Listen to Ecos Del Coqui at KSKA 91.1FM every Monday night (8pm -11pm)

On August 15, 1978 the radio waves of KSKA became available to the Anchorage and its neighbor listeners. A National Public Radio it was designed to include community participation in its programming. There were few Latinos living in Anchorage back then. Ramon Garcia a Vietnam veteran took advantage of the airwaves and with two other Colombians gave birth the Latinos programs. Shortly after others joined, among them Ecos del Coqui. The named derived from the nostalgia that Maria Rosas, the program’s director and producer, felt for her homeland Puerto Rico.

The coqui is a tiny frog about one inch long, native to the island. It derives its name from the sound of its melodious song which lulls young and adults alike to sleep in the Island’s countryside. Hiding during the day, it emerges at sundown for its nightly performance. Much like the melodies the coqui brought to the islanders, Maria sought to share her music with the listening audience. She read poetry and covered cultural and historical events.

Maria invited distinguished personalities visiting Anchorage, and outstanding members of the community .to the program. The famous Mexican writer Carlos Fuentes, Nicaragua’s attaché in Washington, Roberto Vargas, the renown American sociologist Joseph Collins and the now director of Global Exchange, Media Benjamin. were among those interviewed.

Anchorage has seen many changes through the years. Much like the city KSKA has gone through its own growth and changes. The station began operating from one of the original buildings then owned by the Alaska Pacific University. Since then it moved three times and currently coexists with Alaska Public Television, KAKM at the Elmo Sackett Broadcast Center, Alaska University Anchorage campus.

Ecos del Coqui has now two alternate members. They are Soraya Ortiz and David Espinal. They cover for MariaRosas and Eduardo in their absence. David operates the board and Soraya does most of the speaking. Together they coordinate the program. They have been doing an excellent job and we’re very lucky to have them.

Ecos del Coqui transmits every Monday from 9-11pm with music, commentaries and community service announcements. Its members are all volunteers who purchase their own music


Participants: Maria, Eduardo, David and Soraya
TYPE OF MUSIC salsa, merengue, cumbia, reggaton,bachata
E-MAIL: ECOSDELCOQUI@GCI.NET