Bob "the Big BA" Ancheta

30 year broadcast industry veteran Bob "the Big BA" Ancheta has been dishin' out the tunes for a whole decade's worth of Sunday Night Blues shows on KINK 102 FM, on-air every Sunday night from 7:00 pm until 10:00 pm.  What a great way to end a week-end!!!

Article Reprint from the October 2000 BluesNotes
Article by LynnAnn Hyde

    For most of us, Bob Ancheta is the lively on-air host of one of the longest running Blues shows on the West Coast (Sunday Night Blues with Bob Ancheta, KINK 102 FM, Portland). We know him as a guy that literally has been turning generations of Northwesterners on to Blues since 1970 (with his first radio show at KVAN in Vancouver, Washington) and also as a stage manager and music promoter in the 70's at the Paramount Theater.

    For those of us that are new to Portland, (I have lived here since '92, but am reminded daily by Portlanders that I am new), Bob makes a great study for a nearly lifelong dedication of promoting Blues.

    Bob Ancheta not only programs Blues on-air, but supports and promotes a fair share of local and regional artists that may not be getting the sort of exposure he can offer on his "Sunday Night Blues show".  He also wants to help educate folks about the music he loves so much, so has his pal (and great harmonica player!) David Flack on hand for discussion about some of the players and music styles, origins, etc. Dave is well known as our "Harmonipath Deluxe" and can tell you ALL about the harmonica ....  Again, Bob working with artists and "experts" in the field of study!  Along those lines, Bob credits B.B. King and Howard Slobodin for personally connecting with him, and for taking the time to turn him onto the Blues.

    Some of the other cool stuff you might want to know about Mr. Ancheta concerns his character, and the way he integrates his love for the Blues into the real lives of others.  Bob has done a lot of charity stuff for our communities!  Getting him to talk about it is like pulling teeth, but I knew some stuff already!  For example, Bob MC'd at a Blues in Prison event in March at the federal correctional institute at Sheridan.  These are always done "pro bono", and he was right on with his role as speaker and MC. Bob has also assisted The Oregon Food Bank each year with the Waterfront Blues Festival duties that include announcing acts and providing other announcers for the multiple stages and acts. Bob has also helped to locate acts for the festival over the years.  Another local institution which Bob helped to get going was the "Need To Read" benefit concert series, wherein Bob MC'd and hooked up with guys like Jimmy Thackery and Tinsley Ellis to provide some great Blues.  Bob routinely supports community charity events by promoting them on air, and through his presence there!

    Bob would like to believe that he is not exceptional in the many ways he honors Blues music and artists, but he is! Always quick to credit someone else, Bob is an authority on Blues artists and their respective styles, their labels, their work.  He is also a real human being with a great heart!  My thanks to MR. BIG BA!

    This Top 20 Recordings list was compiled by the Big BA for the 1999 Holiday Season, and was first published in the December 1999 BluesNotes.

© 1999 Cascade Blues Association