Fresno has a Central California music savior. B95’s DJ Kay Rich is the man that has taken the job. DJ Kay Rich is the DJ for B95’s “Homegrown Show.”
Kay Rich is a San Jose native that came to the Central Valley to study business marketing at California State University, Fresno.
In 2007, Rich entered a B95 Mixer Idol, a DJ competition that looked for a local DJ to mix on the radio. The competition was voted on by the public with a wild card selection in each round. Being from San Jose, he did not have a fan base so he was not voted into the next round. Rich earned the wild card selection in each round. In the final round he finished in second place. Despite the loss, he was called back three months after the competition and has been a part of the station ever since.
The “Homegrown Show” was created by Greg Hoffman and DJ John Magic to give local artists an outlet to share their music with B95 listeners. In 2009, two years after he joined B95 he became the “Homegrown Show” DJ after DJ John Magic. Once he revamped the show’s structure the show has become one of the most popular shows the station produces.
“Before I changed the show, the “Homegrown Show” had barely any hits on the website. Since then, the site is the most popular site of the B95 show,” said Rich.
“On a good day I can get 19 to 20 records on the show,” said Kay Rich. “Before, the show would play just about 10 to 12 records in a hour.”
Outside of the “Homegrown Show” Rich presents CenCal Everything. “It is a mixtape and Central California local music movement. I put together 40 artists, producers and engineers from the valley and put them all together on one project. It’s never been done before,” said Rich.
Some of the local artists that are featured on the CenCal Everything mixtape are Spaz, The Kid Ryan, Halo the Human, Syrup, Diego Redd, Omar Aura, L!Z.
The most successful record from the mixtape is #Bounce by L!Z. #Bounce is currently playing on 15 different radio stations throughout California.
“Rich is a very humble guy. He has a good heart and everything he does is with good intentions,” said CenCal Everything artist L!Z.
He created “CenCal Everything” to bring the Central Valley artists together creatively. “CenCal Everything” is awesome,” said CenCal Everything artist Omar Aura. “It’s just dope to have talented people from your area, and be able to work with them and create good music.” Aura continued.
Rich’s goal with the “Homegrown Show” and “CenCal Everything” is to provide a platform for local artists to get noticed and signed by major record labels. “I want people to say CenCal as well as NorCal and SoCal,” said Rich.
“I truly truly believe that’s why I’m here, to get these guys’ music in order to contend with the other areas and hopefully get record deals,” said Rich.
