Ken Poston

Ken Poston’s lifelong passion for jazz began with his parents’ record collection and grew when he took up the cornet and later trumpet in school. An inspiring music teacher introduced him to the elements of jazz improvisation, helping shape an ardent interest in the music and its history. While studying music education at the University of Kansas, Ken met an important mentor, jazz radio host and concert promoter Dick Wright. When Mr. Wright asked Ken to fill in for his radio program, Ken discovered another calling. Jazz radio would remain an important part of his career, including his work with KJHK and later KLON (now KKJZ) in Southern California. Ken’s dedication to preserving jazz history has taken many forms. He helped establish JAM magazine in Kansas City and developed jazz oral history initiatives. In 1987, he relocated to Los Angeles and later founded the Los Angeles Jazz Institute, creating an important archive, research facility, and educational resource. His work has also included teaching jazz history at UCLA and assisting Gerry Mulligan with the jazz legend’s autobiography. An ardent baseball fan, Ken has long explored the connections between baseball and jazz. During his NAMM Oral History interview, he eloquently reflected on the parallel histories and colorful personalities shared by these two distinctly American traditions.