ALLEN KEPLER
OWNER, SMOOTH JAZZ NETWORK
HOST OF THE SMOOTH JAZZ TOP 20 COUNTDOWN
HOST OF SMOOTH WEEKEND
Allen Kepler has been advising radio station management, musicians and talent for the past 25 years. His scope of influence has spanned over a dozen countries around the world and nearly all media markets in the United States. Kepler serves as an advisor, consultant, talent coach, strategist, researcher and visionary for highly successful professionals across various media platforms.
Kepler’s passion for excellence was summed up best by Billboard Magazine writer Ken Tucker, who described Allen as "more than a consultant… he’s an evangelist….”
Allen Kepler has been affiliated with hundreds of radio stations, including the legendary KTWV Los Angeles, Z100 New York City, KIIS Los Angeles, WNUA Chicago, KIFM San Diego, WVAZ Chicago, WRQX Washington DC, KISS 108 Boston, WQCD New York, KMEL San Francisco, WDAS Philadelphia, WLOQ Orlando, J-WAVE Tokyo, RADIO CIDADE Sao Paulo, DREAM-FM Manila and many more.
Kepler has created radio shows like “Legends of Jazz with Ramsey Lewis”, “The Smooth Jazz Top 20 Countdown”, “Sade: Soldier of Love World Premiere”, “Donny Osmond: Breeze On By World Premiere”, “Pazz & Jops”, “Smooth Air with Dave Koz”, “Norah Jones: The Fall World Premiere”, “Hollywood Hamilton’s Jammin’ Oldies”, and the 24 hour radio format “Smooth Jazz Network.”
As an on-air talent, Allen Kepler has interviewed many notable performers including; Seal, Kenny G, Tony Bennett, Norah Jones, Grover Washington Jr., Ramsey Lewis, Sade, Mick Hucknall, John Legend, Chaka Khan, David Foster, Vanessa Williams, Chris Botti, George Benson, Babyface, Paul Hardcastle, Donny Osmond, Kenny Lattimore, Diana Krall, Maxwell, Michael McDonald and Dave Koz.
Allen and his wife JoAnn own KEPLER ENTERTAINMENT, an artist management and consulting firm focused on building careers for both actors and musicians; KEPLER CONSULTING, concentrated on advising media outlets, music companies and market research firms; and THE SMOOTH JAZZ NETWORK, the only 24 hour a day radio network focused on delivering smooth jazz music to hundreds of thousands of listeners every week.
A native of Kansas City, Kansas, Allen studied radio, television and film at the University of Kansas. His first professional stint in radio came in 1985 with San Diego’s KIFM. Two years later Kepler moved to Chicago’s WNUA, where he worked on air, in programming, and served as Marketing Director before moving to Princeton to join Broadcast Architecture in the winter of 1990. Over the next 23 years, Kepler worked his way through the ranks of BA, becoming the company’s President in 2001.
Kepler, who lives in the Los Angeles area with his wife JoAnn and their four children, is a member of the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, SAG-AFTRA, and is a three-time nominee for Radio Executive of the Year by Radio & Records. He also serves on the Executive board for the Fender Music Foundation, promoting the importance of music through education and media initiatives and providing financial and in-kind resources to public schools and other non-profit organizations to make music programs available in the communities they serve. “My parents couldn’t afford private music lessons for me. Playing music in school gave me confidence and introduced me to other things like public speaking, acting, student government and debate. Music scholarships got me into college, which led to my career in entertainment. Music education was my catalyst, I don't know what direction my life might have gone without it”.
Listen to Allen:
Weekdays 2:00 p.m. - 6;00 p.m.
Smooth Weekend on Saturday 8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. & Sunday 6:00 p..m - 8:00 p.m.
Top 20 Countdown on Saturday 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m & Sunday 8:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
ENDORSEMENTS
Hey Friends,
I'd love to get your feedback on the shows and hear what you think about the music.
Please send me an e-mail to let me know what's on your mind.
Have a wonderfully smooth day!
Paul Hardcastle
International music icon
“There have been a few people who have been highly instrumental in my career, Simon Fuller was the first and I would put Allen Kepler on the same level of importance. He is Hard working, honest, and thrives on making things happen.”
Donny Osmond
American entertainment icon
“A few years back, I wrote a song called "Breeze On By" based on George Benson's 1976 hit "Breezin'." A lot of people loved the song but they criticized the thought of Donny Osmond performing Smooth Jazz.
However, Allen Kepler believed in my song. Despite the cynicism toward my new genre, Allen not only had confidence in my song, he played it and promoted it. "Breeze On By" became a top-ten hit for me.
Thanks to the vision and management skills of Allen Kepler, I can now add Smooth Jazz to my repertoire.”
Kenny G
Biggest selling instrumentalist of al time
Allen Kepler has a great 'feel' for how things could/should work and he has the right kind of instincts, connections, and drive to make things happen. I have worked with Allen for over 5 years and have really enjoyed the care and intelligence that he brings to the table. He is always full of fresh ideas and ways to look at everything 'outside of the normal box'. He isn't afraid to try hard and if things don't work out the first time, he is up again trying another approach. That is key in the entertainment industry because it is hard for people to see things the first time and it may take multiple tries and different approaches to get the job done. Allen is not afraid of that challenge. In face, he thrives on it.