KMJ is celebrating their 100th Anniversary at the 2022 Big Fresno Fair! KMJ began broadcasting on March 23, 1922 and is the 38th oldest licensed and continually operated radio station in America.
For over 50 years, Tower of Power has delivered the best in funk and soul music. Originally a soul band called “The Motowns” consisting of members Emilio Castillo, (the late) Rocco and “Doc” Kupka, the group went on to change their name to Tower of Power, writing songs for East Bay Grease, which defined their sound and landed them with Warner Brothers. Bump City, their 1972 debut for the label, was a hit on both the Billboard 200 and the R&B Albums chart, and netted them the hits “You’re Still A Young Man” and “Down to the Nightclub.” The 70s were a boom period with radio classics such as “So Very Hard To Go” and “What Is Hip?”. Castillo says their love of the stage is the same today as it was back in 1968. Tower’s window-rattling grooves and raucous party spirit has been a balm for the soul throughout their half-century existence, but the release of 50 Years of Funk & Soul: Live at the Fox Theater couldn’t arrive at a better time.
The band has long since surpassed Castillo’s modest aspirations, traveling the world, enjoying hit singles on their own and backing legendary artists including Otis Redding, Elton John, Santana, the Grateful Dead, John Lee Hooker, Aerosmith, Bonnie Raitt, and countless others. In the process they’ve defined an “Oakland soul” sound as instantly recognizable as those from Castillo’s hometown, Detroit, as well as inspirations like Memphis and Philadelphia.
Longtime comedian, Paul Rodriguez, has been making audiences laugh all over the world – in both Spanish and English – for nearly three decades with his unique brand of humor that is a perfect blend of his Latin heritage, the American dream and his undeniable universal appeal. Rodriguez is both an actor and comedian, appearing in over 45 films and countless television series and comedy specials.
Rodriguez has continued to be involved with various charitable civic and educational organizations like the Hispanic Scholarship Fund Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) and The Leukemia Society. Rodriguez was honored with the Humanitarian of the Year Award by the City of Fresno for his tireless work on behalf of water conservation. As Chairman of the California Latino Water Coalition Rodriguez was one of the driving forces behind the California Water Bond Measure coming into fruition.