OFF THE CHARTS KCSN FOLLOWS OWN MUSICAL PATH.

Byline: Fred Shuster Music Writer

Meishel Menachekanian has a unique background, but his passion for music is typical of the hosts of KCSN's incredibly diverse world of radio.

Born in Tehran, Iran, Menachekanian was a preteen when he fell in love with a smuggled-in tape of electronic music by Jean Michel Jarre, which was impossible to come by in Iran at the time. The music was an early form of what's commonly considered New Age, but to Menachekanian, these often electronic, multicultural sounds were golden.

Menachekanian, a communications grad from CSUN who hosts "Galactic Voyager" as a volunteer, spinning his own blend of electronic music on Tuesday nights, is still passionate about Jarre and other favorite artists.

'The music is a soundscape that frees the imagination," he said. "I'm not there to lecture or (make) a value judgment. It's music from all over the world that represents very different genres."

Menachekanian's show is just one of many intriguing elements of KCSN-FM (88.5), which is located on the campus of California State University, Northridge. The member-supported public radio station, which has been operating since 1963, has created a highly appealing menu that mixes classical and news programming with specialty shows hosted by deeply knowledgeable music aficionados like Menachekanian who really know their Handel from their Hendrix.

The unusual one-of-"a-kind programming concept is dubbed "Arts and Roots Radio," and it's designed to be intriguing, educational and free of Top 10 cliches, "mindless chatter and opinionated pomposity," as the station would have it.

"We have a very strong and loyal listenership and support because of our diversity," said Fred Johnson, KCSN's general manager. "People want to hear something different instead of the same dumbed-down format throughout the day. It's all about the music."

The station is heard by about 100,000 listeners a week from Lancaster to Pacific Palisades and throughout the San Fernando Valley and into Glendale.

Programs are diverse. Weekdays from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., KCSN spins the best of classical music, hosted by the entertaining Ian Freebairn-Smith, Mimi Chen and Martin Perlich. Evenings and weekends offer an eclectic blend of bluegrass, traditional roots, blues and Americana, along with CSUN's award-winning "The KCSN Evening Update," produced by the university's journalism students, and the BBC World Service.

Those evening and weekend shows run the gamut, taking in swing, folk-rock, surf and even Broadway show tunes. A few hours spent in the company of KCSN can bring the music of everyone from Johnny Cash to Billie Holiday, from Dean Martin to Dick Dale and Lucinda Williams.

"We all live the lifestyle of the music we play," said Scalla Sheen, host of "American Mosaic" on Monday evenings and fill-in for various other programs. "And we all learn from each other. It's not ego-driven. I always thought KCSN is how radio should always be you trust the staff to pick out the music, share it and talk knowledgeably about it."

Fred Shuster, [phone]

fred.shuster(at)dailynews.com

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14 photos

Photo:

(1) no caption (KCSN staff)

Dean Musgrove/Photo Editor

(2 -- cover -- color) Are you listening to KCSN?

Mornings - and evenings - are eclectic at CSUN's public radio station

(3) Peter Goldman and Miriam Billington

(4) Mike Schneider

(5) Larry Wines

(6) Nick Stahl

(7) Chuck Cecil

(8) Les Perry

(9) Dave Cameron

(10) Frank Hoppe

(11) Allen Larman

(12) Pat Baker

(13) Kiki Wow

(14) Molly Barnes

(15) Scalla Sheen

Box:

The musical minds of KCSN

- Fred Shuster