Celebrating 50 Years of Broadcasting Excellence on the Airwaves
Fifty years ago, on a chilly Friday afternoon, January 23, 1976, a group of students, artists, and visionaries officially flipped the switch at 91.7 FM launching KRTU into the radio-stratosphere from the campus of Trinity University! The vision was clear, captured in the station's original tagline: "Fresh Air For San Antonio." From those initial 10 watts, KRTU has since grown into a trusted cultural voice, passionately championing jazz and indie music, elevating local artists, and deeply strengthening our community through partnerships, genuine connection, and a love for music.
What This Milestone Means for KRTU, Trinity, and San Antonio
Celebrating 50 Years of KRTU 91.7 FM marks a powerful milestone in the history of our station and in the cultural life of San Antonio. For five decades, KRTU has served as a trusted space where music meets community, where creativity is nurtured, and where jazz and independent music connect people across generations and backgrounds.
For KRTU, this anniversary is a celebration of how far we have come and of our renewed commitment to our collective future. As we honor the legacy of 91.7 fm, we also look ahead to the next fifty years, continuing to spotlight the diversity of the genres we broadcast, their deep roots in San Antonio, and its power to make meaningful change. With the support of our community, partners, and Trinity University, KRTU will remain a place for new ideas, new voices, and shared experiences.
For Trinity University, KRTU exemplifies the university’s mission of cultivating curious minds, fostering civic engagement, and building bridges between campus and community. The station has served as a hands-on learning environment for students, a platform for faculty scholarship, and a vital link between the university and the broader cultural landscape of San Antonio. As we look ahead, KRTU will continue to serve as a model for how academic institutions can invest in public good through the arts.
For San Antonio, KRTU’s 50th is a reflection of the city’s cultural identity and our community’s enduring support for creative expression. As a local and community-focused station, KRTU has become a space where students and listeners come together through music and shared experiences. Our continued presence on the airwaves affirms San Antonio’s commitment to community-driven public media.
Build your Legacy: Support KRTU’s 50th Anniversary
With your support, we’ll continue to invest in creative programming, inclusive storytelling, and the next generation of artists and listeners. Whether you give $50 or $5,000, your contribution is a statement that independent, community radio matters.
Join in on the Celebration!
Join us throughout the year as we celebrate 50 years of KRTU with a vibrant lineup of concerts, community gatherings, and special programming. From intimate jazz sessions to community festivals, our events showcase the rich diversity of music and culture that defines KRTU and San Antonio.
KRTU would like to thank the following supporters of our 50th Anniversary
Jazz Legacy
- Charles and Anne Parrish
Jazz Legend
- James Halloran and Dr. Luis Xavier Rangel-Ortiz
Jazz Advocate
- Community First Health Plans
- Dr. Pamela Ray & Dr. Michael Battista
- H-E-B
Jazz Fan
- Dr. Bradley and Gemma Kayser
- Joan Kearl
- Stephen Scarlett
- Ryan Weber ‘04 & Shelley Laabs Weber ‘01
Community Supporter
- TU Professor Emeritus Dr. William Christ & Marsha Christ
- Matthew Leyendecker
- Sandra & Tim Moore
- Aaron Vazquez
In Memoriam
This event is made possible in part by a generous bequest from the late John C. Whitehurst, a longtime KRTU listener. His generosity is a lasting reminder of the meaningful connection between community radio and the lives it touches.