Radio veteran to be honored by Iowa Rock N’ Roll Hall of Fame

The Eagles. David Crosby. The Byrds. A former Beatle.

Kyle Martin has interviewed some incredible musical talents during his 30-year radio career. The current KFJB morning show host in Marshalltown and former Newton radio personality will be inducted into the Iowa Rock N’ Roll Hall of Fame this year.

“My hobby of loving rock n’ roll has kind of turned into a career,” Martin said. “I can’t play an instrument, but I sure love to play the music, and I love interviewing these guys.”

Martin grew up in Denver, Colo., listening to his dad, who hosted a morning show for more than 30 years. After finishing high school in Denver, Martin came to Iowa to study journalism with an emphasis on radio at Drake University. While at Drake, he had the opportunity to work part-time at Des Moines oldies station KIOA.

“When I graduated from college, they offered me a full-time radio job,” he said. “I worked with some really talented people. I was in the right place at the right time.”

Eventually, Martin ended up in Newton, where he spent more than five years on the radio as KRTI’s morning show host. He said his time in Newton was great. His oldest daughter was born and raised in the town and graduated from Newton High School. The radio gig was nice, too.

“I enjoyed it. The music was a lot of fun,” Martin said. “I did some of my better interviews there. It’s a 50,000 watt radio station. That’s pretty powerful. A lot of people listen to you when you’re on a 50,000 watt radio station.”

For the last 13 years, Martin has done news talk in Marshalltown. He said the news talk format does not prevent him from stretching his love of rock n’ roll. He has interviewed numerous rock stars. On the morning he spoke with Newton Daily News, he had just finished interviewing a member of Kansas.

“It’s unbelievable the stories these people tell you,” he said. “I interviewed Pete Best, who was in the Beatles before Ringo Starr. That was pretty cool.”

It’s not all about rock stars for Martin, though. He loves to get out in the community and meet his listeners. He does a live broadcast at the Marshalltown Hy-Vee every Friday called “Man on the Street.”

“People come to talk to me, and it’s just so wonderful meeting people,” he said. “You kind of become part of their lives in a way because they count on you for the weather, and they count on you for the funny stories.”

Martin will be officially inducted into the hall of fame on Labor Day weekend at Arnold’s Park in northwest Iowa. He is the 20th disc jockey to be recognized.

Being inducted into the Iowa Rock N’ Roll Hall of Fame is a huge honor and unexpected, Martin said. The radio man, who named Buddy Holly his all-time favorite artist, had his roots firmly planted in rock n’ roll music thanks to his father’s influence.

“I just gained a whole new appreciation of the music through my dad,” he said. “My dad’s been gone for a few years, and I wish he could go to (the induction ceremony). I think he’d be really, really happy and proud.”

Contact Justin Jagler at 641-792-3121 ext 6532 or jjagler@newtondailynews.com