Michael Crockett

Host

, Sun 7pm - 10pm

What musical experience most set you on the path to a career in radio?

Hearing “Horizontes” on KUT when I was a Latin American Studies student at UT in the ‘70s. I befriended the DJ, John Wheat, took a radio production class, and was allowed to be a substitute host from time to time. This eventually led to me becoming the new host in 1988.

What’s your favorite Austin music experience so far?

It’s hard to pick just one, but what immediately comes to mind was bringing my favorite Brazilian musician, Milton Nascimento, to the Paramount Theater in 1982.

Why public rather than commercial radio?

I’m a curator and host of a show about Latin music, much of it, but not all of it, probably considered “ non-commercial”; i.e., you won’t hear much of it commercial Latin music stations, so I’m thankful to have had a home here at public radio KUT/KUTX for 30 years.

How do you spend your time when you’re not spinning records on the air?

For many years I have worked in various other aspects of the music business. More recently, I am semi-retired and like to spend my weekdays at our cabin in the Hill Country and taking occasional trips abroad, including annual trips to my wife’s home country, Colombia.

Finish the sentence: “Austin Music Is ….”

…more diverse as the population has become more diverse and I have tried to reflect that in the Latin and World music programming I have created at KUT/KUTX. We have a healthy Latin music scene here that has produced some bands of world renown like Grammy winners Grupo Fantasma among others. You will almost always hear a local band in the mix on Horizontes.