The KPBX family is mourning the loss of one of our long time producers.
Frank Delaney passed away on Sunday.
The 70 year old was the long-time producer of the Backwater Blues show, which he hosted from 1983 to 1990, and again from 2012 to the present. He also produced the Raw Bites computer program, which has been on the air since 1990.
His memorable intro to the blues program contained this reference to our former studios on North Monroe, the Hoban Building:
“Hi , from the second floor of the Hoban Building, overlooking the laundry mat with the clothes going around to the beat of the blues, this is the Backwater Blues show, on radio station KPBX FM 91, your public radio station for the Inland Empire”.
Ironically, Frank had not yet produced a new show when we moved into our new facility at Fire Station number 3, and so our memories of him will be forever locked with the old Hoban building.
Frank was also a blues musician in his own right, and loved the country blues producing four albums of his own performances. He is also known for journeying to the southern US and creating a biography of Bluesman Mississippi John Hurt.
You can find a short film on Youtube that Frank produced called “A Mississippi Journey”, along with several of his own performances of classic country blues songs.
Frank Delaney was one of our family and will be missed by staff and listeners alike.
