Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Kansas City-born former U.S. Congressman and Los Angeles jazz radio personality David Dreier.
A sixth-generation Kansas Citian, David's love of jazz began when he was just seven years old. His father introduced him to Kansas City's rich jazz heritage and took him to see the legendary Count Basie. During the concert, Basie introduced a tune as “April in Kansas City”—and it took David a while to discover that the song was actually “April in Paris.” It's a memorable story that captures the humor, history, and magic of a lifelong connection to jazz.
David's musical roots run deep. His mother was a classical concert pianist, and at just 12 years old, he obtained his third-class FCC radio operator license and began broadcasting jazz from a small transmitter in his basement. Even then, he dreamed of one day working in radio.
His life took a different path first. David served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1981 to 2013, representing California through a long career in American politics. After decades of public service, he finally realized his childhood dream of becoming a jazz radio host.
Today, he brings that passion to “David Dreier: KC to KJazz,” his show on Los Angeles' K-Jazz, connecting his Kansas City roots with the music and artists he has loved for a lifetime.
In this wide-ranging conversation, we explore Kansas City's jazz legacy, the influence of Count Basie, David's unusual journey from politics to radio, and the enduring power of music to shape a life.
🌐 More David Dreier — K-Jazz host biography:
https://www.kkjz.org/mobile/programming/hosts/bios/?id=89
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