, another all-day music affair gets ticket-buyers dancing in the park. And Taste of the Valley introduces KLZR supporters to the best in food and wine all in support of the station’s operations.

Just listen and you’ll understand how our local talent drives our uniquely rural western station.

Board of Directors

Wet Mountain Broadcasting Group

Don Pinnella

Don joined the KLZR board at the end of 2022. He has, however, been involved with theradio station for many years as a member of the planning and performer selectioncommittee for the High Peaks Music Festival. Don, with his band Dakota Blonde, hashosted the High Peaks Music Festival along with Smythe & Taylor since its beginning. Don comes from a large musical family and a diverse music background. This background speaks to his appreciation for many music genres and styles. He looks forward to expanding his involvement and contribution to KLZR as a board member.

Sandi Dalton

Sandi keeps us on the air. In her spare time she is active in the Sangre Art Guild, Wet Mountain Animal Welfare, and hosts the rockinest Rockin’ The Range, Wednesdays at 12 Noon.

TC Smythe

TC is a talented musician, gifted organizer, super person and KLZR is lucky to have her. If you’ve seen her in action, you know.

Gary Taylor

President Gary has soaked up music wherever he has lived, including Cleveland (rock, folk), Chicago (blues), New Orleans (Dixieland), Cincinnati (bluegrass) and Warsaw/Krakow (euro). In the tall shadow of Cleveland DJ “Moondog” Alan Freed, he was introduced to radio as a DJ for a schoolmate’s 1 watt (!) basement station in junior high. For KLZR he is pleased to host shows in folk, bluegrass, country and rock.

Kathy Blaha

Vice President

Kathy is currently Chair of the Membership and Community Outreach Committee where she has goals of increasing KLZR’s community connections. She moved to Westcliffe in 2003 and joined the Board of Directors in 2008 once again committing time and resources to her local community radio station as she has always done. “I’m proud and privileged to be a part of this great organization, one of the best things going in the Wet Mountain Valley.” She’s a local radio fan who believes that community radio is key to building and sustaining a vibrant community. Kathy also assists in planning for KLZR’s annual Taste of the Valley fundraising dinner. Her favorite KLZR program? That would have to be Jazz Café.

Bess Cole

Treasurer Bess was elected to our Board in early 2019. Bess moved to the Wet Mountain Valley in the summer of 2015 without any previous knowledge of KLZR radio or sponsored concerts, but soon felt quite at home with the wide variety of musical offerings. Some of her early musical influences were: as a child listening to classical music and broadway musicals, Camelot being a particular favorite, a live concert at John Terrell’s Music Circus with Peter, Paul and Mary under a tent in a field outside of Lambertville, New Jersey, and in college a second live concert with Ian and Sylvia in Rochester, New York. Since then, Bess has come to appreciate other musical genres like opera, bluegrass, zydeco and Celtic but folk remains my all time favorite much like many other Wet Mountain Valley residents of a certain generation. Bess joined the Board in January, 2019.

Annual Report

KLZR’s annual report is a yearly overview of what transpired in our studios to bring you the best programs on the air with the voices of your friends and neighbors and what happened in our community with events and services that brought value to you.

2017 Annual Report

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