TIM OWENS
Executive Vice-President and General Manager
Tim is a veteran broadcaster, having spent over 20 years with National Public Radio in Washington, DC as an executive producer of cultural programming, and another eight years as the Director of Programming for WETA-FM, the DC areas classical and NPR News station. Over the years, Tim’s programs for NPR and WETA have garnered numerous awards including two Peabody’s, radio’s most distinguished honor. These award winning programs include “Jazz Alive” with pianist Dr. Billy Taylor, “Jazz Profiles” with singer Nancy Wilson, “Jazz Smithsonian” with Lena Horne, and the classical concert series “Music from Washington.” Tim continued to work with NPR after moving to Santa Barbara in 1997. He joined American Public Media in 2002 to create the network’s “Weekend America” weekly news magazine in Los Angeles. In 2004, he became the Executive Director of Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic in Santa Barbara. In February 2010, he joined the Santa Barbara Foundation as the head of KDB.
STEVE MURPHY
Morning Host
Steve joined the staff of KDB in January 2012. He is a 24-year radio veteran. Steve began at classical WFCC on Cape Cod in 1988, and then moved to nearby WQRC in 1990 where he played soft rock. In 1992, he moved to Boston's North Shore and worked at classical WBOQ (WBACH) as on-air host, production director, and operations manager. Steve left his New England roots in 1997 for a job as program director and on-air host at classical WFMR in Milwaukee and stayed until 2007. In 2008, he became a nationally syndicated morning host for the World Classical Network.
Steve is a trained singer, having studied voice at Westfield (Mass.) State University and New England Conservatory of Music in Boston. He was a member of the professional core of the Milwaukee Symphony Chorus for 13 seasons, and soloed on several occasions with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. Steve is an avowed sports junkie, and loves all the Boston sports teams, the Milwaukee Brewers, and Green Bay Packers.
BOB SCOTT
Program Director
After serving in WWII as a bomber pilot with the 8th Air Force in England, Bob returned to the University of Kentucky in Lexington, graduating in 1947. Augmenting income from the GI Bill, he began his broadcasting career at a Lexington radio station. Married, with one son, he took radio jobs in Jacksonville, FL and Nashville, TN. Seeking greater opportunity, he moved to Los Angeles in 1952 and took a sales job with KPOL, not yet on the air. Under his leadership as Program Director, KPOL became the number one rated radio station in the top radio market in the US. In 1971 he left KPOL and, with partners, acquired KDB, owning it until 2003 when it was purchased by the Santa Barbara Foundation.
ROBY SCOTT
Station & Sales Manager
Roby has been with KDB since 1971. He performs almost every non-music or announcing task at hand, including advertising sales and oversight of the day-to-day business. He is married with three daughters.
RICHARD BICKLE
Operations Manager
I started with KDB in 1999 when the station broadcast from its Micheltorena St location. Since KDB's move to Cota St. in 2003 my primary role has been to ensure our broadcast software does its part to bring classical music to the south coast. I also announce music and edit our listings for both this site and the free print version-the KDB Listeners' Guide. I'm also happy to make fresh coffee as needed.
My salad days were divided between Sycamore, Illinois, Fort Wayne, Indiana and Schenectady, New York. I graduated from Lake Forest College (Illinois) in 1980, spent the next ten years suffering the art of the professional kitchen, moved to the baker's oven for the 90's (fun!-but zzzzz) and finally settled on a vocation in classical music radio (my gourmandise received avocation status). Prime time heartthrobs include my wife Patti, my custom shop Fender guitar, tree-hugging and riding well maintained unmotorized two-wheelers (that's not me running that stop sign or chatting with someone in the middle of the road!). Cheers and stay tuned as KDB grows well into the 21st century!
CATHERINE REMAK
Afternoon Drive, Monday - Friday 4pm-7pm
KDB Pops concert host, Saturday's 6pm-7:30pm.
Raised in Santa Barbara, Catherine has over 20 years of on-air radio experience; from reporting and news anchoring to hosting various radio shows. Currently, she shares the co-hosting duties on weekday mornings with Gary on K-Lite. A champion of non-profits, Catherine is a frequent emcee at local events. Her passion with music began at Santa Barbara High School, where she sang in Madrigals under the direction of Phyllis Zimmerman. Catherine has been with KDB since October 2011.
JULIE SIMPSON
Sunday Night Host: 9-12pm
Julie has had a life-long romance with music. As a child in upstate New York, she enjoyed listening to her mom play classical piano and harmonized with her sisters as their dad tickled the ivories in heartfelt renditions of show tunes. She sang in church and school choirs, studied piano, voice and dance, and performed as a guitar-pickin' folksinger before moving to Santa Barbara after getting her BA in art in 1975. She has sung in several local choirs, most notably with the Santa Barbara Oratorio Chorale (as the Master Chorale was then named), with which she was also active as a marketer, board member and officer. She loves inviting people to musical and other cultural events; from 2002-2005 she was the voice of the KDB Cultural Calendar and you've surely heard her promoting our bus trips to the opera. She now hosts KDB's program for the voice: "Singing!" With her two children well grown, Julie enjoys life in Carpinteria with a couple of classic cats.
KAREN PELLAND
Interview & Features Producer
Karen Pelland grew up in McLean, VA and spent most of her life in the big cities back east. After spending her 20's wandering around corporate America, Karen finally discovered radio journalism in 1999. Most recently she worked as a public radio producer for WBUR in Boston, primarily for the nationally syndicated PRI show "Here & Now with Robin Young". She also spent several years living in New York City where she supplemented her waitressing and dog-sitting income with freelance public radio work for various NPR affiliates, non-profit consulting, book research, and even some documentary filmmaking. In desperate need of a change of scenery, Karen packed up her car and moved to Santa Barbara in November 2010, having previously been a frequent visitor here. Narrowly avoiding the worst Boston winter in recent history, it was the ninth time Karen has driven across the country (but who's counting?). Aside from radio and HBO dramas, Karen is quickly developing a vivid appreciation for classical music.