About us
Since 1985, KUVO – an independent, public radio station – has provided a rare blend of music and news. We broadcast the very best in jazz, Latin jazz, and blues in addition to seventeen locally produced, culturally diverse programs. Our mission is to provide distinctive music, news, and informational programming reflecting the values and cultural diversity of our listener community. Thanks to the free KUVO app and the ability to stream the station live, KUVO has a worldwide listener community!
We frequently feature live broadcasts of national touring artists as well as local musicians and students from our Bonfils-Stanton Foundation Performance Studio and broadcast remotely from concerts, festivals, and community events.
Our story
In 1982, Hugo Morales and Marc Hand from Western Community Bilingual Radio urged a handful of community members, none of whom had any experience with media, to create a Spanish-language public radio station.
KUVO – pronounced q-vo, slang for Spanish que hubo or “what’s happening?” – became the call letters for 89.3 fm.
Funded through grants, by 1983 a project director, Flo Hernández-Ramos, and a technical coordinator, Nan Rubin, were on board. Mercedes Hernández, the volunteer Program Director trained herself and the on-air volunteers. Veronica Gallegos and other volunteers created studios using egg cartons as acoustic material. Dolores Atencio volunteered to raise funding for KUVO while its Board of Directors, first headed by Adrienne Benavidez and then Ken Salazar, created policy for the new station.
Besides one full-time staff, the station was entirely volunteer-run at its inception. Volunteer DJs played donated records from their personal collections and local music shops.
The vision of a Spanish-language KUVO changed when market research revealed that 85% of Latinos in the Denver-metro area did not speak Spanish and felt jazz was missing from the airwaves. The English language and new music format made the station accessible to multicultural audiences. But it did not change the responsibility to operate KUVO, a powerful media outlet, for the benefit of underserved communities and non-profit organizations.
To establish KUVO, volunteers hosted fundraising events like the Adopt-a-Watt program, Zoot Suit Party, Mercado Mexicano de Navidad, Break-a-thon and the Imágenes Art Exhibit.
Even before KUVO began broadcasting, its innovative special events and mission received awards from Women In Communications, Downtown Denver Partnership, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, Catholic Charities and the Denver Foundation. The founders never dreamed that KUVO would be recognized by various organizations as Best Jazz Station nationally and internationally and be inducted into the Colorado Music Hall of Fame as well as the Chicano Music Hall of Fame.
Political, community and media leaders like Mayor Federico Peña, Senator Polly Baca, Senator Tim Wirth, Representative Patricia Schroeder, Beverly Martinez, Jeanne Olguin, Richard Castro and Norm Early participated in efforts to establish KUVO.
Everyone’s hard work paid off when KUVO, after 22 months of fundraising and organizing, signed on the air August 29, 1985 at 7:00 PM with a mix of fusion jazz, salsa, blues and informational programs! KUVO’s first broadcast was dedicated to Rubén Salazar, a journalist killed by police during the 1970 National Chicano Moratorium.
Mission
Why we exist
Rocky Mountain Public Media exists to strengthen the civic fabric of Colorado through public media.
Vision
Where we are headed
A Colorado where everyone feels seen and heard.
Core Values
How we deliver
Building cultural bridges:
We believe in celebrating other cultures and traditions different from our own to have cross cultural communication.
Culture is something everybody has:
We recognize that everybody views the world from their own cultural lens that may differ depending on one’s culture
Actively engage multiple perspectives:
We believe in the importance of bringing all perspectives to the table.
Co-responsibility:
We believe in moving past self-interests and embracing community-building.
Head, Heart, Hands, Healing:
We approach everything with our heads, hands and heart to help heal.
Meet the team
Get to know our staff members
Community impact report
Take a look at Rocky Mountain Public Media's impact report for 2023.
Discover more
Rocky Mountain Public Media (RMPM) is Colorado's leading public media organization, dedicated to strengthening the civic fabric of our communities. As the umbrella entity for Rocky Mountain PBS, KUVO Jazz, and The Drop, RMPM provides a diverse range of informative and entertaining content across television, radio, and digital platforms. With a commitment to education, culture, and public affairs, RMPM serves as a vital community resource, fostering engagement, promoting understanding, and connecting Coloradans to the world around them and to one another.
KUVO Jazz broadcasts a rich mix of traditional and contemporary jazz, blues, and Latin jazz, KUVO is dedicated to promoting the vibrant culture and history of jazz. Serving as both a platform for established artists and a spotlight for emerging talent, KUVO Jazz goes beyond the airwaves, engaging the community with live performances, artist interviews, and educational initiatives.
The Drop is Denver's premier station for R&B and Hip Hop. Known as 'The People's Station,' The Drop delivers a mix of timeless classics and today's top hits. Beyond its musical offerings, The Drop is a vibrant community connector, promoting local engagement and celebrating the diverse tapestry of culture and arts in the region.
Rocky Mountain PBS (RMPBS) delivers thought-provoking documentaries, local news coverage, educational children's programming, and a curated selection of national and international shows. Dedicated to fostering a well-informed and connected community, RMPBS goes beyond broadcasting, offering digital resources, community events, and initiatives that inspire, educate, and engage audiences of all ages.
Want to support our station?
Join the growing family of people who believe that music is essential to our community. Your donation supports the work we do, the programs you count on, and the events you enjoy.
