It’s indeed a sad day when a local landmark shuts its doors forever. I remember KDB playing its plaintive, lush, and very Santa Barbara masterpieces on my mother’s radio when we first resided in this town 62 years ago.
When I returned more than a decade and a half later, I distinctly remember the Fiesta programming featuring gems from the Latino world, something not often heard on gringo music stations at that time. It was also quite a hoot to hear the Cisco Kid-like announcer brushing us all up on forgotten lore from Santa Barbara history. In the early ’70s, I could always count on the new KDB classical lineup to introduce us to the best compositions and composers from Spain, Brazil, Mexico, and South America.
Alas, all of this is lost as the computer-generated programming of classical giant KUSC, with its endlessly chatting, self-promoting deejays, has taken over. Gone forever are the days when KDB DJ Richard Bickle would just modestly name the tune and let it play in all its uninterrupted glory. Thank you, KDB. It’s been almost too good to know you.