Danny Morris

The Big Surf Show (Dawn Patrol)

Danny Morris took the blues to the beach. But while strolling the shoreline, the former Nighthawk guitarist picked up a few more genres. Morris incorporates some ska, jazz, flamenco, samba, and 1950s rock into his surf-rock sound. Morris developed his R&B chops in Greensboro in the '80s. Then in 1990 he joined the 'World's Best Bar Band' The Nighthawks based in Washington, DC. Band leader, and world renowned harmonica player Mark Wenner had been looking for a guitarist to replace original guitarist Jimmy Thackery, who left in 1987. In 1993 The Nighthawks recorded one of their stellar live performances and the result was the critically acclaimed CD 'Rock This House' which features Danny's amazing guitar virtuosity ranging from blues, funk, jazz, and rockabilly. The CD was the follow up for the 1991 release TROUBLE. In 1995, Morris decided that he needed more hang time and went out on his own band. The guitarist started his namesake band as a side-project while still with the Hawks, playing around the Virginia/DC area whenever he had time off. The trio was already stretching out from straight-ahead blues.

He released his first album in 1996. “I Won't Worry” was a mix of surf, jazz and old-school rock and roll. Two years later, he came out with 'Storm Surge', pushing the envelope even further, bringing onboard a couple of Cuban mixes to add to his now-familiar fusion of blues and surf. Both received high praises from music critics and fans alike.His 2001 release, 'The Golden Prize', mixes ska ('No One Knows Virginia'), samba ('You're Mine', 'Our Moon') and 1950s era rock ('Twistin' Kristin') with surf classics like 'I Only Have Eyes For You' and 'Pipeline'. Morris even throws in a little soft-core punk with 'All I Think About'. The Beatles get a turn in 'Please, Please Me' done as an instrumental with Dick Dale flourishes. Morris finally gets down and dirty with some nasty blues on the closer, 'Stop Teasin' Me', ripping off some pretty tasty, nasty, greasy Texas-style slide with Jimmy Thackery and the Drivers while sax man Jimmy Carpenter blows a sack full of back alley bump and grind. Phil Dirt of Reverb Central says, 'Surf instros lay side by side with soft blues and roots music, and the combo works well. The Danny Morris Band has found a groove that transcends several genre boundaries in a natural and friendly way. An excellent album, especially the opening instro 'Flight School', Danny can play guitar!' In 2002, Danny moved to Orlando, Florida to learn the ins and outs of recording studio technology at Full Sail College. In 2003, he earned a degree in Audio Engineering, receiving top honors in several courses, including earning a Pro Tools Certification specializing in audio post-production. Upon graduation Danny worked at Orlando’s Sound-O-Rama post-production studio where his main duties were audio editing, sound design and music composition, among others. But late in 2003, the lure of music and travel were calling again. Now based in the 'small wave capitol of the east coast', Danny and the band are steadily performing and touring once again throughout the US, Canada and Caribbean. Playing venues of all sorts; from The Marie Becker Longboard Surf Contest in New Jersey; to The Dinosaur BBQ and Blues Club in New York; to The Green Parrot in Key West; to The Hull Bay Surf Club in St. Thomas, Danny plays to a loyal and dedicated fan base that is excited and eager to catch the band whenever possible. In addition to the Live DVD, an all new CD will be released early 2008. Fans can check 'em out online at the band's website www.dannymorrisband.com. With veteran musicians Mike Tolnay on bass and Frank Hetlzer on drums, the band is more rockin' than ever and Danny is poised to be THE guitarist's guitarist and performer's performer you’ll want to hip yourself to.

Jeanne Kelly

Blues with a Twist

Hello. I’m Jeanne Kelly, your host for Blues With A Twist. I got interested in the blues thanks to the Florida Cultural Alliance. This organization provides motivation for teachers to go into the classroom and study something new; lest a teacher might forget what it’s like to be the student. In 1997, when I was in a blue period of my life, I accepted an invitation from the Florida Center for Teachers to take a class at the University of Tampa. About thirty of us moved into the dorm for a week and got ready to “Wake Up to the Blues.” Our instructor, Maria Versperi, told us there would be no tests, beer and wine were encouraged and we’d be spending most of our time visiting musicians. We listened to their music and heard griots spin tales of roots and influences. By the end of the week, my classmates were calling me Boston Bean Kelly and I was hooked.

WFIT became my source for more. Religiously, I tuned into Mr. Z, Brother Frank, Father Jay and Chip Myles. Ice Chip became my mentor and I thank him from the bottom of my soul. I’m not a musician and I can’t carry a tune in a bucket. I just play what sounds good to me. Fortunately for the listening audience, my blues brothers, have turned me on to some mighty fine artists and inspired me along the way.

I teach at Gemini Elementary School in Melbourne Beach and work with those students who need a little extra help. Coming from a family of nine, in Raynham, Massachusetts, I always knew I wanted to be a teacher. Teaching is my first love and now I’m having an affair with the blues. ~Jeanne

DJ Joni-O

The Stray Cat Lounge

Born: Gainesville, Florida

Sign: Cusp Cancer-Leo

Cats: Haley (b.2001), Olivia (b.2005), Nikki (1986-2001), Tei-Tei (1987-2004)

Cities lived: Melbourne, Orlando, Gainesville, West Palm Beach, New York City

Countries visited: Portugal, Australia, Germany, Austria

Record Stores worked: Tower Records, Trump Plaza, 57th Street, NYC (1997-1999); Tower Records, 66th & Broadway, NYC (1993-1996); Peaches Records in West Palm Beach, FL (1983-1985);

The DJ Gigs: The Stray Cat Lounge on WFIT (Premiere November 21, 2004 to present); World Beat on WFIT (1988-1992); Man Ray’s, NYC; Soul House; Orlando Cares Aids Event (1990); Judy’s (Liza Minnelli gave me my Greencard) Private Party in CT;

Some Professional Credits: Premiere at Tribecca Film Center of a video production I produced for The City of New York; Recipent of National Telly Awards for Live Wire I and II, Key To The City and Job Site, as Producer for Crosswalks Television, NYC; Recipient of National Media Owl Award for Best Community Video as Co-Producer of Citizen Senior, CWX-TV, NYC; Sound Engineer gig for Off-Broadway show, Dando Bohica;; Stage Manager for Brevard Talent Group annual showcase, Melbourne; FL; Assistant Stage Manager for a production at the Surfside Playhouse, Cocoa Beach, FL; Former Secretary of Space Coast Chapter of Florida Motion Picture and Television Association; Received Silver Medal Award for Best Campaign as Art Director for Jim Rathmann Chevrolet and Florida Today from the Southern Classified Advertising Managers Association (SCAMA)

Ian Porter

Ras-I-Radio

Ras-I-Radio? What on earth is Ras-I-Radio? Ras-I-Radio and its host RasI'an'I (Ian Porter) seek to take you on a unique journey of musical sensations and experiences every Tuesday evening at 10 p.m. Breaking out of most musical molds, the music seeks to uplift the soul and expand the mind with its various and expanding parameters and formats. Sometimes jazzy, sometimes funky, sometimes straight ahead rock'n'roll, sometimes all of the above at once. Throw in some psychadelia from past and present with some solid cultural reggae and you have a potent stew for mind and body

Just the way your host likes it. Like the music itself, Ian's background is a varied tapestry of experiences and cultural influences. Hailing originally from the Great White North (Toronto, Canada) but now relocated here to Melbourne since '99, Ian seeks to share the best from the spheres of musical improvisation with this community --and the world at large over the web. One Love, eh!

Bill Stuart

Folk, Bluegrass and More!

Brother Frank

Saturday Blues

and

It's All the Blues

Father Jay

Saturday Blues

and

It's All the Blues

Anselmo Baldonado

On the Latin Side

Bill Carrigan

Classics for a Sunday

Bill Carrigan is host of Classics for a Sunday Evening.  You can hear the beautiful music presented by Bill from 6pm-9pm, on Sunday evenings, of course. As you will see, beautiful music has always been a part of Bill's life.

Bill was born in Shreveport, LA, and attended school there through high school graduation.  And so his musical career began while he was still in high school~

*Contrabassoonist, Louisiana All-State Band 1953

*Principal Bassoonist, Louisiana All-State Orchestra 1954

*Played Oboe, English Horn, Bassoon and Contrabassoon with Shreveport Symphony 1953-1955

Eric Incognito

Future Echoes

Eric Incognito may not be the Voice of the Future...but he IS the voice behind "Future Echoes", airing Sunday nights from 9 PM until Midnight. While his show has moved around a bit, (from Friday to Tuesday to Wednesday to Saturday mornings and then Saturday evenings to Sunday nights) Eric has been stalwart in his commitment to WFIT. Thanks to Eric, "Future Echoes" provides listeners with a “cornucopia of sounds” from acoustic to electronica, all with a worldbeat influence.

Born in Italy to a Navy man and his wife, Eric has lived in Illinois and New Mexico, but was mostly raised in upstate NY and Norfolk, VA. He moved to Clearwater, FL in 1971 with his family to be near his grandparents who lived in St. Petersburg. He met and married his wife, Laura, in St. Petersburg and their sons, Brad and Evan, were born in Pinellas County. In 1989, Eric left Clearwater to accept a position with the City of Melbourne.

Leaving behind a good radio station and newspaper (and preferring to listen/talk rather than write), Eric began as a volunteer with WFIT in 1990. With no thoughts or desires to host a radio program, he was content to open, preview and categorize the incoming releases. After being tutored by "The Agent" on the fine art of operating our "Studio A" equipment, Eric was asked to cover for "Blockhead", another morning DJ in 1991. Thus, "Future Echoes" was born.......

Eric, his wife and youngest son, Evan, live in Palm Bay. His oldest son, Brad, graduated from UCF in 2006 with a degree in Business Marketing and is presently working in Charlotte, NC.

Mark Fluet

Roots Reggae

Reverend Billy

Revival

Do you have a question for Reverend Billy?
Do you like what you're hearing?
Visit: http://www.reverendbilly.com/
Do you have a request?
Send Reverend Billy an email at revbillymail@aol.com
BE HEALED!!!

Sonny Marble

Music at Dusk

***coming soon***

Jack Simpson

Jazz on the Beach

Excerpt from: An Ear for Jazz, an Eye For Lorraine, by Joan Bixby

Jazz records, tapes, books, videos, CDs, posters and other paraphernalia line the walls of two rooms of Jack and Lorraine Simpson's cozy home. Autographed photos of Count Basie, Eddie Lockjaw Davis, Wynton Marsalis, Dizzy Gillespie, Buddy de Franco and other jazz greats smile down from the walls. Simpson points to a framed 78-rpm record, a classic 1937 Benny Carter and Coleman Hawkins recording, explaining that this was the first jazz record he ever purchased.

Rich Gangi

Straight with a Chaser

Stevie Lee

Body and Soul

Cool & sophisticated Stevie Lee is one of the station's most popular DJs. Stevie has been bringing listeners a cool blend of straight-ahead jazz for over 11 years. But who is that lady behind the mike, you may ask?

Stevie is a full-time systems engineer at Northrup Grumman. She's also a realtor extraordinaire, showing homes to lucky folks drawing on her expertise. She enjoys technology. She enjoys working with people. The two jobs really do complement each other. And in her other "spare time," Stevie is working on a master's degree in Systems Engineering, has run in 2 full marathons and 3 half marathons, and she is the president of her condominium association.

How does she do it all? She gets up early and stays up late; she works at being methodical and organized; she's energized from workouts; eats out a lot and doesn't obsess over housework.

We are thrilled Stevie finds time to squeeze WFIT into her busy routine. I don't know how she does it - but we're very glad that she does.

Blair Clark

C'est la Vie

I was born in Charleston South Carolina 1953, and was raised in San Diego California. Music from my earliest memory was a comfort and a joy, from my Fathers country music, to my Mothers Big Band, Hawaiian, and Celtic music! The only musical instrument I was ever really good at was the accordion; at 14 years old I played Polkas live for about a year and a half. At the age of 16 I went to my first rock concert to see Alvin Lee & Ten Years After, I hitchhiked 20 miles in the rain to see them and was not disappointed! At 25 I met Pete Fisher & sailed with him on his 35ft.Tri-moran without a motor from San Diego down along the coast of Central America, through the Panama Canal around the Caribbean, ending up in Jamaica a year later. It was 1978–79 and that trip changed my musical, political, and spiritual outlook forever! In 1980 I went to work for Arco Marine out of Long Beach California, Sailing on Oil Tankers all over the world. I did this until 1986. This was when I started listening to artists from record labels like Green Linnet & Windom Hill, also Jazz from Cannonball Aderley to the Rippingtons!

I moved to Melbourne to take care of my mother in 1987, and in 1990 I became a volunteer with WFIT. My intern radio show was a 3am to 6am open format for what I called the substance impaired of Sunday mornings, I played what ever they wanted for about 4 months and they were happy. That was the only program I have had that I didn’t do live interviews and performances of local artists, and that was because it started at 3am in the morning! Next I put together a show on Thursday nights from 9pm to 12 mid-night that was called The Grassroots Celebration. It was a Folk, Bluegrass; Cajun & Zydeco show that ran for three and a half years. Then I did a light & straight ahead Jazz show called Jazz Matinee on Saturday afternoons for a year, but that didn’t workout. So I did a Blues show on WMEL AM Radio for a year, and it was called Blues Time. I did over 40 interviews with national Blues acts that year! I took a few years off and then came back to WFIT to produce C’est La Vie in June of 1999. It has been a challenge, I have learned so very much, and I have loved sharing the music with you. Moral is you don’t have to have travel the world, or have an appreciation for all music to do a world music program. But it doesn’t hurt!

Rob Killam

Celtic Tapestry

Todd Gross

The Shuffle

Court Lewis

American Variety Radio

All my life people have asked me, "Are you in broadcasting? You really sound like it!"� I'd usually answer, "No, but maybe I missed my calling!"� A few years back I suddenly got a chance to see what it would be like to do radio when my friend John Harper, owner of WMEL-AM920, said the same thing and then actually offered me a time-slot to do a show! So I plunged in and have been having a great time ever since.

American Variety Radio first aired as a weekly talk show on WMEL in February 2004. After more than 3 years on the AM airwaves across Central Florida, the show joined WFIT's program lineup in June 2007. As its name implies, American Variety is an eclectic show. I describe its theme as "...an anti-theme: Anything but politics!"� Guests on American Variety include a fascinating mix of explorers, scientists, astronauts, inventors, artists, writers, entrepreneurs"”all people who seem to have one thing in common: They followed their dream, no matter how unlikely or unattainable it might have seemed, and succeeded. I'm a third-generation Miamian whose "day job"� is management consulting and communications for large scientific research programs run by federal agencies in Washington, DC. I've lived on the Space Coast since 1989 and commute a few days a month to my office in DC. I have a wide range of interests, and the show feeds my habit. But the really great thing about hosting the show has been the huge number of interesting people I've been able to meet from all walks of life. I didn't think about that, going in, but it has turned out to be the most rewarding part of the job!

My own dream for the show is to expand it to other NPR-affiliate stations around Florida and eventually into nationwide syndication, if I'm lucky enough and good enough. It will take work and determination. Stay tuned and see how I do!