The Holdouts: West Coast’s oldest black radio station

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“It was an amazing day. Cold day. Cold day in our city of San Francisco!” exclaimed Lamont Bransford-Young during the introduction to his radio show.

“How was your day? Did you release anything today? Did you miss something?” Bransford-Young asked.

It was just the first of many interludes that Bransford-Young inserted into his four-hour dance-music show called “Finger Snap Salon” in early January.

Bransford-Young, also known as “DJ Lamont,” is one of the many DJs who volunteers for KPOO 89.5, one of the last black-owned radio stations in Northern California and the oldest on the West Coast.

The station, originally founded by the non-profit organization Poor People’s Radio Inc., is tucked away on Divisadero Street in West San Francisco. You would hardly notice it if you were just walking along the sidewalk.

But inside, KPOO’s DJs are busy spinning tunes and filling the city’s airwaves. Gospel, blues, hip-hop, disco, jazz and more sounds on the station.

Founded in 1971, KPOO remains true to what it was created to do in the first place: provide space and a voice for marginalized Bay Area communities. The station is 100% funded by listeners.

Bransford-Young said that as a young man he found solace and consolation in listening to the radio. He aims to provide the same for his listeners.

“I hope that what I do touches the spirit, the imagination, the heart, the time of someone, just like the radio has done to me in the past,” he said.

This story is part of The Standard’s The Holdouts video series. In it, we highlight longstanding local businesses, institutions and people that have stood the test of time. Any ideas for people or places that would fit in this series? Send us an email at [email protected]

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