“Bullet” Bob and “Hot Mustard” to pay tribute to their great love
By Tim Hernandez
sac-ranger@alamo.edu
KSYM 90.1 will be celebrating its 50th year on the air 6:30-11 p.m. Saturday at the Charline McCombs Empire Theatre.
The evening will include a presentation by “Bullet” Bob Flores that will cover the 50 years of KSYM history.
Following is a concert with James “Hot Mustard” Velten serving as master of ceremonies.
Local bands Mitch Webb and the Swindles, Los #3 Dinners, and Extreme Heat from Austin will provide the live entertainment.
Over its 50 years of existence, KSYM has presented opportunities to many students who aspired to a career in broadcast radio.
Among them are Sonny Melendrez, motivational speaker and radio personality, and Bobby Reyes of San Antonio radio and KEXL.
Velten spoke of his introduction to KSYM and his personal journey from working at a Valero gas station to his current position as a full-time employee in the radio-television-broadcasting program.
He said he knew in fall 2007, the college had a radio program but didn’t know it had a radio station.
“I saw the call letters on the side of Longwith and put two and two together and was curious,” Velten said.
Velten credits KSYM alumni Joey Palacios, the former program director now with Texas Public Radio, for connecting him with radio station personnel.
“Joey and I had Intro to Mass Communications with Markene Bennett together. One day he was talking about the radio experience course he was taking. I was sitting on a bench and he approached me. We started talking and we got to talking about KSYM.”
Talk eventually led to KSYM and in spring 2008, Velten enrolled in RTVB 1150, Radio Experience, the course Palacios had mentioned.
After that course, he applied with KSYM for a show of his own during summer 2008.
“In the Sauce with Hot Mustard” has been on the air at KSYM ever since with the exception of a one-semester hiatus it took in fall 2012. It is broadcast from 7-9 a.m. each weekday morning.
Palacios remains a loyal KSYM alum returning each year during pledge drive to help support the station that gave him his start.
The KSYM 90.1 50th party is first-come, first-served with free general admission.
For more information, call 210-486-1373.