After more than 25 years at KCCK, John Heim, aka “Big Mo” is hanging up the headphones. May 15 will be his last show.
“So many of our KCCK personalities have really become institutions to our audience. None more so than John Heim,” says KCCK general manager Dennis Green. “I appreciate how he has delivered an upbeat and fun show year after year in spite of everything life has thrown at him. We’ll miss him a lot, as will his dedicated fans and friends.”
John came to KCCK after a long career as a music teacher and musician in groups such as The Moe Band, which gave him his nickname. After coming to KCCK, he joined the Schoolhouse Jazz Band and helped re-start Blues in the Schools, after KCCK took the program over. His ‘da Friday Blues show is notable for the “shoutouts” that John gives to his regular listeners who check in regularly from all over the country. He also orginated the Beaker Street Tribute Hour, featuring underground rock inspired by the legendary show on Little Rock’s KAAY hosted by Clyde Clifford. John occasionally chatted with Clyde and interviewed him in 2020.
Taking over the show is another Eastern Iowa music stalwart, Ed “Unka Led” English. And, coincidentally, like Big Mo, also a bass player! An original member of Kevin Burt’s Blues Instigators, Ed is a founding member of the Beaker Brothers, and also performs with Johnny Kilowatt and the Tanya English Band.
2026 is the farewell year for the Beaker Brothers, so it will be this summer before Ed assumes the show on a regular basis. In the meantime, listen for him to pop up when he can. KCCK’s Bob DeForest and Craig Kessler will fill in on Fridays in the meantime.