The importance of radio in the broadcast scheme of things is often overshadowed by television, but it should never be underestimated.
Television got most of the broadcast fame during last month's Winter Games. However, radio had a very critical function during the opening and closing ceremonies.
The FM frequency of 87.5 was apparently used to broadcast stage directions to performers and staff during both ceremonies and could be heard at least 10 miles away from the University of Utah.
Those who stumbled onto these broadcasts heard a lot of behind-the-scenes directions, so they knew what was coming up next.
ON-AIR WEDDING — Mark and Gayle Van Wagoner host a weekday KKDS radio (AM-1060) show each morning from the Little America Hotel. Gayle does a separate "Senior Care Advisors" program each Saturday morning from the hotel.
Last Saturday, David King, the president of Senior Care Advisors, married Sharon Bithel during this live radio show.
Mark and Gayle were the witnesses, and they invited 50 listeners to the wedding, too.
This was no stunt.
This was a real event, reminiscent of old-style radio, that only KKDS and a few others try to do anymore.
KBYU-FM (FM-89/89.5) will highlight the life and music of Utah composer Helen Taylor (1915-50) on Sunday at 1 p.m., as part of Women's History Month.
Taylor was a gifted composer and pianist from Salt Lake City whose life was cut short at age 34 in 1950 in a tragic automobile accident.
More than 50 years after her death, Taylor's works can now be heard on a CD, "Discovering Helen Taylor," on the Tantara Records label.
KBYU will also air "Fantasies and Delusions: The Classical Music of Billy Joel" on Tuesday, March 12, at 8 p.m.
SINGING DJ — Erica Hansen, co-host of the "Rockett" morning radio show on KISN (FM-97.1), is also an accomplished singer.
She has been invited to sing the national anthem in Sacramento on Sunday for the Kings-Pacers NBA game.
E-mail: lynn@desnews.com
