‘THE BEAT’ GOES OFF

Every Sunday for 15 years KCRW’s “Reggae Beat” played music with messages of truth and rights, equality and justice and international brotherhood. In a callous decision, station management canceled the show, without warning to its faithful listeners (Pop Eye, Oct. 30).

In addition, the “African Beat” was also taken off the air. With these actions, KCRW has virtually eliminated truly black cultural music from L.A. radio, and we are now left with nowhere to turn on the dial for real roots reggae.

To KCRW: Don’t deprive this city of one of the last surviving forms of true message music at a time when we so desperately need it. Bring back “The Beat”!

KIRK R. SHEARBURN

Glendale

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I am saddened to hear of the demise of “The Reggae Beat,” the program that introduced me to KCRW more than 10 years ago. Back then I would listen zealously to Roger Steffens and Hank Holmes as they played this strange new music.

Unfortunately, as reggae incorporated the technology of the drum machine and won acceptance with the younger hip-hop crowd, it seemed to lose its heartfelt groove.

But I am very thankful for wonderful memories of times spent at the beach with the radio tuned to “Jah music” and even more grateful that I have the tapes to go along with them.

JIM GEIER

Costa Mesa