Ska’s The Limit

Yeah, the name of the show is Ska’s The Limit- but ironically, ska is not the limit on this program.  Originally, ska was the product of many styles and influences.  But in the 50 or so years since it’s birth, Ska has given rise to more than a dozen distinct genres and sub-genres.  On Ska’s The Limit, you’ll hear the music that influenced ska and the music that was influenced by ska.  It’s the Roots, Branch and Stem of Ska.

 

The show has been on the air for 18 years now- making Ska’s The Limit the longest-running ska-themed radio show- ever.  The show has had several hosts throughout it’s long history.  But despite on-air turnover and schedule change-ups, Ska’s The Limit is still standing strong.    You can listen to Ska’s The Limit every Sat. Night from 7-9 on 88.1 KDHX- or online at KDHX.org

 

Host – JJ Loy

I’ve been a ska fanatic since the summer on 1995 and I’m beyond excited to step behind the helm of a show that is very close to my heart.  I’ve never been prouder than the day I was invited to become the new host.

 

I’m also the host/producer of my own ska-themed podcast, Ska Blah Blah.  While the podcast, and accompanying website, gave me a chance to pontificate about the serious side of ska and it’s many offshoots, I’m very excited to pipe down and spin some tunes.

 

There is a large- vibrant scene happening online.  Web 2.0 is changing how this wave is mobilizing, and I hope that STLSka.org will help connect this St. Louis ska institution to the rest of the world.  Thanks for visiting.

 

Former Hosts

 

Paul Stark

You might recognize his face if you frequent the Off Broadway Music Club or  The Chippewa Chapel Traveling Guitar Circle, Medicine Show, Musicians’ Network and Open Mic events in St. Louis.  If you’ve been a grown up for a few years now, you might even recognize him from Fredrick’s Music Lounge.  But every ska fan in St. Louis knows the voice of Ska’s The Limit, for over 15 years has belonged to the one, Paul Stark.

 

Paul took the reigns of Ska’s The Limit, well before the Third Wave grew to tidal proportions, and there he stayed as ska began to build national attention.  In 1996, he presented the show to the whole world, as online streams became available.   All the while, he spearheaded the “Ska-O-Rama” and “Jump Start The Fourth Wave” benefit concert series’, which resulted in the best Ska shows St. Louis has ever seen.

 

Paul left Ska’s The Limit in 2008, if only to shift his musical gears.  Now, he explores more family-friendly music with his new show, Musical Merry-Go-Round, also on KDHX and brings great live music to town with the Rylee’s Grampa’s Friends childrens charity concert series.  Be sure to listen to Musical Merry-Go-Round every Saturday from 8-10AM on 88.1 KDHX or online anytime at KDHX.org

 

Nicole Lapuson

Co-Hosted throughout 1991-1996

 

Joe “Frostee” Kokesh

Co-Hosted throughout 1993-1999

 

DJ 2 Tone Ted

DJ 2 Tone Ted created Ska’s The Limit in the summer of 1991. While he was already the host of The Rude Review on KSPC in LA, Ska’s The Limit became the summer side-project that never died.

 

It was at The King King Club in LA, that Ted was given his fist DJing gig. Joey Altruda aked him to spin at a Jump With Joey show and many gigs followed as the California ska scene really started cooking . After a few years of this, Ted migrated to Washington DC, where he became a founding member of the seminal ska-jazz outfit, Eastern Standard Time, and a resident DJ at nearby clubs.

 

By the end of the 90′s, Ted found himself returning to LA and hanging up his headphones, but not for long. You can’t keep a good man down, and after 8 years he made his triumphant return to the turntables at a Skatalies/Aggrolites show in 2007. Since then, Ted has maintained a steady schedule of spinning heavy sounds for the kids in LA at clubs like Ram Jam Club, Trojan Lounge and Soulside events at The Rocksteady Lounge at Akbar. But in St. Louis, he will always be the founder of Ska’s The Limit.