Dennis Constantine

Dennis Constantine was the founding program director of KBCO and one of the architects of the station’s Colorado-centered approach to album radio. After working mornings at Denver’s KBPI, Constantine was recruited by Bob Greenlee while Greenlee was acquiring Boulder FM station KRNW.

Constantine worked air shifts on KADE while waiting for FCC approval of the FM purchase and developed the new station’s musical concept with KADE program director Randy Morrison. On June 2, 1977, KBCO began broadcasting from Lee Hill. Constantine’s account says the KBCO calls represented Boulder, Colorado; his first song on the new station was James Taylor’s “Handy Man.”

The format combined singer-songwriters, roots music, album rock and Colorado artists and helped establish the programming philosophy later associated with Adult Album Alternative radio.

Sources: Dennis Constantine — The Story Behind KBCO’s Beginnings; Broadcast Pioneers of Colorado — Dennis Constantine; Colorado Music Hall of Fame — KBCO.