Tom McCarter - Dreaming of Babylon - Saturday 2:00 am to 5:00 am

I've been doing this show for 7 years now and it is a dream come true. Being on the radio and playing music I enjoy for other people is something I had wanted to do since college (I am now 49). In fact, taking the show on KUSP was my sole reason for moving to Santa Cruz. I love it here. I also love what I do on the show. Originally, I was going to call it 'Old Fart at Playä, after an old Capt. Beefheart tune, but I was reading a collection of Richard Brautiganâs novellas on my way up and decided on "Dreaming of Babylon" instead. It's the story of a detective who's life never works out in the real world, primarily because he's always daydreaming about his life in Babylon, where everything is happening for him. This was just the way my life was back then. It also seems to be quintessential Santa Cruz.

My grandmother's sister was Alice Earl Wilder, the lady with the red hat. As a child, our family would come up to Aunt Alice's in Ben Lomond practically every year. Whenever I see the old photos Bruce Bratton has dredged up for his column, I am reminded of those good old days. But I must say, approaching 50 doesn't look anything like 50 did back then. I'm having a great time! I love hiking in the redwoods and strolling on the beach (especially 4 Mile). I drive up the coast to San Gregorio Store to see live folk music on weekends. I make sure I ride the Giant Dipper at least once a year. Iâm organizing a big family reunion in Mendocino in October. I'm a 4th generation Californian on my mother's side.

I also go see a lot of music around town. We are truly blessed musically in this area. Besides all the great radio we pick up, we have the best music venues around. Once in awhile, Iâll cruise up to San Francisco to take in a special show at the Fillmore, but I rarely have to stray beyond my own backyard. Anyone who listens to my show knows I like a wide range of music and I can hear it all right here. I also spend a good deal of time (and money) at Streetlight Records and Logos, looking for those hard to find gems. Also eBay. I have 40 cds by Hendrix alone! And every year, I do a Jimi Hendrix special right around his birthday. Last year was 7 hours!

I do event planning for the David and Lucile Packard Foundation in Los Altos. Last week I moved up to be close to my job. But I'm not giving up on my show. I am sharing it with Gary Shapiro every other week and he's doing a great job. Check him out. Thanks for listening.

A political science graduate of ASU, Christian Deeny is from Arizona and has lived extensively in Idaho and Colorado.  He currently resides in Big Sur, California where he is employed in the office of Esalen Institute.

Ever the dreamer and seeker of beauty, our hero loves life and shares it intimately with friends and loved ones.

Gary did his first show for KUSP in 1976, a tribute to the late folk singer Phil Ochs who had committed suicide that week. In the 25 years since he has done many more programs and specials at KUSP. They include: a long running 12-3 a.m. program; all night New Year' s Eve shows; tributes to John Lennon and Frank Sinatra; collaborations with other programmers (Michael Lambert and Russell Potter, to name two); and served as host and frequent contributor to the program "From The Bookshelf". In May 2000 that program featured a celebrated presentation of lyrics with Tom Lehrer, of which Gary was a part. This year he has begun alternating with Tom Mc Carter as host of Dreaming of Babylon. Gary says "I enjoy late night programming very much. I look at my program as a painting with the music being my pallet. I follow my instincts to create a mood that is satisfying to me and to my listeners and is not restrained by the scourge of radio formatting that pigeon holes music into identifiable genres. I like to explore the connection that runs through popular music and connects Fred Astaire and Elvis Costello, Aretha Franklin and Maria Callas". Gary Shapiro has an extensive knowledge of Popular music and holds a BA in American Studies from UCSC In addition to his work with KUSP he has done programs for KZSC and the late KLRB, as well as a TV program on Capitola Community Channel 8. He teaches middle school in Salinas, Ca. He lives in Aptos with his wife, the artist Robynn Smith.