Happy Smooth-iversary, Allen Kepler!
• Allen Kepler, Founder of the Smooth Jazz Network, tells the story of how “smooth jazz” came to be in an interview looking back on his 40-year career.
Kepler was involved in the think tank that created the term “Smooth Jazz” for the legendary WNUA/Chicago back in the ’80s. Soon after, he created the Smooth Jazz Network consultancy which launched dozens of Smooth Jazz branded radio stations across the US. In 2007 he created the first countdown show for the format, currently heard on dozens of radio stations and streams around the world.
Kepler said, “Every time I see the phrase ‘Smooth Jazz,’ whether it is in a social media group, a concert series, a cruise or a hotel in Manila promoting a smooth jazz night, I am proud of what we created back in the day. There has never been more high-quality music out there in this genre, and our network now provides the music for dozens of radio stations and streams around the world.”
Read Kepler’s full interview, including more on how the name came to be, in the company’s BEATS magazine HERE, or email for a text-only copy.
Kepler’s company would also like to take the opportunity to announce that the two-hour shows Smooth Jazz Top 20 Countdown® with Allen Kepler, Smooth Jazz Weekend, and Smooth Jazz Classics are now available to stations at no cost / no barter. Find out more at smoothjazznetwork.com/shows, or contact Allen directly at allen@smoothjazznetwork.com.
