Radio Waves Podcast #325

A VERY special Radio Waves:  An hour long visit with Lyle Gregory, 40 year producer for the recently passed, Radio Hall of Fame member, former KABC-AM host Michael Jackson.  

 Radio: January 28, 2022

Longtime radio broadcaster Michael Jackson — most known for his talk program heard for many years on KABC (790 AM) during its talk format heydays — passed away January 15th at the age of 87.

His Los Angeles career began in 1963 at KHJ (930 AM), but he gained his radio experience in South Africa, when his family moved there from London when he was 11; Jackson started on the air at the age of 16 in Johannesburg. In 1958 the family moved to the United States, and he quickly landed on the air in San Francisco playing popular music of the day … something he reportedly hated to do.

He worked nights at KHJ — still playing music while incorporating elements of talk — before moving to work in news at KNX (1070 AM) in 1965 just as KHJ was launching the teen-oriented Boss Radio format.

But KABC — where he moved in 1966 — is where he gained real traction. The combination of KABC and Jackson was a perfect fit for both, as KABC was deeply committed to the new talk format and Jackson found a place where he could be what he wanted to be.

Always a gentleman both on an off the air, Jackson was the consummate professional. He treated his guests and listeners with nothing but respect. And he had guests from all walks of life. He leaned liberal personally, but he spoke with political leaders from all sides and treated them all equally well. To say that Jackson was the perfect gentleman puts it lightly. He truly was a class act.

He spent over three decades at KABC and on the syndicated ABC talkradio network, interviewing such newsmakers as advisors to Richard Nixon, then- Israeli military leader Moshe Dayan, Presidents Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, both George Bushes, and Bill Clinton, and a far-too-long-to-list selection of other politicians, movie and TV stars, musicians, signers, and artists.

Perhaps the one criticism people might have is that he tended to be nice in his interviews, often avoiding what might bee considered tough, in-your-face questions. But that didn’t seem to matter to listeners, who propelled his show toward the top of the ratings for most of his tenure at KABC.

When KFI (640 AM) entered the talk arena, KABC didn’t know how to respond, and management made numerous missteps that led to the decline of the station in general, and Jackson in particular. One such move was putting Jackson in a part time position with no one to take up the slack in his old slot; eventually Jackson left the station for good — the station fired him in 1998, and KABC continued to drop in both ratings and stature under numerous programmers and missed opportunities.

When the original KRLA (now KRDC, 1110 AM) went talk in 1999, Jackson joined the station and revived his show. But KRLA dropped talk soon after and Jackson was out. He later went on to work at KLAC (570 AM), another short time at KNX, and finally KGIL (now KMZT, 1260 AM) before retiring in 2008. He told me at the time that he retired in part to be with his wife, Alana, who was suffering from her own health issues. She died in 2014.

I didn’t realize it, but for the past ten years Jackson was fighting Parkinson’s Disease. That explains his lack of public appearances and the few interviews he did. He kept his own health issues private.

Jackson’s popularity among listeners was strong enough that as recently as last month, I received emails asking where he was and what he was doing. Unfortunately, it had been many years since I was able to connect with him. He really didn’t like to talk about himself, and I suppose that with his declining health and the direction of radio precluding a return to there airwaves, he didn’t see a major reason to talk … I can appreciate his decision. Classy to the end.

In addition to his work on the radio, Jackson played numerous characters in various television shows, including a TV announcer on The Munsters, a news commentator on Police Story, and as the voice of Alfred Pennyworth in 2012’s Batman, The Dark Knight Returns.

There are very few people as closely associated with talk radio as Michael Jackson. He is one of the greats … and hopefully his style of talk radio can some day make a comeback.

Longtime Jackson show producer Lyle Gregory is scheduled to be the guest this week on the RadioWaves podcast with myself and Michael Stark; find it at laradiowaves.com.

Radio Waves Podcast #324

 Radio:  January 21, 2022

While most of the hosts — the non-students — of 22 West Media’s award-winning Mornings on the Beach, heard on 22 West Media (88.1 HD3 and 22westmedia.com) weekdays from 8-9 a.m., left the program in December, the search for replacements began slowly.

The program is produced on the campus of California State University, Long Beach, and apparently it’s hard to recruit students to host a program on a student-run radio station when said students are off for Winter Break, especially when the latest surge in covid cases has kept the campus closed down more than normal.

But station manager Danny Lemos told me that the search for radio’s next stars has begun in earnest. He calls it The Next Big Broadcast Star Search,” which will be conducted virtually. CSULB students  — applicants must be currently registered at the University — with a 'more than average” interest in radio and broadcasting are encouraged to apply through the 22 West Media web page.

Lemos says that sample audio or video files can be uploaded at the time of the application submission. “We are looking for students with a strong interest in broadcasting and a positive attitude to lead the show, learn radio skills, and have a ton of fun!” Questions about the process can be directed to info@22westmedia.com.

The rest of the story

Last week’s tribute to former DJ Billy Pearl, who passed away two weeks ago, included a couple minor inaccuracies. As it turns out, Pearl was indeed hired by one programmer and fired by another, but it was Gary Cagle who hired and Charlie Van Dyke who fired. Insiders tell me that it was Pearl himself who brought his tenure to an end 

with a bad attitude … and not a change in station direction. Writing at http://kenlevine.blogspot.com, Pearl’s former college roommate Ken Levine said:

“Apparently he made his displeasure known inside the building to the point where he was let go after maybe one year.  And think about it, for a station to fire one of their absolute best and most popular performers, he must’ve driven them scooters.”

Doesn’t take away from his talent, but it does explain the short tenure at KHJ. And reminds us to appreciate our blessings.

Cornucopia of Radio History

I’ve mentioned MixCloud.Com before, a few times at least. Recently the postings are so superb that I have to mention it again.

MixCloud’s Retro Radio Joe (mixcloud.com/retroradiojoe) and Radio Maven 77 (mixcloud.com/rob-frankel) have both been posting material that is a virtual history of top-40, freeform FM and album oriented radio so varied, I honestly have no clue where the material came from. Recent additions include:

• Dusty Street on KROQ (106.7 FM) from 1984. This was still KROQ’s new wave infancy, as it was quickly becoming the place to find new music. Street is one of the originals, and this is a great listen.

• KKDJ’s (now KIIS, 102.7 FM) Rewind ’73 Year in Review with Charlie Tuna. I’ve heard this before, but it is still a great listen. Music and news of 1973, as Watergate and the end of the Vietnam War dominate the newscasts

• Dave Diamond on KBLA (formerly at 1500 AM) from 1965. KBLA was a creative force that had the talent and music … all out lacked was a signal and a budget to truly compete. Diamond is always amazing and this is him in a more relaxed post-KHJ vibe.

• Charlie Tuna on KHJ (930 AM) from 1972. Tuna is one of the best DJs ever, no matter the format. He did top-40, oldies, country, and more. Here he is in his early element, absolutely flawless.

• JJ Jackson from KLOS (95.5 FM) in 1978. Jackson was smooth, smart, and loved music. Here he is long before his MTV VJ gig, using the on-air style only he could do.

B. Mitchel Reed on KLOS from 1981. Reed is one of the early freeform DJs heard here playing album rock. 

Bob Crane on KNX (1070 AM) from 1964. Crane was immensely popular on the radio, with a friendly personality that served him well when he transitioned to television’s Hogan’s Heroes. Here is hosts one of the most popular morning shows ever heard on KNX.

There’s much, much more, including Jack Snyder, Paraquat Kelly and Mary Turner on KMET (now KTWV, 94.7 FM), a montage of KHJ’s Summer Jam programming from 1975 — which includes Billy Pearl, a separate Pearl recording, and much more. Absolutely worth checking out if you’re a radio geek like me.

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Radio Waves Podcast #323

 Radio: January 14, 2022

Former personality Billy Pearl — most popularly heard playing the hits on KHJ (930 AM), and KIQQ (now KKLQ (100.3 FM); later talking law on KABC (790 AM), passed away January 4th after a two-year battle with esophageal cancer, cancer of the long, hollow tube that runs from the throat to the stomach. He was 71.

His radio career began at UCLA, as part of the campus student-run station. After graduating with a degree in history in 1972, he started his career in radio … a far cry from the teaching career (American history) he had been planning. “When I walked into UCLA's radio station, KLA, my whole life changed,” he once told LARadio.Com’s Don Barrett.

He never worked outside of the Los Angeles area; his first stations after college were KKDJ (now KIIS-FM, 102.7) and K-100 (KIQQ, now KKLQ, 100.3 FM). He arrived at KHJ — at the time the top-rated music station in the country —  in 1974 with great fanfare, “part of KHJ’s on-air urban renewal” as was written in a story the Los Angeles Times. In that same story, Pearl told of practicing the KHJ call letters in the shower, long before he was hired, demonstrating how much he wanted to work there. His charm , high-energy, and on-air positive persona impressed both listeners and insiders alike. 

Longtime KHJ (and numerous other stations) Production Director Douglas Brown had this to say about Pearl: “Bill was very energetic and focused; he had a great sense of timing on air and was really excited to be at KHJ. He used to sit in the studio getting familiar with the tempo and timing of new song intros and fades as show prep.” 

Unfortunately, his tenure at KHJ lasted only about a year; the revolving door of KHJ programmers was the culprit. Pearl was hired by Charlie Van Dyke; when Michael Spears was brought in from KFRC/San Francisco and took the station in a more “bubble-gum” direction, the hipness of Pearl was not desired. He went on to help consult KRLA (now KRDC, 1110 AM) in 1976 and program KIQQ when he returned in 1977, but neither lasted long. While at KRLA, though, he helped launch “the Hitman” promotion where the station would give prizes to people who had home-made KRLA signs in the yards or on their cars.

"We beat the assumed-unbeatable KHJ with a small budget semi-automated outlet." Pearl told LARadio.Com’s Barrett, who added that Pearl celebrated the feat by doing a live show from KRLA's old Pasadena studios as "Jack Cheese.”

In 1977, Pearl — a magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa graduate of UCLA — decided to enter the UCLA School of Law and became an attorney. His love of radio never left, though, so he went back on the air first in 1981 at KMPC (now KSPN, 710 AM) and a year later at KABC (790 AM) - talking law rather than playing music. You may remember him paired with liberal Bill Press as one of the Dualing Bills on KABC.

He left radio in 1991 to begin a writing career, first with op-eds in newspapers across the country and later as publisher of one of the internet’s first internet-based newspapers, LBReport.Com, which he launched in 2000 in part to keep politicians accountable. His family promises to keep the news website going as a tribute to Pearl.

Readers Write

This is an interesting one:

“I read with interest your ongoing coverage of WION/Ionia. 

“I recently came across another extremely unusual online entity that’s unique, even for the Internet. It’s called WIWS, a re-creation of a long gone AM radio station that used to be in Buckley, West Virginia.

Here’s what makes it unlike anything else on the net: the creators have taken great pains to not only have a very electric Top 40 playlist, with songs unheard in decades, but they’ve gone to extraordinary efforts to make it sound like an old AM radio from the 60s, complete with static in the feed, scratchy records on occasion, and that audio that used to come out of those old, cheap transistor radio speakers.

  “It also boasts vintage jingles, old news updates and ancient 60s era commercials (including one I heard for Kent cigarettes, now taboo on real radio stations). In fact , the site adds a warning that some spots they air may no longer be politically correct and could offend some listeners. But they were on the air back then, so WIWS airs them now in the interests of authenticity.

  “It’s certainly an experience, a definite real blast from the past and worth a listen. Here’s the site, which contains all the info about what it is, who’s behind it and how to hear it: https://wiwsradio.com” — Aaron Fleming

Actually, the fidelity isn’t that bad — remember, AM radios were often much better back then compared with so many today — but you’re right … the playlist is huge. The focus is on the early 1960s, so it’s a little before my time, but it is absolutely a blast to hear.

Radio Waves Podcast #322

 This week:  Dave Beasing joins us for this first show of the year.  We'll cover the column and also cover a bunch of other topics from the current ratings to Richard's 35th anniversary as a radio columnist.  Also, we are "testing" out our first theme submission.

Radio: January 7, 2022

Disagreements over the direction and management of the online recreation of the original KNX-FM at knxfm93.com, along with concerns regarding the owner of the “new” KNX-FM (97.1) — a simulcast of KNX Newsradio (1070 AM) — caused the temporary loss of the online mellow rock format last week. But fast action on the part of the remaining volunteers had the tribute station back online within two days.

You won’t find it at the old online address, though. As part of the split, a new location was created with an official launch of 12 noon Pacific time on Friday, December 31st: www.TheMellowSound.net. As well, a new Facebook page has been created at Facebook.com/TheMelllowSound.Net. This should alleviate any conflict with the new KNX-FM news simulcast.

There will be a few changes … the station will more clearly identify itself as a tribute to the original KNX-FM (now KCBS-FM, 93.1) and no longer operate exactly like an on-air entity — no top-of-the-hour identification, for example (though I really liked that!). But the elements that made the original so special are still there or will return as soon as everything gets transferred to the new server: The Odyssey File, interviews, concerts, jingles, artist promotional IDs … and of course, the music.

Founding partner Patrick Veling tells me that he hopes to take the “station” to an even higher level, through the addition of station memberships, swag, and more. “We are creating a robust interactive listener environment,” he explained, “with better, more reliable streams and a stronger relationship with listeners … a stronger bond with fans of the original Mellow Sound.”

Veling says that he doesn’t want to ask for donations — though they would still be appreciated and accepted. But he hopes that the costs of running the station, from server costs to artists royalties and more, can be funded through the sale of memberships and merchandise — T-shirts, hats, stickers and such.

Staying with The Mellow Sound is Veling, along with other founders and volunteers including Brad Goldman, Douglas Brown, Steve Marshall, Christopher Ames, Mary Price, and Kevin Speaks, all of whom were either part of or fans of the original KNX-FM. Another founder, Dale Berg has left the group, and has brought back a format of his own, “97 Lite FM,” which is the stream you currently hear when you go to the old knxfm93.com website or tune in using the various smartphone apps.

Berg ran the old streams himself, which is why the new format took over the old stream location … causing confusion among listeners, to say the least. Lite-FM, says Berg, plays music that extends through today, creating what he considers what would be KNX-FM as it might exist today.

Veling explained that the sudden move to Lite-FM on the part of Berg did cause some listener concern, but that TheMellowSound.net is already available online, and will be on the various apps and smart speakers perhaps by the time you read this.

Changes at WION

WION/Ionia — my favorite AM station in the world — is going through some technical changes that may cause interruptions with online listening.

Station manager Jim Carlyle told me that the company they used for handling music royalty fees for online listening went out of business with little warning, forcing WION (and other streams around the country) to find alternatives. In WION’s case, it also meant changes to how the online streams were hosted. The net result: there may be periods where WION will be unavailable, but they will be back on shortly if not by the time you read this. Still showcasing the amazing fidelity of AM stereo. i1430.com.

Christmas Drive

Fountain Valley low-power station Radio Suerte (KLIE, 90.3 FM; radiosuerte.net) showcased the power of local radio via a Christmas toy and food drive.

Station manager Maria (Mary) Luisa Luna says that the idea for the drive came after seeing so many friends, family and community members lose their battle with Covid-19. The station, along with the nonprofit Crusade of the Penny, decided to have a toy drive “and focus giving boxes of canned and dry goods to the families that are less fortunate and give face masks to remind them that the virus or pandemic is still with us,” she explained.

"We requested toys during our programs and had a good response not just with toys but monetary donations to apply toward the families and children,” Luna told me. “We passed out 300 toys, 400 bags and boxes of food to families, and 500 face masks” primarily to families in Garden Grove, and Santa Ana, she said.

“Our Goal for the month of February is to go back to La Palma Park and feed the homeless. In the past we have also cooked complete meals for the Fullerton Armory … 400 Red or Green chile burritos, salad, and for dessert: Arroz con Leche - like a rice pudding Mexican style,” Luna said. “We assist anyone in need, and have been doing this since 1987.”