In 1973 it was on to WDHF-WMET, Metromedia's outlet in Chicago. Where is Ronnie Knight? Other names: Tom Jeffries, Jim Chanel & the one and only W.D. Sanderford.
By the next year, 1974, I headed west, to KIQQ in Los Angeles and an opportunity to work with radio legend Bill Drake and a great team including Eric Chase, Rich "Brother" Robbin and Jim Carson.
In 1978 I got the call to join the staff at KTNQ in Los Angeles. A great group of talented people - Don Steele, the formidable Joe Nasty, Lee "Baby" Simms, M.G. Kelly, John Driscoll, Dave Sebastian,the late Dave Conley and Nancy Plum. TenQ was the highest rated teen station in the US at the time.
I came in to do 9am to noon, but moved to noon to 3pm so Conley could make it out to the track in time for first post.
By 1980 I took Interstate Five South to San Diego and hooked up with Brown Broadcasting's KGB. Another legendary set of calls ready to make a go of it with the long dormant AM station. Re-dubbed 13K, it was the last real AM radio turnaround success story. John Lander ran the show and did mornings. Also aboard: Chris Cane, Dean Goss, Gary Knight and imaging genius Norman Flint.
When Lander left for greener pastures in Texas, I took a job for old WIXY buddy Bob McKay at KCBQ. I was assigned mornings on the FM side. We had an outlaw approach and were making gains on the firmly entrenched country station KSON, when the tragic death of owner John Bayliss in an automobile accident dropped the tranny on our efforts. Mr. Bayliss was a gentleman and a solid radio man and is still sorely missed by an industry who needs his style and class now more than ever. At last report McKay was programming country in Philadelphia.
KCBQ Country, 1983, with Sonny West, Ben Zeigler, Mike Guymon, Jim Buckalew, Laura Wilkinson, Paul Menard, Dave Love, Fuzzy Herron. I am on the lower right, first row, right in front of Bill Moffitt, who, as usual, got the girl.
I began my involvement with XETV channel six in 1980, serving as a promotional consultant, producer and station announcer. During this time I extended my roots in the community by starting my first production/advertising company, Cleveland Associates.
In 1984 I took a job as the "John Havlicek" of full service KFMB radio. The flexible hours and production contacts fit perfectly into my business plan, and it was great fun working the many sporting events the station was involved in, particularly the Del Mar Gran Prix and the annual Golf Tournament at Torrey Pines. To the right, see our remote trailer on site at Torrey Pines Golf Course. Thats Geni Cavett in the knickers on the right.
Lots of remote work as well as talented PD Mark Larson made my stay with KFMB a pleasure for six years.
In 1991 I signed on with Dave Parks on KSDO-FM to do mornings on the classic rocker.
Two years later it was back to KCBQ with Rich "Brother" Robbin and "Shotgun" Tom Kelly for a shot at a new concept, "Modern Oldies." Rich came up with the format, a sound that was well ahead of its time. Also along for the ride, Jack McCoy, Bartell veteran Doug Herman and new station owner Bob Hughes.
Community
service has always been a focus. It was a privilege to host the kickoff party
for the release of the Rex Neilson produced album "Voice of the Homeless,"
featuring performances by homeless musicians from all over the country. Thats
Rex to my right and local San Diego homeless advocate Father Joe Carroll on
my left.
When Compass Radio reorganized, I did afternoons for the newly designed KXST, SETS-FM.
The whole production was on computer. It was possible to record programming weeks in advance, put it on the server and it would sound live. I dialed up the listen line from Milan, Italy, one day and listened to my show. A long way from slip cueing 45's and stacking carts.
In '97 I landed at KBZT. At the time, KBEST was THE oldies station in San Diego. What goes around, comes around...and around...and around...and around...
Thank you for Listening!
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