Gordon Spencer To Sign Off Friday Jazz in the Afternoon

KIOS | By Mike Jacobs,

Published April 23, 2015 at 11:18 AM CDT

Gordon Spencer, who has hosted Jazz in the Afternoon on Fridays since October 2013, will host his final program on Friday April 23rd.

Spencer is leaving to focus on writing his memoir which will encompass a wide range of experiences including his years working in radio since the 1950's. While in New York , Spencer interviewed many jazz legends such as Billie Holiday, Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong to name just a few.

Spencer has had an appreciative and loyal following of listeners since he began hosting jazz on KIOS FM. His relaxed on air style and vast knowledge of jazz history kept the audience entertained each week as he explored the world of jazz. Birthday salutes to jazz greats or examining a classic jazz album from years gone by were some of the highlights of his weekly program.

We are sad to see Gordon leave, but look forward to seeing his memoir published including the many anecdotes he shared with staff here at KIOS of his years in broadcasting. We wish him well on his new project.

Mike Jacobs will take over the Friday time slot for Jazz In The Afternoon beginning Friday May 1.

Tune in for the final installment of Jazz in the Afternoon with Gordon Spencer on Friday, April 24th at 1pm on KIOS-FM.

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Mike Jacobs

Mike Jacobs has been with KIOS since 1988 while attending the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Mike began his career at KIOS working weekends acting as local host for NPR’s Weekend Edition. He also hosted Morning Edition from 1990-1996. Mike began hosting the weekly blues program “Blues in the Afternoon” in October 1994 and took on the responsibilities of jazz programming and maintaining the music library in 1996. He has held the position of Music Director since 2002. In addition to hosting “Jazz in the Afternoon” on Wednesdays and Thursdays, Mike also helps with assembling music for “Jazz From Studio One” hosted by the advanced radio students at the Omaha Public Schools Career Center. Mike is an Omaha native and graduated from Technical High School in 1984.

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Chris Cooke

Chris Cooke has been a voice on radio in Omaha since 1988. While at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, he studied radio broadcasting, history and religion. Working at KVNO-FM, Cooke hosted a weekend adventuresome jazz show on the station in addition to duties as an on-air announcer on overnights, weekends and holidays. He also worked at KBLZ (the then student-run radio station) as well as KYNE-TV, and The Gateway as a reporter.
In November 1992, Cooke signed on at KIOS-FM and has been there ever since. He has hosted the Tuesday and Thursday editions of Jazz in the Afternoon since 1996 and has also hosted Last Call since that year. A long time fan of jazz music, Cooke enjoys talking with the musicians who make jazz music. He has interviewed Horace Silver, Roy Haynes, Wayne Shorter, David Liebman, Airto Moreira, Jessica Williams and Karrin Allyson, to name a few. While not at the station Cooke maintains a web design consultancy business that has served a number of non-profit and music clients for over 20 years.

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