Lakewood AM talk radio has added a Spanish program, featuring Plinio Gutierrez Delgado, a local Spanish teacher. Photo: Bill Timnick

Spanish language talk and Latin music have joined forces, now that Lakewood-based AM talk radio station KLAY has added local Spanish teacher, Plinio Gutierrez Delgado to its weekend program lineup.   â€œSabado Latino” began airing on Saturdays from 7:05 to 9 p.m. some two months ago, with Delgado as its inaugural host.  The program’s format is a hybrid of traditional talk and more entertainment-oriented music programming.

“KLAY opened the door to the possibility of starting a show for the Latino community,” Delgado explained, “due to the growing number of Hispanic people in our area.  And we thought that it was a good time to be start building a bridge between the Hispanic community and the general English speaking population.”

The “we” to whom Delgado referred is the Delgado family.  The “Sabado Latino” team includes Plinio as host, joined by Carol Seymour, Delgado’s wife, who serves as marketing director for the operation.  The ensemble also includes Delgado’s 15 year-old stepson, Alex Benzegala, program technician and board operator, and 10 year-old son, Gubidxa Gutierrez, whose contributions range from graphic design to voicing commercials, to running errands for the family enterprise.

Delgado himself was an elementary school teacher in his native Mexico.  He later taught in Seattle for some 10 years before becoming a Spanish teacher at Charles Wright Academy in University Place.  He has been on the Charles Wright faculty for five years. 

Delgado describes “Sabado Latino” as a variety show, following a hybrid format that combines news with interviews featuring local Hispanic community leaders, as well as social service and immigration experts, and local Latino performing artists.  Music programming completes the two hour weekly format.

“Pierce County’s Hispanic population has grown rapidly over the past few years and I believe that my community needs to be better informed about the local resources available to them and how to access them,” Delgado said.  “Also, the community needs to be well informed about topics that are important to us…and I think that it’s very important to educate my community, not just to keep it entertained.”   Recurring conversation topics include education among local Latino youth, immigration and crime.

“But I also enjoy playing music,” Delgado said.

KLAY can be heard on 1180 AM locally, or on the Web.  For more information, to join “Sabado Latino’s” family of local advertisers, or to be considered for a guest spot, call 253.313.0155 or contact the show via e-mail. â€" Bill Timnick