~Los Angeles Radio People, Template

** All Starts with Smulyan

“I met and worked with Jeff Smulyan many times during the time I was president of the SCBA and when I was EVP/Marketing Strategy at Katz Media. The man is every bit as authentic and amazing as you and Chachi noted.

Rick Cummings is one of the finest broadcasters I’ve ever met, one of the fairest, most honest people in the business. Every single person I have ever met who worked for either of them has been impressive, including Val Maki, who ran Power 106 and also ran Emmis’s Austin properties, served as Chair of the SCBA during my time there. I have never respected a person more than I do Val. And Dianna Jason is a force unto herself, a whirlwind of ideas and implementations.

I could go on and on – but it all starts with, as you said, with Jeff Smulyan. I applaud him for his ability to pick the best people and bring out the best in them.” – Mary Beth Garber

** Super Games

“I sincerely thank you for keeping me on your email list.

Regarding the CBS memo stating not being able to ‘…use the term World Cup on the air,’ I was made to think of the long-enduring prohibition on using the words ‘Super Bowl’ on the air. Even though I always honored that request from the NFL at my stations, I likewise always was curious why radio stations are banned from uttering either of those sports terms. I always assumed it only applied to contest and sponsor promotions, but where precisely does the legal line exist? Obviously, sports stations can mention both terms in their sports coverage but what stops music stations from doing the same?

I never researched the issue when I had access to corporate legal teams, but the curiosity still continues to this day.” – Dave Anthony

** Two Minute Commercial Load

“Reading Tom Burfield’s comment, I am reminded that when Bill Drake was brought in to fix KHJ in 1965, the commercial load was so low that he was able to institute a policy of short commercial breaks and a maximum limit on total advertising minutes per hour, with much objection from RKO. The only concern was from the sales department, who worried that if Drake was successful, they wouldn’t be able to capitalize on it. Drake’s reply was that, regardless of the ratings, if all those minutes were sold out, the ‘supply’ was exhausted and ‘demand’ should mandate an increase in the per-minute rate.

And he was right: KHJ never had to break the hourly limit, but the rate card went up many, many times under Drake. KROQ – like so many stations in this pandemic era – has a lower commercial load than had been the case only three months ago.

All Entercom has to do is take a page from Drake’s playbook and increase the ad rates, regardless of ratings, when demand outpaces supply. That is how it will ‘pencil out,’ Tom, the same way that it did a half-century ago.

Cue the Bill Drake sounder with tympani: ‘50 years ago, today.’)” – K.M. Richards, K.M. Richards Programming Services

** Need Local Radio

“I was a paid subscriber back in the day and I cannot believe all that you do and at no charge!

I live in Orcutt. Our two AM stations are KSMA 1240 with zero local programming, except for 30 minutes or so on Friday. The other is KUHL 1440. KUHL says they are all about news, but the morning guy just reads verbatim the Santa Maria Times.

About the recent Paso Robles shooting: I was driving south on the 101 through the mess, KVEC had much more details than the worthless KPRL, both stations having their morning guys reading verbatim from the Tribune. But for the shooting thing, KPRL, right there in Paso Robles, just continued on with their syndicated program, Ben Shapiro, I think.

Why didn’t KPRL have a guy on the scene? Why did Dave Congalton on KVEC, 30 miles south of Paso Robles, have more info than the lazy bums at KPRL?

Outside of KFI and such, do any AM stations have reporters anymore? Before the terrible deal of deregulation, KSMA in Santa Maria had lots of reporters. KSMA also had Laker and Angel games. When Cheap Channel came in to ruin it all, the Lakers were gone, as was local content. Next was El Dorado and I think they bought KSMA because they hated radio. KPRL not being on scene of the shooting that was going on in their HOME TOWN, was disgusting.” – Herod Lowery

** Fritz Coleman at Gelson’s

“I will greatly miss Fritz Coleman at NBC4. It's funny how certain people in broadcasting actually become part of one's daily life. It's nice to see a friend every day, settling, comforting, a good thing in life. However, I will look forward to our never-ending quest of solving most of the world’s great problems while walking thru the aisles at Gelson’s.

Happy days pal, see ya soon!” – Jeff Baugh

** Nice Guy Fritz

“Hope it’s a happy ride for Fritz Coleman as he rides off into the sunset. It must have been right as I came home from Vietnam when I heard ‘Jay Fredericks’ on WKBW-Buffalo. It was good stuff and he fit right in. When we learned he entered the world of tv, were doubly impressed.

At a K-Earth Gary Bryan salute to the USO event at The Laugh Factory, I got to meet Jay – er, Fritz who is as nice a guy as you’ll find anywhere. The weather world will be a little less happy.” – Dave Mason

** Mornings with Fritz

“Very nice tribute to Fritz Coleman, whom the Hollywood Media Professionals (former Pacific Pioneer Broadcasters) honored last year. I did middays when KZLA first went Country in 1980, and if I recall correctly, Fritz did the morning show calling himself Jay Fredericks. Decades later, I learned that his father’s name was Frederick. All the same, congratulations to an amazing, durable, multi-talented mensch!” - Mike Sakellarides

** Fritz Good on Radio

“I loved the article about Jay/Fritz Coleman and his days at KZLA. I remember he came on before ‘Natural Neil’ Ross and Barbara Barri before it went Country and he was really good. Good times and a great station.

Thanks for the quip from Adam Carolla. I can just hear his voice saying that about ‘Lady A.’" – Julie T. Byers

"Story of the Century" and the LARPs Telling It

(June 19, 2020) In a rare outburst of coverage about radio, the LA Times devoted a huge amount of space to a piece they headlined, “The Story of the Century.” The killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis has caused local show hosts to throw out the window whatever they were scheduled to talk about and speak to the story at the vortex of everyone’s consciousness. Times writer Randall Roberts featured KRRL’s Big Boy, KPWR’s Nick Cannon, KDAY’s Cece & Romeo, KJLH’s Dominique DiPrima, Lon McQ and general manager Karen Slade. “They have responded “with a kind of communal outrage, in the process reconfirming the platform’s role in the L.A. media landscape,” wrote Roberts. The full story can be read here:

Journalist Declaration. Kevin Ross worked in radio in the 90s (KGFJ, KKBT and KACE) before publishing a national newsletter called Radio Facts. The emphasis is on Urban Radio. Kevin is banning all press releases pertaining to conversations about race. “Yesterday we got a total of 25 press releases from various industry corporations about special features, Zooms, and statements pertaining to ‘Conversations about Race.’ This is for ALL industry outlets including black companies.”

Kevin said enough is enough. “As we have been having conversations about race for decades this is truly a case where actions speak louder than words. We KNOW what the problem is … how are we going to fix it? That’s the entire conversation.”

Grace at KFI. KFI Shannon Farren won two Gracie Awards from the Alliance for Women in Media Foundation.

One was for "Best Local Talk Show," based on a compilation of different stories important to women. “Interviews with a couple who was duped when they tried to adopt a child and a woman who is a genetic detective and is solving cold cases,” emailed the KFI midday co-host.

The other was for the heartbreaking story of the shootings at Saugus High School in Santa Clarita.

From the organization: “The Gracies recognize exemplary programming created by, for and about women in radio, television, and interactive media. Honorees are selected in national, local and student markets, including both commercial and non-commercial outlets. Honorees represent the substance and ethos of women’s storytelling and journalism at its best. Their work during this global state of affairs – full of innovation, courage and endurance – serves as inspiration today for the journalists of tomorrow.”

Local Success. Since moving to the Central Coast for years ago, I was encouraged to listen to KVEC afternoon Talker, Dave Congalton. He’s been servicing San Luis Obispo County with local content for almost 29 years. He loves local radio and we have become very good friends. He has an observation that I wanted to share with you. It speaks to local radio.

“I’ve never felt this much alive and on fire than I have in the last three months since the shutdown began,” Dave shared. “Don't know the ratings and they may not reflect my feelings, but this is absolutely amazing.”

Dave says he can’t believe the number of new callers. “We are consistently strong, even in the 3 p.m. hour which was historically soft. Now it’s often my strongest in terms of callers.” Even the advertisers have returned, continue to return and they have new people on board. “My lunch yesterday was to get this local doctor on board and it worked,” revealed Dave.

“During the Avila Fire earlier this week we were ‘must-listen radio.’ We reminded folks that local radio matters. I'm feeling pretty good about radio these days!”

Great message from Dave Congalton!

Hear Ache. Ross Porter and his wife Lin are celebrating 59 years of marriage. Now that’s a homerun … KRRL’s Big Boy and KPWR’s Nick Cannon (for his work in tv) will receive a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame next year. The announcement was made by Ellen K, Walk of Famer/KOST mornings and Chair of the Walk of Fame Panel ... Jimmy Kimmel announced last night that he's taking the rest of the summer off from his late night tv show. "I've been doing this job for almost 18 years," he said. "I've done 3,130 shows. And there's nothing wrong, my family is healthy, I'm healthy, I just need a couple of months off." ... We're hearing that KFI's John & Ken have been nominated for the Radio Hall of Fame Class of 2020. Whotta' wonderful recognition for our always-relevant afternooners!

Hollywood Walk of Famers Big Boy, Ellen K, and Nick Cannon

Before He Was the 4 Weather Guy, Fritz Coleman Was a LARP

(June 18, 2020) This is the end of another era in Southern California media as Fritz Coleman, LA weatherman for nearly four decades, announced his retirement. Generations of Angelenos grew up watching Coleman, a four-time Emmy winner who spent 39 years on the air. Throughout his time with KNBC/tv, Coleman has been part of one of the nation’s longest-running news anchor teams along with co- anchors Colleen Williams and Chuck Henry and sports anchor Fred Roggin.

He was named a “Treasure of Los Angeles” by the City of Los Angeles, holds the key to the city of Burbank, and is the honorary mayor of Toluca Lake.

Fritz was a LARP first before tv. He was Jay Coleman at Country KZLA in the early 80s. Coleman, a Navy veteran, started off his broadcasting career as a disc jockey and radio talk show host at various stations throughout the country and moved to Los Angeles in 1980 from WKBW-Buffalo.

In an on-line interview he remembered: “When I got to LA, my old boss from my Buffalo radio job was made the VP in charge of radio for Capital Cities Radio. They used to own KZLA here, which was an Adult Contemporary station that went to Country. It was an automated country station, meaning that they play three songs automatically and then the announcer would announce the records and play more. He asked me if I wanted to come work for him and do mornings doing the voice overs. Of course, I bowed down and kissed his feet and said, ‘Absolutely!’”

RJ Curtis, current executive director at CRS (Country Radio Seminar), worked with Fritz at KZLA, between October 1980, and fall of 1982. “Jay / Fritz did mornings at KZLA from its October ’80 launch, until he left in late ’82 to do weather at KNBC4,” emailed RJ.

“I was doing overnights at KZLA and when Jay went to KNBC, I succeeded him in mornings.”

RJ recalls Fritz’s commitment to comedy. “I remember going to see him several times at the Ice House in Pasadena. He was a solid standup comic. He wrote jokes during his morning airshift at KZLA. He didn’t use them on the air, but that’s how he filled his down time, during music sweeps.”

Curtis has high praise for the weatherman. “Fritz is definitely one of the good guys. I was pretty young back then (started at KZLA when I was 20), and he was always supportive, and helpful. He gave me some strong advice on more than one occasion.”

Ex-KNX newsman Tom Storey was also part of that early history at KZLA. “I recall that Fritz had some experience doing weather at a television station back east, it may have been in Washington, DC,” said Storey. “On the weekends he did standup comedy at the Comedy Store and met KNBC/Channel 4 anchor, John Beard, shortly after his arrival in 1980.

After meeting John, who often attended the shows at the Comedy Store, Fritz was hired as a part-time weather reporter at Channel 4.”

Former KOST veteran Ted Ziegenbusch was a neighbor. “Fritz is a genuine, warm and friendly guy. I would see him at the Starbucks, the local drug store and other neighborhood locations. It became a running joke that we were following each other with some kind of app on our phones. While waiting for our coffee, we would stand and talk about the business – his and mine. Yes, they were similar. So, the common ground found us swapping war stories and tales from our decades of employment with behemoth companies.”

Ted continued: “Fritz and I always felt blessed to still be working so many decades after our arrival in Los Angeles. Coincidentally, Fritz started with Channel 4 the same year that I started at KOST, 1982. Now, within five months of each other, we are both officially retired. Congratulations Fritz! You will be missed but never forgotten. You’ve been like a member of our family, on the big screen every night giving us the forecast. I used to love it when you would throw in the words ‘spotty drizzle’ during your weather report. I would immediately start singing ‘spotty drizzle’ to the tune of Don Ho’s song Tiny Bubbles, which always brought a roll of her eyes from my viewing companion, my wife. See you around the neighborhood, Fritz. This time, I’ll buy the coffee!”

Hear Ache. Art Bell’s former show producer is re-launching “Best of Art Bell” on the Dark Matter Digital Network … If the NFL plays this season, the Los Angeles Chargers will be heard on a different station. Their Spanish language broadcast moves from KFWB to KBUE-KBUA (Que Buena 105.5/94.3) … Syndicated radio personality Tino Cochino (heard overnights at KRRL, Real 92.3 / fm) has started a series of podcasts. In a recent interview with Real afternoon man J Cruz, he asked Cruz what he thought of iHeart Radio. “This company is talent driven. They believe in what we do. I believe they understand content,” said Cruz … KYSR’s Woody wrote on Twitter: “The league, the players. Major League Baseball sucks. Prove me wrong.” … Social changes in the past month has prompted Lady Antebellum to change their name to Lady A. Adam Carolla finds "Lady" to be problematic. “It's binary. It should be ‘They A,’” he wrote on social media.

LA Times ad from June 18, 1965 ... part of David Grudt's personal collection

Dave Anthony Came to LA with Trepidation

(June 17, 2020) Dave Anthony, former pd at KODJ / KCBS/fm (Oldies 93), checked in recently from Florida. LARadio not only provides an update on the lives of those we loved on the radio but those who worked their magic behind the microphone. They programmed the stations that we enjoyed listening.

Originally from Pennsylvania, Dave grew up in Las Vegas and studied journalism, broadcasting and music education at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). As a proficient sax player, the life of a musician began during college years at UNLV, followed by professional performances. He co-founded the Minnesota Music Academy in the 1980s, and was inducted into the Las Vegas Rock Hall of Fame in 2011 and the Nevada Broadcasters Association in 2015.

But morning radio was part of his early work in Las Vegas, Tucson, Denver, and Minneapolis. He could be heard in other cities like San Francisco, Houston, Phoenix, Milwaukee, and Jacksonville on prime midday and afternoon radio shows.

Growing up in Las Vegas, Dave would make trips to LA. “I could never imagine being part of radio there. The traffic, the mega professionals on practically every station. Yikes. It took years of moving to bigger and bigger cities to condition me for when the opportunity came to program one of Southern California’s strongest signals,” he emailed.

The intimidation factor had vanished, but he discovered a new personal challenge. “Coaching on-air talent that had already achieved true greatness by the time I was just getting started in radio. What on earth could I possibly teach these guys? Yet looking back, I consider my years in LA to be among my biggest personal successes because of what those professionals taught me while I thought I might have been teaching them. No question, I was the bigger beneficiary.”

Dave considered LA like a year-round radio convention. “Unexpectedly bumping into radio and record people in restaurants and grocery stores made living there feel all the more special. In my mind, the LA market was the country’s number one radio community,” he said.

Broadcast management soon beckoned, and Dave became a very successful program director for companies like CBS, Metromedia, and Doubleday in cities including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Phoenix, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Denver, Las Vegas, Jacksonville, and Tucson.

Broadcast consulting quickly followed, with clients across the U.S. and internationally. Providing voiceovers for commercials and corporate videos was a natural extension of his radio career and has been a fulltime occupation for years.

Based in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida – a beach town on the Atlantic Ocean between Jacksonville and St. Augustine – Dave works from an in-home studio with full broadcast capability. Specialties include network tv promos, commercials for tv and radio, corporate videos, website audio, and on-camera training films.

Represented by four talent agents situated across the US, an acting career also blossomed. Dave Anthony has been in films with John Travolta, Selma Hayek, Scott Caan, James Gandolfini, Ed Begley Jr., and Kevin Spacey.

National tv commercials followed, as well as tv shows like America’s Most Wanted and the live television host of the Easter Seals Telethon originating from Las Vegas.

In his continuing voiceover career, Dave Anthony counts among his clients such well-known names as the Miami Herald, the Golf Channel, Rolex, BBC Worldwide, Carrier Air Conditioning, the PGA Tour, Husqvarna, Cub Cadet, and many more. Further information is available at www.DaveAnthony.us.

Hear Ache. Congratulations to Randy Thomas on 36 years of wedded bliss … Bryan Simmons, former KOST personality for decades, has taken over mornings at Mix 96.7/production director in Elko, Nevada … Our condolences to Pat Gorman on the loss of “great friend and roommate” Donna. Big loss for Pat.

Kids Getting Laptops Greene with Envy

(June 16, 2020) Tim Greene was a familiar voice in the nineties, working at KKBT, KJLH and KMPC. He went on to work in Charlotte at WGIV 103.3/fm and WSGE 91.7/fm.

He has been super busy during the coronavirus pandemic, purchasing laptop computers for students during the “Stay At Home Order.”

During these unprecedented times, the filmmaker and assistant program director/music director and afternoon drive radio personality recently purchased over 400 laptop computers for students in the NC Works NEXGEN program.

Greene realized many students did not own computers that would enable them to complete their schoolwork assignments from home since all classes were moved online due to the COVID -19 Outbreak.

Two nursing students also received laptop computers from Tim during a Student Success Expo.

NC Works NEXTGEN assists youth 16-24 with barriers to self-sufficiency such as high school dropouts, homelessness, parenting youth and criminal backgrounds to gain either employment or higher-level educational pursuits.

“It was a pleasure presenting these great students with the tools they needed that will help them continue to be as successful as possible in life,” says Greene.

(June 8, 2020) The saying ‘any publicity is good publicity’ or ‘there’s no such thing as bad publicity’ is said to emphasize it is better to receive bad publicity than no publicity at all. The phrase is rumored to have first been said in the 19th century by American showman and circus owner P. T. Barnum. But is it still the case?

Recently Entercom/LA recently sat with Variety to discuss the challenges facing KROQ. In the last year, the ratings for the iconic Alternative and once ground-breaking station were hardly hearty. When dismissing personalities – including some longtime veterans – the company seemed to be missing a heart, which caused much head-scratching with those remaining with the station. The Variety story was co-authored by Michael Schneider. The resultant headline to the story was hardly what Entercom was expecting - It’s the End of the World Famous KROQ as We Know It.

Advertising revenues were already challenged by COVID-19 and then civil unrest. This is hardly what advertisers, usually resistant to anything controversial or negative, want to hear. The Variety story was wildly circulated throughout the country. Listeners to KCRW and Madeleine Brand’s Press/Play got an audio version of KROQ’s plight when Brand devoted an entire segment on her program to an interview with Variety’s senior editor Schneider.

“Listeners worry that the new management has taken the rock out of K-ROQ,” said Brand in her introduction. “Since firing Kevin Ryder, the station has lost about half its listenership.”

Schneider believes that KROQ is a victim of its own success. He told Brand: “For the past couple of decades, the station has been important for breaking some of the major Alternative groups of all-time, like Nirvana and Coldplay.” For many years, Kevin & Bean delivered the lion’s share of the KROQ ratings. But when Entercom bought CBS Radio three years ago they wanted to “rejigger” the station. “The station did need to freshen up,” said Schneider. “You can’t play the same five Red Hot Chili Peppers’ songs forever.”

During his final sign-off from the air, Ryder said that Entercom was part of the corporatization of radio, “They weren’t here for the building of the world-famous KROQ. I don’t think it means anything to them. It’s a numbers business, and there’s no family aspect to it anymore. It’s only numbers. But this place was built without numbers. It was musicians, artists, music, the special relationship between the music, the station and our fans.”

Said Schneider: “KROQ now has a much larger road to take before it wins back its loyal audience and even begins to attract a new audience. This is an ongoing story in radio. One day you show up and there’s a whole new format, or there are brand new djs. They never explain it. There is this need to rip the band-aid off now, quickly change a format, or quickly get rid of a host without really thinking this through.”

Brand said KROQ was a huge part of her youth listening to Rodney on the ROQ and Richard Blade. “I have to confess I haven’t listened in a while because they were no longer groundbreaking anymore.”

KNOB Owner Dies. Jack Banoczi, co-owner of KNOB with his wife Jeannette, passed away on May 22 in Palm Desert of natural causes.

He was born in Cleveland on June 18, 1935. Jack served in the U.S. Navy from 1954 – 56 attaining the rank of Petty Officer 3rd Class. He settled in Southern California in 1958 and attended Santa Monica City College.

In 1960, Jack married Jeannette Pennino and enjoyed over 50 years of marriage. In his younger years, Jack learned to play clarinet and tenor sax. Later in 1958, he formed the “Jack Banet Orchestra,” providing entertainment for numerous dances throughout Southern California until 1980.

In 1961, Jack became the general manager/co-owner of radio station KGGK/fm in Garden Grove. Then in 1966, he became the gm and co-owner of KNOB/fm-Long Beach. Jack and Jeanette sold the station in 1987 for $15 million. In 1970, he added KXTZ-Las Vegas to his list followed by KCKC/AM and KBON/fm-San Bernardino in 1985. Jack’s broadcast career ended in 1989 with his acquisition of KUNA / KESQ Radio in Palm Desert which he ran for almost 10 years. Jack was also an active HAM radio operator (wb6gds) from 1962-69 and a licensed private pilot. He was both an avid golfer and crocheter. Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced.

KOCM, Newport Beach ad in the LA Times, Monday, June 8th, 1970
from David Grudt's collection

** Potpourri Satisfying

“What an enjoyable Friday column, Don. Very satisfying – a full meal for the reader.

From my own experience, I know that it sure helps to have interesting material to work with, and you had plenty, starting with Joe Rogan’s pact with Spotify [Even at $100M, did he leave money on the table?].

You also shared John Leader's clarification about the origins of R&R. As it happens, the last publication date of L.A.-based Radio & Records was exactly 11 years ago yesterday – June 5, 2009. Its passing left a still-felt hole in the landscape.

FYI, David Gleason’s encyclopedic ‘World Radio History’ site [formerly American Radio History] offers almost every issue of R&R back to October 5, 1973. That includes the final issue, and the farewell letter from then-owner Nielsen. To do a little time-traveling, the R&R section of World Radio History is here.” – Tom Taylor (retired, but still watching from the socially-distanced bleacher seats)

** Great Broadcast Journalist

“I’m shocked over CBS Radio News firing Jim Chenevey! Jim is the epitome of a great broadcast journalist. He’s a highly skilled network radio anchor. One of the all-time best!” – Bob Sirkin

** End of Radio?

“Geesus, I read about the firings at KLOS and wonder if what we’re hearing is the footsteps of radio as we know it making a slow exit. Sounds to me like it’s just possible the industry’s lights are slowly going out one at a time leading to darkness.” – Rich Brother Robbin

** Radio Dead?

“In reading about the latest radio bloodbath – this time at KLOS – radio, as we loved it, is officially dead! You can quote me.” – Jeffrey Leonard

** Left KLOS When Jim Ladd Left

“KLOS has been dead to me since they fired Jim Ladd several years ago. That said, I feel badly for these folks. Who is even left there now?

I only listen to Sirius/XM radio now.” – Bob Whitmore

** Terry Nelson Memories

“I’m sure saddened to hear of the passing of Terry Nelson. He shared so much genuine love and happiness with his listeners, fans, family, friends, and those of us that worked with him. He first brought me to Sacramento in 1980. I was young and had never experienced anyone quite like Terry. Our lineup was Terry, Bryan Simmons, myself and Jeff Hunter.

We all had a blast, and I learned so much to take with me on my radio journey throughout California! Thank you deeply Terry for your mentorship and friendship over the years. You’re one of a kind!” – C.J. Stone

** Levine’s Legacy

“KBCA was one of my favorite stations in the sixties. I enjoyed the blurb that was provided by Saul Levine.

Attached, you will find a picture and article from 1964 when he donated an antenna and transmitter to KEDC.” – Tony Morton

** Uncle Tea?

“I was trying to find information about a local LA dj from the early 1970s who called himself ‘T’ or ‘Uncle Tea.’ I can't remember what station he was on but as I recall it was either Progressive or Album Rock.” – Harley Lond, harleyl@earthlink.net

** Termination Essay

“I’ve lost track of the times I have been out of work at radio stations. Some could be called ‘downsizing,’ some ‘format change,’ and some because I had never been able to suffer fools gladly or otherwise. My lack of tolerance for idiots has mellowed somewhat over the years, but as I mentioned in my memoir, But First This Message, my big mouth got me into a lot of trouble. I should have bought stock in U-Haul. Instead I invested it – in blondes, brunettes, and redheads.

Alan Chlowitz once told the K-Earth sales manager he had come close to firing me many times. When I resigned he pleaded with me to stay.” – Steve Fredericks Liddick

** Hey, Sport

“A very sad week in our world and our sports world with the pandemic and the protests over the Minneapolis murder.

In sports, June 3 was the fourth anniversary of the death of the Greatest in Muhammed Ali, a man who gave up everything for what he believed.

June 4 was the tenth year without John Robert Wooden, the greatest coach in modern sports. Life and sports go on, but never quite the same.” – Fred Wallin, Westlake Village

** Missed Bain

“I’m sorry that my path never crossed with Jim Bain’s, the timing was off at Fullerton College and KEZY, but thanks for the tribute.

I headed over to Fullerton College recently with another radio guy, Richard Barsh. This is where we met and it was our first attempt to do a radio show. He received an F on a show because when we ran out of material, I improvised and he responded with something the teacher did not like, something he said was ‘untrue.’ It was funny. SORRY! Did not realize radio was not supposed to be entertaining.” – Mike Ritto

** Classical Gas

“Laura Brodian’s reminiscing reminded me of a parallel situation early in my career. I started in 1973 at KOVA/105.5 [now KFYV] in Ojai the summer before my senior year of high school, working a nine-hour shift on Saturdays. The last four hours of my shift was as board operator [although we used the lofty title of ‘producer’ at the end of the show to identify some of a Classical program that aired in that time slot every night but Sundays.

The program was voicetracked on tape by station owner Fred Hall, who also launched his small syndication effort from KOVA with his Big Band program ‘Swing Thing,’ the live version of which preceded me in middays. It seems I had a knack for it, because Fred told me that I did a much better job of eliminating background ‘clunks,’ etc. than the weeknight producer. [All I did was add a lot of dead air, backcue the records a full turn so I could start them with the pot down and bring the level up before the first note ... but apparently those little details mattered.]

In June of 1974, he had me replace the weeknight producer as the latter moved up to a day shift. I had the distinction of being the longest-tenured producer in the program’s history, remaining until the fall of 1977 when I moved on to bigger stations in the market.

Here is where Laura triggered my memory: When Fred went on vacation every year, he would record the voicetracks for the entire two weeks of ‘Great Music to Midnight’ on a single 10½-inch reel. And like my first summer in 1973, that was the case in 1974. Come 1975, I walked in on the first Monday of his vacation to find the reel totally blank. [In fact, I think the end was still taped down ... it had never been racked up in the first place.] So I proceeded to do the program live from the board and recorded Saturday’s voicetracks on Friday. All went fairly well: I just started and ended every evening with a mention of Fred being on vacation.

Came Friday of week two. Fred got back into town that evening and naturally turned on his stereo while he unloaded the car. Eventually, of course, came the end of whatever had been playing, and my voice rather than his on the back-announce. During the subsequent commercial, he called practically screaming ‘WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?’ to which I calmly asked if he had forgotten to do anything before he left on vacation.

Dead silence, followed by quietly hanging up. He called back after I pre-announced the next selection, much calmer, and told me I sounded just fine. I replied that after hearing him do the program for two years I knew the proper pronunciation of every composer, conductor, etc. in the library and all I did then was emulate his usual tone of voice and pacing.

In the summers of 1976 and 1977, he simply went on vacation and added a note in the printed program guide that I was guest hosting those two weeks. I also ‘hosted’ the abbreviated editions in the fall of 1975 and 1976 that followed Nordhoff High School football games on Friday nights, and the occasional day or two if he had a cold and his voice was off. I now wonder if I might have been the youngest radio announcer [age 19 in 1975] to do a Classical format.” – K.M. Richards

** Touched by Wooden

“I had the honor of meeting and hearing the great John Wooden in 1981. He was the guest speaker at the monthly meeting of the LA Life Underwriters Association. The Biltmore was packed for him and we were all in total awe of this great man. After his talk, I approached him, shook his hand and told him what an honor it was to meet and listen to him speak. He was so humble that you’d have thought he’d never heard that before and sincerely thanked me. I will never forget that moment.” – Bob Whitmore

** We Could Use Wooden’s Words

“I had tears in my eyes when I read Dan Avey's Rememberance of Coach Wooden. I never had the pleasure of meeting this good man but I’ve watched various talks he’s given on tv and read of his goodness in several autobiographies. It was wonderful to hear of how he touched someone's life and we could sure use his words now!” – Julie T. Byers

**Greasiest Hits on Earth

“Another fond memory when I was general manager of K-EARTH, I’d drive home from LA to Westlake Village, I’d stop in this dive bar on Topanga Canyon, The Candy Canyon, and bum a cigarette off Bill Drake and have a drink. That was his office.

He’d write down liners on a bar napkin and I’d take them in. Charlie Van Dyke would record them and they would be on the air by the afternoon. Still remember the huge timpani crescendo to ‘The Greasiest Hits on Earth.’” – Pat Duffy

(June 5, 2020) Joe Rogan is a comedian, actor, sports commentator, martial artist, and television host. He made headlines recently when Spotify picked up his podcast, The Joe Rogan Experience, for an estimated $100 million a year. As LARP struggle to launch podcasts and then find a way to attract advertisers, Rogan’s deal is a real head scratcher.

But some think the money is a far cry from what he could have earned. If Joe Rogan is a name you are unfamiliar with, Google him and listen to a free podcast (before he moves to Spotify).

He may be the new Howard Stern. Going to Spotify comes with a risk for Rogan. An estimated 8% of all Canadians listened to Joe in the past month, which is an audience the size of Vancouver. Research says 18% will continue to listen, and 23% will stop altogether. One blogger, Laptop Capri, says he could have gotten much more money going in a different direction.

The site made an analogy of the farmers who don’t realize they are sitting on tens of millions of dollars of oil, so they accept a $50,000 one-time payment. The blogger cites how Howard Stern is getting ripped off by Sirius. “He may make $90 million a year but could be making 2-3x by cutting out the middle-man and doing a subscription podcast,” cites Laptop Capri.

If the numbers are to be believed Rogan, arguably with the largest podcast audience in the world, could have gotten $3 billion. Rogan’s listeners can still access the podcast for free—as long as they use Spotify. Spotify premium subscribers get the podcast without ads, but free users will have to listen to ads (presumably sold by Spotify).

By doing this deal, Rogan gives up control over his subscriber relationship, claims Capri in his blogger. Any new audience he builds from here on out, Rogan loses. His existing podcast feed will likely die as most people eventually unsubscribe due to inactivity. It’s like Disney licensing their Disney+ content to Netflix. It might net a big one-time payout, but it completely erodes the business value that would otherwise accrue to them.

Joe Rogan is the new Howard Stern, according to another blogger. His audience is 10-12x larger than Stern’s, and Sirius makes an estimated $290 million in revenue from selling subscriptions to Stern. Because of the subscription plan to access Stern, the blogger maintains that young people have no idea who he is. “Stern has lost his impact on culture in exchange for a big upfront payment,” said Laptop Capri.

Here’s a link if you want to delve deeper into the subject.

R&R. John Leader was one of many who emailed to correct an assertion that Robert Kardashian founded the trade publication Radio & Records. The Kardashian brothers, Robert and Tom, financed the launch and were Bob Wilson’s financial partners. But the publication was founded by Bob Wilson. “So, it could be said that Bob Kardashian ‘funded’ R&R,” emailed Leader.

“Bob Kardashian, who passed away several years ago, eventually became active in the business of R&R, and was one of the nicest people on the planet,” said John. “As an 11-year employee of R&R, I can say with some authority that the publication was one of the most successful trades of all time. The scope and diversity of information presented each and every week was far beyond what came before or has since followed. It was a classic case of a great idea presented at the perfectly receptive time.”

Thanks to Bob Wilson.

Hear Ache. Rhapsody in Black host Bill Gardner turns 82 this week. “We will celebrate with a pastrami sandwich at Langer's when this nightmare is over,” said Bill … Didja know when KABC morning drive veteran Ken Minyard retired in the fall of 2004, Doug McIntyre was promoted to morning drive? … Julie Byers loves the one-liners at JACK/fm. This week she heard: “Playing what we want; Joel Grover investigates on the Channel 4 News!" …Condolences to former KTWV personality Marina Wilson on the loss of her mother. “With the help of a miracle and a very nice City Council member and the hospital, I was able to go along with my brother, be with my mom and visit her for the two weeks in the hospital,” Marina wrote on Facebook … Former KABC personality and Fox News host Sean Hannity and his wife, Jill Rhodes, have divorced after more than 20 years of marriage, according to the New York Post … Former K-EARTHer Christina Kelley was thrilled that the Wall Street Journal quoted her about the state of baseball … Jim Dawson reports sad news that LA doo-wop pioneer Gaynel Hodge has died. He co-wrote Earth Angel, played piano on the Rivingtons’ Papa-Ooh-Mow-Mow, and led various 1950s doo-wop groups like the Hollywood Flames and the Turks. Jim said that Gaynel is the last of the great Los Angeles R&B voices … It was June 2012 when Frosty Stilwell, part of the long-running Frosty/Heidi & Frank triumverate at KLSX, KABC and KLOS, joined KI0I (Star 101.3)-San Francisco as half of “The Sandy and Frosty Show” in morning drive ... Dunno if it is only me, but my nose doesn't itch until I put the mask on.

Remembering Coach John Wooden
By Dan Avey

I have known Coach Wooden since 1992. I met him when I sent a letter to UCLA asking if it were possible for Coach Wooden to autograph a basketball for a silent auction at my daughter’s grade school. About a week later I got a call at home. It was John Wooden! He said he would be glad to sign the ball and why didn’t I bring one over to his home in Encino. I picked myself up off the floor and said “Sure” and headed for the car.

That’s the way John Wooden was. No pretention, no fuss, tell the truth, don’t complain, don’t make excuses. I cherished the time I spent with him, either sitting in his den and talking, or taking him to lunch. (He ate at the same deli every day, always ordered soup and salad with extra crackers.) People, mostly former players, lined up for the privilege of taking Coach to breakfast or lunch.

About five years ago I made a lunch date with him for a Tuesday the next week. Then, I forgot. Really forgot. It didn’t cross my mind until the day after that I had stood him up. I rushed over to his home to apologize and he pooh-poohed the incident, saying he, of course, accepted my apology and that would be the end of it. He did have a kind of twinkle in his eye. When the word got out in the LA sports community about what I had done, I was labeled “the Man Who Starved John Wooden.” He laughed when he heard that.

In the mid 2000s I tagged along to a sports banquet where Pete Carroll and John Wooden would both be on the dais. Pete was really excited to meet Coach Wooden. He scooted his chair over before the event and asked Wooden for advice about being a consistently successful coach. Wooden told Carroll “Your teams will change every year but you cannot. You must be the unchanging standard.” He added “Don’t treat your players all the same. It is not possible. You’ll like some better than others just as you like some of your friends better than others. Tell your players you will treat them with the respect they have earned.”

Carroll asked Coach who he confided in when he had a player problem. “Oh, said Wooden, I’d turn it over to my best friend – the bench. “

Of course I introduced my two young daughters to Coach, and he said they were always welcome to come over. They had no idea who he was but they listened closely when he spoke or told stories about his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

In 2000, when my daughter Alexandra was nine, I was coaching her team in a Parks and Rec league in Encino. After one Saturday game we went over to Coach’s and he posed for a picture with her in her uniform. Later, I mailed him an 8 X 10 copy and asked him to sign it. (Photo: Jenny Avey with Coach Wooden)

He did. It says “Thank you, Ally, for being photographed with me. Best wishes and love, John Wooden, UCLA”

That is how I will always remember him.

(June 4, 2020) So many LARPs and broadcast professionals across the nation are losing their jobs. To those of you who have been “let go,” including the latest at KLOS, may I offer my heartfelt sympathy and sincere hope you find exciting new pages in the stories of your lives. To those managers who are having to let staff members know they are being let go, may I offer some advice about how to do it in a way that respects the dignity and value of your employees.

I was let go several times during my stint as an LARP. The first was at KWIZ, when I got back from vacation and received a Sunday morning phone call at home that I need not report for work in the KWIZ newsroom on Monday. All I could do was pull out the phone book, look up the nearest unemployment office, and worry about how I would make next month’s rent.

The second time was at The Programme Shoppe in North Hollywood, where I was writing the syndicated radio program “Record Report.” There was some kind of kerfuffle between the executive producer and management, which I knew nothing about and had nothing to do with. Even so I was summarily ordered out of the building. Time to worry about the rent again.

The final time I was working at Filmways Radio in Hollywood and called into the office of the company’s president, Gary Standard. I could see this one coming, as it was apparent there was more cash going out than coming in. Mr. Standard was very kind but beating around the bush. So I finally interrupted him and said something along the lines of: “So what you want to tell me is that I’m being let go and you appreciate my service, is that right?” He breathed a huge sigh of relief and said that’s right. I went downstairs to turn in my office key and leave the premises.

By this time I had wised up and stashed some savings to pay the rent. I learned from these experiences, how it feels to be let go and shown the door. No matter how you are informed and whatever platitudes you are offered, at the end of the day you are out of work. It’s a lousy feeling.

Later in my career I had to let people go for various reasons. And I followed these guidelines, which I now offer to broadcast managers who have to do the same:

Do it in person (or in the current environment perhaps Facetime or Zoom). As uncomfortable as it might be for you, look your employee in the eyes and try to understand their pain. Emails, texts, etc. in this situation are demeaning. Before you meet, spend a moment thinking about your employee’s family.

Do it at the end of the day, so your employee can at least feel that they put it in a good shift. If possible, after you deliver the bad news, leave the room and give your employee a few minutes to compose themselves. Yes, a little crying by them in private might be in order. Leave a box of tissue paper in the room.

Keep it brief. It’s ok to say thank you and we’re sorry, but spare them a long speech. Get to the point. They know what’s happening.

If you have one, make sure you refer your employee to your Employee Assistance Program for counseling, job resources and such. And also COBRA and other health care resources. If you don’t have an EAP, at least give them a list of non-profit resources that might help.

Unless they have stolen from you, do not have them escorted out by security. Give them the opportunity to take their personal belongings from their workspace and to speak with other employees. The other employees are, by the way, watching, and this is your opportunity to show that you are treating people with respect under difficult circumstances. For goodness sakes, let them say good-bye to their teammates!

Think about you and your family. If you were being let go, how would you like to be treated? Act accordingly.

(Guy Heston graduated from the radio/tv program at Cal State Long Beach in 1973. In the seventies he worked at KNAC, KWIZ, The Programme Shoppe, Filmways Radio and the Record Report. He spent 30 years at Long Beach Transit, much of that time as chief operating officer. He is now retired and living in Las Vegas.)

(June 3, 2020) Jim Bain, a veteran of KWIZ (1965-69, 1974-79 and 1981-85), KIQQ (1973), and KEZY (1988), has died. He was 82.

Jim was a great example that you can do anything you want to, as long as you are willing to pay the price. He turned his love for radio into a career of inspiring young people by teaching at Fullerton College and running its fm station. He started a comprehensive program at Fullerton in 1981 and realized that he needed to enlarge his own academics. While running the program, he worked weekends at KWIZ and Unistar’s AM Only channel AND went back to school. From 1969 to 1973, Jim was “the Mighty Quinn” on KMEN-San Bernardino.

He received a B.A. degree in business management from the University of Redlands in 1988 at the age of 50 and didn’t stop there. Three years later he received his M.S. degree in career and college counseling. His students filled 27 shifts per week on KBPK-Fullerton. His vocational advisory committee includes some of the most respected names currently working in Southern California radio.

Jim talked about his love for radio: “This wonderful, sometimes frustrating business, ever challenging but the greatest of all industries and definitely the mistress that owns us all – radio.”

Covering the Riots. TALKERS Magazine published an internal memo from KFI pd Robin Bertolucci that provides some insight about the station and current events:

“I want to remind everyone that as this situation unfolds, we are in NEWS mode. This goes for all shows, news or talk. This is the time to tell people what’s happening and explain all the sides of the story. This is a dynamic situation and we need to cover it clearly, first and foremost. We should try to refrain from drawing grand conclusions, making pronouncements or adding to the overall tension and confusion. The tone is INFORMATION and CLARITY. There are many different factions at play in this story... business owners, Antifa, police, looters, the National Guard, and let’s not forget the original focus of this… the protest about race and police brutality that launched this moment in history. This has become something very different and awful, but we need to stop talking about this as if it’s an us / them situation. We are all part of the same community and we need to find a way to talk about what is going on. Let’s get the whole story and let’s talk to different members of our community. No, I’m not condoning any bit of this horror show but I am asking us not to simplify this, not to paint everyone with the same broad brush and to find the nuances and tell the stories.”

Anchor Overboard. Anchor/correspondent Jim Chenevey has been with CBS News Radio since 1988. Yesterday he was let go. I asked Jim if there was any indication the termination was coming. “It was out of the blue,” emailed Jim. “I was one of 75 in the news division and some 400 company-wide. Glad I’m AFTRA!”

In addition to his anchoring duties, he reported on a number of major stories ranging from the release of South Africa’s Nelson Mandela to the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan. Chenevey was part of the Peabody Award-winning coverage of “China in Crisis” in 1989.

Jim was part of the morning team at KKHR and the format/call letter switch to KNX/fm. He was also news and community affairs director and hosted a weekend public affairs program called “Free Form.” Prior to joining L.A.’s CBS O&O, Jim worked at WHYT-Detroit, WGAR-Cleveland, KIMN-Denver and WFMJ/TV-Youngstown, Ohio. He is a Kent State alumnus.

Hear Ache. Neil Ross is reprising his role as announcer for Season 2 of Press Your Luck, starring Elizabeth Banks. “I'm also the voice of the iconic WHAMMY” … Didja know that Steve Edwards used to be a correspondent for Entertainment Tonight? …. Mookie, pd at 88.5 (KCSN), sent a note about his playlist. “You’ll be hearing many positive messages on the air this week. Songs of love, hope and solidarity.” ... Condolences to Mark Driscoll on the passing of his mother.

Pardue Parts with KPCC. Rita Pardue, a 14-year veteran at news/talk KPCC has accepted a buy-out and will devote her full time to her production company, Angel Wings Productions. She launched the company in 2004 to help non-profit ministries with their audio production.

Her supervisor at KPCC, Doug Gerry, sent a warm note about Rita:

Dear Colleagues, As some of you have heard by now, Rita Pardue accepted the SCPR buyout offer and will be leaving us this week. Rita has been a valuable and talented voiceover production employee since 2006. During her time here, she has produced over 10,000 promotional and underwriting spots for us! Her professional VO work and ability to turn out large volumes of high-quality spots will be missed, especially when those ASAP requests come in late in the day.

Rita also has been a member of the KPCC Quality of Life Team, helping to improve the professional work/life experience for all of us. Thank you for your service, Rita! We wish you all the best and continued success working with your company, Angel Wings Productions, and in your new role as a soon-to-be grandparent.

(June 2, 2020) The violence seen in Southern California the past few days has hit home within radio newsrooms. KPCC’s Adolfo Guzman-Lopez was shot in the throat with a rubber bullet by Long Beach police officers while covering the protests emanating from the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

Under the law, reporters are specifically allowed access to protests in order to do their jobs. Prior to sending reporters into the field, KPCC had confirmed with officials from L.A. County and the cities of Long Beach, Los Angeles and Santa Monica that journalists were among those exempt from the curfew. Late Sunday afternoon, Adolfo posted his first tweet: “I just got hit by a rubber bullet near the bottom of my throat. I had just interviewed a man with my phone at 3rd and Pine and a police officer aimed and shot me in the throat, I saw the bullet bounce onto the street. OK, that’s one way to stop me, for a while.”

His next tweet described the pain he was experiencing: “The rubber bullet hit stings like a mf, and is starting to hurt, talked to doctor friends, said if not having trouble breathing then ok. Going home."

After visiting the ER: “The ER doctor said the rubber bullet didn’t do damage to my wind pipe. I can breathe. I’ll be chillin’ with the family and thinking about love, compassion, and healing.”

Chris Little, KFI news director is also President of the Radio and Television News Association (RTNA) of Southern California. He sent out the following letter to the membership:

Dear members of the press: Over the weekend, a Long Beach police officer shot KPCC reporter Aldofo Guzman-Lopez in the throat with a rubber bullet (he’s ok). We’re trying to determine whether Guzman-Lopez was targeted, since he was standing off to the side of the protest, wearing his lanyard, and had just interviewed someone with his iPhone.

Two other KPCC reporters, Emily Guerin and Chava Sanchez, encountered officers while they were making their way through an alley in Santa Monica. They raised their hands and yelled out that they were press, but one officer pointed his rifle at them anyway. (He was riding in a Sheriff’s truck, but we are trying to determine whether he was Santa Monica PD.) Guerin and Sanchez took off in the other direction without incident.

We’d like to know whether any of your reporters have experienced any issues with law enforcement while covering the protests. Please reach out to RTNA Executive Director Maydie Encinas at info@rtna.org. Thank you, Chris Little President / RTNA

KLOS Loss. There were other major stories about radio breaking yesterday. Gary Moore (l), one of the nicest guys and most talented in the business, was let go in the KLOS bloodbath. “After playing on the 95.5 KLOS team for some 22 seasons, I’ve been granted free agency! Working at such a legendary rock behemoth with 6 pds, 7 gms and THE finest radio pros a guy could ever hope to meet has been the time of my life – so far. But there’s still a lotta high octane in the tank – upward & onward! Derby City looks mighty nice this time of year.” Gary is fielding your calls and emails: (310) 801-4279 garymoore44@gmail.com

There were more high profile personalities lost in the bloodbath. “Frosty Stilwell has been let go permanently,” said Frank Kramer on Monday morning during his KLOS morning show with Heidi Hamilton. Frosty joined Heidi and Frank at KLOS four years ago. But there were more. “A lot of people let go around here,” said Kramer. “A lot of people have been asked to make major lifestyle sacrifices just to keep the lights on.” Frank said he did his best to keep everything the same, keeping it normal, “but that was not going to happen. Management decided to go in a different direction. Who knows what they will decide tomorrow. It’s not something that seems to be consistent but I guess we will have to wait and see.”

Frosty wrote on Facebook: “It is now the Heidi & Frank Show, and I hope you will continue to give them your support. Don’t blame them, they had no say in this. Some of my best friends are in that room and I only wish everyone remaining on the show the best going forward.” He continued: “Apparently management's budget-cutting axe swinging also cut several others and perhaps I should feel honored to be in the same company of executed LA radio legends Gary Moore, Jim ‘JD’ Daniels, Steve ‘Jonesy’s Jukebox’ Jones, and Frazer Smith (mornings at KLOS before Mark & Brian) and Anthony was also cut from the morning show.” Nighttimer Greg Beharrell was also let go.

Many of those responding to the news on Facebook have been fans of The Triplets since KLSX days twenty years ago. “I hope you understand there was nothing I could do about this,” wrote Frosty. “So like it or not, I am off the team. I will have more to say later. But just not right now.” Listener David Munoz wrote to Frosty on Facebook: “So sorry you got let go Frosty. Thank you for making me laugh and putting a smile on my face when I drove into work. It was better than any cup of coffee I’ve ever had. God bless you Frosty and may God always look over you and Denver Dog as you turn a page in your book of life.”

Hear Ache. Power 106 morning man Nick Cannon decided he had to go to Minneapolis. He told Variety: “I needed to be right there on 38th Street and Chicago where George Floyd’s life was tragically stolen from him. People are searching for a new normal. I don’t want to go back to our old normal — clearly that was killing us on many levels. What we need is a new normal, a new paradigm” … Adam Carolla took to Zoom last night for his popular tour show Adam Corolla is Unprepared … KFI newsman Kris Ankarlo’s experienced having his tires slashed over the weekend. “I’ve only got one full-size spare. Those were new tires too,” he wrote on Facebook. His boss, Chris Little, suggested that it comes with driving a SUV that looks like a police vehicle … KROQ’s Kat Corbett was going on air Sunday when she wrote: “My job is to be upbeat on-air, but with what’s going on right now that’s not where my heart is. KROQ is a music station, not talk or news. I’ll play music and do my thing, but my thoughts are with the folks dealing with the incredible bullshit of racism. My neighborhood is destroyed. Everyone is talking about the looting. Protesters’ message is lost in the damage. To be clear, there were two parties yesterday. Protesters and those who came to loot and destroy. Don’t confuse the two.” … Former KOSTer Ira David Sternberg covers all things Las Vegas and wonders, once the craps games open, can the shooter blow on the dice?

(June 1, 2020) Southern Californians have seen and heard Jim Trenton for years, albeit more likely by his moniker The Poorman. From his days at KROQ including Loveline, being a regular on Rick Dees’ KIIS/fm morning show, even a year long stint doing nights at hip hop giant Power 106 (KPWR), Poorman’s Bikini Beach on tv, plus a longtime Internet presence, Poorman has always found a loyal audience.

Now he’s back on the radio, hosting Poorman’s Morning Rush weekday mornings from 7 – 10 a.m. on KOCI-Newport Beach. A friend suggested he call the station to see if they needed a surf reporter. “I called (KOCI ceo) Brent Kahlen, a great businessman and radio junkie who himself used to be a featured KROQ jock before they were ‘ROQ of the 80s.’ I went over to provide a surf report, and the next thing I know I’m doing mornings!”

It all began April 1, 2019. The station has a format of “deep cut” Classic Rock. Poorman takes his show a step further, terming it “progressive Classic Rock,” but he admits that’s not quite accurate. “My show begins with a blank easel every morning, I can play whatever I want. I often start off with a music theme – your favorite female artist, a song you’re secretly a fan of but afraid to admit, your original and favorite cover record, and so on.”

Eclectic is an inadequate adjective. “People now have the Internet, they don’t want to hear one type of music – I can hammer punk rock which could be followed by Jimmy Buffet, followed by the Chemical Brothers, followed by the Surf Punks.” He finds the progressive Classic Rock format “is interesting – programmers think older (and younger, too!) people want to hear one type of music… (yet) my program spans all generations to all genres of music – variety but not typical. I have discovered in doing the show for more than a year, because people have easy access to all types of music online, their tastes have expanded.”

“I feel Poorman’s Morning Rush is the closest thing I’ve enjoyed doing since the glory days of KROQ. It’s basically a progressive Classic Rock format combining all genres of music and all eras with plenty of listener interaction and giveaways. I take listener instant requests, real, not pre-set up. …I’m always surprised with what listeners come up with. Tons of people phone, text, email, and social media requests. It’s all about the collaboration between listener requests and my gut.”

Each day, Poorman features a “World Premiere Song of the Day” a song getting a first play ever on radio.”

When asked how his current program compares with his past experience, Poorman said “I think this is the closest thing to the glory days of KROQ, but even KROQ had a format. For example I can play Soft Cell. I’ve discovered they have a lot of other incredible music besides Tainted Love and Sex Dwarf. We now go way beyond KROQ’s format.”

He periodically offers punk rock, something rarely ever heard on the radio. “I thought it was crap back in the day, but now I love it! A lot of people like punk rock, and many don’t realize there are quite a few punk rock classics that rarely, if ever, got played on the radio. A programmer would never play them in the morning, but I do, and it works! I’ve even played ten minute songs in the morning! The flexibility and the freedom is different than any other place I’ve worked at.”

Poorman said there are a few similarities to college radio, yet the difference is “unlike college, I mix in the hits.”

“I talk to listeners on air, and that can be pretty funny. We also feature the ‘Mayor’s Minute’ with Newport Beach Mayor Will O’Neill. We recently chronicled live on the radio his daily battle with Governor Gavin Newsom keeping Newport and the Orange County beaches open despite the Governor’s order to shut them down during the pandemic. This battle received national news coverage, and we had exclusive access with the Mayor everyday. It was intense, great radio!”

The show also includes a Surf Report, the aforementioned “World Premiere Song of the Day,” a Loveline-themed segment, plus having sponsors “pop on the air with me.” Poorman does “a ton of giveaways, people don’t do that very often anymore – restaurant swag, the Poorman ‘social distancing t-shirt,’ hoodies, the ‘PoorManDana’ (Ed. note: These items are also available for purchase, ordering information below), gift cards, and more. BTW, giveaways, big and small, are winners! For whatever reason, radio has forgotten the audience loves stuff ‘for freeeeeeeeeeee.’”

Among the fans of Poorman’s current show is longtime LARadio veteran Kurt Kretzschmar, now Senior Director of Affiliate Sales for Premiere Networks. “I’ve listened to The Poorman for many years, starting with my days at Arcadia High School when some of the KROQ dj’s would perform at school dances, extending though my days at UCLA and after that. I was a P-1 listener of Loveline while he was the host, and watched his Poorman’s Bikini Beach show on KDOC-TV.”

Kretzschmar said he knows why Poorman is succeeding with his latest venture. “He’s always been cool, entertaining, and knows what Southern California listeners want to hear. To his credit, he has remained entertaining to this day,” said Kretzchmar.

KOCI describes itself as “Orange County’s Community Radio,” a non-profit, low-powered fm, its 42 watts on 101.5/fm covering the southern area of the county. Still, KOCI has a potential reach of more than one million (“many affluent”) listeners, plus their worldwide live stream at www.kociradio.com.

Poorman gets his own advertisers (“I’m a pretty good salesman because I have to be”). He said his sponsorship “is booming and even growing during the current lockdown. In fact, I just landed a Barber Shop sponsor, a scant few days after Orange County reopened them. It’s the Official Barber Shop of Poorman’s Morning Rush. They even want me to get a haircut!”

“I’ve kept my sponsors through the whole pandemic. I have some pretty innovative ways of integrating my sponsors into the show. From a financial standpoint, my morning show on this little station has turned into a windfall. What’s really wonderful is many of my sponsors are mainstream, big money companies. I have car dealers, financial advisors, brokerage houses, an air conditioning / heating service…I had restaurants advertising curbside service, now they’re reopening for regular business in the OC. I’ve had to think outside the box my entire career, so I do unique things with my sponsors that nobody does.”

He thinks now is an opportune time for radio. “There are no new tv shows, people have maxed out with Netflix to a certain degree…radio is live, national, local and could be slammed with sponsors. My show certainly is.”

Poorman thinks his show would be successful in syndication. “I’ve got some things that would work in the mainstream very well. It could make any market a lot of money.” Always looking at opportunities regardless of the platform, Poorman is finding ways to keep himself busy. “I’m doing two things right now. The radio show is a huge priority five days a week. In 2012, I began acting in New York. I most recently had a starring role in the Surfaces video ‘Sunday Best,’ a huge hit on TikTok, and 60 million views on YouTube. I play the grumpy boss who has the only speaking part at the beginning of the vid. I did another video for (the group) Strokes called ‘Bad Decisions.’ where I play a 70’s QVC type host trying to sell a ‘Strokes Clone Machine.’”

He also has done tv commercials, including an ad “where I’m a burned out Pepsi janitor who has discovered a secret floor remaking Crystal Pepsi (remember the clear Pepsi experiment in the 90’s).”

I love acting as much as I love radio. It’s different.” Poorman is inviting listeners to tune in Monday, where he’ll have a “major announcement” at 8:45 a.m. “People won’t even believe what I’ve been doing during the 17 days away from the station.” If you miss the announcement, he said it will be replayed at www.poorman.com.

He continues to enjoy and appreciate his current fortunes. “I feel very humbled and honored to be back on the radio, a job that came out of nowhere when I thought I couldn’t get a job, anywhere…life is good!” said Poorman. (Story written by LARadio Senior Correspondent, Alan Oda)

(If you’d like to order a “Poorman’s Social Distancing” t-shirt or Hoodie or “PoorManDana” (bandana), here’s how:
Venmo payment at @Jim-Trenton or PayPal pooorman@aol.com Choose Sizes: 2XL, XL, L, M, S (Men or Ladies).
Choose T-shirt $15 plus $5 shipping per shirt, PoorManDana $12 plus $3 shipping, and / or choose the hoodie $25 plus $5 shipping.
Please also provide Name, Shipping Address, Size, Quantity, Phone, Email Code: 6155 Allow 10 Days For Delivery. Thanks!)

** Remembering Terry Nelson

“Terry Nelson was my boss at two radio stations in Sacramento, KROY and KXOA. He was my mentor and a good friend. He was also ultra-smooth on the air. Terry worked at some great properties, 99X in NYC, KFRC in San Francisco and of course KFI in LA.

When he was doing mornings in New York City, he and his old roommate would put each other on the air doing bits. Of course, the RKO execs at 99X hated it as did the NBC execs at 660, but since it was Don Imus, what could they do?

Terry was more than my friend, he was one of my idols and taught me a lot about life and radio. I will miss him terribly.” – Bryan Simmons

** Nelson was First-Rate!

“I worked side-by-side with Terry Nelson doing the morning show on KCTC/fm, Sacramento for nine years at Tribune Broadcasting, beginning in 1981. This was after he returned to Sacramento from KFI and 99X radio in New York City because he and his wife Patti wanted to raise their young daughter in the area where they were raised. Every morning we were together, he as the host, and I as the news director / anchor.

He was a first-rate talent who was extremely generous and always encouraged me to be more than just the ‘newsman.’ We pulled some real stunts in those years. We claimed heavy rainfall caused the runways at Metro Airport to shrink therefore some planes could not land or take off. And yes, the tower at the airport got phone calls asking about flights in and out.

We started one Monday morning announcing that the International Date Line had snapped and landed in the middle of the Sacramento River. Of course, if the listeners lived on one side of the river, it was still Sunday and they did not have to go to work. If they lived on the other side, it was Monday and yes, they had to go to work.

We co-hosted a fundraiser for the Leukemia Foundation and auctioned off Rush Limbaugh for an afternoon lunch to the lucky winner. Rush said he listened to us every morning before he started his show at 9 a.m. on KFBK. During that time

Terry and I were about as close as two men could get as friends and co-workers...or should I say co-conspirators in the crazy world of Radio Broadcasting. Oh, and after the ‘International Date Line’ stunt, I received a call from a certain woman in San Francisco saying she was the news director of a certain radio station and she wanted to know ‘why she had not seen the story on the wire!’

One final thought. At the end of each morning show Terry would come down the hall, stick his head in my office and with a twinkle in his eye say ‘well DB we fooled 'em again!’ Fun-loving, extremely creative, blessed with a great set of pipes, and full of humor always...that was Terry Nelson! RIP!” – Dennis Baxter

** R & R Founder

“I wonder how many people remember that Radio and Records was founded by Robert Kardashian?” – Gary Bryan

** Jazz in LA

“The article on Richard Leos brought back wonderful memories about the history of KBCA (105.1). Commencing in 1960, KBCA became the world’s first 24-hour all-Jazz radio station. Richard was an important part of KBCA. Providing him an air shift to present Latin Jazz was a lucky inspiration. It was always a pleasure to work with him with his low-key style and his love of the format.

It was part of the process in providing an outlet for some of LA’s greatest undiscovered talent, many of whom were minority persons looking for an opportunity to break into local radio. In 1985, KBCA was honored to receive the award for the Los Angeles Business Achieving the Greatest Contribution to the Minority Community. As an aftermath to the Watts disturbances, the Award was never issued again.

The beginning was in 1960 when Daddy-O-Crump came to my office and asked for a chance to present Jazz nightly midnight to 6 a.m. I took a chance on Daddy-O, and within days Tommy Bee [the best Jazz dj ever] asked for the chance to present Jazz from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. every afternoon. A fortunate move as Tommy’s theme, Miles Davis playing Miles Ahead was played over and over.

Soon Jai Rich appeared, and although his experience was limited to being a house painter, Jai was provided morning drive, and Rick Holmes, a postal clerk, was given the 6 p.m. shift. Tolly Stroude was hired for evenings [Tolly made history with his slogan, ‘In the Middle of the Freeway’]. Next came Charlie Niles [‘Bebop Charlie’] and then Sam Fields, who was working in a deli, got an air shift. Jim Gosa, a sophisticated and all-time great dj joined the air staff.

Others to join the station: Kogi Sayama, a City employee, presented Jazz from Japan; Barbara Fouch. an African American lady began with Community Report, and of course, Hispanic dj Richard Leos joined KBCA for Latin Jazz.

KBCA now had a diverse staff of African Americans, Native American, and Japanese. Fouch was perhaps the first African American female on general market LA Radio. (Jesse Jackson came by to be on her program) We even featured a Jewish dj trainee, Stuart.

Richard Leos is missed.” – Saul Levine, president, KKGO (formerly KBCA), consultant to KKJZ

** K-EARTH Personality

“Thanks for adding my personal comment to your ‘before & after’ photos. It balanced what Rich ‘Brother’ Robbins had to say re. same topic.

And, what former K-EARTH gm Pat Duffy had to say about K-EARTH’S success over the years is ‘right on.’ Thanks for hiring me to be a ‘voice’ on the greatest fm station in the land back in the summer of ’97.” – Larry McKay

** Robert W. Morgan Boss-o-graphy

“The Robert W. Morgan Boss-o-graphy video is terrific! Our special thanks to Kevin Gershan, producer and narration by Casey Kasem. It was a marvelous reminder of LARadio at its very best.” – Don Graham

** Boss Mornings

“Thanks for the picture of Lon Thomas and Liz Fulton from KIIS/fm, just before the introduction of ‘Rick Dees in The Morning" in 1981.

I vividly remember that control room in the mid to late 70s! It was on the 19th floor of the First Interstate Bank Building [formerly UCB / United California Bank] at 6255 Sunset Blvd, in Hollywood. I visited there a number of times, just before I just started my own carrier in LARadio. I was in shock and mesmerized out of my brain to see in ‘inner-workings’ of L.A.’s #1 pop station at the time.

The Sunday morning board operator, ‘Darrell Weisser,’ who by the way, played back Watermark Inc.’s syndicated American Top 40 with Casey Kasem three LP set directly off the turntables, invited me up to the control room at that time. This was a few years before Pat Garrett hired me at KWST in 1981, ironically, located almost directly across the street! KWST was situated in The Crocker Bank Building, at 6430 Sunset, today’s CNN/Los Angeles Headquarters. – Anthony Ochoa, Camarillo

** Poska Memories

“Working in the PR business since the late 1950s, I had dealings with many Los Angeles radio personalities. I had become worker-friendly with a late-night talk show host on KFI named Al Poska. He’d often use my clients for his lengthy, and I must say highly intelligent, interviews.

Poska dressed immaculately in a dark blue or black pinstripe suit with a starched white shirt, button-down collar and conservative tie. He looked and dressed a bit like the late actor Adolphe Menjou. He was a model of sartorial perfection.

One day in the early 1960s, I ran into him at some sort of SCBA or advertising industry event. We chatted while sipping a pre-luncheon chardonnay when he was approached by an older woman who was obviously smitten by Mr. Poska. After a moment or two, the woman reached up and thoughtfully plucked a stray, curly black thread from his white collar.

Poska immediately yelped and feigned grabbing his crotch in pain. The woman nearly fainted and I damn near collapsed in laughter.” – Bennett J. Mintz, Chatsworth

** How I Got My First Job in Radio

“I called the local station protesting that their delivery did not do justice to their Classical format. Chief announcer called me in to the station. He administered the standard Classical announcer test to demonstrate that correctly pronouncing the names of composers, conductors, and performers in 15 languages was not easy. I aced the test. He hired me.” – Laura Brodian Freas Beraha

(May 29, 2020) Terry Nelson, a veteran of KFI in the late seventies, died this week (May 26), of an apparent heart attack. He was 73.

Terry grew up in Modesto and attended Columbia College and Modesto Junior College in Modesto. Prior to arriving in Southern California, he worked at KFIV (1360AM) in Modesto and KJOY-Stockton with Don Imus. He was part of Top 40 KROY-Sacramento and WXLO (“99X”)-New York where he worked both drives.

While at “99X” from 1975-77, he was nominated for Disc Jockey of the Year. He had previously won the award for small market radio. In 1979, Terry left the 50,000-watt giant KFI for KFRC-San Francisco. He eventually returned to Sacramento and served as the apd at KXOA. Terry then worked at KYMX- Sacramento until 1996. He was in sales at KWIN-Stockton for many years until his retirement several years ago.

Jeff March, a lifelong friend and colleague reacted to Nelson’s passing: “I’m still numb about the passing of Terry Nelson. I’ve known him for nearly 48 years, when he was a disc jockey (and soon to be music director) of 1240 KROY radio in Sacramento. I worked behind the scenes at the station as production manager (which meant I wrote copy for local commercials, assigned spots to jocks to voice and produce, and I voiced some spot tags and newscasts). Terry was a popular personality on the station, a big contributor to KROY’s consistent market-leading ratings.

I keep trying to replay in my mind the phone conversation that I had with Terry five weeks ago, on April 20. It was nothing remarkable, just kinda catching up with each other and talking about the shelter-in-place situation. I am glad that during the course of the conversation I made a point of telling Terry that I will always remember him for a kindness that he did for me in November 1972, shortly after he and I had first met.

When I started working at KROY, my wife Marsha and I were living in a duplex a couple of blocks from the rail yard in Roseville. We had chosen that location because it was a good halfway point for both of us when I was in my previous job at KAHI in Auburn and Marsha was a student at Sac State. One morning in mid-November ’72, my car ran rough the whole distance from Roseville to KROY on Arden Way. It was a bright yellow 1970 Plymouth Barracuda — an appropriate color because it was a real lemon. Something always was going wrong with that car.

Well, that particular morning, I parked in front of the station and lifted up my hood, hoping that I would see something really obvious (not that I knew what I was looking for, other than maybe a loose distributor cap or a dangling spark plug wire or something like that). Terry pulled up his red Volkswagen station wagon right behind my car and asked what was going on. I told him that something was wrong with the engine, but I was completely unfamiliar with Sacramento auto repair places.

Terry suggested a KROY advertiser, a repair shop on Folsom Boulevard east of Power Inn Road. He told me he would follow me there and would drive me back to the station. Consider two things: (1) Terry barely knew me then; and (2) this was shortly after 8 a.m., and Terry’s air shift started at 9. But he said, ‘let’s go,’ and off we went. The repair shop was about six miles away, all on surface streets. We hauled over there as fast as we could, I dropped off the car at the shop and quickly described the problem, and then I piled into Terry’s car and he raced back to KROY barely in time to begin his shift. At the end of the day, when the repair work on my car was done, Terry drove me back to the service shop. I was the new guy at KROY, he didn’t have to do that for me. But he did. THAT was the Terry Nelson who I will always fondly remember.

His talent took him to major markets. He left Sacramento in the spring of 1975 to join the on-air staff at WXLO (99X) New York. In a 2009 email message that I still have, Terry wrote ‘When I first went to 99X, I worked with Walt ‘Baby’ Love there. Walt broke me in at the station — he taught me the format, who was cool, who to watch out for, what I could and could not get away with.’ He returned to Sacramento in the summer of 1977 to become program director of KROY, then went to rival KXOA Sacramento, then worked at KFI and KFRC, before returning to his home turf here in the Central Valley. So long, old friend.” – Jeff March

Terry’s wife Constance posted the following on social media: "We would like to thank everyone for your outpouring of love and condolences. We can’t tell you enough how much it means to us. Terry passed away at home on May 26. It was unexpected but quick and with a happy belly. He had enjoyed a great day all the way into a dinner he said was incredible (winner winner Salisbury dinner). We are currently planning a memorial celebration of his life and would love to gather some stories and pictures from all of you. We will post details for submitting photos, audio, etc. shortly."

Hear Ache. Just when I rhetorically muttered ‘How long is this going to last?’ another month is ready to pass. June and here comes summertime … Jim Duncan saw the R&R covers in yesterday’s column. He sent a link to all of their issues over the years, which you can access here : ... Prominent KCBS/Channel 2 anchors Jeff Michael and Sharon Tay, along with meteorologist Garth Kemp, were cut late Wednesday amid sweeping corporate layoffs … Radio stations are playing more uplifting music these days, according to a social media post. So, if you feel like you’ve heard Good as Hell by Lizzo more than usual, it’s not just in your head … Fun to hear Sluggo on KLOS, sitting in for Gary Moore. Yesterday Sluggo took a call from a listener in the High Desert, emphasis on High. “I just like it because it is High,” Sluggo told listener Lisa ... California listens to podcasts more than any other US state, according to Stitcher.

(May 28, 2020) The Los Angeles Business Journal's fifth annual LA500 list, honoring the most influential leaders and executives in Los Angeles, includes two LARP – KCRW’s Jennifer Ferro and iHeart’s Kevin LeGrett. The survey was done before Covid-19 and spotlighted the leading figures from the city’s business community.

Jennifer Ferro said that Santa Monica-based NPR affiliate KCRW will continue its commitment to cutting-edge music programming,
which receives substantial airtime on the station. To that end, in January the station announced it had promoted longtime KCRW DJ Anne Litt to music director.
Litt is the fifth person to hold the influential post since it was created in 1979 and the first woman in the job.

Ferro joined public radio station KCRW in 1994. Since starting as a volunteer, she has held various roles including assistant general manager
and executive producer of the “Good Food” program. She has also worked in development, membership production, operations and marketing.
In 2019 KCRW left its basement digs and moved into a new 34, 000-square-foot, three-story glass structure built at a cost of $21.7 million
on the Santa Monica College campus. Ferro is a senior fellow for the UCLA Luskin School of Public Policy and serves on the board of Zocalo Public Square.

Kevin Legrett is the Division President, Los Angeles and Division President of the West iHeartMedia
In a January restructuring, iHeartMedia grouped its markets into four divisions. LeGrett and Scott Hopeck co-led the Regional Division.
LeGrett now oversees the company’s West Coast region division, taking responsibility across some of the country’s largest markets.
He has been the market president of Los Angeles since 2015, overseeing the sales, programming, digital and event teams in L.A.
iHeart has eight radio properties in L.A., including KIIS/fm, home to Ryan Seacrest.

LeGrett began his career at CBS Radio. In 2003 he moved to Citadel Broadcasting to serve as the company s president.
LeGrett joined iHeart in 2010 as vice president and market manager for Rochester, New York.
He became senior vice president of operations for iHeartMedia’s regional markets in 2012, overseeing more than 220 radio stations
and more than 50 markets in the Northeast and Midwest regions. LeGrett moved to Southern California in 2015
when he took on the role of market president for Los Angeles. In 2017 he assumed the added responsibility of president of the company’s West Division.
LeGrett is a board member of California Broadcasters Association.

Hear Ache. After announcing the Presidential Inauguration Parade and Voices of the People Concert at the Lincoln Memorial in 2017, Steve Ray (KRCI, KGRB, KRLA, K-Lite, KMPC, Westwood One Oldies Channel) has been named the primary Live Event Announcer for the RNC Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina this coming August. He’s taking a short sabbatical from anchoring at WBAL-Baltimore during that period to maintain news credibility … KEIB’s Rush Limbaugh said Tuesday that the current cycle of treatment for his lung cancer is “kicking my ass.” He told his listeners “for the last seven days, I have been virtually worthless, virtually useless. I haven’t left the house” and that he does “not have the energy that I used to have.” ... Gallery photo above is a look at KIIS/fm prior to the arrival of Rick Dees. Lon Thomas and Liz Fulton were in morning drive.

(May 27, 2020) Over the years anytime we have asked you to vote for your favorite LARPs, Vin Scully is always at the top or close to it. A number of years ago we replicated March Madness with our own brackets, pitting personalities against each other. After weeks of voting and elimination, Vin Scully won that competition. Looks like someone else decided bracketology can be fun. Houston Mitchell of the LA Times has been having readers vote for favorite sports icons. The Times held a month-long March Madness-style tournament in with 128 entrants were divided and seeded into four 32-person regionals (baseball, basketball, football and wild card.

Vin Scully easily won the baseball regionals and then defeated the legendary Rams defensive unit of the late 1960, The Fearsome Foursome. It got down to Magic Johnson versus Scully. With 45,000 votes cast for the final, Vinny received 62.1% while Magic Johnson received 37.9%.

Mitchell reiterated Scully’s final words as a Dodgers broadcaster at the end of the 2016 season and they feel equally comforting today and worth repeating: His final words as a Dodgers broadcaster: “You know, friends, so many people have wished me congratulations on a 67-year career in baseball, and they’ve wished me a wonderful retirement with my family, and now, all I can do is tell you what I wish for you. May God give you, for every storm, a rainbow; for every tear, a smile; for every care, a promise; and a blessing in each trial. For every problem life seems, a faithful friend to share; for every sigh, a sweet song, and an answer for each prayer. You and I have been friends for a long time, but I know, in my heart, I’ve always needed you more than you’ve ever needed me, and I’ll miss our time together more than I can say. But you know what, there will be a new day, and, eventually, a new year, and when the upcoming winter gives way to spring, ooh, rest assured, once again, it will be time for Dodger baseball. So, this is Vin Scully wishing you a pleasant good afternoon, wherever you may be.”

Hear Ache. The group Runaway June has been tapped to “take over” middays on Go Country 105 (KKGO) for the month of June. “As a California native, I listen to Go Country every time I am in the car or at home, so I am so excited that the girls and I will be hosting the show,” said Jennifer Wayne of … Congratulations to former 93/KHJ jock Walt Baby Love who has been syndicating Gospel Traxx for 25 years … Versatile LARP Stephanie Miller is taking her Sexy Liberal Tour into your home. Purchase online tickets at: SexyLiberal.com/Tour.

Seacrest Misses TV Assignment. There were renewed fears for Ryan Seacrest Monday after he was once again absent from the airwaves, according to Page 6 of the New York Post. A week and a half ago during the finale of American Idol, Ryan slurred his speech during the broadcast. When he skipped the next day’s Live with Kelly and Ryan broadcast, his rep said Ryan suffered exhaustion, not a stroke. He returned to co-hosting duties with Kelly Ripa for the rest of the week. But he was missing from the show once again on Memorial Day. “Page Six is told that Monday’s episode was pre-taped last week when Seacrest was exhausted, but it was noticed by fans on Twitter when the show aired. Ripa’s husband, Mark Consuelos, stood in for Seacrest for the second straight Monday.

Mark Alyn (center) and John Darin from one of many projects they did together. Barbara Valentine was host-producer.
"For more than 20 years John and I worked on a variety of projects - radio and TV - on one project he would be the host and I would direct.
Photo is on set in Santa Barbara where I was directing and then the next project he would direct me and I would host.
He was always funny - or should I say punny," emailed Alyn.

Email Saturday, 5.23.2020

** End of KROQ?

“After reading the devastating Variety piece on what could be the final chapter for KROQ [at least in any recognizable form], it might be time to consider the question: Should 106.7 FM become a simulcast of KNX Newsradio?

AM stations will face signal challenges in the age of electric cars and audience challenges with younger listeners who’ve never once hit the AM button. It might be a way to protect the only fully-staffed 24-hour radio newsroom in the southland. The fires, impeachment and coronavirus coverage may have raised their profile of late, but KNX could need more muscle in the long run, and there will always be a need for strong local news coverage on the radio.

If KROQ is dying, perhaps let it die with dignity and give KNX its long-deserved chance at fm, just as KCBS in San Francisco and WBBM in Chicago now offer.” – Ethan Harp, New York

** KNX’s Redundancy

“In Austin, Chicago, Denver, Seattle, Portland, Jacksonville, Milwaukee, Indianapolis, Atlanta, Detroit, Cincinnati, Minneapolis, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco, Salt Lake City and Washington DC, either a news station or news/talk station is number one in the ratings. In Los Angeles, KNX is tied for eighth.

A typical ten-minute period can explain KNX’s eighth-place showing: ‘KNX, traffic and weather together on the fives. Here’s Tonya Campos.’ Then a traffic report. Then, ‘Next traffic report at 10:15. I'm Tonya Campos with more traffic reports more often on KNX.’ Three minutes later, a 30-second promo, totally unnecessary, telling us KNX provides traffic reports. Two minutes later, ‘A three-car pileup has the two right lanes blocked on the 210 in Monrovia. We’ll tell you about it in four minutes.’ Two minutes later, a 30-second promo, totally unnecessary, telling us KNX is a news station.

Add up all the traffic reports, promos and commercials and only 50 percent of the broadcast day on ‘Southern California's only 24-hour all-News station’ is devoted to news.” – Steven Thompson

** KNX Traffic a Howl on KTWV

“I enjoyed most of the letters in Email Saturday, except Ken Leighton needs to lighten up! For those of us who drive, essential workers, Traffic on the 5’s and Jennifer York in particular are very welcome, especially when navigating the 210 at 6:30 in the morning! [I’m sure Mr. Leighton doesn't listen to The Wave as Jennifer does Pat Prescott’s morning show in between KNX spots and is a howl!]

Love the self-portrait! Emoji And the cartoon! Re the Sports TALKERS: Sad fact of life is I can only stand two of the seven ‘Heavy Hundred’ – Dan Patrick and Petros! I’ve had the pleasure of speaking to both of them and they are both gentlemen and entertaining! As for the others, you know what they say about ‘If you don't have something nice to say...’ Ken Minyard did / said nothing but the truth. Facebook is run by cowards who allow racial slurs, hate speech and threats but will delete your posts if you call a murderer ‘white trash!’ It’s getting so you have to a) take a deep breath and count to ten before replying to offensive posts, b) scrolling by offensive re-tweets by friends and relatives without saying anything and c) unfriending / unfollowing the same friends / family if they start posting the same things as their own posts/tweets. I miss having intelligent discussions.

By the way, in case you need a dose of real live sports, TVG has been a beacon of light in the midst of canned sports shows and classic baseball games. Even NBC Sports have teamed up with them Fridays-Sundays in a simulcast, and their on-air personalities not only entertain but educate and even talk about the old days of radio broadcasts of races.” – Julie T. Byers

** K-EARTH Success

“KRTH has arguably the best fm signal in America. First position on Mt Wilson, 6,000 feet, 53KW. Goes from Santa Barbara to San Diego, East to Mojave.

We always knew the station was underrated during the diary methodology because it was a second favorite. On everyone’s dial but never first up. The new methodology proved us right.

Then there are the programmers, from Bill Drake to Mike Phillips to Jhani Kaye during my time they kept the format intact and evolved the music. We went from 50’s-60’s to the 70’s. Now they have moved into the 80’s still playing the tight rotation big hits. They have also transitioned from the ‘big balls’ jocks of my era to a younger sounding air staff. I don’t know the new pd staff but respect them immensely. They haven’t broken the format. They have tuned it to the current times.

And they have the last of the ‘live local’ morning shows. I can say that hiring Gary Bryant was the best decision I ever made. The fact that he is still on the air makes me happy to be a radio guy.” – Pat Duffy

** Nostalgia Sunday

“I read the Nostalgia Sunday story from last week and came across the blurb about Buck Owens and the Buckaroos appearing at the Olympic Auditorium, where for many years boxing was the main draw. It was located near the south end of the I-10 freeway in downtown Los Angeles. I remember when I would take the MTA Blue Line into the city. You can see the building up close when the train would stop at the Grand Street station. There used to be a mural of a boxer, but I believe it is gone now. The building is now owned by a Korean church.” – Dan Ramos, Joshua Tree

** Look of the Quarantined

“The ‘LARadio Publisher Don Barrett Before Self-Quarantine and After’ photos are hysterical as is ‘The Sound Of Silence’ and the Hope / Jobs / Cash and Bacon funnies. You really outdid yourself in the humor department today partner, the more laughs the better these days so many thanks helping us all to keep our daubers up!” – Rich Brother Robbin

** Before and After Photos

“The pic’ of you before and after is alarming. Get a lot of rest and take serious care of yourself. You’re very important to all of us.” – Larry McKay

(May 22, 2020) KFI AM 640 has always had a knack for finding wonderful news talent. Not only do they do their newscasts covering Southland stories, they integrate themselves seamlessly into the high-profile local talk shows. They actively become part of the show.

One of the newest voices is Rob Newton. Last summer Rob joined the Talk station as a news anchor and reporter. When he’s not doing his news job, Rob is producing the Walk in Truth radio show and podcast where he also produces and sometimes voices radio commercials. Walk in Truth is an audio ministry of Living Truth Christian Fellowship in Corona.

Rob grew up in Big Bear Lake and graduated from the radio broadcasting program at Fullerton College. “My first paid job was at KCAA AM 1050 in San Bernardino in 2012,” emailed Rob. “I was a board op and announcer.” In 2013, he started as an announcer and producer at KBRT AM 740 in Costa Mesa.

Rob has a love for the great outdoors and has been hiking and camping since before it was REI-hipster cool. He also loves to go hunting and fishing whenever he can. Thanks to his English teacher girlfriend, he now loves to read as well. You can follow Rob @radiorobnewton.

Hear Ache. Wanna talk sports? Harvey Hyde interviews Iron Man Chuck Hayes. Listen here ... Nancy Rodriguez, most recently with Ventura radio is the new head of marketing for the Boys & Girls Club of Santa Paula … Rob Archer is celebrating five years with KNX ... If you have Alexa, ask her to play Shimmy Shimmy Ko Ko Bop. Her response will put a smile on your face ... Cousin Brucie had a nice tribute to Johnny Otis this week on '60s on 6' at SiriusXM. Learned some things about the music pioneer I never knew. One of my first concerts was seeing him at one of Art Laboe's dances at El Monte Legion Stadium. Of course, the diversified musician was also a LARP.

(May 21, 2020) Reg Laite, former KFWB news director in 1971-73, died on May 12, 2020 of cancer at age 89.

Reg was born on October 2, 1930 in St. John’s, Newfoundland. After his high school years in Brewer, Maine he served four years in the U.S. Air Force and subsequently earned his Bachelor’s degree in journalism from Boston University.

In 1958 he embarked on a career in broadcast news, starting as combined writer, editor and announcer at a radio station in Charlotte, North Carolina. Eventually,Reg became news director of KYW in Philadelphia and then KFWB, where he was one of the early pioneers in the all-News format.

The Laites moved to Sleepy Hollow in the Bicentennial summer of 1976, when Reg became news director of WOR 710 AM-New York. He also hosted Newsbeat, interviewing Governors Carey and Cuomo, mayors, and other public figures on air. He later left management and finished his career writing and editing for NBC television news.

During his long retirement, he enjoyed golfing, reading, and mentoring those around him.

Leos Materialized. Last week we lamented that while reconstructing the “L” section of Where Are They Now, we discovered that Richard Leos, formerly a jock with Jazz KBCA (105.1/fm), had died. We had scant information on his life, but David Grudt and Tony Morton both dug up a 1975 LA Times story from radio reporter James Brown. Thank you.

Richard spent eight years with Saul Levine’s station working as a county probation officer during the week and hosting a Latin music on the weekends. The music was a “melting pot of ‘30s and ‘40s Cuban dance bands, African and South American influences, fortified by American jazz and popularized by such rock groups as Santana and Malo.”

Leos starved for a time as a professional musician in Los Angeles, before deciding to join the Armed Forces and ending up at Arizona State University to study architecture. In 1963, he returned to the Southland. He loved KBCA and called the owner, Saul Levine, to complain about the paucity of Latin music. Levine gave him a weekend shift while during the week, Leos worked with youngsters at the county probation office.

He told Brown: “Music is my first love and always will be. I mean, this show is like my pacifier – I just come here and trip out.”

Hear Ache. Tuesday night The Voice topped the competition … Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Joe Walsh is bringing an old-fashioned rock n’ roll radio show to 88.5/fm. The new show debuts at 6 p.m. this Saturday. Walsh is a longtime listener and contributor to the AAA station … Wendy Williams scheduled to take another hiatus from her show due to health reasons.

KNX's Rob Archer's new book, “Sunday Traffic Every Day: Selected poems 1980-2020,” was published this week and now available
from Amazon in Kindle and paperback versions. "Call it apocalyptic poetry," said Archer.
"The cover is an original painting by my KNX colleague Emily Valdez."

(May 20, 2020) Social media lit up following Sunday night’s American Idol, with concerns that host Ryan Seacrest suffered a stroke while on the air. At one point he struggled to read off the script during the finale, while his left eye appeared larger than his right. Some thought he might have had a stroke, Bell's Palsy, or a TIA incident. When Ryan didn’t appear on Monday’s Live with Kelly and Ryan, speculation grew more intense. But he was on the tv show Tuesday morning.

The 45-year-old tv and KIIS morning star said he was thankful for well wishes after suffering ‘exhaustion.’ A rep for Ryan said he did not suffer a stroke but just adjusting to the new normal and “the added stress of putting on live shows from home.” Ryan was in great spirits as he rejoined Kelly Ripa on Tuesday morning for Live with Kelly and Ryan, according to Daily Mail.com. Seacrest did not address fears about his health but thanked Kelly’s husband Mark Consuelos for stepping in for him when he took the day off. He didn’t make any mention of the concerns for his health. “Between Live with Kelly and Ryan, American Idol, On Air with Ryan Seacrest, (KIIS/fm) and the Disney Family Singalong specials, he has been juggling three to four on-air jobs over the last few weeks and he’s in need of rest,” said a Seacrest rep.

Bob Koontz, a two-time victim of Bell's palsey, watched the video of Ryan and believes he may have had a very mild episode. "The first time I woke up with the entire left side of my face experiencing facial paralysis. We thought I had a stroke, my speech was affected and for me to carry on a conversation I needed to push up the left side of my face," emailed Koontz. "The second time was less severe but still had facial paralysis and the left eye lid closing. Some people told me that I sounded drunk when I spoke. I had acupuncture every day for 2 or 3 weeks and by the end of the month I was mostly back to normal. Some people never recover from it, the lasting negative effects for me my left eye still droops, so I guess I was pretty lucky."

Hear Ache. As we reported on Monday, Gene “Bean” Baxter is on the mend from coronavirus. “I’m not only feeling stronger every day but I’ll be gosh-darned if I’m gonna let Her Majesty outlive me,” tweeted Bean … The “Before” and “After” photo of me yesterday prompted some pretty snarky comments. Bob Sirkin thinks I should go to Walmart for some curlers. Dave Armstrong wanted to know which was the before photo and which was the after? K.M. Richards thinks I look just like Bruce Dern. Puhlese. … The Voice rises to top Monday ratings … New pick-up line: “If Covid-19 doesn’t take you out, can I?” … Robert Feder was reviewing his highlights in a distinguished 40 years covering the media in Chicago, when he remembered the role that Steve Dahl (ex-KPPC) had on his own career. The news of Dahl’s firing following his Disco Demolition at Comiskey Park brought Feder his first front-page byline in the Chicago Sun-Times and “It began a career-defining association with the future Radio Hall of Famer. Though Dahl and I were at odds for many years, he did as much to boost my brand as anyone. People still tell me they first began reading my column because they heard him ripping me,” wrote Feder … Congratulations to Joe Cipriano, the voice of K-EARTH. “It's been Forty-One-derful years,” he posted on his Facebook page. “I've loved you through the 70s, 80s, 90s and Today - I think that's a radio format.” … John Jenkins of Santa Barbara thinks it may be perfect timing if you want to save some money at Christmas. “Tell the kids Santa Claus didn’t make it through the pandemic.” … Variety has a fascinating story headlined: 'It’s the End of the World Famous KROQ as We Know It.' There are even some quotes from LARadio.com. Read it here.

"They said I can visit friends if I stay in my car." (Thanks to Richard Vaniotis)

(May 19, 2020) KLAC’s Colin Cowherd has been named The Most Important Sports Talk Radio Host in America by TALKERS magazine. Every year TALKERS ranks sports talk hosts, duos, or ensembles from 1 to 100 based upon a set of criteria that includes a combination of hard and soft factors. TALKERS executive editor Kevin Casey says it’s important to note that this year’s Heavy Hundred comes with an important qualifying statement.

“The publication of this year’s list was delayed by the coronavirus pandemic and it is crucial to note that it represents a snapshot of the industry as it was shortly after January 1, 2020 and is based on performances and assessments made prior to that point. Although we were prepared to publish the list in March, we delayed publication in order to focus on the pandemic’s effect on the radio industry. As a result of COVID-19, some of the talent on this list have been victims of unexpected staff reductions and furloughs and are not currently on the air. It is our belief that they deserve to be recognized for their accomplishments, nonetheless.

Other LARP who made the Heavy Hundred Sports Talk host list:

1.   Colin Cowherd
2.   Jim Rome
3.   Dan Patrick
6.   Dan LeBatard & Stugotz
39. Steve Mason & John Ireland
42. Petros Papadakis & Matt Money Smith
65. Keyshawn, LZ & Travis

Hear Ache. Ira David Sternberg (ex-KOST) is now a PR guru in Las Vegas. As they city reopens he suggests that you self-park at casinos unless your valet shows negative test results … Mark Taz Graves, formerly with OC Radio, has been battling prostate cancer. After a year since diagnosis Taz provides an update: “As of this month the cancer is still confined to my prostate. I have been on hormone injections of Lupron every six months and a daily regime of four Xtandi capsules. The plan is to continue to reduce the size of my prostate to a point where radiation can be performed without major damage to surrounding tissue. I still have a Supra Pubic Catheter and the goal is to avoid having a colostomy bag after radiation. My catheter prevents me from submerging in water and this is what causes me the most anxiety that I will never be able to enjoy the water like I have all my life.” … Former KABC morning super star Ken Minyard is perplexed. “On our Minyard & Minyard page Facebook shut us down for three days for using the same word that Trump did in his infamous tape to describe where he liked to grab women, only our use wasn't vulgar. We said: ‘Men who don't wear masks are P****ies.’ Better fix your algorithms Facebook.” … Mookie is thrilled that KCSN (88.5/fm) has been nominated for Station Of The Year in the upcoming, JBE (formerly FMQB) Triple-A SummitFest Awards. “The sweetest part is that the nominations are chosen by our industry peers,” emailed Mookie.

(May 18, 2020) Gene “Bean” Baxter has again made headlines, but not the kind he was expecting. On Twitter, he announced that he has coronavirus, COVID-19. This is after doing what he perceived everything correctly with staying at home, going out only to walk the dog and food while wearing necessary protection gear. Bean recently left his almost 30-year reign as co-host of the popular KROQ Kevin & Bean Show to embark on a new journey, returning to his home country in England. In 2012, Bean donated one of his kidneys to KROQ engineer /personality Scott Mason.

Hear Ache. Pat Prescott, KTWV morning host and producer checked in to say that she is using our recent series on the future of radio after the pandemic in a Radio Broadcasting course she teaches at Santa Monica College. “The recent series on the future of radio has been especially helpful in advancing our dialogue on where we're headed and how the next generation of broadcasters will handle our industry’s current challenges,” emailed Pat … KROQ added a two-hour Latin music to its Sunday night programming. Gene “Bean” Baxter commented: “I’ve predicted @KROQ will eventually go Spanish, or Talk, for a long time. I just don’t see how the Los Angeles market can support so many rock stations. And KROQ is the most niche, and with the worst signal too. Still, I wish them well.” … Adam Carolla thinks we are well prepared for talking through plexiglass. “From arguing with the nice man at the check cashing place, being refused the bathroom key at the gas station, or catching up with family in prison this is our time to shine,” Adam wrote on social media … American Idol (hosted by Ryan Seacrest) has been renewed for a fourth season … Jim Richards noted that Keith Richards tested positive for everything but COVID-19 … Big jump in viewership at QVC and HSN, per Wall Street Journal … Strange social media posting about staying at home. “Getting a hair stuck in your mouth has to be a million times more gross when you’re bald.” … Michael Medved is returning to the radio on CRN1. “Michael is one of radio’s best storytellers. He provides knowledge, a unique perspective and truly entertains his listeners every single day,” according CRN president/ceo Mike Horn … Bad news for KNX all-News purists. The two-hour bartered Car Pro program on Saturday mornings has resumed after five-week hiatus while the station concentrated on coronavirus news … Howard Stern had a fascinating interview with Good Morning America co-host George Stephanopoulos last week. When Alex Trebek dies, Howard thinks George should be the new Jeopardy host. George, a Rhodes scholar, didn’t object to the idea … Engineer Jerry Lewine received excellent news in his cancer fight: “The results of this past week’s PET scan showed no cancer! I will soon begin stem cell replacement which will keep me isolated at City of Hope for about a month and if all goes as planned, this will ensure that the cancer will not recur. I’ll still have to be checked regularly for the rest of my life and you are invited to my 100th birthday bash! … Puns galore on the Internet about this pandemic: “I told my suitcases that there will be no vacation this year. Now I’m dealing with emotional baggage.”

** Tribute to R ‘n R Pioneer

“I go way back to the late 50s with Little Richard. I first saw him at my hometown Muncie, Indiana’s National Guard Armory. I was a student at Indiana University at the time.

Richard, during one of the breaks and obviously attracted to me, asked me to travel with him on tour. I was amazed, but politely declined.

Much later, in the ’90s I was a dj at K-EARTH 101 and Richard’s original drummer [and former brother-in-law] Charles Connor was a long-time security guard there. I’d had trouble getting Richard’s autograph over the years and I asked Charles if he could get it for me. This practically indecipherable signature on Richard’s photo is the result: Little Richard aka Richard Penniman – RIP. He was an unforgettable, colorful monument to the beginnings of Rock & R & B Music.” – Larry McKay

** All the Hits, All the Time

“Would you have any idea why KRTH, whose playlist has been only Oldies for nearly 35 years, sits at or near the top all of the time?” – David Dana-Bashian

** Nostalgia Sunday

“I read the piece last Sunday on KNX and KFWB. I started in the mailroom at Columbia Square in 1970 and KNX had Mike Roy on in midday and the drama shows on at night. I don’t remember if USC play-by-play was on. The thinking then was there were hours where people were having lunch or watching tv. No in-car listening. Then came the killers for AM news.

Every local tv station started news shows from 6 a.m. on. Now till midnight. Then came computers, you didn’t have to wait 20 minutes to get the Dodgers score. A click and it was there. Headlines were there. The local tv shows were doing personality radio. LA never needed two all-News radio stations, KNX has the killer signal and because of that is still viable.

1010 WINS in New York had the signal to compete with WCBS. KFWB just had a hard-working talented staff trying to push the rock uphill. As for the Dodgers, their contract had clauses that only would allow for major disasters. They were the worst broadcast contracts ever because they had all the leverage. Especially at shit signals like KFWB. The final killer for AM News and Talk is the spot load, 18-20 minutes?” – Pat Duffy

** Armstrong Understood

“I really enjoyed reading the words from Dave Armstrong. He hired me to be the KKLA midday host from 1998-2004. He was the best general manager I ever worked for in my entire career. He was kind, direct and caring.

I remember my first week on air at KKLA. One of my sons suffered from migraine headaches. As a single parent, it was always challenging to have back-up childcare. On that day, I brought my son with me to the studio and put his blanket and pillow under the console and told him to be quiet as a mouse every time I opened the mic. He was such a sweet boy and was so quiet.

The studio was dark and in walked Dave Armstrong and noticed something under my console. On my gosh, I thought I was going to be fired my first week on the job. Instead, Dave returned with a special baseball. He told my son to feel better so he could get out there and play ball. I didn’t get fired and my kids were always welcomed at KKLA. Thank you, Dave Armstrong for your gentle, understanding and compassionate manner.” – Rita Pardue

** Thoughts on KNX

“I have trouble understanding how KNX actually went down in the April ratings while it seems every other news station across the country went up. Talker KFI was number 1 and even KABC increased by 40%. Here is my theory. I think KNX has done a very good job going out and getting more in-the-street ‘actualities’ than any other station. They are still staffed [thank God] by quality journalists. My only concern is this: why do they insist on so many long traffic reports? HELLO...DRIVING IS WAY, WAY DOWN. And yet their traffic reports every ten minutes seem just as long.

Also, I have to admit that while their morning traffic lady is probably a very nice person, it seems she has gotten carried away with her trademark Calamity Jane frenzy. It’s her shtick, her gimmick, to just flip out and get wildly excited over traffic, even when there isn’t any. She gets so frenetic that she mangles words to the point you can't understand them, or she just doesn’t even get them out at all. Words actually have fallen victim to her flip-out, hair-on-fire delivery. With her, it’s Fractious Friday every day of the week. It’s good she cares about her work. But there is no excuse for KNX to have gone down during the first full month of the Covid. This is the only thing I would suggest they work on. We have enough real drama. The overplayed KNX traffic reports are not helping in my opinion.” – Ken Leighton

** Early LA Radio

“I see we have Lompoc in common. Omitted from my brief bio on LARadio is the one year I spent there after leaving KFWB.

AFTRA struck the station in the spring of 1971, and since I was ‘at the editor’s desk,’ I qualified as management. The strike was brutal, worked us editors to the max during long days in six-day weeks. Management voices arrived from around Group W’s network, including Jim Burson, who had been news director at KYW in Philly when I landed there as a ‘management trainee’ after Vietnam.

It was great to work with Vince Campagna at KFWB — always gracious and friendly to me. I was a young know-it-all with a couple journalism degrees and five years as an Army officer when I took over as the editor of morning drive, and my reception from some of the heavy-hitters on the staff could be described as ‘chilly,’ but never from Vince.

One memory of my time in the early 70s: The parking lot behind KFWB on Hollywood Boulevard was a hot spot for crime. My shift on the news desk began at 2 a.m., so I was a bit wary when someone was stabbed in the lot late one night. I started carrying my Army-issue .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol into the station in a brown paper bag. I’d stash it the editor’s desk and go about my business. The union guys soon realized what I had in the drawer and filed a grievance. General manager Art Schreiber called me into his office and patiently explained that I couldn’t keep a loaded pistol in the editor’s desk any more — another cherished memory of fast times at KFWB.

I was fixing to leave KFWB when I attended a Walter Cronkite talk at the Ambassador Hotel that summer. He said cable was ‘the next big thing in television.’ I soaked it up, found a position at Lompoc Valley Cable TV as its first Local Origination Manager, and had a ball for a year cablecasting Lompoc and Cabrillo high school sports. I was the Chet Forte of Lompoc Valley! Scott Ostler, much-honored sports columnist now at the SF Chronicle, was sports editor at the Lompoc Record and hosted my Tuesday night replay of the Friday night football games. He interviewed the high school heroes, while I coordinated the playback in our tiny studio.” – Doug Carlson

** Saturday Night Come Together

“When creative people have down time, they create and that's what we’ve been doing. Tim Piper, my partner on the podcast Talks with John and the radio show Back with The Beatles, officially debuted our Saturday night variety show – the Come Together Club – on Facebook Live. It’s an hour of fun, music, talk and even a portion just for the kids. Our guests included the iconic Shotgun Tom Kelly, Big Band singer Bill A. Jones, Screamin’ Scott Simon from Sha Na Na, John Van Kamp from BossBossRadio.com and Tommy Scheckel from Paul Revere's Raiders. It’s not just about entertainment, it’s about fun and positivity. We were really pleased to see [in the comments] our audience not just enjoying the show but talking to each other – exactly what the Come Together Club is supposed to do.” - Tammy Trujillo

** Post Covid-19

“As I sit in our temporary home studio, I can only think of our late great boss, Stanley L Spero, general manager at Golden West Broadcasters, KMPC 710 Los Angeles. When I first met Stan in 1976, he said radio will never die. Yes, ad revenues are down, but so what. We all are good business minds. We make adjustments and I agree radio will live on forever. I remember in 1960 when my sister took a job at the old original Poole-owned KBIG 104 FM, Sunset Blvd studios, we all wondered what fm was. And most of the old timers pooh poohed the thought of fm. AM/FM radio will never die.” – Alan L. Gottfried

1977 LA Times ad

(May 15, 2020) The Museum of Broadcast Communications announced that the Radio Hall of Fame Nominating Committee is now accepting suggestions for 2020 nominees. Submit your suggestions at http://www.radiohalloffame.com/ and click on the Nominate tab.

Every national Hall of Fame story is a painful reminder that Los Angeles, the greatest radio market, has no Hall of Fame to honor their best. It is criminal.

When the Pacific Pioneer Broadcasters struggled to reinvent themselves a year or so ago, it seemed like a natural to embrace this ambitious and rewarding venture. Under the Hollywood Media Professional banner, the group could easily put together an induction dinner once or twice a year. The revenue from participants and guests could be very lucrative, not only covering expenses but contributing to future expenses. More importantly it would put the spotlight on a much-maligned entertainment platform – radio. The museum could be put online, avoiding the costs of a building or structure. Having it online would be a great place to have audio of the inductees, representing their best work.

Let’s give this idea some serious consideration. Too many of our giants are passing.

Hear Ache. John Lander has an idea for when this quarantine is over, “let’s not tell some people” … KFI’s George Noory joined KLAC’s Colin Cowherd’s weekly podcast. Noory chatted with Cowherd about the mysterious Navy pilot videos recently declassified by the Pentagon, the conspiracy theories around the origins of COVID-19, and the unsolved case of the D.B. Cooper airplane hijacking in 1971 … Denise Madden was saddened that Gary Price had died. Picture in the gallery above was a photo taken at Lee Larsen's (KLOS) going away party in 1983. “Gary was a good man, one we will miss,’” wrote Denise … Alex Gervasi, former middayer at KIIS, has joined Universal Music Group’s Music and Tactics team … Maryann Caruso (KLSX 1997-97) wondered on Facebook if it is really necessary to have a Fleetwood Mac channel on SiriusXM? … Nancy Cole (Silverman), former general manager at all-Sports KMPC/1540 has successfully transitioned to a career in writing. She has just published her second book in her Misty Dawn series. LARP Rochelle Staab calls Nancy’s new book, “A great escape.” … KROQ starts a new show Sunday night called “Aternalido,” a new Latin alternative show hosted by Anthony Valadez. Jeff Federman, head of KROQ, explained: “Los Angeles is one of the most culturally diverse cities in the United States and we’re excited to broaden our sound to reflect the musical tastes of our community.” ... Looking forward to Hallmark’s holiday offering A Very Covid Christmas, when a big city lawyer and country candle maker accidentally meet when they go to the wrong Zoom meeting.

Timmy Manocheo found this foto of the Fab Four, perhaps the lads were ahead of the times

(May 14, 2020) The mission of Los Angeles Radio People is to salute the men and women who have entertained us over the decades. We started around 1957, roughly the start of that music transition from Pop to Rock ‘n Roll and the explosion of Color Radio.

We depend a lot on the LARP themselves to update their activities, but sometimes we discover they have passed. It becomes catch up time, with the help of others, to adequately spotlight their lives. We do it because no one else does. LA Times requires an arm and leg (no pun intended) to publish an obit.

Oh, you might get a Facebook mention for a day or two but we can shine a continuous light on those who are no longer with us in the Where Are They Now section.

Technology, or my careless worked, wiped out the letter L last year. Each entry in Where Are They Now has to be redone. The other day while working on Richard Leos, we discovered he died February 5, 2017, at the age of 80. For almost a decade (1967-76), Richard introduced the Southland to Latin Jazz on Saul Levine’s station, KBCA (105.1). After his radio career, Richard worked as an LA County Probation officer in the 80's and 90's until his retirement, due to a stroke. Richard had been living in Monterey Park.

If you have a photo of Richard or further information about him, it would be much appreciated. And if your entry needs updating, send the info to AvilaBeachdb@gmail.com.

(May 13, 2020) With radio hemorrhaging listeners during this pandemic, the recent Myers Report asks the question: “Where Have All the Ideas Gone? When Will Media Ever Learn?’ The report suggests very few are focused on the innovative ideas for advertisers to implement, on sponsorship opportunities or more effective ways to connect marketers’ brand messages to relevant content environments … Former KABC and KNX morning man Dave Williams went food shopping in Dallas the other day and saw an X on the floor by the cash register. “I’ve seen too many Road Runner cartoons to fall for that,” he said ... Salem is adjusting to the uncertainty of the economy. The company has temporarily suspended the regular quarterly cash dividend on its common stock. Additional cuts include: reducing travel and entertainment, eliminating open positions and new hires, reducing staffing when appropriate, requesting rent concessions from landlords, reducing employee compensation and requesting discounts from vendors ... Julie Pilat, former pd at KYSR, is learning all sorts of new things during the quarantine. “I learned that Debbie Harry was adopted. I’ve been listening to her book while walking this week,” Julie wrote … Half of podcast consumers in China listen every day, according to the first survey of podcasting in the country from PodFest China. The most popular app is Apple Podcasts … Former KRLA jock Lee Duncan wants to re-install 2020. This one has a virus" … If you visit Pittsburgh, you can listen to Big Boy on WAMO … Ted Ziegenbusch did a fun telephone interview last week about the decade of the 1980s. During the conversation he suddenly remembered something that puts this aging thing in perspective. “We began that decade with no cellphones, no personal computers and radio was our only free source of music. Men had more facial hair, and women had outrageously puffy hairdos. The biggest #1 song for the entire decade was Physical by Olivia Newton John. It spent 10 weeks at #1. If you had your own time machine like the one in Back to the Future, would you go back to the 1980s for a little while? Would you stay there?” asked Ted.

** Armstrong the Best

“Thanks for the timely article by Dave Armstrong. I’ve worked for a lot of general managers in my career. Dave was among the cream of the cream.

By far, he was the most encouraging and supportive leader that I ever worked for in Los Angeles or elsewhere. He was also generous enough to share his wisdom with the rest of us. Whenever I would ask ‘why’ he felt a certain way, whatever the topic, I got a straight-forward and fully detailed answer. He never pulled any punches and never sat on the fence waiting for the wind to blow in the right direction.

So his advice is well worth absorbing here. Instead of bemoaning what has come upon us, get to work, be creative and get back to what we all do best. Let’s entertain our audience and remember that it’s all about relationships, on both the radio and in sales.” – Ted Ziegenbusch

** Armstrong Unsung Hero

“At last. Someone finally sings for the ‘unsung hero.’ I enjoyed your article on Dave Armstrong. He hired me to work weekends at KWIZ in the mid-eighties. I found him to be kind, gentle and thoughtful. After having worked in radio through four states and Mexico, I had rarely found that. Dave was kind of like ‘Arthur Carlson’ / WKRP in Cincinnati, except he was smart.

I am not a Christian, but that did not keep me from noticing that Dave always practiced what he preached. He led by example. Pretty rare in radio then, and less so these days.

Best to you, Dave.” - Bill ("Daniels") Schwarz, Ontario

** GM for Polar Opposite Stations

“Great piece on Gary Price. KDAY was his one world as a general manager. KNAC was the polar opposite for him. The fact that he was comfortable and innovative in both formats is the biggest tribute to him as a radio guy. Thanks again for remembering Gary.” – Mike Stark

** Price Ruined Me

“So sad. Gary Price was a straight shooter who ruined me for other gm’s. And, he had the best pipes in the building!” – Long Paul

** Boss Man

“Thanks for the great column on the passing of my general manager, Gary Price. I’m proud to say that I go to work for him twice: Once from October ’86 to December ’90, then again from 1992 to the end of KNAC in the Heavy Metal format on February 15, 1995. In effect, he changed my life twice [which was sorely needed] after my stints at KLOS, Pirate Radio and a bout with a brain tumor.

Gary was a great manager. What I respected about him most was his ability to make a decision. But beyond that he was an innovator, an astute observer of the markets around him which allowed him to find the niches, measure the risks [high!] and develop the audiences to be served. He’s responsible for giving life to two formats that the ‘big boys’ ignored, first with the Urban format at KDAY, then with the Metal format at KNAC. I am heartbroken with the news of his passing, but I am certain that I’m a better person for having known him.” – Thrasher (Ted Prichard)

** Priceless in Many Formats

“So sorry to learn about Gary Price when I checked in this morning. He was part of the KFXM-San Bernardino lineup when I first started listening to Top 40 radio in the early 60’s. He did the 6-midnight ‘Platter Party’ shift and unveiled the new Top 40 survey every Friday night starting at 6. Top 40 radio was so MAGICAL back then. I still remember the lineup of KFXM back when I first started listening to it. Ron Garner did the ‘Rise and Shine’ show 6-10a, Jack Sands was on 10a-2p on the ‘Coffee Club.’ Bill Tanner did the ‘Club 590’ show 2-6pm and Gary Price hosted ‘Platter Party’ 6-mid. George Babcock was on all night mid-6a with ‘Night Watch.’

I met Gary a few times when I was at K/men. He was always a very pleasant guy with a quick smile and obviously had great success off the air. All of the radio personalities of our teen years are slowly riding off into the sunset.” – Bruce Chandler

** Price Start

“Your ‘Where Are They Now’ entry for Gary Price says he was at KHJ/fm in 1971-72. Actually, he was promoted to general manager in May of 1970 after several months working in the sales department. Price began in radio as a dj at 1290 KPER [now KAZA] in Gilroy.” – Steven Thompson

** Recent Passings

“If it weren'’t for LARadio.com, I probably wouldn't have known that general manager, Gary Price, and talent extraordinaire, Steve Lundy, had recently passed away. They, along with pd Jim Taber, made my time at KROQ the most enjoyable of my career.” – Jhani Kaye

**KIQQ Partner

“I'm sorry to hear about Gary Price’s passing. Loved seeing my old teammate Jim Maddox mentioned. He’s a very nice man.” – Mike Butts

** Investment Opportunities

“At one time, Gary Price and I were very friendly. Eventually we lost touch with one another. He even set up a luncheon with Fred Sands and me and Gary as he wanted me to explain to Fred that radio was a very good investment if stations could be purchased at around eight times cash flow or less. At the times multiples were reasonable. Sometimes the price was 1-1/2 times revenues (less trade and barter). Gary was an exceptionally nice person and very easy to be around. He had no airs and treated everyone with respect. Very sorry to hear he passed away.” – Bob Fox

**Nostalgia Sunday

“I really enjoy the Sunday nostalgia pieces. I especially liked the artwork from KLAC in 1970. If a station took that playlist and played it in that order right now, I would be their loyal listener forever. Of course, there are probably only about six of us who'd listen.” – Tim James, Mr. Procedure

** Hey Sport

“My heart goes out to the radio sports stations but for us older tv golf nuts, Golf Channel is featuring replays of great tournaments of the past. It works because us older folks don’t remember what happened a year or two or five ago. I’ll turn on such-and-such tournament replay and end up watching the whole damn thing because at ‘76 the ’CRS [Can’t Remember Nothin’] has gotten pretty severe.” – Rich Brother Robbin

** What Time Is It?

“This morning I was listening to the news, not on radio but on NBC4. THREE TIMES in one break, the two newscasters told me what time it was, and it was always 6:26! That means three times in ONE MINUTE! I was coached years ago, and have coached others along the way, not to give the time in every break. It just sounds like cheesy ‘puker jock’ radio, but the morning tv shows do it constantly!” – Brian Perez

** Smoke This

“Grand Havana Room in Beverly Hills shuttered for almost two months due to the Covid hysteria!! I worry that bugs may have infested those precious Cubans hiding in those private lockers.

I'm also worried about the CIGARS.” – Magic Matt Alan

** Humble Email

“Thanks for keeping the column going, and I trust you are well and healthy. Seeing the photo of Humble Harve you posted this week reminded me of something I keep meaning to bring up, though you may already know this. He had a major cameo in the low-budget 1980 film The Hollywood Knights. It was a bit of a rip-off of American Graffiti, but has some great early big-screen appearances from the likes of Michelle Pfeiffer, Tony Danza, Fran Drescher, and Robert Wuhl. Humble basically plays himself, manning an all-night sidewalk radio studio, essentially the same role Wolfman Jack did in American Graffiti. Bit of a silly romp overall, so don’t expect Masterpiece Theatre.” – Dave Kunz, Automotive Reporter, KABC-TV, Co-host, “The Car Show,” KPFK

** Country HOF

“As you know, in February, I was inducted into the Country Radio Hall of Fame. The induction ceremony is scheduled for September. One of my former program directors, from my KZLA Daze, is the head of the Country Radio Broadcasters. He has asked all the inductees to submit pictures from our lives and careers. I can across this from my first year as the country editor for Radio & Records newspaper. The picture is important to me because it is the only photo I could find of the pd, Gary Perkins, who was hired from KHEY in El Paso.

He and the new gm, Bert Whalen, came to San Diego and listened to the station for week in a hotel. They went to KSON’s owner, Dan McKinnon, and told him they were going to fire everyone on the station except for the guy doing the Saturday night show: Me. They wanted me to do morning drive. I was 19 and going to San Diego State. McKinnon told them ‘No way!’

Now these two new hires told Dan if they couldn’t do what they were hired to do, they would go back to El Paso. McKinnon said okay but I had to move the ratings up over two ratings books.

In those days the ratings were done four times a year. KSON was 15th in the market. My first book I took the morning show to number seven. The next rating, I was at NUMBER ONE!!!!

Held that rating from 1969 to 1974 when Bob Wilson asked me to come to LA. By the way, Dan and I later became friends and served on the Country Music Association’s Board of Directors several years. Sadly, he passed away a few years ago. But he is in the Country Radio Hall Fame. I hope they hang my plaque next to his. Gary Perkins is sitting at the control board.” – Jim Duncan

** Early Radio

“I’ve been reading your column now for about 15 years. I’m what you would call a radio geek! I grew up in the Bay Area listening to the mighty 610/KFRC and I was smitten by the disc jockeys! I attended Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, and was able to work at their campus radio station back in the late 70s, but I ended up working in television for most of my life.

I am now retired and I’m working as a life coach. The majority of my clients are in their 20s and early 30s. I currently am working with 16 clients, 11 of them I’ve been working with for over 10 years.

Being a radio geek, I have observed the way they listen to music when they drive their cars. It breaks my heart to find out that none of them listen to the radio. As soon as they get in their cars, they go straight to their phone, and stream music from the phone.

One day, one of my clients picked me up in his car to go eat lunch. He had just bought the car about six months earlier. As he was getting gas, I decided to check his presets and see which radio stations he listens to, only to discover that he had not set any presets. When he got in the car, I asked him ‘How come you haven’t preset any radio stations into your car radio?’ He replied ‘I don’t listen to the radio. In fact, I don’t even know what radio stations there are.’

I was shocked. This was a 23-year-old young man born and raised in Pasadena and he doesn’t even know what radio stations there are. The first thing I thought of was ‘Well that’s kind of true because I remember back in the day when cars would have bumper stickers advertising a certain radio station. But you never see that nowadays.’ Besides not seeing bumper stickers, very rarely do you see billboards advertising radio stations and when you go on a radio stations website, they don’t really talk about their station or the djs, they just show you celebrity gossip stories.

I met with one of my female clients, who is 21 years old, at the Chick-fil-A in Burbank. I point blank asked her, ‘Do you ever listen to KIIS/fm?’ She looked at me with a perplexed face and said ‘Is that a radio station?’ I almost fell out of my chair. Back in the 80s and 90s, every girl at that age listened to KIIS/fm to hear to their favorite boy bands. And what made this even worse was that this Chick-fil-A in Burbank is literally located across the street from the KIIS studios!! And here she is, a woman that was born and raised in Burbank, and didn’t know if KIIS was a radio station!

I have many, many more of these kinds of stories that break my heart. So, I don’t really know where radio is going to be in the future, because so far, my 16 clients, between the ages of 21 and 31, don’t listen to the radio. ‘In fact, I don’t even know what radio stations there are.’ A very sad statement.” – Mike Hubbard

** Banning Mighty Met

“While going through the FCC digest listings, I came across a station with the iconic KMET call letters. The station is in Banning, of all places and operates on 1490 KHz. It does not do rock music, instead it does a Talk format such as Dave Ramsey and others. I wonder who decided to pick up the call letters or did the FCC just give to them because the letters were available. I am sure a lot of people who follow LARadio will remember KMET on 94.7 MHz, its on-air staff and Rock format.

What a long way from being iconic. Once in a while, I will see an old KMET bumper sticker and think of Jim Ladd, Jeff Gonzer and Mary Turner. What a time!” – Dan Ramos, Joshua Tree

(May 8, 2020) Dave Armstrong was the general manager at KWIZ, KYMS, KKLA, and KIEV/KRLA/KKLA/KFSH from the eighties through the early aughts. “I had done everything I wanted to do in secular radio and wanted to apply successful principles to Christian radio," said Dave.

He was born and raised in Jefferson, Ohio, about 60 miles east of Cleveland. Dave started his radio career as a dj at a daytimer in Ohio. Once he saw that sales people made more money than announcers, Dave moved into sales.

During the 1970s Dave worked in Erie, at KFJZ-Ft. Worth and KLOK-San Jose. He arrived in the Southland at KWIZ from sister station KLOK. He programmed KYMS-Santa Ana as a contemporary Christian outlet. Between KYMS and KKLA, Dave worked for the Orange County news channel.

“What we do in Christian radio at KKLA is to teach rather than preach. We’re not church or a replacement for church, but we certainly support the church,” said Dave. “I like to think that at KKLA we reinforce faith. In the fall of 1998, Salem Communications took over KIEV, and Dave orchestrated the changes to the Talk facility.

In 2000 he converted the KIEV call letters to KRLA. Later, Dave orchestrated the first “Fish” format of Contemporary Christian music to the Salem cluster, a format that’s now heard throughout the U.S. Dave continues in the entertainment world as the COO of BigIdeas.2020. Always thoughtful and forward-thinking, he shared some thoughts about radio post-coronavirus and what it will sound like:

“I believe that what radio looks like when this is over depends on what seeds are being planted now to prepare for the return to whatever normal will be. Are we planting ‘woe is me’ seeds bemoaning how tough it is, or are we planting seeds of hope as we prepare our clients to restart their businesses? Are we preparing our listeners for the same return to ‘normal?’ I want my clients to be ready to hit the ground running when the starting pistol is fired. I want messaging already prepared to let our listeners know that it is safe to come out of our cocoons and resume a semi normal life. If we wait for the opening announcement before we start strategizing, we will be even further behind than we are now!! This will end and I hope radio is ready to fly again!!!” – Dave Armstrong

Hear Ache. Zoom this. A new survey found about half of Americans don’t always wear pants while working from home … In the past, record companies would salute a personality with a unique thank you if they were instrumental in making the song a hit. Morning man Earl McDaniel was so saluted in the late 1950s by the Fleetwoods. Listen here … Sam Rubin was looking for some non-coronavirus news this week on the Channel 5 Morning News. Stop the presses. Most important topic of the day – Hostess snack cakes vs. Sara Lee Frozen Pound Cake vs. Pepperidge Farm Three Layer Cakes + Zingers … Longtime Talk legend Barry Farber has died after his 90th birthday and 60th anniversary in radio. “It is a very sad day in radio,” said Michael Horn, President of CRN Digital Talk Radio where Barry had been broadcasting nightly for the past ten years. “Barry always said the best show in the world was watching two scorpions in a brandy glass. Sorry to correct you Barry, but the best show was your show.”

(May 7, 2020) Since the turn of the century, Kat Corbett has been part of the Alternative music scene, mostly at KROQ. She recently lost her midday show, but continues hosting and curating KROQ’s Locals Only weekend show and has interviewed hundreds of artists including Jack White, Metallica, The Cure, and the Foo Fighters.

Recently the tables were turned when KROQ nighttimer Megan Holiday interviewed Kat for her 7 Words podcast. The pair seemed to have the best time, sounding more like two colleagues who admired each other while just sharing stories.

Beginning with my first book in 1994, Los Angeles Radio People, the fascination with LARadio has been the uniqueness of the personalities we profiled. Kat Corbett has a childhood filled with uniqueness.

Growing up in Boston, she lived a Sybil-like existence. From Monday through Friday she lived in the suburbs and attended a white suburban school. From Friday to Sunday she spent the weekend in East Boston with her grandfather, who didn't speak English. East Boston is a very depressed airport town. “During the week, I’m the cheerleader and on the weekend, I’m trying to figure out how to steal shit from the corner store,” she told Holiday. “You never told one group about the other because you’d get your ass kicked. I’d be ostracized in the suburbs for hanging out with low-rent folks.”

Kat’s growing up was filled with music. All kinds. “Some of favorite memories of my dad were listening to the Oldies and reading album liner notes.” She got obsessed with the Who, Springsteen, Van Halen, Prince – and then she found God. “I loved punk Rock and God. I thought my head would explode.” It seemed very clear to Kat that music would play an important role in her life.

Kat had high praise for her father who gave her nuggets that have stayed with her over the years. “My father said that the only thing you really have is your integrity and everything branched out from that – love, work, respect. If your integrity is intact everything else will fall into place.” She said she was so insecure about her double life. “I was a dick in school. It just sucked,” Kat said. “If I say I’m going to do something, I do it. I really didn’t find that with people until I found my people in my first station, WFNX-Boston, and they got me.” Kat’s passion for that first job was actually an internship where her dad had to take her and pick her up, driving a half hour each way before he went to his work. That passion for radio was originally ignited at a Christian religious station. “I was done with religion and was an ex-Catholic.”

The job she got was editing sermons, like splicing out coughs. “And I was learning how to edit. It really lit a fire under me. These people were so lovely but obviously this format wasn’t my passion.” The split lives back in a youthful Boston eventually coalesced into Alternative music and radio in Southern California.

She became a superstar in LARadio, and now you know how Kat Corbett got here. You can hear Kat at SiriusXM on Lithium Channel 34.

(May 6, 2020) Gary Price, general manager at KHJ/fm, KROQ, KDAY, and KNAC in the 1970-90s, died Tuesday morning, at the age of 86. Jim Maddox, who worked for Price at KDAY, said that he was a great boss. “He trusted you and left you alone but was always there to support you and give you needed counsel."

Gary started as a jock, moved into sales then spent the bulk of his radio career running stations in his native California.

Born and raised in Monrovia, he earned an FCC 1st Class License after a stint in the Korean War. In 1958, he started as the morning man at KPER-Gilroy. While at KFXM-San Bernardino doing evenings in the early 1960s, he tried his hand at sales.

Crosstown KMEN hired Gary as sales manager while allowing him to work a weekend shift. His first gm assignment came in 1970 at KLYD-Bakersfield, followed a year later with a sales assignment at KHJ/fm which quickly turned into gm responsibilities.

When KDAY adopted an Urban format in early 1974, there was a prophecy of doom, but the format was a success. Gary talked about the format switch: "The only people who bought the idea were the audience. We tried something new - no screaming disc jockeys, no street jive."

Did he ever regret the switch from announcing to management? “Sometimes I think it wouldn’t have been so tough if I had stayed a jock.”

Before retiring, Gary worked as a sales consultant for Fred Sands. (Price is seated second from left in KDAY photo ... thanks to Jim Maddox. photo of Gary and his wife Donna provided by J.J. Johnson)

(May 5, 2020) Sports radio and tv have really been hit hard by a pandemic that virtually has killed all live sporting events. Collateral damage are the sports voices. No games to call.

In an LA Times feature story by Jack Harris, he details what the guys are up to. Some highlights from his story:

Joe Davis, television play-by-play voice of the Dodgers, was preparing to call the Pac-12 men’s basketball tournament games in Las Vegas for Fox Sports, when he got the call telling him he could broadcast games from a studio in Los Angeles. Joe was eating a steak dinner at a Vegas casino. “Joe didn’t want to believe that the center of his professional universe would disappear – the entire sports calendar – including college basketball games and an eagerly anticipated 2020 Dodgers campaign, would be delayed for the foreseeable future.”

On March 12, Davis couldn’t believe the tournament would be cancelled but other conference tournaments started to shut down. “One became two, and as we all saw, it snowballs so quickly to the point that we’re going home.”

Davis has been in self-isolation along with the rest of Los Angeles’ sports broadcasting community. “In a lot of ways, the grind of broadcasting defines our lives, those of us that are in baseball miss the grind. So that missing link leaves a huge void. I don’t think you can probably fully appreciate it until it’s taken away,” said Davis. The lives of play-by-play broadcasters revolve around the regimented sports calendar.

Most have side gigs. Davis and Kings play-by-play voice Alex Faust call college games for Fox Sports while Faut also works events for the Tennis Channel that occupy their offseasons. Clippers play-by-play voice Brian Sieman was gearing up for his team’s playoff push when the NBA season was put on pause. “I lived through the lockout back in 2011 and that was hard because other sports were playing. But this is so catastrophic.”

Davis has taken to the grill. The barbecue buff has recipes for smoked brisket, full port shoulders and more. He started a podcast with Dodgers analyst Orel Hershiser.

LA Times KLAC top hits of the 60s Memorial Day Weekend, 1970. KLAC was five months before changeover to KLAC Country.
.... thanks to Bruce Wojcik of Monterey Park for the artwork

(May 1, 2020) Someone once said that Randy West must have been vaccinated at birth with a phonograph needle. Radio was everywhere in his life. Growing up in New York, he was chapter president of WABC’s "Cousin Bruce" Morrow fan club.

His start in commercial radio came just weeks after finding proving his mettle at his college radio station at CCNY. The trick for the next three years was to take only morning classes - a hodgepodge of courses - in order to be on the road in time to get to WRNW in Briarcliff Manor in time to do his afternoon drive shift.

After working for a number of New York area stations while earning his degree, Randy was happy to accept program directorship at WFIF-New Haven. There, his 'Sound of America' format during the U.S. Bicentennial year earned a Billboard Magazine cover story.

Randy came to the Southland in 1979 to work with Joey Reynolds as promotion director for Wayne Newton's record label, but he was never far from a radio microphone, joining KMGG (Magic 106) as production director and later on-air talent.

During the 1980s he appeared on nine different TV game shows, and set his sights on pursuing a career in announcing and audience warm-up, inspired by announcer Johnny Olson. After some tough years, he broke though announcing Hour Magazine and The Chuck Woolery Show. Randy went on to work alongside game show hosts including Wink Martindale, Bob Eubanks, Dick Clark, Ben Stein and Bob Barker on CBS' The Price is Right during 2003 and 2004.

For many years he was the announcer on the traveling Price Is Right live game show. His passion for all projects is quite enthusiastic and contagious. Randy’s love for radio gives him the perfect perspective to answer the question on what the heck Southland radio will sound like after the coronavirus stay-at-home orders are lifted. Randy’s essay:

"The future: Twelve disc jockeys voice tracking for the millions as, one-by-one those millions tune out forever. The fault, dear Brutus, lies with those who took flavorful ingredients, and baked nothing more exciting that audio white bread.

Ahhhhh, radio. I'm still carrying an ember of the torch for my first love. Especially vulnerable as she's approaching age 100, it looks like she's succumbed to the coronavirus. The old girl thrived with very other force majeure - floods, fires, earthquakes, hurricanes, even that morning on 9/11. Radio answered the call and became indispensable during many of these catastrophes, while scoring points with the community. This time, Covid-19 has her down for the count.

Heartbreaking. There's such a defeatist attitude. Where's the coach, the trainer, cheerleading for radio to get back up and fight? I bet Erica Farber hasn't thrown in the towel. The bulk of radio advertisers are closed, I get it. But there's another kind of advertising - business branding, building an image now, for when the world resumes. Public service advertising, and public service programming - live and local, addressing listeners' wants, needs and fears.

During World War II, when all the auto plants were making equipment for the defense department, Ford ran a winning campaign that stayed in people's minds. There were no cars to sell, but the ad campaign was memorable: "There's a Ford in your future." One of the creatives at the agency that birthed the campaign, Al Howard, told me it moved the merchandise when cars became available, actually creating waiting lists at dealerships. Is there any application for that in this crisis?

Hey. it's easy to backseat drive, I know. And hell, I've happily been out of radio long enough that perhaps I have no clue about the state of the industry. And maybe I underestimate the extent to which the corporate owners danced with Wall Street to leverage themselves to the brink before this challenge. But if the reaction is to slash staffs, cut budgets, kill promotional spending and play 1,000 hits in a row, commercial free ... well that's just going to speed the demise of a once great service. Yes, it once served communities during challenges. It's a big part of radio's great legacies from its heyday. - Randy West

Hear Ache. George Johns says the economy is so bad that his neighbor got a pre-declined credit card in the mail and concluded that a picture is now only worth 200 words …Magic Matt Alan ran out of toilet paper and is now using lettuce leaves. Today was just the tip of the iceberg … Great to hear Kevin Fleming on the KPFK pledge drives. He’s the program director … The Los Angeles Daily News has done a wonderful story on the new KROQ morning team of Stryker & Klein. You can read it here.

The Answer? Brian Whitman, in making the announcement that he was taking a leave of absence from his KRLA (870/The Answer) morning show with Jennifer Horn, wrote on Facebook: “I’m not quitting, I’ve not been fired and ... I haven’t tested positive for Covid-19. I wanted you to get this information from me because you are an incredibly important part of my life. I know the folks I work for and those I work with won’t be able to share this personal ‘stuff’ about me. I don’t want you to wonder and please do not worry. I will be fine. I’m taking time away because my body and my mind are telling me it’s necessary. On the air, I’ve discussed anxiety I’ve been dealing with and sleeplessness and stress. The resulting mental fatigue is overwhelming and it creates physical fatigue. Often, I’m in physical pain. At 47, I’m prepared for some of this. The consistency of all of the above means I need to feel better.”

Today at noon, Shadoe Stevens invites you to join him for a movie in your head, a wide-screen, world between your ears with funny ideas, features and characters.
"It’s filled with optimism, and makes fun of fear, doubt, and gloom," said Stevens. "Like a movie, it's composed with an original soundtrack and 3D sound design
so you can see it come to life in your mind, especially when you listen with earphones.

	(June 23, 2020) Larry Elder (870AM) is executive producer of the new film Uncle Tom. It is an “oral history of the American Black Conservative. Uncle Tom examines self-empowerment, individualism and rejecting the victim narrative,” according to the UncleTom.com website. “Uncle Tom shows us a different perspective of American History from this often ignored and ridiculed group, the American Black Conservative.” Elder (arm outstretched) acknowledges a standing ovation he receivedd at the Dallas premiere of his new documentary film, according to a story on TALKERS. Attendees at the premiere included former U.S. Congressman Allen West, 2012 presidential candidate Herman Cain, and media personalities, ministers and civil rights activists. Larry has been on the promotion circuit calling attention to his documentary. Last night he was interviewed on Tucker Carlson Tonight. Watch a sneak preview trailer at: www.UncleTom.com.

*Hear Ache. With Las Vegas back in business, publicist and former LARP Ira David Sternberg* sent a couple things you should know if you are planning a visit: Masks are not accepted as gratuities, buffets have a new name – restaurants, and if you’re hotter than the temperature in Las Vegas, you’re not allowed in the casino … Former KOSTer Mike Sakellarides had a double reason to celebrate last week: He and his wife Barbara celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary, which was coincidentally also Father’s Day in 1970! Congrats to one of the nicest LARP who has had a great career … John Summers, former news direction at KHTS-Santa Clarita joins Cumulus News/Talk KKOB in Albuquerque … Congratulations to Kevin Ross as his radio newsletter Radio Facts turns 25 … I am so lucky today. Having lunch with Sweet Dick Whittington and LARadio senior correspondent Alan Oda. Storytelling and laughs at the Avila Beach harbour ... While some actors may be out of work, KVEC’s Dave Congalton sent a link to a project he is involved with. “All the local actors are out of work because of the virus, so a group of them decided to mount an old-fashioned radio drama and asked me to prepare a script,’ emailed Dave. “I came up with a three-part serial, The Most Beautiful Woman about an LA attorney who gets in over his head when he agrees to reunite two former lovers. Each segment runs about 10 minutes and will be posted on YouTube. I’m also the narrator. We all recorded our parts remotely and sent them to an editor who did a nice job of putting it all together. The actors are grateful to have the opportunity to perform.” Here's the first segment. Hear it here.

I’ve been hunkered down since early March. So many conflicting messages on what to do, so Cherie and I are just use common sense. She is a hospice volunteer and stopped going into nursing homes and assisted living facilities in March. No reason to go into harm’s way. The real losers were her patients, in more ways than one. I miss seeing my family. My 33-year old son was serving overseas in the Peace Corps when this virus began to infiltrate our lives. Tyler was evacuated from Zambia last March. He arrived at LAX and entered quarantine quarters at a nearby hotel for 14 days, then joined his mother in Torrance. I had yet to see him since his departure a year and a half ago … until yesterday.
He looked great. Heard many of the stories he experienced during his Peace Corps adventure. I think he was happy to be home, despite the circumstances, so he didn't have to worry about what kind of snake had slithered into his hut. He had a cobra and black mamba spend a night. Tyler lived in a hut behind a home that housed a family of 11. The young lady to the right was learning English from Tyler. They became quite fond of each other. During the day Tyler would be out in the fields with the father and his sons. Everyone lost a little when Tyler was forced to evacuate. My daughter Alexandra and her husband Simon had a Father’s Day get-together, which also afforded me an opportunity to spend time with my 6-month old grandson (Matthew is my first). Being a fair distance from Alexandra and her husband, coupled with the lockdown, I had only seen him once since his birth at Cottage Hospital in Santa Barbara during the holidays. He was six months old yesterday and the perfect baby for a few hours. Whotta’ treat.
When I was in the movie business, I was responsible for many film premieres and press junkets. They were always very stressful because it was like live tv. You never got a reboot. No way to do something over. I instilled in my team a mantra that seemed to work. At the start of our event I would tell them: there is a beginning, there is a middle and there will be an end. Eventually all these people will go home.

Send mail to AvilaBeachdb@gmail.com with questions or comments about this website Copyright © 1997-2020 - Los Angeles Radio People Last modified: September 09, 2020

Send mail to AvilaBeachdb@gmail.com with questions or comments about this website
Copyright © 1997-2020 - Los Angeles Radio People
Last modified: September 09, 2020