Dov Viramontes, creator of Urban Funk, has always loved music.  He grew up listening to all types of music.  Living in Mexico, Dov, even as a toddler, enjoyed listening to his father, a musician, playing an array of South American instruments.  “As a small child I can remember plucking the guitar, beating a drum, and blowing into a flute at my father’s side,” said Dov.

He also grew up listening to classical music due to his mother’s passion for it. “I have my uncle’s 1957 stereo, along with all my mother’s classical records.  When I’m in the mood, I’ll just pull out a record and relax to the sounds of classical music,” said Dov.  

By the time Dov entered the 6th grade, he began to play the silver flute in band class.  He chose the flute because it was an instrument he had laying around the house, and nobody was using it. Taking private music lessons,  he continued playing the flute throughout grammar school and for four years in his high school orchestra.

Dov just finished his second year at Los Angeles Valley College.  This past semester, he enrolled in a music appreciation class.  “This class had to have been one of the most amazing classes ever! I had an incredible teacher. We listened to classical and contemporary music everyday.  We analyzed it, listened to various sections,  found different patterns and discussed why it was composed the way it sounded.  I learned so much.  Classical music makes much more sense to me when I listen to it.  I never knew it contained so many different motifs to form such beautiful sounds,” said Dov.

This year Dov also served as student president of Hillel, a Jewish student organization for Pierce and Valley Colleges.  He got the chance to promote some events over the air waves at Valley College.  A  few weeks after that, Dov created Urban Funk.  Dov said, “ I became so inspired when I got on the air at Valley College. I thought to myself, if they can talk and play music, so can I.”
 Nathan Spindel, a friend, set Dov up to broadcast over the Internet.  Dov now has listeners as far away as Hawaii and as close to home in LA across the street. “This is something that I enjoy doing. It makes me feel content when a listener writes in and says that he/she just loved the song I just broadcast,” said Dov.  

Dov did not want to stick to just one type of music.  His show includes music ranging from Classical to today’s Hip Hop and House music.  “The point of Urban Funk is to broaden one’s knowledge of music.  I want people to listen to music and hopefully question and understand why they liked it,” said Dov.

Urban Funk can be heard weekly on Wednesday nights followed by Feed Your Head, hosted by his good friend the poet, Rick Lupert.

Other cool facts about Dov:

Favorite Movie: The Breakfast Club
Dumbest quote ever said: Pathetic no!
Favorite breakfast cereal:  Cinnamon Toast Crunch
Favorite cartoon:  It’s all about The Care Bears!
Last CD bought:  I don’t  remember.
Favorite book:  Jane Eyre
Favorite Color: Emerald
Favorite character:  Curious George
Favorite hang out: Coffee shops and bookstores
Last Concert you went to: Dispatch / G. Love & Special Sauce, House of Blues on Sunset Blvd.
Last Embarrassing moment: I danced with a belly dancer in front of a crowd of people. Dancing with her was cool, but being watched wasn’t.  
When you’re not broadcasting you’re: Going to school, doing yoga, and chilling with my friends.
Idols: Gandhi  
Last words: Are we done yet?