KRLY-FM

On air

SUNDAYS · 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM · PST

KRLY-FM · 107.9 · CA

Bluegrass

About the show

Wayne Rice is a legendary, multi-award-winning icon in bluegrass broadcasting, recognized universally as the host of the longest-running bluegrass radio program in the United States. Based in Alpine, California, Wayne stepped behind his very first radio microphone in March 1976 to launch The Bluegrass Special on San Diego's premier 50,000-watt country giant, KSON-FM. For an astonishing 44 years, his signature voice defined Southern California's weekend airwaves. Wayne’s monumental, half-century devotion to the preservation of the genre culminated in the highest honor in the industry: the IBMA Lifetime Achievement Award. He also serves the acoustic community behind the scenes as a long-standing board member for the Bluegrass Music Trust Fund, providing emergency financial aid to music professionals in need. In late 2020, Wayne brought his historic San Diego radio tradition to its new home on KRLY-FM / Mountain Country 107.9, expanding the broadcast into a highly interactive three-hour global streaming juggernaut. When he is not behind the console, Wayne is a talented banjo player who has picked with regional bands like Pacific-ly Bluegrass, Lighthouse, and Grassology, and is the creator of the prominent archival directory, BluegrassBios.com. On-Air Style & Sound A Complete Acoustic Tapestry: Expanding to a prime three-hour Sunday evening slot (4:00 PM to 7:00 PM PST), Wayne crafts his playlists to span the full evolutionary landscape of the genre—effortlessly mixing Traditional, Modern, Progressive, and Instrumental Bluegrass. The "Other" Country Mix: The show seamlessly blends the absolute biggest contemporary chart-toppers with classic acoustic oldies, traditional mountain music, and vintage country cuts. Dedicated Gospel Block: True to his deep personal faith and roots formatting, Wayne anchors a specialized portion of each broadcast around a beautifully curated selection of soulful bluegrass gospel music. Local Artist Spotlight: Wayne is a fierce champion of homegrown talent, consistently using his platform to give prime airplay, event promotion, and recognition to independent pickers and local bluegrass bands.