.
By Nolan Vallier
Collection Overview
Title: Homegrown KIO Radio Show Records, ca.1970-2024
ID: 12/9/182
Primary Creator: Leake, David (1961-)
Other Creators: Fredrickson, Larry (1953-), Miller Brown, Terry
Extent: 7.2 gigabytes
Date Acquired: 05/06/2024. More info below under Accruals.
Subjects: American folk music, Blues-rock music, Champaign, Illinois, Country Music, Interviews, Local History, Popular Music--Illinois--Urbana-Champaign, Radio Broadcasting, Radio Station, Radio Station -- WKIO, REO Speedwagon, Rock Music, Rock musicians United States, Urbana, Illinois
Formats/Genres: Business Records, Sound Recordings
Languages: English
Scope and Contents of the Materials
Consists of digital administrative records including audio files of interviews conducted by Larry Fredrickson and David Leake with local musicians; research about and weekly playlists featuring the work of local artists and groups; and both studio and live audio recordings used on the show, documenting the Homegrown Radio show on KIO since 2021. Of note are interviews with members of Feathertrain, Alan Gratzer of REO Speedwagon, Mark Hamby of the Ship, and John Baruck of John Baruck Management and Azoff Management.
Collection Historical Note
Homegrown is a radio show and podcast, which was founded by Larry Fredrickson and David Leake in August 2021. Broadcasting on KIO Radio (originally on 107.1 and then on 105.5 FM) every Sunday night at 7pm, the show features musical selections from Champaign-Urbana music scene from the 1960s to the present including bands and artists like REO Speewagon, Alison Krauss, the One Eyed Jacks, the Elvis Brothers, Braid, and American Football. In September 2021, Fredrickson and Leake began interviewing individuals connected to this scene on a KIO podcast of the same name. Portions of these interviews were played on the weekly radio broadcasts.
Biographical Note
David Leake (1961- ) was born in Decatur, IL. After graduating from Decatur High School in 1979, Leake was admitted to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign where he studied physics. After graduating with a degree in physics in 1983, he worked for six years as a production specialist at APL Engineered Materials in Urbana, IL. In 1985, he began teaching adult education courses in astronomy and in 1986 he founded the Champaign-Urbana Astronomical Society. When the William M. Staerkel Planetarium opened at Parkland College in 1989, Leake began leading live shows and was hired that same year as a planetarium specialist. In 1995 he earned a masters degree in secondary education with a science focus from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. In 2000, he was named the director of the Staerkel Planetarium, teaching classes in astronomy and physics at Parkland College until his retirement in 2019.
During his career as a science educator, Leake recorded several radio and television shows. Between 2003 and 2007, he served as the host of "Live and Learn" on PCTV, which was followed by "Surrounded by Science," which ran from 2006 to 2013. From 2008 to 2010, he served as a co-host with Ed Keiser on WILL's program "Sky Guys." Beginning in 2021, Leake served as a co-host with Larry Fredrickson for the program "HomegrownKIO" on WKIO 107.9, a weekly podcast that featured interviews with and historic recordings by bands and musicians from the Champaign Urbana area.
Subject/Index Terms
Administrative Information
Repository:
The Sousa Archives and Center for American Music
Accruals:
Full radio shows from 2025 were donated by Leake on September 12, 2025. Additional radio shows dating from 2024 and 2025 were donated on December 1, 2025 by Leake. Radio shows from 2023 were donated by Leake on January 17, 2026.
Acquisition Source:
David Leake
Acquisition Method:
Gift
Box and Folder Listing
Browse by Series:
[
Series 1: Administrative Records, 2021-2024],
[
Series 2: Audio Library, 2021-2024],
[
Series 3: Homegrown Radio Show Playlists, 2021-2024],
[Series 4: Homegrown and CU Bands and Fans Podcast Interviews, 2021-2024],
[
Series 5: Radio Shows, 2021-2025],
[
All]
- Series 4: Homegrown and CU Bands and Fans Podcast Interviews, 2021-2024
- Consists of MP3 files, documenting interviews conducted by Larry Fredrickson and David Leake with the "Homegrown" Podcast and Terry Brown and Zack Widup with the "CU Bands and Fans" Podcast. Podcasts consist of raw files; edited files, which were used for each distinct podcast; and five-minute sample files, which were used for the Homegrown radio show. Materials from both podcasts are interfiled and arranged alphabetically by interviewee and chronologically therein.
- Digital Folder 1: Alan Gratzer - with Fredrickson and Leake, 2022
- Contains interview files for Alan Gratzer, percussionist with REO Speedwagon.
- Digital File 1: Alan Gratzer - 6 Minute Clip, April 2022
- Digital File 2: Alan Gratzer - Second Edit, April 8, 2022
- Digital Folder 2: Alice Cooper - with Fredrickson and Leake, 2023
- Contains interview files for rock vocalist Alice Cooper, who performed in Champaign in May 2023.
- Digital File 1: Alice Cooper - Edited Interview, March 16, 2023
- Digital File 2: Alice Cooper - Raw Interview, March 16, 2023
- Digital Folder 3: Andrew Duncanson - with Brown and Widup, 2023
- Interview with Andrew Duncanson of the band Kilborn Alley.
- Digital File 1: Andrew Duncanson - Five Minute Clip, June 19, 2024
- Digital Folder 4: David Roesch - with Fredrickson and Leake, 2023
- Interview with David Roesch, former stage manager of the State Farm Center.
- Digital File 1: David Roesch - Edit, February 9, 2023
- Digital Folder 5: Dody Cosmedy - with Brown and Widup, 2023
- Interview with Dody Cosmedy, vocalist with Geyser, Headline, and No Secret.
- Digital File 1: Dody Cosmedy - Five Minute Clip, April 30, 2023
- Digital Folder 6: Feather Train - with Fredrickson and Leake, 2021
- Interviews with Feather Train members Bruce Hall, Geoff Poor, and Dana Walden.
- Digital File 1: Bruce, Geoff, Dana - Second Edit, September 14, 2021
- Interview with Bruce Hall, Geoff Poor, and Dana Walden.
- Digital File 2: Bruce Hall from Springfield - Ten Minute Clip, 2021
- Digital Folder 7: Garret Oostdyk - with Fredrickson and Leake, 2022
- Interview with Garret Oostdyk of the Finchley Boys.
- Digital File 1: Garrett Interview - Edit, May 16, 2022
- Digital File 2: Garrett Interview - Raw, May 16, 2022
- Digital File 3: Garrett Interview - wRC Edit, 2022
- Digital File 4: Garrett Interview - wRC edit 2, 2022
- Digital File 5: Garrett Interview 2 - Five Minute Clip, 2022
- Digital File 6: Garrett Interview 2 - Raw, 2022
- Digital Folder 8: George Faber - with Fredrickson and Leake, 2023
- Interview with George Faber of the Finchley Boys.
- Digital File 1: George Faber - Raw, July 2, 2023
- Digital Folder 9: Ian Shepard - with Brown and Widup, 2022
- Interview with Ian Shepard of the Finchley Boys and Temple of Low Men.
- Digital File 1: Ian Shepard - Five Minute Clip, 2022
- Originally recorded in 2022, used on Homegrown May 14, 2023.
- Digital Folder 10: Jake Tatar - with Brown, 2023
- Interview with Jake Tatar of the Boat Drunks.
- Digital File 1: Jake Tatar - Five Minute Clip, May 21, 2023
- Digital Folder 11: Jay Rosenstein - with Brown and Widup, 2023
- Interview with Jay Rosenstein of Otis and the Elevators.
- Digital File 1: Jay Rosenstein - Five Minute Clip, 2023
- Digital Folder 12: John Baruck - with Fredrickson and Leake, 2024
- Interview with John Baruck of REO Speedwagon.
- Digital File 1: John Baruck - Edit Final, 2024
- Digital File 2: John Baruck - Edit, 2024
- Digital File 3: John Baruck - Five Minute to Air, 2024
- Digital File 4: John Baruck - Raw, January 26, 2024
- Digital Folder 13: Mark Hamby - with Fredrickson and Leake, 2024
- Interview with Mark Hamby of The Ship.
- Digital File 1: Mark Hamby - Edit, February 8, 2024
- Digital File 2: Mark Hamby - Five Minute Clip, February 8, 2024
- Digital Folder 14: Mark Rubel - with Brown, 2022
- Interview with Mark Rubel owner of Pogo Studios and member of Captain Rat and the Blind Rivets.
- Digital File 1: Mark Rubel - Five Minute Clip, 2022
- Originally recorded in 2022, used for Homegrown on April 23, 2023.
- Digital Folder 15: Michael Murphy - with Fredrickson and Leake, 2023
- Interview with Michael Murphy with the One Eyed Jacks, the Inspirations, and 13th Precinct.
- Digital File 1: Michael Murphy - Edit, February 2, 2023
- Digital File 2: Michael Murphey - Five Minute Clip, February 2, 2023
- Digital File 3: Michael Murphey - Promo, 2023
- Digital Folder 16: Mike Husler - with Fredrickson and Leake, 2023
- Interview with Mike Husler, vocalist for Slink Rand, Clockwork Orange, and Vertigo.
- Digital File 1: Mike Husler - Edit, January 15, 2023
- Digital File 2: Mike Husler - Five Minute Clip, 2023
- Digital File 3: Mike Husler - KIO Promo, 2023
- Digital Folder 17: One Eyed Jacks - with Fredrickson and Leake, 2021
- Interview with members of the One Eyed Jacks, including keyboardist Barry Fasman.
- Digital File 1: Foz edit 2 (44100Hz), November 2021
- Highlights of interview with Berry "Foz" Fasman, recorded over Zoom.
- Digital File 2: Foz - Mixdown Interview with Intro Final, November 2021
- Interview highlights with Barry "Foz" Fasman.
- Digital File 3: One Eyed Jacks - Dave Edit, November 21, 2021
- Digital Folder 18: Phil Strang - with Fredrickson and Leake, 2024
- Interview with Phil Strang, owner of Record Service and lead singer of the Rocking Clones.
- Digital File 1: Phil Strang - Final Edit, April 25, 2024
- Digital File 2: Phil Strang - Five Minute Clip, April 28, 2024
- Digital Folder 19: Rick Sadowski - with Brown, 2024
- Interview with Rick Sadowski, owner of Studio 401 in Georgetown, IL.
- Digital File 1: Sadowski Podcast Audio - Five Minute Clip, February 18, 2024
- Digital File 2: Sadowski Podcast Audio - Raw, 2024
- Digital Folder 20: Roger Francisco - with Fredrickson and Leake, 2023
- Interview of Roger Francisco, owner of RoFran Records and bass player with the Galaxies, the Prodigies, the Expressions, and Spoils of War.
- Digital File 1: Roger Francisco - Edited, June 22, 2023
- Digital Folder 21: Roger Prillaman - with Brown, 2023
- Interview with Roger Prillaman bass guitarist and keyboardist with Captain Rat and the Blind Rivets and co-founder of Pogo Studios.
- Digital File 1: Roger Prillaman - Five Minute Clip, June 11, 2023
- Digital Folder 22: Terry Brown - with Fredrickson and Leake, 2023
- Interview with Terry Brown, founder of the Podcast CU Bands and Fans.
- Digital File 1: Terry Brown - Raw Interview, April 9, 2023
- Digital Folder 23: Tom Grassman - with Brown and Widup, undated
- Interview with Tom Grassman of Third Stone.
- Digital File 1: Tom Grassman - Five Minute Clip, undated
Browse by Series:
[
Series 1: Administrative Records, 2021-2024],
[
Series 2: Audio Library, 2021-2024],
[
Series 3: Homegrown Radio Show Playlists, 2021-2024],
[Series 4: Homegrown and CU Bands and Fans Podcast Interviews, 2021-2024],
[
Series 5: Radio Shows, 2021-2025],
[
All]
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