The Last DJ

[Smackie Chan]

Jim Ladd, who I grew up listening to on KMET & KLOS and is the dude who most made me wanna become a dj, dead at 75. Born in the same as city I was. Was the dude Tom Petty sang about in the thread title. Free-form FM rock radio, baby!

[HighPlainsGrifter]

Did he ever come out of an upbeat rock segment and have to read about a dog fucking dying?

[Mikey]

We used to be able to pick up KMET in the northern reaches of San Diego County, depending on location, weather, which way you were facing, and whether your car was running. It was always better than the local alternative KGB. The best part about KGB was the Chicken.

[Diego in Seattle]

We used to be able to pick up KMET in the northern reaches of San Diego County, depending on location, weather, which way you were facing, and whether your car was running. It was always better than the local alternative KGB. The best part about KGB was the Chicken.

I liked the News Brothers (Berger & Prescott) around 11:30 every weekday.

I thought that it was always cool about the way that Ladd always said "KLOS."

[Wolfman]

My DJ hero was Chet Whiteside, a black DJ in the mid 1950's on WNDR AM -- Syracuse NY. His show was on at midnight and was the only one in those days that played the great R and B ("Race Music") that the other stations did not play. He called himself "The Cool Mayor of the Village". The "Village" was the 5th Ward of Syracuse, largely a black community then, and he advertised businesses there.In college at the U of Maine we could listen to XERF in Mexico, the 250K Watt Blow Torch, at nights when they played a directional signal. Many US "Clear Channel" stations could be picked up too. They were the 50,000 Watt stations for truckers. WWVA, Wheeling West Va was one.

[Roux]

Rack Wolfman stories

[HighPlainsGrifter]

2nd rack for Wolfie.

[Smackie Chan]

Rack Wolfman stories

Yep. Always good to read radio stories from someone who’s 3 days older than water.

[Screw_Michigan]

Yep. Always good to read radio stories from someone who’s 3 days older than water.

Geez. And I think I'm hard on Wolftard.

[Smackie Chan]

Yep. Always good to read radio stories from someone who’s 3 days older than water.

Geez. And I think I'm hard on Wolftard.

Aw, ol’ Wolfie knows that when I give him a hard time about his prolonged life experiences, I do so out of respect. If he remembers who I am.

[The Seer]

Rack Wolfman stories

Yep. Always good to read radio stories from someone who’s 3 days older than water.

A little close to home there. Not Wolfie old but getting there. I remember when FM radio in LA started moving to Rock. Some deep voiced slow talker named Brother John was mr. cool early on and made way for Ladd, Don Steele, RW Morgan, et.al. Funny, I used to hang with some college buds that invaded SoCal from Michigan...we all were expert on partying...Frazer Smith was part of the group and mid '70's he would bum rides from us to KROQ in Pasadena to do his "comedy" / music mix. We all would offer up some bits to see if they'd get air....

So many moons ago.

[Diego in Seattle]

I believe that Wolfie was personal friends with Marconi...

Rack Wolfman stories

Yep. Always good to read radio stories from someone who’s 3 days older than water.

A little close to home there. Not Wolfie old but getting there. I remember when FM radio in LA started moving to Rock. Some deep voiced slow talker named Brother John was mr. cool early on and made way for Ladd, Don Steele, RW Morgan, et.al. Funny, I used to hang with some college buds that invaded SoCal from Michigan...we all were expert on partying...Frazer Smith was part of the group and mid '70's he would bum rides from us to KROQ in Pasadena to do his "comedy" / music mix. We all would offer up some bits to see if they'd get air....

So many moons ago.

Hated FS.

Enjoyed listening to Bob Coburn as well as Mark & Brian.

[Smackie Chan]

First deejays I recall listening to were Jim Meeker and Mark Dennis on AM 1190 KEZY in Anaheim, and the all-star lineup of jocks at the station my parents listened to, KMPC in LA. Dick Whittinghill in the morning, with Jim Lange (The Dating Game), Gary Owens (Laugh-in), Wink Martindale, Geoff Edwards, Bob Eubanks (The Newlywed Game), But when FM (stereo!) became available, it was “little bit of heaven” 94.7 KMET, with Jeff Gonzer, Paraquat Kelly, and Ace Young doing mornings, followed by Mary “The Burner” Turner, Bob Coburn, David Perry (who I worked for after he bought KTYD), and Jim Ladd at night. KMET was famous for upside down billboards and great music. Fun days to listen to radio. AM got relegated to Vin Scully, Dick Enberg, and Chick Hearn doing play-by-play, and listening to call-in sports talk shows.

[Diego in Seattle]

Do you remember who Gary Owens' father was?

[Smackie Chan]

Do you remember who Gary Owens' father was?

A county sheriff from ND from what I’ve been able to gather.

[Diego in Seattle]

Do you remember who Gary Owens' father was?

A county sheriff from ND from what I’ve been able to gather.

Never mind...for some reason I got it in my head that his father was Bill Ballance, but I now see that that's not correct.

[Meat Head]

Do you remember who Gary Owens' father was?

Gary Owens.

[Kierland]

Late 70’s KCPR and the local DJ was one Weird dude, his name was Al.

[Sudden Sam]

Mark & Brian’s show originated in Alabama.

[Mikey]

First DJ I can remember is "Tall" Tom Campbell on KYA in San Francisco.

[Go Coogs']

Yep. Always good to read radio stories from someone who’s 3 days older than water.

Geez. And I think I'm hard on Wolftard.

Aw, ol’ Wolfie knows that when I give him a hard time about his prolonged life experiences, I do so out of respect. If he remembers who I am.

Pangea native.


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[Scott from Anaheim]

First deejays I recall listening to were Jim Meeker and Mark Dennis on AM 1190 KEZY in Anaheim, and the all-star lineup of jocks at the station my parents listened to, KMPC in LA. Dick Whittinghill in the morning, with Jim Lange (The Dating Game), Gary Owens (Laugh-in), Wink Martindale, Geoff Edwards, Bob Eubanks (The Newlywed Game), But when FM (stereo!) became available, it was “little bit of heaven” 94.7 KMET, with Jeff Gonzer, Paraquat Kelly, and Ace Young doing mornings, followed by Mary “The Burner” Turner, Bob Coburn, David Perry (who I worked for after he bought KTYD), and Jim Ladd at night. KMET was famous for upside down billboards and great music. Fun days to listen to radio. AM got relegated to Vin Scully, Dick Enberg, and Chick Hearn doing play-by-play, and listening to call-in sports talk shows.

The Seventh Day on KLOS with Joe Benson was always a good listen. I'd set my cassette deck to it because I was too young and poor to afford actually buying the albums. In addition to Scully, Enberg, Hearn (and don't forget Miller) on AM, Jim Healy was a main fixture. Wouldn't shock me one bit if Rome got some inspiration from him.

[Diego in Seattle]

First deejays I recall listening to were Jim Meeker and Mark Dennis on AM 1190 KEZY in Anaheim, and the all-star lineup of jocks at the station my parents listened to, KMPC in LA. Dick Whittinghill in the morning, with Jim Lange (The Dating Game), Gary Owens (Laugh-in), Wink Martindale, Geoff Edwards, Bob Eubanks (The Newlywed Game), But when FM (stereo!) became available, it was “little bit of heaven” 94.7 KMET, with Jeff Gonzer, Paraquat Kelly, and Ace Young doing mornings, followed by Mary “The Burner” Turner, Bob Coburn, David Perry (who I worked for after he bought KTYD), and Jim Ladd at night. KMET was famous for upside down billboards and great music. Fun days to listen to radio. AM got relegated to Vin Scully, Dick Enberg, and Chick Hearn doing play-by-play, and listening to call-in sports talk shows.

The Seventh Day on KLOS with Joe Benson was always a good listen. I'd set my cassette deck to it because I was too young and poor to afford actually buying the albums. In addition to Scully, Enberg, Hearn (and don't forget Miller) on AM, Jim Healy was a main fixture. Wouldn't shock me one bit if Rome got some inspiration from him.

I also enjoyed Uncle Joe's racing report.

RIP Joe Benson