From the independent producer project of KCRW and KCRW.com, I'm Bob Carlson,

and this is UnFictional.

Unfictional is a program of stories and original documentaries.

It's a showcase for unique audio storytelling.

And without a doubt, that description applies to radio artist Joe Frank.

He's achieved a near legendary status

over his three decades of producing programs

that defy easy description, stories

that exist in a world of their own.

And it's not only listeners that have been inspired.

Joe Frank has been a hero to radio producers,

and he's influenced the work of other artists.

Brent Weinbach is a stand-up comedian based here in Los Angeles and he says that listening

to Joe Frank is what made him understand his own voice as a comic.

His stuff is so good, he's so good. I, his stuff is so good. He's so good.

I mean, his stuff, he, it just, it seems like there's so much thought put into every single thing he says,

you know, and it makes me think.

At first when I heard it, it sounded like it it sounded like some kind of noir detective you

know he described things like this and then and he'd always do this and then and I

love that and then that was something then, and I love that and then.

That was something that I just, I love that.

And I don't know, I would later try to emulate that.

...