KCEA Memories 89.1FM

There is nothing so soothing in middle of the bay area traffic than 89.1.

the greatest station ever. casually stumbled across this station and its amazing! this is the music they played in the 30s, 40s, and 50s. cant get enough!

Kiss of Death!
Last week I just discovered this radio station. I agree with my fellow Unilocalers, the station definitely transports me to a better time in the recent past and lifts my spirits.
As history has proven, repeatedly, now that I have declared myself for this station, it may soon vanish, as most good things often do. Gosh, I hope not. I really feel like I have discovered something special.

My favorite radio station, playing big band, swing, and crooner classics. It’s a pity the range is so local, but fortunately I’m in range at home and at work, and I can stream it online when I’m elsewhere.

For a spat of time I would listen to this station every morning on my commute to work. It magically transports the listener to another era of fun and frivolity, and I found it picked up my spirits so well that it was almost as indispensable as my morning cup of coffee to start the day out right.
Love, love, love the music they play!
And today I discovered they’ve set up an internet station so I am listening to it once again (and somewhat more clearly than I used to on my car radio)! Check it out:

I recently discovered this radio station on the way home from work one day and immediately fell in love with it. Up until recently, I was never a huge fan of Big Band music, but somehow this station just got me hooked and it’s been in my daily rotation ever since.
There’s just something so genuinely optimistic about the music from this era, and it can put a smile on my face like no other station can — well, except for maybe Kruk and Kuip on KNBR. And the fact that there are practically no commercials is awesome.
Too bad the radio signal is pretty weak though. I usually only get a clear signal when I’m driving around Redwood City.

Kcea is great-​Thank heavens for internet-​I can finally get
some good music in So. Cal

This station is magical. No really, it is. Sometimes it’s a Spanish station, then it’s a swing and big band station, then all of a sudden… Howard-​freakin-​Stern, who is not even on terrestrial radio, comes on talking about cocks and balls.
That’s how we hear it in downtown San Jose, anyway.
I look forward to driving to the post office every morning because as I drive closer and closer to Saint James Square, the signal comes in stronger and stronger, and I can listen (almost) clearly to the music that entertained The Greatest Generation.
This station helped me realize a love and obsession for Bing Crosby. And naturally, I’ve discovered so many great songs too. They sure don’t write songs like they used to; can I get an Amen?
I dream of a day when I no longer have to put up with chorizo-​talk or Stern’s surprise visits from outer space.
I agree with Thomas’s two points. Right on. I’ll also add: 3) Pepper in some old Christmas tunes during Christmas (and patriotic songs for the 4^th?). They pretty much ignore all the holidays throughout the year.
It’s always a cup of Insta-​Smile listening to this station. 89.1. Put it on and relax to some soul stirring loveliness.

I never adjusted to Silicon Valley life. I’m often unhappy here, but when I catch a clear reception for 89.1, it instantly brightens up my day. So few places in the world have such a unique radio station. I am passionate about big band and jazz music and I am so grateful that through the years they have continued to keep this alive! I hope people continue to support this station!

Fantastic radio! Music from the golden yester years… From the days when Big Band was king and when Cecil B. DeMille was in power. Swing baby swing.

I never thought I’d find myself listening (let alone loving) big band music. but this stuff is timeless and just melts the days stress away. When I found KCEA by accident I was in love with this station… commercial free and they even play little clips of random old recordings (most of which are hilarious)! How could it be any better?
Well, since nothing in the world is 100% perfect I have 2 recommendations:
1) increase transmitting power (probably a cost factor but San Mateo and further north loses the signal :()
2) play more vocals (like sarah vaugn, ella fitzgerald, etc!) though they play a good amount already, some evenings it can be less.
but damn it’s so hard to ask for more than KCEA. Your station helped me get through some rough times and continues to enrich my life with the timeless masterpieces. Keep it rockin– I mean– swingin’!

Always on my radio tuner! This has to be one of the best radio stations in the country. I love KCEA!

I was so excited to find this station. I grew up in Cupertino and used to listen to 960 AM for years. The station was changed to a political station and I lost my big band music. Now it’s back and I’m tickled pink! Thank you so much. I love this romantic area and the beautiful music. Keep up the great work.

California –especially Silicon Valley, CA– is a funny place. On the one hand, you have an area that has the highest tech density in the entire world, and on the other, you have this radio station, broadcasting out of a high school, spinning tunes (and some radio drama) straight out of the 30s and 40s.
This is the kind of anachronism that helps me sleep at night. Oh, KCEA, if only you had a transmitter as long as Humphrey Bogart’s face, as debonair as Fred Astaire, as shocking as Rita Hayworth, or as powerful as Mae West’s wicked wit!

Best thing ever, and perhaps the most notable thing that may ever come out of Atherton, California. Sometimes I turn it on, leave it on all day and evening, and go about my business like I’m waltzing and prancing about in a Tom and Jerry cartoon.

By far the best big band radio station I have ever heard. I stream it every day. I love it!
No commercials, just a few PSAs every once in awhile. The variety of songs is outstanding. Unlike some other big band stations, this one doesn’t play the same songs every day.
The website,
also lists the names of songs and artists of songs that they’re playing/​have played/​are getting ready to play. You can also submit a song request through their website.

A true gem amidst a radio dial full of soulless crap.
The best thing that happened to me in Castro Valley since the Mini Golf Course

(This was reviewed by my mother. I don’t know the station)
I literally bumped into this station one night on my way home from work when my hand accidentally hit the radio dial. I feel like I’m in a wonderful Twilight Zone episode where the down trodden hero finds home. I’m afraid to touch the dial for fear of losing the station forever.

Jazz, swing, and vocal standards from the ‘30s, ‘40s, ‘50s, and some ‘60s are played on this radio station. I’m particularly fond of the radio dramas! Occasionally the radio station has sports highlights and reviews of the local high schools from the Sequioia Union High School District, so don’t feel too discombobulated if your Billie Holiday is followed up by sports casting from the Carlmont-​Woodside game. Oh and if you hit up KCEA’s website you can listen online through streaming audio if reception in your area isn’t clear to your liking. Enjoy!

Big band and swing, all day and all night, drizzled with an occasional sweet serving of old time radio drama and comedy. This radio station, belonging to the Sequoia Union High School district, is quite low powered but we can get it roughly mid peninsula. It’s our favorite station with lovely jazz, big band, and swing music especially on weekends. They deserve plenty of support to keep going. It’s nice to have something other than preprogrammed, same olé same olé on the radio. Thank you KCEA!