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(Jim Cramer, Rick Scarry, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Gene Michellini, and Steve Futterman)
Hear Ache
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(September 19, 2017) Sean Hannity is moving to 9 p.m. to take on MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow directly starting next week in anticipation of Fox News Channel debuting Laura Ingraham’s (l) new show on the day before Halloween. I remember meeting Laura 15 years ago when interviewing her at KPLS (830AM) in Orange. You might have fun reading the original story as you scroll down … Jim Cramer’s nine-minute piece on why the market is totally wrong about the CBS Radio/Entercom merger is a great, positive listen. If you haven’t seen it, click here. One local industry leader wonders if 20 years after consolidation if anyone can effectively run a large station group. Good question. The McDonaldization of radio just hasn’t worked the way it was perceived … When the Dodgers were in the midst of their 11-game losing streak recently, a letter to the LA Times was quite poignant. “Could Vin Scully consider calling a few games, until at least several of them are won? If anyone can break a curse, it has to be Scully. My dad and I had a difficult relationship. Scully’s call of Sandy Koufax’s perfect game in 1965, with us listening in our kitchen without breathing much was a healing moment for us. Maybe the unmistakable sound of Vin’s voice can heal the Dodgers as well.” … Adding to the list of changes at KNX posted yesterday, the all-nights will be shared on different nights between Bob Brill, Maggie McKay, and Mark Austin Thomas … Those of you who have asked how my son, Don, Jr., was doing in Naples, Florida, he’s still without power. “Turns out our quadrant had more extensive line damage than they thought. Likely Friday until restored,” he texted. |
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“I Became a Talk
Show Host,
(April
30, 2002)
Laura
Ingraham, nine to noon counter talker to Rush
Limbaugh, appears daily on Hot Talk/KPLS (830AM) and 225 other
stations across the country. She was in town yesterday, broadcasting from the
Orange studios where there were wires everywhere to hook up with her
studio headquarters in Washington DC. She teased KPLS gm
Alan
Fuller (pictured below with Laura) unmercifully about getting the
studio just right for her.
In
person, she looks like a coed late for her classes at San Diego State instead of
one of those bright young ladies dotting the talk show wars. She graduated from
Dartmouth College, where, in the mid-1980s, Laura was editor of The
Dartmouth Review. She worked as a speechwriter in the final two years of the
Reagan administration and then graduated from law school at the University of
Virginia. She successfully took her bar examination in San Diego. Laura was a
clerk in the Supreme Court of the United States for Justice Clarence Thomas. For
three years, she was a white-collar
criminal defense litigator for a Washington DC law firm. When she moved into the
media world, she worked at MSNBC and CBS, where she contributed on-air
commentaries for the weekend evening news.
Her father was a career
worker at Pratt & Whitney, a company that manufactures
engines for commercial, military and general aviation aircraft, space propulsion
and power systems. Laura’s mother was a waitress. The
youngest of four children, she has three older brothers. “When I was born, my
parents were so happy they had a little girl. But I was a tomboy. I loved to
play basketball, baseball and other sports,” she enthused during a break in
her program.
Laura is part of KPLS’
effort to become a major player in Southern California radio. Emerging from the
shadows of the Catholic Family Radio, William Agee, the former chairman of
Bendix, is the champion of the new talk entry. “It is not by accident that
five of our six hours in midday are female voices,” said Alan Fuller, proudly
looking after his Washington, DC guest. “We’ve signed with ABC Radio, and Westwood
One. We carry Pepperdine sports, we're the alternate flagship for the Angels and we carry USC sports. Did you know that 70% of USC graduates
living in Southern California, live in Orange County?” Alan asked
rhetorically.
When Alan arrived last
fall from a career in advertising, sales (he was with CBS for 17 years) and
syndication, KPLS had three employees. The station now has 30 and a full staff of sales
people. (Following Laura’s show yesterday morning, Mike Bremner, the KPLS
gsm, was taking his
talk show guest to lunch with a group of station advertisers.) The station is
looking to move to new quarters, demonstrating a commitment to be a player in
local radio. They currently occupy the old Radio AHHS space.
Don
Imus starts the KPLS day followed by Laura, George
Putnam at noon, and then Dana Roth. The controversial
Michael
Savage holds down afternoons. Alan is still toying with the evening line-up. The
station is celebrating its one-year anniversary today as a Hot Talk station.
Operations director |
KNX Shuffles Shifts
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(September 18, 2017) KNX is shuffling the anchor staff in all dayparts except mornings. Brian Ping (l) moves from nights to midday. “After more than six years on overnights and then late nights, I'm moving to the KNX midday anchor shift starting September 25. See you on the dayside,” he wrote on his Facebook page. 5a – 10a KNX Morning News with Dick Helton and Vicky Moore 10a – 1p KNX Midday News with Brian Ping 1p – 2p KNX In Depth with Charles Feldman and Mike Simpson 2p – 7p KNX Afternoon News with Mike Simpson and Chris Sedens 7p – 8p KNX Evening News with Diane Thompson 8p – 9p KNX In Depth (Repeat) 9p – 12a KNX Evening News with Diane Thompson |
Nostalgia Sunday - 11 Years Ago Today
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KFI’s John Ziegler Suspended After Flap with John Kobylt
Nearing the end of the John & Ken show (Ken Champiou was on holiday and John was working solo), John Ziegler walked into the studio to promote his show. Kobylt: “John & Ken Show, John Kobylt and Ken Champiou, six fifty-five here at KFI. John Ziegler coming up right after the seven o’clock news.” Ziegler: “Hey, John, exclusive information – stuff you won’t hear anywhere else – about how ABC caved on the Path to 9/11 movie last night. Plus we’ll talk to a teacher who is having some difficulty locally teaching about 9/11 and I’ll also explain…there are two great mysteries as far as I’m concerned. Why George Bush is so incredibly soft on illegal immigration and why someone as smart as John Kobylt has his head up his ass on Iraq.” Kobylt: “Oh, get the…get out of here…get out…get out…get out or I’m going to throw something at you. Out. Out.” Ziegler: “Go ahead and throw it John.” Kobylt: “Get him out…get him out. No, I’m serious. I’m sick of you coming in here every day and bugging me. Get out of here.” Ziegler: “You’re wrong on this, John. You turn off my microphone…” Kobylt: “Either turn off his microphone or I’m getting out. Get him out…get him out. John, I just asked you five minutes ago not to be a pain in the ass and bug me anymore. Okay? I asked you…I ask you every day. Get out of here. God almighty. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. I want to see you put on a GI uniform and go fight in Baghdad. God…go…out.” Ziegler: “Fine. Take care of it tomorrow.” Kobylt: “Leah Brandon is next…” Austin Hill sat in for Ziegler last night. Ziegler is scheduled to return to his 7 p.m. - 10 p.m. slot on Monday. |
Email Saturday
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** KSHE Impressive "I thoroughly enjoyed today's story on the Top 20 AOR Stations. During my days in the 1970s doing mornings and helping to program KCAL/fm in San Bernardino, we shamelessly did our best to mirror all the good attributes of our Los Angeles competitor KMET. However, the best overall music presentation and imaging award back then would have to go to KSHE in St. Louis. While traveling on a three week cross-county road-trip in the summer of 1979 [a.k.a. Album Rock's heyday] my wife and I listened non-stop to every AOR station on the dial in virtually half of the United States. We logged a ton of miles and buckets of listening hours. Many stations were impressive, but none more so than KSHE. I'm not at all surprised that it made everyone's Top Ten List. But when it came to the best on-air charisma and the hipness factor, The Mighty Met put everyone else to shame." - Ted Ziegenbusch |
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** New Liner at KNX? "On Tuesday 9/12/17 at around 6:47 a.m., Jennifer York was ending her two-minute traffic report as part of the station’s 'traffic [and weather together] every ten minutes on the five’s' when she said something totally different than her usual sign-off of: '…I’m Jennifer York with more traffic reports more often, KNX 1070 Newsradio.' She caught herself a few seconds into this new and different sign-off saying 'sorry' and chuckling a bit to herself, then returning to the normal sign-off script. Does anybody know what distracted her to say something totally different then what she has to say 50 [FIFTY!!] times each day during her five hour shift?" - Steve Nieto |
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** Anniversary to LARP "Happy anniversary to LARadio.com. Congratulations, Don, and many thanks for all you do." - Don Graham |
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Why Did KCSN Move? "As a former KCSNer, I agree with Doug Brown’s assessment of KCSN and KSBR. I unfortunately started at KCSN after Doug left and Bob Bishop was manager. At that time we were 3000 watts, reached from Santa Barbara to San Diego. We were NPR, run by mostly students at CSUN. We were highly thought of in the music industry since we didn’t have 'sponsors' we were doing basically the same format as KCSN has been doing for the past few years, but only at night. Most of the day parts were NPR and educational stuff. Then for some reason, I don’t know why, and after I left, KCSN moved their antenna to hit the Santa Clarita Valley and cut their power to 370 watts. This led the way to KSBR [Saddleback College] to come on the air. Now they’re back. We all wish them luck and have nothing bad to say against the 'employees.' They just should be mostly students. That’s my opinion. - Kevin Stern |
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** Where is Bill Jenkins?
"I love your website about the radio scene in LA. Do you have any idea |
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** Passing of Don Bishop "Sad news about the death of Don Bishop, former morning personality at K-100/fm in L.A. in the 70's and long time personality at Transtar/WestwoodOne/Dial-Global Radio Networks has passed. I knew him for such a long time. I first met him when he was brought on to host the evening shift at KFXM in San Bernardino in the early 70's. Our broadcast paths crossed again at K-100 and at WW1. The link to his information in enclosed if anyone reading this knew him and wants to post a comment." - Bruce Chandler |
Naples, Florida is a Family Affair
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(September 15, 2017) My oldest son lives in Naples,
Florida. Not knowing the laser beam precision of Hurricane Irma, he
waited until Sunday to evacuate his home with his two dogs, Daisy and
Papi. Don, Jr. (l) works for a law firm. The company opened the building
for employees and their families (including animals) to ride out the
storm.
There’s nothing worse than “not knowing” when it comes to family
members. The storm hit the Florida Keys very hard, and Naples was next.
Last I heard was Sunday when he was evacuating … until yesterday
afternoon.
“It’s like a war zone here,” my son texted. “No electricity. No gas. No
cell service. No power in county. No Internet until late last night. No
AC, no pool screens, mosquitoes breeding. Earlier no flushing toilets
until neighbor back fed water. Lots of standing water until today. Front
yard is still a bog.”
My son ended his text mentioning that one of his dogs damaged her leg
and was lame. In addition, he has a giant Bismarck palm leaning on his
property, he doesn’t know if that will come crashing down. His car got
water logged traveling through high water, so his vehicle is no longer
drivable.
As a father I am pleased that he survived and that there was no major
damage. Others had it so much worse. I remember in 1994 when half our
Valencia house collapsed in the earthquake. Day by day you do what is in
front of you and keep moving forward. It seems impossible to escape the
obstacles that Mother Nature has up her sleeve. |
Top 20 AOR Stations of All-Time
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(September 14, 2017) Over the past few weeks, readers of trade publication Radio Ink voted for the top 20 AOR stations of all time. In addition to the people poll, two AOR experts voted. Both John Sebastian and Lee Abrams have ranked their lists. |
| How John Sebastian picked them: “My decisions
and analysis for this list was predicated on several considerations:
Legacy…how the station influenced other Rock radio stations around the
country and really the world. Longevity…Consistency in a rock format.
How the station was a factor in furthering social justice…this varied
market to market but it speaks to how serious the stations were about
truly being sensitive to the day to day needs of their listeners and
advertisers…the way they covered news, the public service they provided,
the concerts they influenced to play in their market. Ratings dominance
and consistency, over time and also stations that broke ratings records
that in some cases still stand today.” John Sebastian’s Top 20 Rock
Stations of All Time: #1) KMET-Los Angeles #2) WEBN-Cincinnati #3) KQRS-Minneapolis #4) WRIF-Detroit #5) KSHE-St. Louis #6) KISW-Seattle #7) WLUP-Chicago #8) WBCN-Boston #9) WMMS-Cleveland #10) WNEW-New York #11) WMMR-Philadelphia #12) KLOS-Los Angeles #13) WFBQ-Indianapolis #14) WDVE-Pittsburgh #15) KGON-Portland #16) KSAN-San Francisco #17) WYSP-Philadelphia #18) WSHE-Miami #19) KZEW-Dallas #20) WCOZ-Boston |
How Lee Abrams ranked his Top 20: #1) WEBN-Cincinnati #2) WMMR-Philadelphia #3) WBCN-Boston #4) KMET-Los Angeles #5) WRIF-Detroit #6) WMMS-Cleveland #7) KISW-Seattle #8) WDVE-Pittsburgh #9) KQRS-Minneapolis #10) KSHE-St. Louis #11) WKLS-Atlanta #12) WFBQ-Indianapolis #13) WNEW/fm-New York #14) WSHE-South Florida #15) WQDR-Raleigh #16) KYYS-Kansas City #17) WDIZ-Orlando #18) KLOS-Los Angeles #19) WAAF-Worcester #20) KGB-San Diego |
And here’s how
Radio Ink readers voted in online poll:
#1) WMMR-Philadelphia #2) KLOS-Los Angeles #3) WRIF-Detroit #4) KSHE-St. Louis #5) WEBN-Cincinnati #6) KQRS-Minneapolis #7) KMET-Los Angeles #8) WNEW-New York #9) WNOR-Norfolk #10) WRAT-New Jersey #11) WFBQ-Indianapolis #12) KISW-Seattle #13) WKLC-Charleston, WV #14) WMMS-Cleveland #15) KNAC-Los Angeles #16) WBCN-Boston #17) WDVE-Pittsburgh #18) KQRC-Kansas City #19) WSHE-Miami #20) WGRF Buffalo |
Former KIQQ and Westood One DJ Dies
Dr. Demento Loses His Wife of 34 Years
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(September 13, 2017) "Sad times in the Land of Dementia – Sue Hansen, my wife, love and
helpmate for 34 years, died on Sunday, September 10, after a
month-long illness. She was just 65. Sue saved my life and my sanity at a time when I was sorely tempted by the fast times of the L.A. radio and record business in the 1980s. We never had children [our mutual decision, for several reasons] but richly enjoyed each other's company, and I learned a whole lot about life and love from her. Sue was born and raised in Council Bluffs, Iowa, and moved to Los Angeles a year after high school. She and I were introduced by my L. A. neighbors in the 1970s, Fred and Delores Schaefer. Sue and Fred worked together in the Los Angeles yard office of the Union Pacific Railroad, and we first laid eyes on each other when Fred offered to give me a tour of the yard office. [As you may know I'm something of a rail fan, so I was eager for that]. After a couple of get-togethers at the Schaefers' house Sue and I began dating in 1979. We were married in Fern Grotto, Kauai, Hawaii in 1983, and our reception in early 1984 drew hundreds of people to the Variety Arts Club in L.A., where the great Johnny Otis and his band capped the celebration with their fabulous r&b sounds. By that time Sue had been promoted to training officer for the railroad, but soon after our wedding the training operation was moved to the Midwest. Since I couldn't leave L.A. at that time due to the show, Sue opted to leave the railroad and stay with me in L.A. For several years she worked for a business that imported quartz crystals and carvings from Brazil, distributing them to local metaphysical bookstores and head shops. She then volunteered to take over the Demento Society, the show's fan club and merchandising operation. She ran that very successfully through the 1990s and into the new century. If you got one of our membership kits in those years, Sue probably packed and shipped it. |
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Sue began having health problems in 2009, when she had an attack of food poisoning that lingered for a very long time. One day in 2011, when I was out of town, she tried to lift a large box of papers, and suffered a hernia which led to serious consequences requiring emergency surgery. She had barely recovered from that when she began having the back and knee problems which plagued her from then on. She had to sleep in a recliner, making it difficult for us to travel together. We continued to enjoy a happy life at home, though, until she became ill early last month. On August 15 she was admitted to the hospital. Despite their efforts including emergency surgery and dialysis, her condition continued to get worse. I was totally unprepared for how fast she was taken from me. The Dr. Demento Show will go on [and you will continue to hear Sue's voice saying "The Doctor is In!" at the start of each show] but this will be a very hard one to get over." -Dr. Demento (Barret Hansen) from his Facebook post |
Damn Gardner
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(September 12, 2017) Bill Gardner is one of my favorite LARP. Bill
hosted the quintessential doo-wop music show on Friday nights at KPCC
until a format change dropping all music programming in the spring of
2000. By day he is a supervisor of social workers who aid victims of
child abuse in Los Angeles County. His weekly show, Rhapsody in Black, moved to KPFK in May 2000 and he hosted a weekend show on KKJZ playing jazz, blues and classic r&b until the spring of 2007 when there was a management change. He shared a story when he was at LACC. In 1958 I was a movie extra in Damn Yankees. I was playing ball for Los Angeles City College in 1958. The filming of Damn Yankees was about to begin. My coach knew movie people and told me to go and try out for the film at a local playground. I was chosen as an extra, really because the Washington Senators first baseman was black and left-handed and played first base ... like me.. We filmed the first day at Warner's Brothers. I got to see the filming of a Maverick episode featuring James Garner. For the next four days we were on location at Wrigley Field in Los Angeles. My main scene is when Tab Hunter is trying out for the Senators. The camera is directly behind me as a ball is hit to Tab Hunter at shortstop and an extra throws the ball to me at first base. I was also in several other walk by scenes. I got to meet Tab Hunter who was a very nice person. He invited me and others to his ranch to ride horses, but I and other ballplayer extras declined. lol. I made $800 for this, which was a lot of money back then. I could have joined the screen actors guild but I chose to buy a used Ford to drive to school. |
Hear Ache
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(September 11, 2017) Chris Madsen is celebrating his 24th Anniversary with the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim franchise. Chris wrote on his Facebook page: “Looking back, it was something right out of a Hollywood script…considering I had no inside contact at the Walt Disney Company, no agent, and yet I got the call over hundreds of other applicants for the tv play-by-play post–WITH ONLY ONE NHL GAME on my resume! As my dad taught me: 'Happy are those who dream dreams, and are willing to pay the price to make them come true.'" … Bob Madigan did news on KNX/fm in the late seventies. In 1993, Bob joined WTOP-Washington, DC and stayed until his retirement in 2014. He now lives in Blue Hill Peninsula, Maine … Rhonda Kramer is celebrating 3 years of dispending traffic info at KABC … … LARadio reader Andrew Schermerhorn wonders if there is a rift between KABC’s Doug McIntyre and Peter Tilden. “Every morning Doug waits until the last 10 seconds of his show to do crosstalk with Peter. As Peter begins to respond to Doug’s, ‘Peter! What do you have coming on your show today?’ Doug cuts him off with his signature signoff, ‘Down the dinosaur I go!” Doug responded: “It's a bit, but if gets us a single listener, you can tell LARP we hate each other.” … During the La Tuna fire last week, Rick Dees tweeted: “Hollywood air is loaded with ashes and smoke and breathing is not good. I fact, I just inhaled and chipped a tooth.” … Roger Carroll emailed to say that during his 22 years with 710/KMPC, “We had the Angels, UCLA football and basketball and Rams.” … What the heck is happening with LARadio? During the 2017 NAB Marconi Radio Award presentation, not one LA station received an award. |
8 Years Ago Today
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Our Missed Brooks
“Turned out it wasn’t much on air work because the men were doing the imaging. It was an automated station with the old Schafer Reel-to-Reel playback machines that were programmed by numbers. I was allowed to do the news once an hour. This was 1976 and I felt like the token female.” Barbara originally moved to Texas in 1970 when her father accepted a job with an independent production company in Dallas. He was a film editor and director in Hollywood in the 50s and 60s where he did 60 travelogues for Jack Douglas and a tv series called I Search for Adventure. “Competition from film school graduates forced my dad to look elsewhere and he found work in Dallas and we moved there when I was 12. You could buy a house for next to nothing and there wasn’t the same kind of competition for jobs,” said Barbara. When Barbara was working in Lubbock, her father had a massive hemorrhage on his spinal cord and he was paralyzed from the chest down. “I moved to Dallas to help take care of him. Shortly after moving to Dallas I needed a job and saw an ad in the newspaper: ‘Traffic Reporter Wanted.’”
While working for Metro she was offered a position with a tv production company in Baltimore as a coordinator. “The job was not what I expected. I didn’t meet anybody and saw the same four people every day. I think they had more expectation of what I knew about video. I was basically a radio/newspaper girl.” She ended up at Metro in Washington DC and after some broken promises from management; Barbara left and returned to Dallas to work at all-News KRLD. After her father died, Barbara’s mother wanted to go back to Southern California. They did – her mother didn’t stay in the Southland, but Barbara decided to stay. In 1985 Barbara joined LA Network, a traffic company owned and run by Rhonda Kramer (now KFWB drive time traffic) and her then-husband Kenny Green. She stayed at LA Network for a couple of years before returning to Metro Traffic for the third time, where she was also director of operations for a time. In 1993 she moved over to the competing traffic service, AirWatch, and dispensed traffic and news for 14 years, primarily for KFI and KBIG. For several years Barbara flew with Mike Nolan.
With a career as a traffic
reporter, Barbara reflected on her first introduction to traffic
reporting, ironically at a young age. "At a costume party my parents met
Capt. Max Schumacher and his wife," remembered Barbara about the
traffic reporting pilot from the 50s and 60s who worked for Gene
Autry's 710/KMPC. "At the end of the evening, Capt. Max invited my
dad to fly with him the next afternoon. He was finishing up a film, ran
into some problems and had to cancel so Capt. Max said to come to the
airport the following day and to bring his wife. My mother was very
excited and told several friends she would be going. The following
afternoon, my father had a premonition that he shouldn't go so he called
and said he was still busy with work and canceled. Capt. Max was glad
because he had a couple at the airport that was there on the wrong day
so he said he would take them up that day and my parents the following
day. That was the day he had a mid-air collision over Dodger stadium
with a police helicopter. Evening news reports said there was an
unidentified couple on-board, thankfully it wasn't my parents." Barbara lives in a historic home in the Inland Empire (she was quick to point out that it was in the 951 and not the 909 area code) that was built in 1924. “I really like it. When I bought it five years ago I was able to get it for what I was paying in rent.” Today, Barbara combines all of her skills as a reporter, video host and writer for a Web site called Fire Department Network News. She is up for taking on a new news and/or traffic reporting assignment. You can reach Barbara at: barbarabrooks@yahoo.com
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Email Saturday
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** Power to
88.5/fm “With KCSN merger with
KSBR, it now gives KCSN approximately the same coverage area they had
when they were 3000 watts. Who says you can't ‘go home.’" – Kevin Stern |
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** Ex-GM at KCSN Remembers
“My thoughts on the "new" 88.5/fm.
I was the first full time staff general manager of KEDC/KCSN in 1971-73.
That was also the very early days of NPR of which we were a member.
I find it really sad to see both KCSN and KSBR are no longer primarily
student operated providing young people with a starting place in
broadcasting
In fact, I don't get why the colleges are even holding these
non-commercial licenses which are now run primarily by former commercial
music radio people.
In the late '60s and early '70s, the staff of KEDC/KCSN was well more
than 100 students performing virtually every function: writing,
performing, production, engineering, continuity, music programming,
news, public affairs, publicity, etc. It was a great place to start for
many of us.
And BTW, the new KCSN call sign was my idea [in January '73] to coincide
with the university name change from San Fernando Valley State College
to CSUN.” – Doug Brown |
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** Can You Hear Me Now?
“Listening to the La Tuna Canyon fire press conferences, I am rather
puzzled that, in 2017, journalists at press conferences STILL do not
deploy a crowd mic to pick up the questions that the reporters are
asking. The questions can barely be heard and often are not heard at
all. We only hear the spokesperson answering the question and are left
to deduce what the question was.
Steve Kindred,
Chris Little, Steve Gregory, Andy
Ludlum, et al … can you explain why this basic logistic to
serve the listener is omitted and ignored?” – Andrew Schermerhorn |
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** Tribute to Josefa Salinas’ Father
“I am here for a brief moment to share the most heartbreaking news with
you. My father has died.
He was the most incredible man I have ever met. Many of you had the joy
of meeting Senor Salinas. I took my father everywhere with me and I can
tell you he was at home in ALL situations. He made everyone feel
welcome. He was the most well-read man I have ever met. He taught me
about morals, ethics, philosophy, art, writing, negotiation, parenting
and more.
He said something to me this week that echoed a previous conversation.
He said: ‘I have so much respect for you Josefa. The woman you have
become. The mother you are. Congratulations sweetheart.’ WOW, for my
father to tell ME that he had respect for ME? The highest honor he could
ever have presented me.
Believe me I understand that he is in a better place. This however took
my breath away. He was my rock. My mentor. My confidant. My advisor. Mi
Papá. He taught me that I should expect what I am prepared to give. He
taught me that I was a princess deserving of a prince. He was a warrior.
He was superhuman. To see the look on his face when they told him he was
terminal was heart breaking. He looked at me and said NO. I am NOT going
to die.
I held his hand for three days as he lay not speaking. I watched his
chest go up and down listening for each breath until it did no more. I
held my hand over his heart as it took its last beat. I will never
forget preparing his body, washing it with lavender soap, covering it
with lavender oil, sage and rosemary and wrapping his body for delivery.
Papa, you are right. You will never die. I will tell your stories for as
long as I have breath. My children will tell your stories. I will finish
all of your writings and publish all of your books. I will make sure the
world knows about the books you have written. You will be with us
always.
For today, I am trying to figure out how to breathe. How to walk with no
legs. How to see with eyes that cannot focus. To move one foot in front
of the other.
Forgive me as I grieve. And if I have business with you, understand that
I will not be taking phone calls for now. I must find my way in a dark
place of which I have no map.
Thank you all for understanding.” –
Josefa Salinas
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** LA Persons in 1976
"Here's a look at quarter hour numbers - mid-1976. Compare New York to Los Angeles and more. The top station in LA was KABC - with about 100,000 per quarter - compared to music station WABC-NY at about 250,000 per quarter hour. WLS-Chicago - 170,000. KHJ about 64,000. Also in the Top 10 - KBIG, KFI, KMPC, KNX and Country KLAC. An interesting time as fm was quickly catching up to AM in most places. Also - interestingly (FYI) - KHJ's top year was 1972 when it did $5.3 million gross. Same year - WABC did just over $8 million gross. Here's a link. - Gary West/Man From Yesterday |
Two Non-Comms Go Triple A
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(September 8, 2017) Two student non-com stations, KCSN
from Cal State Northridge and KSBR from Mission Viejo's Saddleback
College, have joined programming forces to extend the reach of both
stations. “With both stations on 88.5/fm, the combined effort increases
the potential audience of the two stations from 3 million to 11.5
million listeners. The station will be branded as "The New 88.5," with much of its programming originating from KCSN, currently a Triple A station. Previously, KSBR had been primarily programming Smooth Jazz. The broadcasts will originate from both stations' campus studios as well as from a remote studio at The Village at Westfield Topanga. “We’ve been saying that one plus one equals eleven,” said KCSN’s general manager/program director, Sky Daniels. He’s been working for the past four years, leading the charge to combine the two non-commercial stations. “We were literally the lowest powered fm station in L.A.,” Daniels told Billboard Magazine. In addition to Daniels, Jim Rondeau will be ops manager, plus djs Nic Harcourt, Jim Nelson and Daniels along with KSBR’s Garrison West who will now have a regular weekday slot. The station will continue to program NPR’s syndicated World Cafe as well as shows with Julie Slater, Harry Shearer, Les Perry (Saturday with the Beatles), Robert Hilburn, Jed The Fish and Kevin Bronson. “There’s a reason why we’ve taken the tact we have as a Triple A station,” said Daniels, “it's because this is a format in Los Angeles that has not been served." "The New 88.5" will host a benefit concert with Sheryl Crow at L.A.'s Fonda Theatre on October 23. Part of the proceeds will be donated to Stomp Out, an anti-bullying organization. |
Fake News at AMP Radio
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(September 7, 2017) There is much interest in the
morning drive slot at AMP Radio. The opening was created when Carson
Daly decided to leave after seven years to devote more time to
his young family and his role at The Today Show. At my Twitter
account (@barrettLARadio) there have been a few Tweets asking if Opie
(Gregg Hughes) was in line to join AMP/LA. Opie was the former co-host
of the Opie and Anthony radio show that aired from 1995 to 2014 with
Anthony Cumia and comedian Jim Norton. When the team broke up, Hughes
stayed on at SiriusXM until July of this year. When AMP program
director Chris Ebbott was asked about the speculation,
he said, “This is fake news, first I’ve heard of it.” So there. In other “real news,” Brad Chambers is celebrating 11 years hosting MartiniInTheMorning Internet radio playing songs of “The Great America Songbook.” … Speaking of anniversaries, Ashley Paige, former mornings at KZLA and KKGO, is celebrating her 21st wedding anniversary with hubby Neil … Also celebrating their anniversary, Lisa Bowman, ex-KABC, celebrates 38 years of marriage bliss with husband/director Chuck of Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman … Bonnie Marquez is joining KCSN, the Northridge Triple A station, as director of marketing and special events. She had a similar role at KZLA and KOST … Former KIIS and KBIG dj Gary Spears is exiting Chicago Oldies station, WJMK. He’s headed for Florida, hopefully after Hurricane Irma … Mike Dowler, part of Santa Clarita radio for many years, is telling everyone he is now cancer-free for the past seven years. |
Morning Has Broken (August '17 PPM)
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Persons 12+ 1. Valentine (MY/fm) 2. Bill Handel (KFI) 3. Pat Prescott (The WAVE) 4. News Team (KNX) Omar y Argelia (KLVE) 6. Ryan Seacrest; 7. Gary Bryan; 8. Ellen K; |
Persons 18-34 1. The Woody Show (KYSR) 2. Valentine (MY/fm) Omar y Argelia (KLVE) 4. Ryan Seacrest (KIIS) 5. Mega Morning Show (KXOL) 6. Pat Prescott; 7. Frosty, Heidi, Frank; 12. Carson Daly |
Persons 25-54 1. Valentine (MY/fm) 2. Omar y Argelia (KLVE) 3. Ryan Seacrest (KIIS) 4. Jack (JACK/fm) 5. Pat Prescott (The WAVE) The Woody Show (KYSR) 7. Kevin & Bean; 20. Big Boy |
KBIG Top of the Charts in August '17 PPM
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(September 5, 2017)
Something's got a hold on the top spot in the LARadio ratings and it is
BIG, in fact, MY/fm KBIG. The Hot AC station is a half point higher than
the runner-up KTWV (The WAVE). Not much jumping around in the August '17
PPM ratings, Mon-Sun, 6a-12M: 1. KBIG (Hot AC) 6.1- 6.4 2. KTWV (Rhythmic AC) 5.3 - 5.9 3. KRTH (Classic Hits) 4.8 - 4.8 4. KIIS (Top 40/M) 4.7 - 4.7 5. KOST (AC) 4.7 - 4.5 6. KLVE (Spanish Contemporary) 4.4 - 4.2 7. KFI (Talk) 3.4 - 3.5 8. KCBS (JACK/fm) 3.4 - 3.4 9. KNX (News) 2.9 - 3.0 10. KAMP (Top 40/M) 3.0 -2.9 KPWR (Top 40/R) 3.1 - 2.9 |
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12. KKGO (Country) 2.8 - 2.7 KROQ (Alternative) 2.5 - 2.7 KXOL (Spanish AC) 2.9 - 2.7 15. KRRL (Urban) 2.8 - 2.6 KYSR (Alternative) 2.7 - 2.6 17. KLAX (Regional Mexican) 3.5 - 2.5 18. KSCA (Regional Mexican) 2.5- 2.4 KSWD (Classic Rock) 2.4 - 2.4 20. KLOS (Classic Rock) 2.2 - 2.2 KRCD (Spanish Adult Hits) 2.3 - 2.2 22. KPCC (News/Talk) 1.4 - 1.9 23. KBUE (Regional Mexican) 1.6 - 1.7 24. KXOS (Regional Mexican) 1.6 - 1.6 25. KJLH (Urban AC) 1.4 - 1.5 26. KCRW (Variety) 1.2 - 1.4 27. KLYY (Spanish Adult Hits) 1.4 - 1.3 KUSC (Classical) 1.4 - 1.3 29. KDAY (Rhythmic AC ) 1.2 - 1.2 30. KLAC (Sports) 1.0 - 1.1 31. KRLA (Talk) 0.9 - 1.0 KSPN (Sports) 1.0 - 1.0 KSSE (Spanish Oldies) 1.1 - 1.0 34. KEIB (Talk) 0.8 - 0.8 KWIZ (Spanish Variety) 0.7 - 0.8 36. KABC (Talk) 0.6 - 0.6 KFSH (Christian Contemporary) 0.6 - 0.6 KKJZ (Jazz) 05. - 0.6 39. KFWB ( Regional Mexican) 0.6 - 0.5 KWKW (Spanish Sports) 0.5 - 0.5 |
You Can Book on Nancy Cole
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(September 5, 2017) I met Nancy Cole for
the first time when she was the gm at The Sporting News’ KMPC. The
station was located on Ocean Park Blvd in a Santa Monica industrial
park.Not many women were running radio stations at the time, let alone a
sports station. Nancy was born in Seattle, later growing up in the orange groves of Scottsdale, Arizona. She graduated from Arizona State University in 1973 before working in Phoenix radio and tv as a writer/producer. “I began my radio career as an intern and I was the first woman on the air in Phoenix. From then on I was bitten by the broadcast bug and the rest is history.” Nancy continued in radio but on the path of sales, from starting as an account executive to her first leadership position as sales manager at KXTA. At KMPC she was responsible for repositioning the station to include a more local focus, adding USC football and men’s basketball, signing the LA Avengers arena football team, and changing the call letters from KCTD to KMPC. In early 2002, her contract was not renewed with the station. |
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Nancy is now an author. She sent an email to update her profile. “Since
retiring I’ve picked up my pen and started writing The Carol Childs
Mystery series about a young investigative reporter working for a talk
radio station here in Los Angeles,” Nancy wrote. “Something I know a
little bit about. It’s been a fun and successful series to write. Room
For Doubt, book four in the series has been on Amazon’s top 100 in
mysteries and the series over all appears to be a hit.” Stations Nancy was involved with: KGIL, 1981; KJOI, 1982; KNX, 1983-88; KFWB/KTWV, 1988-95; KABC/KTZN, 1995-97; KXTA, 1997-98; KCTD/KMPC, 2000-02, gm |
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18 Years Ago Today
Labor Day Weekend Catch-Up (Labor Day 1999) Whotta’ week. A three-day weekend could not have come at a better time. If for nothing else, just to catch our breath. A major station swap with 14 AMFM, Inc. stations going to Cox Communications in exchange for KFI and KOST. Dr. Dre, Ed Lover, LaLa and the Baka Boyz debut at The Beat. KLOS hit with second lawsuit over "Black Hoe" promotion. John London and the House Party move from mornings at The Beat to "Mega 100." Whew. Walt Disney Co. was hit yesterday with a second racial-discrimination lawsuit stemming from its role in a KLOS promotion called "The Black Hoe," according to a front-page LA Times Business section story. KLOS account executive Carla Woodson is the second black employee to allege that she was retaliated against for complaining about the promotion. John Duncan, former pd at KLOS and recently departed from "Y107," has entered the "Black Hoe" story. The Times reported this morning: "Sources this week said KLOS general manager William Sommers dismissed the station’s program director, John Duncan, last year, holding him responsible for the promotion." The Congress of Racial Equality has sent a letter to the FCC asking the government to revoke KLOS’ license. On Wednesday morning personalities Mark Thompson and Brian Phelps publicly apologized for the promotion during their morning talk show. "We never intended to hurt anyone," said Mark & Brian, who were on vacation last week when Disney’s ABC division issued a written apology, referring to the promotion as inappropriate and unacceptable. "It’s not what the show is about. We now know people were offended and hurt by this and we sincerely apologize." The Times story referred to an incident in the djs’ career when "an Alabama radio station issued an apology after an African American sportscaster sued them over alleged disparaging racial remarks made on their show." Art Laboe, Huggie Boy, George Jay and Chuck Cecil appeared last night at a special edition of "Nostalgia" night at the Pioneer Broadcasters monthly gathering. The program prepared by Lina Romay and Frank Bresee encompassed the early years of music radio and the foursome shared the journey on how they got into radio and their love affair with the medium. All four have taken their passion for radio and found a way to survive for decades in this business. Chuck Cecil is a youthful 76 and continues to syndicate his "Swingin’ Years" to 20 stations including KPCC every Saturday afternoon from noon to four. Huggie Boy is 72 and works evenings at "K-Earth." Art Laboe is 73 and manages Original Sound Records and the successful Oldies but Goodies series (as well as many others), owns four radio stations, broadcasts a daily noon to 3 show on his stations, which is also heard on the Internet. Every Sunday night Art hosts an Oldies show, which is carried on "Mega 100." George Jay’s radio career specialized in hosting interview shows with the stars of the 1940s and 50s. The 82-year-old took this love for personalities and runs a talent agency; one of his clients won an Emmy this year. Highlights from this special night will be shared over the coming days. Charlie Van Dyke at KRTH came across the Hallmark card reject list. "My tire was thumping, I thought it was flat. When I looked at the time, I noticed your cat. Sorry."…Sluggo returns to KROQ tonight and tomorrow night and then he returns to San Diego for his 911 job…New KKBT middayer LaLa will make an appearance at the Southern California Basketball Showdown over the weekend at the Venice Beach Courts. "I’m definitely going to slide through there and show my face." Daniel Johns of Torrance was listening to KGIL’s Jim Roope during his sports report. "He was talking about how bad the Angels are and said something like, ‘For those who saw the brawl between Cleveland and Anaheim the other night you witnessed just how bad the Angels are. There were faces of Cleveland players four inches in front of them and they were still swingin' and missin.'" Larry Mayer of KUSC is looking for a necktie with a microphone or other related radio symbol "One of my former bosses has a unique tie with pictures of circuit boards and other engineering stuff on it. I'm at a loss as to where to find it. I've been checking the Internet and I have only found musical instrument ties and music notes, so far." Any thoughts for Larry?…"Lord Have Mercy" tee shirts are being given away by Jim Ladd at KLOS. Rick Dees interviewed actress Heather Graham and one of the stars of Bowfinger on KIIS yesterday morning. "If we had known you were listening at Agoura High School back when you were there, we would have done many more remotes." Rick commented about the relationship between Heather and Ed Byrnes. "It looks like he wants to eat you with a spoon." Heather returned with: "He does. Every night!" Charlie Tuna put a KLAC listener on the air yesterday morning who had high compliments for Charlie, Fran Tunno and the entire station. And then: "The only thing I don’t like about your station is Sunday morning. It would be nice to have music again rather than some guy talking about my intestines and colon." Ah, those infomercials… "Shotgun Tom" Kelly continues a quarter century tradition as co-host of the local cut-aways during the Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy telethon over the Labor Day weekend. For 25 years he was the co-host in San Diego and this year marks his second with Casey Kasem. Coming Attractions: Tomorrow, Email Saturday is chock-a-block with your thoughts on the KFI/KOST sale, the LA Times’ coverage of the radio industry, Groove Radio and others. Even though many of you will have to labor on Monday, I won’t. On Wednesday, one of the most amazing promotion/publicity stunts in the history of L.A. radio will be retold. What happened 30 days after the stunt is an equally compelling story. LARadio.com celebrates its two-year anniversary on 9/9/99. I will have a very special State of the Site Message. And of course everything else that evolves and develops on the continuing radio stories and the stories that have yet to be broken. LARadio.com is the only daily dose of radio news for Southern California. Email Saturday We Get EMAIL… ** Photo Phan ** Follow the Money ** It’s the
Times I was pleasantly surprised when I moved up to the Bay Area three years ago at the importance the local print media places on its radio reporting. Maybe I should send some examples to the LA Times." - Michael Smith, KCBS/KLLC, San Francisco PS "I sent a letter to the Times editor around two years ago that actually got printed. A Times editorial writer wrote an article about the Beatles coming to Los Angeles, and credited KHJ with bringing them over! I pointed out to them that it was KRLA who brought the Beatles to Los Angeles." - MS ** Print Versus Radio Ever since sound first came out of speakers, those claiming to have ‘printer's ink flowing through their veins’ have viewed those of us in radio as the bastard children of the communication industry. Print journalists have traditionally regarded themselves as the elite, suggesting that anything truly worthwhile will be found only within the pages of a newspaper and certainly not within a radio program or radio newscast. I am still waiting for a newspaper person to write something about creativity and deadlines. Just like our friends from the newspapers, we must also work and survive within the pressure packed world of deadlines. As a radio journalist, I've worked in formats where I had to meet a deadline two, three or four times each hour. Disc jockeys also have deadlines to meet, as they are required to say something new, entertaining and interesting each time they open their microphones. Quite honestly, this is what makes radio so exciting, challenging and fun. I think I speak for many of my radio peers and colleagues when I suggest that there's a world of difference between those that broadcast on the radio and those that write for a newspaper, and for that reason, validation of radio is slow in coming. I suggest to you that as radio broadcasters, our deadlines for producing creative, exciting, entertaining and original material comes four-to-six times each and every hour...as opposed to the newspaper world where the deadline for most feature pieces comes once each week. If you told Phil Hendrie, Rick Dees or Charlie Tuna that they had a week to come up with a four minute bit, I'm pretty sure they'd be looking for something to do with the remaining 6-days, 23-hours, and 45-minutes." - Lee Marshall, Malibu ** Calls of the Wild ** Sherman’s March He signed an autograph for me years ago, when George Carlin received his star on the Walk of Fame. Gary wrote, ‘To Andrew, Best Krelbs, Gary Owens.’ Who knows what krelbs are. Milton Berle was also at Carlin's ceremony and Gary, bless him, was kind and gracious enough to introduce me to him. Milton asked me a few questions, making jokes at my expense [which I gladly accepted], cracking everyone up. Best of luck to Neil Grant. I truly enjoyed his conversational, witty, ‘Hey, how ya doin'?’ style of doing the news at KABC Talkradio. To all radio talk show hosts: Please do not say the caller's name while simultaneously pressing the line they are on. When you push the button, the caller hears a second of hiss/static as they're put on the air. If you greet them as you're hitting the line, they won't hear you say their name, they'll hear the hiss. Many times, I've heard dead air as callers waited to be addressed and hosts became impatient because, after all, they'd just greeted the caller and the caller didn't respond. Hosts, now you know why. My suggestion: Hit the line, THEN greet the caller." - Andrew Sherman, Glendale ** In the Groove The recent overhaul of the station has proven ineffective. Their ratings have not made a significant jump in the last book. There is no way of knowing whether or not putting a dance format on that frequency will bring up the station's ratings since the ‘dance’ format is an unproven format and will continue to be as long as it is ignored. I think we'd see some surprised radio experts if the format was given the chance to survive. It obviously wasn't given a true chance on 103.1 because of a weak signal [by the way, does Clear Channel ever plan to upgrade the signal?]. I really hate to say it, but I don't think we are going to see a true dance format back on the airwaves anytime soon. Today's corporate radio is just too competitive and playlists are based almost entirely on research. Dance music is a new concept and there just aren’t enough researched songs out there yet. Another thing is that the radio industry simply doesn't understand true dance music. They think that N-Sync or Backstreet Boys are considered to be dance music artists, but they aren't." - Cody Corbett, Laguna Niguel ** How Great is KFI/KOST? KOST has better ratings than its competitor KBIG because of the great personalities and music on KOST. On the August 25th broadcast of the "Mark and Kim Most Music Morning Show" on KOST, Mark and Kim were talking about the great staff at KOST 103 and that they haven't had a major personnel change in about ten years. I hope that KFI/KOST remain with Cox Communications. I wish everyone at KFI/KOST the best of luck during this time of possible change." – Roger Rodriquez, KOST/KFI listener in La Puente ** No Tengo Miedo ** From Art Bell’s World to Hendrie’s World As a HUGE fan of Phil, I thought this compliment was priceless. Phil's parody of Art just cracks me up, and I think it's great that Art doesn't have a problem with Phil doing that. Real testament to the genius of Phil." - Bruce Bergman, San Diego ** Fan For the
Times ** Radio Singled Out By the
Times? ** A New Rocker for LA Radio ** Lack of Times Radio Coverage is $$ We intuitively understand why the
Times doesn't
cover the inner workings of the other papers it competes
with. Why are we so quick to fault the
Times for
ignoring another medium that it competes so heavily with? I
happen to think it's shortsighted to shun radio because
competitors [e.g., the Sunday Orange County Register]
will exploit this as a weakness, but there is a kind of logic
to it. If I've said it once, I've said it a thousand times:
Money is the only reason." -
Scott Allen Miller,
Los Angeles |
Email Saturday
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** Jay Thomas Had Power "I thought that you had retired from the website. It looks like it's still going on. I assume that you are still running it, but maybe at this time you have someone else in charge. I went thru my files and found a Hitmakers cover featuring Jay Thomas and the Power 106 staff at the time. I am actually the guy who took this photo. The staff showed up at one of my Hollywood & Vine studios, and it was one of those 'crazy & fun' radio get togethers. Jay Thomas was the morning man at the time. Just thought that I would pass this along to you." - Rich Hogan ( Yep still alive and kicking ) |
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** Riding the Surf "Congratulation to
Saul Levine who has come up with a format that all my
friends love, Oldies 1260AM [K-SURF). My car has HD Radio so the
Oldies really sound great in stereo. I actually can listen in HD from
North Hollywood to just past Hidden Hills when I drive to Thousand Oaks. My one problem is their
liners. They are laid over part, usually the beginning, of a song then
the liner and music stop and they go into a song. Why can’t they just
program the computer so when they play a liner, suck as 'the oldies are
new again' etc? They do it over the intro of the song that’s going to
play. Most songs have a music intro. Or just the liner with no music
works too. But to think you’re going to hear a song then it’s over in 10
seconds, kind of gets to you. I know I’m not the only one who thinks
this way. Thanks for the chance to
bitch." - Kevin Stern |
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** Internet Oasis "I wanted to give you an update on my Internet Radio Station. Since I launched it in 2009 the station has grown. After settling on a Smooth Jazz format and the name 96.9 The Oasis it’s been doing very well. I have a library of 5,000 Smooth Jazz Songs. I also play 1,200 indie songs from 144 independent artists from all over the world. They all personally contacted me to play their music. I’m also a reporting station. I report my adds to Groove Jazz Music. My station has it’s own app available on Google Play, BlackBerry World, and The App Store for iTunes. I also have added some season professional voices to the station - Bryan Simmons, Cathi Parrish, and Mike Villani. I host the morning show weekdays from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. Pacific. Starting September 22nd I will be having a co-host on Fridays. Canadian Artist Catherine Kiki Love will join me via Skype. She’s an award winning artist who has earned over 40 independent music awards, and is a Grammy Member. It will be a lot of fun! Looking forward to many more fun years!” – Dale Berg, www.969theoasis.com |
Houston, We Have Help
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(September 1, 2017) The images coming out of the
coverage of the devastating flooding in Houston is mind-boggling. Each
of us has chosen our own way of helping, contributing, praying and
donating to the effort. One LARP wants to help a radio colleague who has been wiped out, displaced or left homeless as a result of hurricane Harvey. Instead of writing a check to the Red Cross, this individual would rather help another radio person directly. His efforts are commendable but he wants to remain anonymous. I’ve agreed to act as a middle man if you know of a Texas or Louisiana radio person that needs help because of the disaster, contact me and I will act as a middle man. Write me at: db@thevine.net |
Labor Day Hear Ache
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(September 1, 2017) Eight classic cars from Art Astor’s collection were sold in Pebble Beach at The Russo and Steele auction for $394,000. “The highest paid in his collection was a 1932 Packard for $80,000,” emailed Bob Koontz. "Art would have loved it.” … Dodgers manager Walter Alston a LARP? Steve Thompson remembers when the skipper hosted a short-lived morning show on KHJ in 1960, plus an evening program on then-sister station Channel 9 … Love the Carolina Shag channel on SiriusXM. I’ll be sorry to hear it go after this weekend … Headed to Vina Robles Amphitheatre this weekend for a Saturday in the Park to see Chicago in concert. Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is? … With Meruelo Media (KDAY) purchasing KPWR (Power 106), Jimmy Steal adds programming chores for both stations. Adrian Scott is out … Pete Weber, former Kings announcer, continues as the play-by-play guy for the Nashville Predators NHL hockey broadcast team … Veteran Spanish radio exec Gary Stone has resigned from the board at SBS … Nearly three years after hitting the local airwaves, Simi Valley’s country radio station has expanded its reach into the western end of the San Fernando Valley. Ranch 99.1/fm has been heard not only in Simi, but also in Chatsworth, Northridge, West Hills, Woodland Hills, Tarzana, Van Nuys, Hidden Hills and Canoga Park, reports John “JD” Tayloe, the station’s founder and president … In the next couple of months, AMP Radio is moving studios into the CBS/Radio facilities on the Miracle Mile from the Culver City location. |
Labor Day Countdown
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(August 31, 2017) For decades, a Labor Day weekend
custom was hearing K-EARTH count down the number one songs of the past.
With the station going a different musical direction in recent years,
K-EARTH no longer provides the annual countdowns. But no fears.
Vince Daniels has been holding onto his cassettes of the
countdown shows. “The tapes were superior quality for the time in the
late eighties / early nineties,” emailed Vince, former host of his own
show at KCAA. He’s spent the past two years having the cassettes
professionally remastered and cleaned up. Vince has put together recordings from 1989 and 1990 of “Southern California Number One’s of Rock and Roll,” procured from past Labor Days on K-EARTH. The recordings are largely unscoped in the almost 25-hour presentation. The program begins on August 31, 1990 at the start of countdown with Brian Beirne, who kicked off the show with music from 1955, seven months before the official initiation of the rock-and-roll era. The program continues with the hits presented in chronological order. Other air personalities featured include Jeff Davis (sitting in for Steve Scott), Joe “Baby” Daniels, Lisa Moree, “Bernadette” (Irma Molina, sitting in for Scott Jenkins), George Matthews, and Jay Coffey. The contest that weekend was tickets awarded hourly to see the Beach Boys at the Pacific Amphitheatre. “The 1970s #1 songs continue with my recording from Saturday, September 2, 1989. The personalities working that day were Steve Scott, Jay Coffey, and Jeff Davis,” Daniels continued. During the 1989 countdown K-EARTH played all of the #1’s through 1979, I was only able to record through the end of 1976. The 1989 Labor Day weekend presentation was the final year of the classic K-EARTH 101 jingle. All the music, air personality patter, jingles and bumpers are still intact, except I cut many of the commercials while doing the original recording. The recording sounds like HD quality, the quality audio of K-EARTH heard later on.” “It’s true a lot of valid arguments can be made for how K-EARTH barely cracked a 4 share in those days, and how much of an industry giant the station became when they tightened up,” said Daniels. “For now, and particularly fitting for this particular weekend, I thought it might be good to remember a time in radio when air personalities worked hard to get a station to a place where it would eventually be. It’s also a reminder of a time when they kept us company as our friends,” said Daniels. He also is offering to share these recordings. “If anyone is interested in this, please email me at vdaniels2001@yahoo.com. I won’t (and can’t) charge you for this, but if you would mail me a 32 GB USB flash drive, I’ll transfer the files over for you. Hopefully, I’ll hear from some of the aforementioned K-EARTH jocks, or maybe some of you know where they are. I’m sure they’d appreciate this!” |
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Tough enough to get your Letter to the Editor published once in the LA Times, but Pat Paraquat Kelley managed to have TWO letters published on the same day |
Ellen K Makes List of Inspirer Women in Radio
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(August 29, 2017) In
the past decade or so, radio has been perceived as a dying art. Much
like cable TV, no one really wants to sit through unnecessary
advertisements when they have ad free music at their fingertips. Radio
is left to daily commuters, who often flip through channels mindlessly.
Inspirer Magazine recently featured some of the women of radio
and some women of LARP made the list, including Ellen K
(l) , morning lady at KOST. In other news: Didja hear the Disco music Saturday night on 1260AM (K-SURF)? ... Former KLSX morning man Adam Carolla testified before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee last month, on free speech on college campuses. The Washington Post followed up with a feature story. Click the Post … Condolences to Ken Levine (Beaver Cleaver at KIQQ and KTNQ, et al.) on the passing of his father, Cliff Levine. Cliff was a sales executive for major LA and Chicago radio stations. “’Cliffy’ was one of the really good guys in the business and will be truly missed,” emailed colleague Tom Bernstein … Want to hear fun radio stations from Jay Thomas? Listen here: … ESPN’s Ryen Russillo will return to the sports network following an incident where he was “highly intoxicated” when he entered a Wyoming condo and refused to leave. Russillo was found naked, with just his pants around his ankles and “bloodshot eyes and slurred speech,” Jackson police said after arresting him for criminal entry. ESPN is suspending Russillo for a couple of weeks … In an obit in the LA Times over the weekend; a doctor’s cause of death was “Too Many Birthdays.” |
1,000 Apply for Mornings at AMP Radio
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(August 28, 2017) In an era of vanishing radio jobs,
the idea that morning drive at a major LA radio station had an opening
was like a vacancy surfacing in beach front rent-controlled property.
Carson Daly would be leaving CBS’ AMP Radio.
Newly-installed pd Chris Ebbott – already part of the
Miracle Mile executives leading K-EARTH to interstellar heights – put
out the call about the available AM drive slot. Ebbot told AllAccess last week that he had 1,000 applications for the opening, and was still looking. It sounded like a logistical nightmare. Are there still 1,000 radio people left in the business? And how in the world do you process 1,000 applicants? “Yeah, it's crazy,” emailed Ebbott. “We've gotten some really amazing people along with some dreamers who are shooting for the moon.” Chris and two others are going through it all to see what they’ve got. “Nothing is missing – just want to make sure we hear from everyone who is interested,” wrote Ebbott. He apparently hasn’t found the perfect gem – a communicator who can break through the clutter. It is a tough assignment. It takes a few years for a morning person (team) to gain traction … if they ever do. Think George Lopez, Sinbad, Adam Carolla, and Danny Bonaduce. If you have the dream of morning radio in LA, Ebbott is keeping it alive for you. Better contact him NOW before you snap your fingers and say, “Gads, I wish I had gone out for that job.” |
Jerry Lewis Was a LARP
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(August 27, 2017) Jerry Lewis
died last Sunday. He was a lot of things to a lot of different people.
Frenchmen found his movies to be masterpieces. Some found his comedy
slapsticky and funny. For a decade he was unequally paired with singer
Dean Martin. He became a mainstay on Labor Day tv as he served as
national chairman of the Muscular Dystrophy Association telethons for 44
years. His spectacular success is fully rounded out in a note from master LARadio historian, Jim Hilliker. He reminds us that Jerry Lewis owned an LA station. "In the early days of LARadio, we discussed Jerry Lewis being a part owner of KVFM 94.3," wrote Hilliker. I found this blog from 2011, that shows a December 15, 1960 newspaper column, in which Jerry Lewis talks about the radio station and his interest in it, doing a show on KVFM, etc. In the story, the writer gives call letters as KJPL for Jerry and Patty Lewis, but either that was a joke, or they decided not to file for those call letters. In the story, the writer also listed the wrong frequency. I figure the radio show on his own station was likely a short-lived hobby, but his movie career took up more time, so he had to give up radio. Just a guess." You decide for yourself with this story at: Jerry Lewis is On the Air (94.3 is now Que Buena LA Radio) |
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Email Saturday, 8.26.17
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** Ebay Memory "You might enjoy this from March of 2003, a few years before Darrell Wayne (Wampler) became the next buyer of KTHO-Lake Tahoe." - Bill Kingman (click artwork for story) |
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** Updating Where Are They Now "I happened to come across your website. My dad, Flavio Silva Zenteno passed away April 2004. I noticed the info was not updated. He was a radio personality in L.A. from 1985- 2003. He worked for Radio KALI, KTNQ, KWKW, Telemundo, Channel 22, and some others I can't recall." - G. Roxana Cobbs MA SpEd |
Reaction to Jay Thomas' Passing
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(August 25, 2017)
Fastest way to get LARadio news is to sign up as a subscriber. Next to
get the news is on my Twitter account. And then a few minutes later, the
content gets posted at LARadio.com. After posting news about Jay
Thomas yesterday, there were many responses on Twitter.
Greg Tanner wrote that he loved Jay’s Christmastime appearances on Letterman. The almost yearly appearance certainly gave us ample notice on what kind of a storyteller Jay was. We’ve posted the link a number of times over the years because it is a real keeper. Click artwork. |
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Danny Lemos who played
the character Chuy from La Puente on the Rick Dees
program wrote: “Jay was a class act all the way. He sought me out at a
KIIS/fm event to say he was a fan. So sad on hearing this.”
Harry Shearer wrote to
note that he also had a show on SiriusXM for quite a while. “It
was always fun to do that show w/him,” wrote Harry.
Carson Daly was a fan:
“I heard #JayThomas every am on @Power106LA growing up in LA. Huge
inspiration as a DJ. Very nice guy. Praying for his family. Terrible
loss.” |
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(August 24, 2017) Jay Thomas, former morning man at
KPWR from 1986 to 92, has died of cancer, at the age of 69. The co-star of the hit movie Mr. Holland's Opus was born in 1948. He attended the University of Tennessee. Jay spent three years at WAYS-Charlotte and eventually became pd. His wacky on-air sidekick characters started to emerge during this period: Mister Denise, the station hair dresser; Granny Glick, the oldest skin flick maker in the world; Dr. Henry the K; Rock, the inflation fighter; and Caleb Kluttz, the local redneck policeman. His first visit to the Southland was a two-season stint as a deli owner on ABC/TV's Mork and Mindy, but the third season the producers introduced Jonathan Winters, and five character actors hit the street. Jay recalled: "Winters said, 'I'm 58. I need the work.' What, and we didn't?" Before joining KPWR Jay did a number of tv shows, including Love Boat and Spencer for Hire as well as dinner theater. He arrived at KPWR in October 1986 from morning drive at WKTU-New York. KPWR captured NAB's first Marconi Award during the 1989 convention in New Orleans. Even though the award was new, it was being touted as the Oscar of radio. Jay commented on the station's award: "It's a great, fabulous honor. Marconi invented wireless transmissions. Unfortunately, if Marconi heard 'Power 106' he would probably die again. I don't think this is what he had in mind. But he's dead." Jay's later tv carreer includes Cheers, Almost Grown, Murphy Brown, Family Ties, The Golden Girls, Love & War and others. He has won an Emmy. When Jay was terminated from "Power 106" in 1993, he filed a $1,000,000 breach of contract lawsuit. He was nominated for Billboard Top 40 Radio Air Personality of 1993. At the start of the second season of Love & War, Jay lamented about his firing from KPWR: "I'm having withdrawal symptoms. I had the rug pulled out from under me. It's very hurtful." Jay told the LA Times in September 1993, that KPWR fired him "because they became jealous of my tv show. They could not parlay my television popularity into what they wanted." His breach-of-contract lawsuit with Emmis Broadcasting was settled in late 1994. In addition to his acting career, Jay was the promotion voice of Comedy Central. |
Gene Sandbloom to Exit CBS/LA
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(August 24, 2017)
Sounds like more downsizing at CBS/LA Radio. One of the unsung
heroes behind the scenes for decades, Gene Sandbloom
(l), is leaving. In a Facebook post, he wrote: “Ciao. Yeah,
it isn't French, but au revoir sounded a little too permanent. After 25
years at KROQ, I'll be leaving next week. It's been an amazing run, and
throw in music director at KIIS/fm, A&R director at MCA Records and
managing editor of Network 40 Magazine, that's 35 years in the
music biz in LA. It's time to move on.” Gene said he will be off to the
Sierras to solo backpack the John Muir Trail from Yosemite to Mount
Whitney in September. Then a quick stop in Cuba before heading to
France. “I can't take up French residency until 2019, so next year I'll
be travelling the world looking for my next job. Africa, Asia, Europe,
or back here in the States – anything and everything is on the table.” In other news: Ross Porter has been broadcasting CSUN Matador baseball games. You can hear a recap of the 2017 season at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ai7uUd7Jgro&feature=youtu.be ... Don Elliot went to Kansas City for the eclipse. On his way to the airport, he tripped on a welcome mat and fell on his face on the cement. Don has seven stitches … How time flies! Pat “Paraquat” Kelley reported on the eclipse on KMET. Not the one this week, but the one in 1979. Take a listen by clicking his name ... A few months ago, Felicia 'The Poetess' Morris entered an essay writing contest sponsored by Wells Fargo Bank. The winners received $10k-$25k in business upgrades and renovations! The former KKBT personality was one of the winners! "My studio is gonna receive a $10,000 make over," enthused Felicia. "I met with the designers and architects today to lay out my wish list and I also had a really good time meeting the other contestants! I'm so blessed and excited to see the studio moving forward." |
Hear Ache
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(August 23, 2017) Glenn Cooper (l) who recently retired from a career in sales/marketing sports in LA (XTRA Sports 1150, Sporting News Radio 1540 / The Ticket, and ESPN LA 710) emailed to he’s retired from ESPN LA 710 Radio and “enjoying the ‘retirement’ chapter with my wife of 45 years. We go up to the Central Coast every couple of months and stay in Cambria and always get into a few PickleBall games.” … Phil Hulett, formerly with KFWB and now on episode 329 of his always interesting podcast, is recovering from hernia surgery. “I know, it’s not like I had an organ removed or anything, but still, I’ve got to be ready for the end of September when my first-born gets married,” emailed Phil. “Yup, two weddings in one year. Olivia in March.” ... Mark Sudock sent a funnie: Did you hear about the Buddhist who refused Novocain during a root canal? His goal: transcend dental medication … American Idol reboot seems to be in crisis. The show’s honchos still haven't locked down a second, third and possibly forth judge, with only five weeks until cameras roll. TMZ broke the story. Producers first set their sights on Katy Perry, who will be pocketing $25 million. Lionel Richie, a front runner for one of the judge’s chairs, wants $10 million, double the amount the honchos want to pay … While in front of the TV with food poisoning symptoms, I watched Sully again on HBO. Saw it on the big screen when it was first released, but it really moved me again. Why can’t there be more heroes like Sully? To him, it was just another day, saving the lives of 154 passengers and crew … In a press conference at the conclusion season five and the end of the run for his show in Chicago, Steve Harvey was asked if he would write a memo to his new staff along the lines of the infamous one he wrote to the staff of his previous, Chicago-based daytime talker, The Steve Harvey Show. “ I learned two things from that email: No. 1 I can’t write, and No. 2 I should never write,” Harvey joked. He said he wrote that memo a year before it was leaked bya staffer who “got pissed” when the individual was not offered a job on the new show. “I was OK until I saw it on CNN and then I knew I was in a lot of trouble,” Harvey said. “It’s not a big deal to me,” he insisted, saying, “I’m not a mean-spirited guy. I’m a congenial guy.” He likened the memo to coming home to a house full of kids and telling them, “You just need a moment.” |
Former KFWB Program Director Exits NO cluster
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CLAUS, Chris: KFWB, 1988-92; KFWB/KTWV, 1992-96. Chris spent a decade in New Orleans as market manager for Entercom. He retired from the cluster (WWWL, WKBU, WEZB, WWL, WLMG) in the summer of 2017. Born in Evanston, Illinois, in 1949, Chris graduated from Indiana University in 1971 with a Bachelor of Science degree in public administration. He started his radio career at WOWO-Fort Wayne in 1975 as a comptroller. Three years later he was a financial analyst and in 1982 moved to Group W Radio in New York. Prior to joining KFWB, he was vp/gm of KJQY-San Diego for three years. In 1996 Chris was elevated to vp of station operations for CBS Television & Radio. In late summer of 1996 he moved to WOGL-Philadelphia as vp/gm and in early 1998 took on additional duties at WHPT. He left the stations in the summer of 2001. Chris is married to Judy and has two sons, Max and Nathan. “I am grateful for these 10 years in the New Orleans cluster working with exceptional colleagues and being a part of this great community,” said Claus. “I had a wonderful experience and now I look forward to spending time with my family.” |
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Brooke Binkowski, former KNX reporter/anchor, penned an op-ed piece for the LA Times on Friday |
Alan Oda Digs Japan
by Alan Oda
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(August 19, 2017) Don Barrett
was clearly having a slow news day when he posted some very kind words
about me. Nonetheless, I humbly accept his comments on behalf of our
team here in Kumamoto, Japan. A bit of background: Six years ago I was offered to go to Japan myself after training students here in the U.S. for disaster relief work after the 2011 Great Tohoku (Northern Region) Earthquake and Tsunami. It was a life-altering experience, seeing total devastation yet also signs of hope. Since then, each year I either have people interested in joining disaster relief work or we receive offers from Japan to continue assisting the rebuilding both lives and livelihoods. I want to emphasize two details. |
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First, I never, ever expected to be part
of volunteer disaster relief work and disaster relief networks, yet this
seems to be something I consider to be a Divine appointment. Second, I
really don't think there's anything exceptional about me, not any
specific gifts or talents for this sort of work. Maybe my most important
role is to show anyone can be helpful when others are recovering, I just
happen to have been given the opportunity these past few years. That being said, I've worked with some incredible people whose dedication amazes me. I'm currently part of a team of seven, all from Southern California, ranging in age from 13 (my youngest son) to yours truly (AARP eligible, but not just yet). We've done everything from helping with a kids Science Fair (children are greatly neglected since adults spend their time rebuilding their homes, businesses, and families) to cutting down overgrowth around property (including a local cemetery) and helping move belongings from damaged homes. |
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This year, just prior to our arrival,
mudslides left at least 11 dead and 600,000 people needing to evacuate
in the neighboring prefecture of Fukuoka. My team has shown great
flexibility and grit extending themselves by doing manual labor in 90+
degree temperatures and 90+ percent humidity, digging mud, dirt, and
rather large rocks. I'm honored to work with this team. Our stories are posted at http://ayoda.tumblr.com Your good thoughts and prayers are requested for these communities recovering from trauma, it's a privilege to be able to help out in some small way. We'll be back later with more stories and with great curiosity about Rick Dees back doing mornings on KOST. Sincerely, Alan Oda http://ayoda.tumblr.com ayoda@dslextreme.com |
Outlaw Radio - Animal House for Grown-Ups Who Haven't Yet Grown Up
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(August 18, 2017) For two decades, Outlaw Radio has
been one of those secrets on Internet Radio, where every guy who wanted
to disappear for a few hours of smoking, drinking, and telling
outrageous stories could vicariously participate. The brainchild of
Magic Matt Alan, host on the 70s Channel on SiriusXM
and a former jock on KIIS/fm, rides herd on a dedicated group of
decadents from a mystery location in the Southland. Think of it as Animal House with
grown-ups who haven’t quite yet grown up. The recurring cast includes radio legend Shadoe Stevens, entertainment manager to the star Howard Lapides (Dr. Drew Pinsky), Matt's musician brother Sherer, Hollywood producer Frank Hagan, the enigmatic Mark CG Boyer; and Outlaw Radio Show Producer - widow of legendary tv star Morton Downey Jr - Lori Downey Jr. Outlaw Radio is making a move into traditional radio circles as WNFL-Green Bay is the first to broadcast the mayhem every Saturday. They have been carrying the craziness for two months. Midwest Communications has eight more stations that are set to air the crazy cigar smokin' and martini swiggin’ romp soon. Lapides is spearheading the syndication and can be reached for more information on being one of the first to carry the weekend show at: Lapidesh@aol.com. One never knows who might drop in at Outlaw Radio. Guests have included: ZZ Top, Meatloaf, Spencer Davis, Chicago, Village People, The Cowsills , Bob Saget, Sean Young, Robert Hayes, Ann Coulter, Engelbert Humperdinck, Scorpions, Burt Reynolds, Michael Madsen, Pat Boone, and hundreds more. Listen this Saturday on iTunes or on the Internet (www.outlawradiousa.com). |
Reaction to Tommy Hawkins' Passing
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** Dual Stations "Very sad news about 'The Hawk.' I had the pleasure of working with Tommy Hawkins at KABC/KLOS where he would do sports on both sides of the hall, with Ken and Bob on the KABC side and 'The Fraze,' Frazer Smith at KLOS and not miss a beat. Moreover, Tommy always had a smile and a kind word for anyone and everyone he met. He’ll be missed." - Ira Lawson ** Worked with Tommy at KABC "I just read about the passing of Tommy Hawkins on LARadio.com and the news hit me hard. Tommy was a very special person. He was one of those rare people that everyone loved and respected. He was a gifted athlete. He had an unbelievable vertical jump during his basketball career. I had the pleasure of working with Tommy at KABC radio during the 70's and 80's. He was always smiling, and positive while doing a quality job on every project he was assigned to work. He was also a wonderful public speaker and inspired people here in Los Angeles for many years. I feel very fortunate to have had him as a colleague and friend. He will be missed.” - Geoff Witcher |
Tommy Hawkins Dies
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(August 17, 2017) Tommy Hawkins - a two-time University of Notre Dame men's basketball All-American, Notre Dame All-Century Team member, Notre Dame Ring of Honor inductee and 1959 Notre Dame graduate and veteran from KGFJ, KABC, and KKJZ - passed away yesterday at his home in Malibu, according to a Notre Dame press release. He was 80. Hawkins was the first African-American to earn All-America honors as a student-athlete at Notre Dame. Drafted in the first round (third overall pick) by the Minneapolis Lakers, Hawkins played 10 years in the National Basketball Association with Minneapolis, the Cincinnati Royals and the Los Angeles Lakers. He scored 6,672 points and grabbed 4,607 rebounds in the NBA. Hawkins' life off the basketball court was as equally distinguished as his playing career. As a player representative, he played a key role in the first collective bargaining agreement with the players' union and the NBA. After his playing career, he worked in radio and television and served as the vice president of communications for the Los Angeles Dodgers. In 2012, Hawkins authored a book on poetry entitled Life's Reflections: Poetry for the People. |
Art Astor Classic Car Collection Auction
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(August 16, 2017) When
Art Astor was alive we knew him as an eclectic owner of
radio stations. What many did not know was he was an avid collector of
classic cars and old radios. “Thought this might interest you and your
readers,” emailed Dave Kunz, automotive reporter for
KABC/TV and co-host of The Car Show on KPFK. “As you probably
know, Art Astor auctioned off the majority of his huge classic car
collection some years ago, but kept some of his favorites. Now, those
favorites are up for auction in Monterey this week in the wake of his
passing.” More information and a look at some of Art’s classic cars by
clicking the artwork. In other news: Radio news websites have dwindled in recent months. San Diego is now without a full-time outlet. On Monday, Rollye James announced that she was ending VoxJox.org, a site paying tribute to the men and women of early Top 40 radio. The site was started by former Billboard editor, Claude Hall. When Claude got too sick, Rollye came to the rescue but now that Claude has passed on, Rollye is calling it quits. “I’m stopping it with much frustration over having no other choice,” wrote Rollye. “If I were retired, it would be the perfect pastime, and I’d embrace it wholeheartedly. But I own a couple radio stations and run a few corporations. Fortunately nothing I do is physically intensive, but all of it is tremendously time consuming. My ongoing fantasy is that I will find a Time Shop where I can buy a few hours, or a weekend, or an extra Sunday. But as technologically advanced as society is now, we’re not there yet.” |
Rick Dees to Mornings at KOST
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(August 15, 2017) KOST
morning host Ellen K took some time off earlier this
month for wrist surgery (she injured it in a snowboarding accident while
showing off for her husband and teenaged son) and Rick Dees
sat in the chair. Rick and Ellen ruled mornings for many, many years at
KIIS. “When I called Rick and asked him to help, he didn’t hesitate- I
am happy that the show will be in the hands of someone I know and
trust,” said Ellen. “It was such fun and the audience response was
phenomenal,” emailed Dees. “Ellen K., as always, was so thoughtful to call on me to help during her wrist surgery. Darlene of Ellen's show has the complete audio link. She's a pro, and so is Ryan Manno, along with Alaysia working the phones and Rockin' Rosie, the traffic superstar. President Kevin LeGrett created a high mark when he came by and offered a ‘high 5 !’ Then he said I had to host a minimum of two shows in order to get my parking validated.” |
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In other news, Terry Hardy sent along a very warm story from the Thousand Oaks Acorn about Jaime Jarrin ... April Whitney, former KROQ dj for over a decade, had a stress related heart attack four years ago. She returned to the hospital earlier this month. “It's called Takotsubo or ‘Broken Heart Syndrome’,” April posted on her Facebook page. “It's a heart attack caused by stress. They're not kidding when they say stress can kill. It's rare, you'll usually hear about it when someone dies right after their partner of a long time dies. That is often ‘Broken Heart Syndrome.’” |
Alan Oda Leaves Classroom to Help Earthquake Relief in Japan
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(August 14, 2017) Almost from the inception, Alan Oda has made enormous contributions to LARadio. He’s got radio in his blood and enjoys writing about it. But his day job is at Azusa Pacific University where Alan is professor. He is one of the most decent human beings I have ever known. Six years ago a major
tsunami hit Japan. Every year since then, Alan has given up his vacation
to participate in post-earthquake relief. Alan and his two boys join
members of his church from Santa Monica as they help with the cleanup. The
man is so humble. One year I remarked what a remarkable heart he has to
make this yearly sacrifice and he remarked that God has presented him with
an opportunity and all he did was take it. You can read about his efforts
at his blog:
http://ayoda.tumblr.com.
In other news,
Jack Hayes, former dj from Top 40 KFWB in the 60s, was
released last night from the Tahoe Pacific Hospital after spending three
days following a stroke. “Scared the hell out of me,” said Jack … K-EARTH
morning Gary Bryan is in London helping Tom Cruise do
some stunts for Mission
Impossible … Brian
Roberts is recuperating from knee replacement surgery …
Cameron Ward asks: Do you know why you should never break wind in
an Apple Store? “Because they have no Windows” … Tonya Campos,
former pd at Country KKGO, has joined Skid Trax, a company that offers
tune-ups for small and medium market radio stations. Skid Trax writes
imagining and slogans, designs or calibrates music clocks for better flow,
airchecks talent and helps stations utilize the tools they have to produce
a winning sound at a very affordable rate … Runaway Bronchitis put
Charlie Van Dyke in a Santa Barbara hospital for a couple of
days. He’s back at his home away from home this morning tending to his
station imaging chores. |
Tonight - Sunday, 8.13.17
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| "I can strongly
recommend the teriffic new 2 hour Elvis documentary to air Sunday night
on the REELZ TV Network. Produced by Peacock Productions (NBC) for this Elvis Week, they did extensive interviews with Sandy and me for the show. I feel sure it will be excellent." - Wink Martindale |
Email Saturday, 8.12.17
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** Russian Trip "Thanks Don, happy to contribute, Bill Smith seemed like a genuinely nice guy. Too often nice guys don't get the attention they deserve. Sad that often the recognition comes after they pass away. I read of your and your wife's adventures in Russia. Thanks for sharing. Glad to hear that you found no animosity directed at Americans, maybe there is hope that we all can live together in peace. Welcome home, your column was missed." - Mike Wick |
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** V A C A T I O N "A week without LARadio.com is a dreary week indeed. I am so happy that you and Cherie had such a wonderful time! I loved the commentary and photos about your trip to Russia. Here's wishing you and yours a long and happy time." - Sterrett Harper, Burbank |
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** Thanks for Remembering What Couldn't Be Remembered "Jim Healy! Loved the guy. Listened every day. You score a double: the name B. Mitchel Reed came to me in the middle of the lunch hamburger. Looked him up on your site. Sorry to learn of his passing. And I remembered and looked up my Top Fave: Johnny Magnus. Wow. He grew up in Germany. Never heard a trace of an accent. And Gary Owens. And that rogue late-night jock who broadcasted from some cave in Mexico - Wolfman Jack. In a moment of excess alcohol, I once suggested to Ron Chapman, the king of Dallas radio, that a site be assembled where folks could pull up and listen to these radio greats. But six thousand in LA alone. Yikes! William B. Williams in New York. I think the word is mellifluous. George Lorenz in Buffalo ['The Hound's Around!'] You belong to a proud fraternity, Mr. Barrett. Arthur Murray used to say on his show, 'Put a little fun in your life; try dancing.' You and your fraternity put a LOT of fun in our lives. Thank you! And your site is reprising all that fun for this old geezer in Green Valley, Arizona. Gotta go to PayPal and drops some coins in your tambourine." - Dick Wilke |
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** Winker with Elvis "I just wanted to share a great hour I spent listening to Wink Martindale on the Gilbert Godfrey podcast. If you love vintage L.A. radio, you'll love this podcast. Wink has such amazing stories about local personalities like Chuck Barris, the glory days of KMPC, and of course his friendship with Elvis. Sometimes, big stars get interviewed so often, they have standard answers to many questions. But not Wink. He went outside the box with great stories. Wink reminisced about the early days of radio, his numerous game shows, and his experience as a guest on the Ed Sullivan show. It is hard to imagine Gilbert Godfrey as a great interviewer, but he is. He has no filter and asks the uncomfortable questions. Thanks Wink for opening up to fans of local radio. You are a class act. If you'd like hear the podcast, go to http://www.gilbertpodcast.com/ " - Jeff Gehringer, Astor Broadcast Group & Astor Classics KSPA 1510 KFSD 1450 |
Hear Ache
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(August 11, 2017) KFI
midday Talker Shannon Farren will be the Chargers
radio sideline reporter this season. Home and away games. "I'm
thrilled!," emailed Shannon ... Dean Cantor, a
CBS/LA LSM, has exited the cluster ... Stella Prado
Kuipers is home from emergency gallbladder surgery ... After almost 11
years of hosting mornings on KWVE, pd Brian Perez
moves to the afternoon slot, where he'll also be hosting the
nationally syndicated Bible Q&A show, Pastors' Perspective. Bob
Shaw, who recently joined KWVE after nine years as morning
host on KFSH, takes the AM shift at KWVE ... An email earlier this
week stated HD programming on Saul Levine’s stations
incorrectly. KKGO HD2 is broadcasting K-SURF. The in-house
Classical format, K-Mozart, is now on 88.1 HD2 … Want to stir up some
controversy? Check out a new survey appearing in
RadioInk
listing the greatest Top 40
stations of all time … Charles Osgood, host of
long-running The Osgood File,
heard for decades on KNX, will be honored by the National Academy of
Television Arts & Sciences with the 2017 “News & Documentary Emmy
Award for Lifetime Achievement.” The honor is given to a journalist or
filmmaker who has “made a lasting and distinguished contribution to
broadcast journalism or documentary film.” … Congratulations to former
Star 98.7 pd Angela Perelli and her husband,
Chris Ebbott, pd at K-EARTH and AMP Radio, on their 14th
wedding anniversary … Condolences to Jay Coffey on
the passing of his brother … Angel Martinez is running for mayor in
Santa Barbara. Not the Angel on KFI. Santa Barbara’s Angel is a he …
People Magazine snapped a photo of KIIS’ Ryan
Seacrest and his galpal Shayna Taylor (l) strolling through
New York City’s SoHo neighborhood … Bill O’Reilly
launched a 30-minute-long news show, shot inside a studio and made
available online to premium subscribers to his website. The goal of
the studio show, he said at the end of the program, is to "bring
everybody into the annual premium membership fold and spread the
word." … Amber Perry, ex-CBS, most recently sales at
Pandora went over to The Chargers as a sales manger ... |
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LARadio Archives: January, February, March 2017 April, May, June 2017 July, August 2017 |
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About the Publisher of LARadio.com, Don Barrett
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As publisher of LARadio.com, Don Barrett chronicles radio news and lists 6,000 people in Los Angeles who work or have worked in radio in the past 50 years. Barrett is a historian of contemporary Los Angeles radio history and author of Los Angeles Radio People, published in 1994. He published a second volume of the book a year later, along with the launch of a daily website column. In 2013, he started as the radio columnist for the Orange County Register. Barrett's Southern California roots (Santa Monica) include a bachelor's degree from Chapman University. He also earned a master's in psychology. He spent 10 years in radio working as a disc jockey, program director and general manager (W4-Detroit and WDRQ-Detroit). He launched KIQQ (K-100) Los Angeles in the early 1970s. In the mid-1970s Don joined the motion picture business, working as a marketing executive at Columbia, Universal, and MGM/UA. Barrett was part of the marketing team that released E.T., Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Back to the Future, Thelma and Louise, Rocky and James Bond movies. He also represented a number of films at the Cannes Film Festival. He was the first recipient of TALKERS Magazine's Lifetime Achievement Award. Don has been honored with an honorary Golden Mike and Special Recognition from the Society of Professional Journalists. |
