For radio enthusiasts of a certain age, the sounds emanating from the transistor used to actually be wildly enjoyable and mind-expanding, miles away from the programmed pablum that multinational conglomerates spoonfeed the masses today. DJs used to have a say in what got played on the publicly owned (yeah, right) airwaves, which made sense, considering they were actually music fans looking for the next great thing (as opposed to the next big, moneymaking thing, determined by which major record label had the most cash to spend to ensure it). Thank God, then, for KXCI, which represents the last bastion of such a notion. And thank God for Kidd Squidd, whose Mystery Jukebox program airs from 2 to 5 p.m. each Saturday afternoon at 91.3 FM on your radio dial. All of the DJs at the station have your best interest in mind (i.e. turning you onto stuff you likely wouldn't hear otherwise and not getting paid for their efforts), but no one is more excited about the notion than the Kidd. He's there for you, week after week, with a unifying theme for each show that is obviously well thought-out, not only filling your ears with a heady dose of the finest music ever recorded, but also filling the space that lies between your ears with the minutiae-both historical and personal-that makes you appreciate it all the more. Kidd Squidd is a true radio personality the likes of which is, sadly, a dying breed. He's a true Tucson treasure who should not be taken for granted.
Runners up:
2. Frank, KFMA 92.1 FM
3. Johnjay and Rich, KRQQ 93.7 FM