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Reed Wilkerson joins Black Church Service, K-TWIN hires Brian ‘B.T.’ Turner, more

by Andrea Swensson

December 10, 2012

Reed Wilkerson, who made a name for himself in town fronting hard-driving bar band the Japhies, announced today that he has joined like-minded rock band Black Church Service. From the sounds of it, the band won't have a dedicated frontman. “There are four former lead singers in this band, between Tyler Cochran (former lead singer of Black Church Service), Peter Sands, Sasha Druva and me,” Wilkerson said in a press release. “So expect four microphones to be on stage.” Black Church Service's first show with their new lineup is happening Friday, December 21 at Cause with Xavier Marquis, Voodoo, and Neuport. Wilkerson departed from the Japhies in October.


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FM station K-TWIN has persevered through a bit of an identity crisis in recent years as it's made a long, somewhat awkward transition away from the hip-hop format. The station was formerly known as B96, and also had a brief stint as 96.3 NOW; at the beginning of this year, the station's owner Northern Lights Broadcasting made the final switch to K-TWIN and announced that the station would begin airing Twins games in 2013. Part of that evolution toward a more adult-friendly pop station has involved bringing in Twin Cities media personalities to bolster the station's local brand, including three that were hired today: KARE-11's Rena Sarigianopoulos and Sirius XM's Cane Peterson, who will be a part of the station's morning show, plus longtime radio vet Brian 'BT' Turner, who will helm the afternoon shift. Turner recently wrapped up a 17-year-stint at Cities 97, and was previously the general manager of Rev 105. [Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal]


 

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Eagan's Nicholas David got a nice in-depth profile in the Star Tribune this past weekend, which includes a recap of his recent visit to the Mall of America in between tapings of The Voice in L.A. "I take comfort in the idea that my success [on the show] could mean I wind up getting to spend more time with my family after this is over," he told Chris Riemenschneider. Nicholas David—who we know in the Twin Cities as Nick "The Feelin" Mrozinski—will compete as one of the final four contestants on The Voice tonight (7 p.m., NBC). [Star Tribune]


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In international news, Mexican pop star Jenni Rivera, 43, has died. Rivera, known as the "Diva of Banda," died in a plane crash while in route to Mexico City to tape the Mexican version of The Voice, which she appeared on regularly as a celebrity judge. Rivera had sold more than 15 million records and had been nominated for three Latin Grammy Awards. [New York Times]


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