non-profit organization created by the CSULB Foundation. Global Jazz is an affiliate of Mount Wilson FM Broadcasters, Inc., owned by Saul Levine. Levine is the owner of three radio stations in Southern California with non-jazz formats. One of his stations was converted from an all jazz format to the classical music station KMZT in 1990. That station is now country-formatted KKGO, which was its call sign when it was a jazz station. The assumption of station management by Global Jazz raised some questions among the station's staff and supporters. The University of Redlands radio station, KUOR, which had for the last six years operated as a relay for KKJZ's programming to a large Inland Empire audience, switched to broadcasting Southern California Public Radio (SCPR), ending availability of KKJZ's programming to residents of Los Angeles' inland suburbs after reaching an agreement with SCPR that included nearly half-a-million dollars to upgrade and renovate the University of Redlands' studio and transmitter. The Arbitron ratings in 2008 indicated KKJZ had the most listeners of all jazz stations in the United States and the fifth-highest number of listeners of public radio in the country. On May 2, 2011, five time Grammy nominee pianist David Benoit made his debut as a morning host on the station. Music events Long Beach Blues Festival: Traditionally held on Saturday and Sunday of the Labor Day weekend. For most of the years it was held on the athletic field of the California State University, Long Beach campus. In 2008, the 29th festival was held at Rainbow Lagoon in downtown Long Beach. Live broadcast of the Playboy Jazz Festival from the Hollywood Bowl. Long-time jazz disc jockey Chuck Niles (aka "Bebop Charlie") is the only jazz disc jockey to have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Horace Silver, Louie Bellson, and Bob Florence ("Bebop Charlie", "Nilestones"), and others have written tunes for “Carlitos Niles”. Chuck Niles was a DJ for KKJZ from 1990 until he died in 2004. Niles also appeared in small parts in several films. KJAZZ is the official emergency broadcast station for the City of Long Beach. See also List of jazz radio stations in the United States References External links KKJZ official website live streaming audio of KKJZ plus two other streaming audio channels: Mostly Bop (bebop) & 88 Greats (classic jazz as chosen by station members) California State University, Long Beach Mass media in