The Russ Martin Show Archive is my focus for #WhatDoYouPreserve during Archives Month
In celebration of Archives Month for October, I am posting this short brief history of the channel to talk about #WhatDoYouPreserve. From 2002 to 2008, DFW radio DJ Russ Martin hosted a popular weekday talk show from 3 pm to 7 pm on KLLI. Featuring his producers, local celebrities, and listeners, the show became a top-rated broadcast, often outperforming sports and political talk shows in the DFW market. KLLI spent it’s entire run as an FM-based “hot talk” station covering daily news, pop culture and local events with nationally syndicated content at night and mornings.
After Russ’s passing in 2021, I happened upon someone on Reddit claiming to have an archive of episodes Russ had made available to the public via subscription during 2002-2008 with a half terabyte of WMA files from RussMartin.Info, the former show’s subscription site.
Upon receiving the files, I processed the audio to enhance the quality, reduce hiss and increase the low-end. In 2022, I began uploading the restored episodes to YouTube, adding a static logo and exporting them as MP4s. I premiere a new episode “live” daily at 3 pm Central, coinciding with the show’s original airtime. The channel now boasts over 680 subscribers and 830 episodes, with many more to come.
The archive’s entertainment and nostalgia value to me and the people of DFW who were listeners to Russ is immeasurable. I love that at 3-3:15 every day, the theme song still plays and I tune in regularly myself to the live replays on YouTube just to hear it.
It’s important to make sure #whatdoyoupreserve has continued visibility to those who wish to celebrate his legacy.