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Raised in Kansas City, Jon Niccum has lived in Lawrence for the last 25 years. While securing his degree in film studies from Kansas University, he earned a full-time living as a musician by teaching guitar/bass lessons at Mass Street Music, playing in a variety of working bands (The Budinskis, Easterday, Groovehead) and toiling as a sound engineer.
In 1993, Niccum embarked on a career in journalism via a seven-year stint as music/film editor at The Pitch, a Kansas City weekly newspaper, where he co-founded and produced the KLAMMIES (the Kansas City/Lawrence Area Music Awards). Additionally, he hosted "Nightlife," a music/sketch comedy segment of the weekly series "KC Roundabout" on Time Warner Cable.
He joined the Journal-World in 2000, first as editor of its weekly entertainment publication, The Mag, then later as the daily’s entertainment editor.
In addition to Niccum’s journalistic endeavors, he served four years as president of the Kansas City Film Critics Circle, wrote/produced the films "Zero the Counter," "Merriman's Circle" and "Paint Shaker," and composed the official record label bios for artists such as Evanescence, Jeff Beck, Leon Redbone and Joe Satriani.
He shares a house with his wife Ann, production manager of Free State Studios, and daughter Lola.
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Recent stories:
- 'Idol' follies: Lawrence singers test their voices at TV auditions
August 15, 2008 - Down to earth: ‘Earthwork’ film production to chronicle remarkable experiences of Lawrence artist
July 25, 2008 - Gaea retreat: Music, environmental awareness, spirituality collide in new festival
July 18, 2008 - Rockin' in the free world
July 3, 2008 - KU students to debut ‘Off the Wall’ comedy pilot
June 27, 2008 - Zappa resurrects father’s eclectic music
June 8, 2008 - Space Case: Wayne Coyne transports the Flaming Lips’ extraterrestrial sounds back to Wakarusa
June 6, 2008 - Escalating gasoline prices compel Wakarusa fans to embrace carpooling
June 5, 2008 - Bee prepared
May 16, 2008 - Filmmakers forge distribution network
May 9, 2008 - See full list of stories by Jon Niccum...
Lights & Siren / Paper Owls / Aubrey :: This hard-rocking KC quintet is intently more upbeat and showy than singer Anna Cole’s former projects. The group’s newfound chemistry resonates proudly on its new album "Our Hands Make Waves" ... More info
- Obama Acceptance Speech Watch Party
- Artist Lecture: Gonkar Gyatso
- CANCELLED: "The Science of Clouds," by Sunflower Broadband Channel 6 meteorologist Jennifer Schack
