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Ice, one of hip-hop’s most articulate stars, shared a weekly talk show in LA with Lisa Ever. At his best, the rapper has written some of the best portraits of ghetto life and gangsters, as well as some of the best social commentary hip-hop has produced. Just as often, he can slip into sexism and gratuitous violence, and even then his rhymes are clever and biting. Although he was one of the leading figures of California hip-hop in the ’80s, Ice-T was born in Newark, New Jersey on February 14, 1959. When he was a child, he moved from his native Newark to California after his parents died in an auto accident.

While he was in high school, he became obsessed with rap at Crenshaw High School in South Central Los Angeles. He took his name from Iceberg Slim, a pimp who wrote novels and poetry. Ice used to memorize lines of Iceberg Slim’s poetry, reciting them for friends and classmates. After he left high school, he recorded several undistinguished 12-inch singles in the early ’80s. He also appeared in the low-budget hip-hop films Rappin’, Breakin’ and Breakin’ II: Electric Boogaloo. In the early 1990s he starred in New Jack City. His Cop Killer track from his album Body Count proved to be a major turning point in Ice-T’s career. The record, where he sang from the POV of a police murderer, ignited a national controversy. The NRA and police activist groups protested it and Time-Warner Records eventually dropped him.

Chuck hosted Gumbo, a weekly program of roots and traditional music, with a heavy emphasis on the music of New Orleans, of the rest of Louisiana, of Ireland and the other Celtic lands.

L. A. Weekly described his program as “a lip-smacking spicy cauldron of Cajun, zydeco, Celtic and roots music.”

Rick was host of KABC’s “SportsTalk,” a program that went through many hosts. No matter who his partner was, Rick was always the calm host. In addition to his radio work, Rick was a columnist for the Daily News . He also wrote the Jay Johnstone book, Temporary Insanity and Over the Edge . Rick was a commanding figure at 6’2″ tall. He later went to work for a Las Vegas sports radio network. He died in August 8, 1995 after suffering with dementia and complications from a brain tumor. He was 60.

Rick was named Illinois sportswriter of the year in 1971 and 1976 by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association. He also received many Associated Press writing awards.

A native of Pinckneyville, Ill., he graduated in 1958 from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale after having served 14 months in the Army in Korea. He worked for the Decatur Herald, the Menlo Park Recorder, United Press International and the Rockford Morning Star and Register-Republic. He was the author of several books, including a best seller, The Cubs of ’69. He was aresident of Las Vegas at the time of death. “He was legendary, and a lot of glasses will be raised to his memory throughout the sports world,” said Shari Wenk, his literary agent. “It was impossible not to have a good time around him. He had a giant, good heart.”

Bill was a broadcast consultant for Spanish and English stations. He died January 27, 2021, at the age of 76.

Bill was born in Kansas City, and moved to the Los Angeles area when he was a small child. At 14 years old, he and his family moved to Hilo, Hawaii, where he graduated from high school. He joined the naval reserve and was called to active duty at the age of 18. After discharge from the Navy in 1953, Bill worked in the aeronautical industry but later returned to his first love, radio broadcasting, in the late 1950s.

During the ’50s and ’60s Bill was a disc jockey in the Los Angeles area at stations KDAY, KFXM, and K/men. In 1965, Bill and his family moved to Ventura. Bill landed a job at radio station KACY, where he was the morning dj and later became program director of the dominant Top 40 format station that used the slogan “Boss of The Beach.”

The late ’70s found Bill in the Monterey Peninsula radio arena, where he then retired from the broadcasting business but managed to find a new career golfing for free as a marshal at Pebble Beach. He died November 13, 2008, at the age of 76. (Thanks to Bill Earl for the photo from his KACY scrapbook)

For decades he has been the PA announcer for the LA Lakers, and also the booth announcer for KCAL channel 9 ‘LTV’ Lakers pre-game show.

Born in Chicago, in the late 1970s Lawrence was the creative force of the “Quiet Storm” format – a successful integration of vocals and instrumentals – calling it “360 Degrees of Music” at the Stevie Wonder station, KJLH. He has been the P.A. announcer for the Los Angeles Lakers since the 1981-82 season. He has been the Lakers PA announcer longer than anyone, first working at The Forum and later at Staples Center. Tanter has seen the Lakers win multiple NBA Western Conference titles and NBA Championships.

His mild demeanor and subtle genius has separated him from other public address announcers in the league. From the dissonant tone sensed in his voice when announcing a basket, to the sensual and cool declaration of “The Laker Girls.” Lawrence himself is a former basketball player. His skills on the hardwood earned him a college scholarship to the University of Dubuque in Iowa.

His love for jazz landed him a position on the college radio station. Between 1993 and 1998, he was involved with ownership of KQBR-Sacramento. In 1996 he hosted a series called “The Immortals” for Urban stations to air during Black History Month. When KGIL changed format and call letters to KJAZ, Lawrence took over as pd. He also worked for a time at Smooth Jazz KTWV. Additionally, he is the announcer for LTV, the Lakers pre/post game show on KCAL/TV.

Greg programmed news and News/Talk stations for Gannett, CBS and KING Broadcasting in Cincinnati, Indianapolis, San Diego and Seattle for 20 years before arriving in the Southland to run all-News KFWB. He has been an award winning reporter, anchor and writer.

Following KFWB Greg headed north and was news director of KGO for seven years. Greg was then recruited to help create and launch Washington Post Radio, a combined effort of Bonneville Broadcasting and the Washington Post. After programming WTNT and WWRC, Greg joined Westwood One to launch and executive produce The Fred Thompson Show. He also was with NBC Radio News.

Greg joined WYAY-Atlanta as program director in the fall of 2014.

Born in Plainfield, New Jersey, Greg did most of his growing up in Ohio. Like many in the industry, Greg was only 14 when he started reading newscasts on WDRK-Greenville, Ohio and was named nd at (because no one else was opening up the press releases). His mother was happy when he attended Miami University of Ohio and majored in hearing therapy/educational psychology but he soon broke her heart when he decided to “do radio” for a couple of years to get it out of his system. “More than 30 years later, my mom is still waiting.”

Nataly joined all-News KNX in February 2022.

From her website: “I am a storyteller, writer, and a one woman orchestra. I am a healer and the host and creator of a podcast. I believe whole heartedly that I lead with my heart, strong mind and minimal ego. I say minimal because as human’s I believe we’re all a work in progress and you reach real joy when you let go of your ego. Nobody is perfect. Our spiritual selves were bored so they came to Earth to live a real life and to tackle business, find our passion, and find or aim for balance everyday with work love, life, family and friends. I come from a journalistic background. My mom gave me a journal when I was 12 and I haven’t stopped writing since. I was around 12 years old when I started to ‘blog,’ or write in a diary. I am a journalist by passion. Former television news anchor/reporter. I fought for this career. I was an LA girl who left my comfort zone to live in a small town and pursue my passion and grow in the business. You first met me as a reporter covering The City of Pasadena at Crown City News. I wrote content, produced and edited video. It then broadcast live. Experiences have taken me to telling local stories for CBS, ABC and FOX affiliates in California, Grand Island Nebraska, and for the local Pasadena media network. My experiences include covering politics in Sacramento, and writing for radio on topics of economy and local issues. I lead with ethics. I’ve loved sitting in Community of Concerned Journalists discussions and bringing those learned ethics to the forefront of life and work. I also help run the family business. After losing my dad who was a gentle soul, amazing artist, and the best dad one could ask for I went full force in the family business working with my brother to keep his legacy alive. @CTFineJewelry. To me life is all about the evolution of self. Working daily to love, evolve and find balance. Let’s meditate, dance, work and grow. I hold a double major from UCR and a certificate in aerobics.

Bill, with his cast of hundreds of voices, is doing voiceover work from his home studio for radio and tv commercials. His character voice work ranges from David letterman to the former Presidents to Homer Simpson. Bill’s website is: voplanet.com/billtaylor.

While growing up in his hometown of Milwaukee, Bill, born Bill Chimka, dreamed of being a night club comedian. “When I realized the only place for a comedian in Wisconsin was in strip joints, I turned to radio for a career with more security. I’m really a genius, eh?” He started his radio career in 1959 in Milwaukee, first at WISN, followed by WOKY and WEMP. “I came to L.A. with my pregnant wife and landed a part-time news job at KFWB. I later became a disc jockey. When the station went all-News, I stayed on as a news anchor. In between newscasts, so to speak, I had a chance to perform as a comic impersonator at the Comedy Store and twice on ABC/TV’s Joey Bishop Show.” He was nominated twice for CMA Country Jock of the Year and once by Billboard magazine. Bill was offered a 3-year contract at KIKK-Houston and the station was sold 8 months after Bill started. He moved to KSAN-San Francisco and eventually mornings at the Jones Satellite Network.

Bo died August 11, 2008, of cancer at the age of 42.

He was a former gang member who became a peacekeeper respected by both the gangs and law enforcement. In early 2008 he was diagnosed with a rarecancer that attacks the tissues of the mouth, according to the Los Angeles Times obit. “It spread to hisneck and head, but he insisted on fighting it in his own way, resisting traditional medicine to seek treatment in Tijuana. He died en route to a clinic there.”

Mark left “Lite 92.7/fm” following a format flip to JILL/fm. He was a frequent fill-in on the Salem Radio Network. He now lives on a farm in West Virginia.

The native of Nacogdoches, Texas, attended Texas A&M and Stephen F. Austin State College. He worked in San Antonio and Houston. Mark arrived in Southern California from a pd’ship at KYA-San Francisco. He got involved with teaming while at KFI. Mark and traffic reporter Bruce Wayne filled in as a team when Lohman and Barkley were on vacation. When “Bruce Wayne’s KF-Eye-in-the-sky” airplane crashed, Mark has vivid memories of his on-air hours following the death of the traffic pilot on June 4, 1986.

Mark co-starred on an Empty Nest episode and was featured on ABC’s Hudson Street. He was featured in an NBC Movie of the Week called Secrets of a Married Man. Mark left KBIG in late 1997 when Chancellor Media took over from Bonneville Broadcasting. In 1999, Mark teamed with Guy Davis for the TaylorDavis show at KABC.

In late 2000, Mark joined Gloria Allred for a midday show at KABC. He has been seen frequently on talking head shows. “I’ve appeared on FOX News Channel’s O’Reilly Factor and Hannity and Colmes along with CNN’s Talkback Live and ABC’s Politically Incorrect.”

Renee started middays at “Hot 92.3” in the summer of 2001. She went on to work afternoons at re-branded HOT 92 Jamz. She left the station in early February 2015.

At the time of her departure, she wrote on Facebook: “I will miss so many of you … my Hot and iHeartRadio family. I have shared so much with so many of you over the last 13 years. It started with the old school music that always hit that sweet spot. I know about your families, your friends and the ups and downs of your day. The birth of children and the loss of people you have cared about. The boyfriends and husband you met, left and lost. And the girlfriends and wives you are trying to get back. If you could just get some Love Affair, Hot Summer Night, Disneyland, Knott’s, Universal, Six Flags or even the famous Girls Night Out tickets. Just a little break from the craziness that is your life. The joy in your voice when you finally got the tickets or the trips we gave away. We have shared births and birthdays…ahhhh the ‘birthday blast’…yep I heard about the lost job and the new jobs. We took pictures together, shared a drink and some got drunk, we laughed and even cried and prayed together. I know some of you and your family by name. And some I have never spoken with but you were always happy to hear me when you got in your car at the end of the day. Love ya like family!”

Zack worked at the Hot AC format at Dial-Global syndicators until a down sizing in April 2013. He has an active voiceover career.

A graduate of the University of Mississippi, Zack has worked in Lancaster and Bakersfield before joining KIBB (B-100). He claims to be fluent in five languages, “although I’m not particularly fluent in any of them, including English.” Zack worked part-time at “B-100” and at WW1’s 70’s format. Born March 30, 1964, in London, he grew up in Ft. Walton Beach, Florida. In 1984, Zack earned a bachelor’s degree in broadcasting from the University of Mississippi. “I got into broadcasting as a good way to meet girls. I figured it was better than working at Burger King, even if the pay wasn’t as good.” After graduation he came to the Southland. “I had no idea what I was up against. There was a volume of talent.” To make ends meet while waiting for the radio job, Zack worked stand-up in nightclubs. In 1989 he joined KAVS-Lancaster for five years and was PD when he left.

Taz, known as Mark Allen Graves, worked morning drive at the Orange County “Mix” station. KIKF changed call letters to KMXN in the fall of 2000 with a format change. He worked mornings at Orange County’s COOL 94.3/fm.

He was a service technician at AT&T until his retirement in 2020.

Brie works at KOOL 95.5 in the Palm Desert area.

She worked weekends at KOST until a Clear Channel downsizing in the spring of 2009. After working as an entertainment reporter for Reuters News Service and CNN in Los Angeles, Brie moved to the Coachella Valley and to her career in radio.

Prior to Kool 95.9, Brie worked at several LA area stations. She has a degree in Liberal Arts and counts her husband, daughter, and kitten Noodles among her menagerie. She loves skiing, tennis, and watching cooking shows. Little known facts: She hates ice cream (what? I know, right?), she has been published in Food and Wine and Sunset Magazine, she can juggle.

Leo, a preeminent civil rights attorney, was a weekend talk host and fill-in for many years at KABC. Additionally, he now hosted an hour show in late afternoon. Leo left KABC in the early summer of 2023.

Born February 1, 1955, Leo represented the NAACP during the trial of the officers involved in the Rodney King beating and the O.J. Simpson case. Conservative retired L.A. Superior Court judge Burt Katz, joined Terrell in 1996 at KABC sister station, Talk 710, KMPC. Burt specialized in homicide cases, including his notable role as a lead prosecutor in the Charles Manson family murder trials. In the summer of 1996 their show moved to middays. In the fall of 1996 they joined sister Talker KABC for weekends.

Frank was a very early Boss Jock who helped launch 93/KHJ. He died June 20, 2007 of colon cancer, which he had been fighting for 10 years. He was 68.

“Frank Terry replaced the first swing man, Boss Jock Donn Tyler, a few weeks into the the Boss format by June of 1965,” wrote KHJ pd Ron Jacobs.

Frank wasn’t the type of guy to complain, his daughter Kelly told me by phone. “He trudged through all his chemo and basically worried more about his family. He was very brave. The thing I remember most about dad was his sense of humor. He made everybody feel good. He was cracking jokes with the nurses. He never lost his sense of humor. Anybody who met him was immediately drawn to him and liked him – from neighbors to people in the grocery store to the vet. Everybody loved my dad. He lived in Sonora, near Yosemite. He wanted to live in the mountains. He wanted a place where his dogs could roam and he could have deer in his yard.”

Born Terrance Crilly in Rapid City, South Dakota on July 5, 1938, Frank left an indelible mark on Top 40 and Country radio. When he was about four his father, a 3M executive, was transferred from Rapid City to the Inland Empire where Frank grew up. Out of high school, Frank joined the Navy where he first started his work in radio, broadcasting on his ship.

Frank was in the movie Gimme Shelter, which chronicled the Rolling Stones’ ill-fated 1969 concert at Altamont. He worked his way up the Top 40 ladder beginning at K/men in San Bernardino to KMAK-Fresno. During his time in Fresno he met his wife-to-be and they had two daughters, Kelly and Allison. After four years at KHJ, he joined KFI in 1969.

When he left the Southland, Frank moved to the Bay Area where he worked for three decades for various stations. He was at KFRC and KNEW before moving to Country KSAN (he teamed in the morning with Charlie Wilde). He returned to middays at KNEW in 1995 and in 1998 joined KFGY (Froggy Radio) in Santa Rosa.

“Lately, my dad has been playing some of his old airchecks,” said Kelly. “Some are hilarious. He used to dedicate songs to me on the radio when I was little. He would call my mom and tell her to turn on the radio and then he played a song for me.” Frank loved music. His daughter said that he was in a little band with country guys and they played at local Sonora events. “Total drummer,” said Kelly. “If there were chopsticks on the table, he’d pick them up and drum them.”

Frank picked the woods for his final years. Kelly said: “He loved the country. He loved the stars. He had two grandchildren he adored. We spent a lot of holidays with him. I brought them up just last week. We’ve had a lot of good visiting time with him.”

His daughter said that Frank’s love for animals was huge, especially dogs. He was really into donating his time and money to the local animal shelter. He loved keeping in touch with his radio buddies by phone. He didn’t have a computer or email access – he just didn’t want to fuss with it. “My dad was also really into football, Notre Dame was one of his favorite teams.”

Kevin Gershan, long-time producer for Robert W. Morgan, said: “Frank Terry had the best attitude of any human being I’ve every met.”

“As any musician knows, the difference between a good song and a great song is the drummer. Usually in the background, often times pounding away in relative obscurity, it’s the drummer who provides the backbone to the song, as well as its vitality and spark. Frank Terry was the Ringo Starr, Hal Blaine, and Gene Krupa of Boss Radio 93/KHJ. Originally a drummer himself, Frank Terry, more than any other Bossjock [even Robert W. Morgan and The Real Don Steele] set the template for the Boss Radio format and was its most consistent performer. He was the guy who broke in the other Bossjocks. He was the guy who worked every shift, often going months at a time without a day off. The beat had to go on and he was the drummer,” remembered Ken Levine.

Ken continued: “There was no more versatile performer in radio. The two biggest rock stations in America in the mid 60s could not have sounded more different. KHJ Los Angeles was ultra streamlined, WABC New York was all bells and whistles [chimes actually] – organized chaos. Only one disc jockey ever worked both formats. Frank Terry at KHJ and later at WABC’s sister station and clone in San Francisco, KSFX. You just gave him the charts and he could play.

Later Frank moved into country radio at KNEW and KSAN in the Bay Area. He could bang on washboards as well as snares.

Wherever he went, two things were certain. He made every station he ever worked for sound the very best they ever did, and he dented every console, cart machine, and music stand in the studio with his drum sticks. Radio has lost a giant. Terrance Franklin Crilly. Better known as Frank Terry. For those of us who knew and loved him, he will always remain in our heart… beating and beating and beating.”

Lloyd was host of a long-running zany syndicated tv dance party show on KCOP/Channel 13 in 1960s. He died of multiple myeloma on October 5, 2008, at the age of 81. His popularity was so huge that when Tiger Beat magazine debuted in the fall of 1965, there was a photo of Lloyd on the cover, which the publishers kept there throughout the first year of the magazine, thinking the relationship between the two was a good one. He spent many years as producer of the Emmy-winning Fight Back with David Horowitz . Lloyd was the host of a long-running zany syndicated tv dance party show on KCOP/Channel 13.

Lloyd was also a radio talk show host at KABC from 1973-74. But he was better known for this afternoon dance show. Ken Levine wrote a tribute to Lloyd that appeared at his blogspot, where Ken wrote in part:

Lloyd Thaxton was an extraordinary man and creative visionary. He was a dear friend.

What made the show special was Lloyd Thaxton. Most shows like this were hosted by disc jockeys. They were content to just introduce the records and step aside while the kids did the Twist, Jerk, Fly, Popeye, Monkey, Frug, Mash Potato, Locomotion, and whatever other inane dance was the rage that minute. Lloyd was the first to realize ‘this was television,’ you had to do something visual. So he would find ways to comically present the songs, even with his paltry budget. This elf-looking redhead would lip sync, mime playing instruments, use finger puppets, don wigs, do duets with rubber masks, cut out the lips on an album cover and substitute his own – anything to make the songs fun. In many ways, Lloyd Thaxton was a local version of Ernie Kovacs, finding innovative new ways to use the new medium. For the most part he invented music videos. The only difference is music videos these days are all ambitious elaborate productions. Back then we were quite content to watch a guy sing into his hand.

He also broke the color barrier. When he had James Brown as his guest, a number of affiliates refused to air the segment. Lloyd promptly dropped them from his roster. Motown and r&b acts were guests frequently. Only then did other shows follow.

In later years Lloyd went behind the camera, producing such long running series as Fight Back With David Horowitz and segments for The Today Show.

His signature sign off was ‘My name is Lloyd Thaxton’ followed by the kids shouting ‘So what?!’ But we knew better. Lloyd Thaxton was a big part of our lives. We thank him and will fondly remember him always. That’s what.

Jack was general manager at KLAC. He went on to be president of NBC Radio from 1974 to 1979, gm of Metromedia’s WNEW-New York from 1980 to 1984. Jack died over New Year’s weekend 1995. The stardom of Joe Pyne and Don Imus is traced back to Jack Thayer. He was the chief architect of KLAC’s immensely successful two-way talk format.

After leaving KLAC – the House That Pyne Built – he went on to WNEW-New York. In 1974 Jack was named president of the NBC Radio division. On June 18, 1975, he launched a new 24-hour “news and information service.” The service didn’t last long but was considered a forerunner of the full-service networks.

Jack started as a dj in the Twin Cities and eventually became gm of WDGY-Minneapolis. From there he was gm at WHK-Cleveland, KXOA-Sacramento and WGAR-Cleveland, where he generated national attention with the meteoric rise of Don Imus. In the early 1980s, he was gm of WNEW and in the early 1990s he was COO/exec vp of Gear Broadcasting of New England. He died over New Year’s weekend 1995 at the age of 72. He had survived a stroke in the mid-1980s.

“I love you, Theeeeo!” The callers to Theo’s afternoon drive show on “the Beat” screamed this love theme every day.

Born Theo Mizuhara in San Mateo, his parents pushed him hard through gifted programs at school. He told Buzz magazine: “In my culture if you’re not academically successful, you’re really nothing.” At 16, he dropped out of high school and a Filipino friend introduced him to the world of turntables and remixing. Theo originally started overnights at “the Beat” from nights at KMEL-San Francisco. He came to the attention of KMEL while making a name for himself as a club dj. The rumbling “Barry White bass voice” told Vibe Magazine in a March 1996 profile: “I’m an Asian on a black station in the No. 1 drive slot. But the support I’ve gotten has been staggering.” Whitney Houston’s movie Waiting to Exhale featured Theo’s voice as the dj on the radio. In 1996 he won Billboard’s r&b dj of the year award. Theo has a recurring role on the Dangerous Minds tv series. On August 13, 1999, Theo left KKBT and was off the air for almost a year and a half until returning to afternoon drive at “Mega 92.3.” Mega flipped to “Hot 92.3fm” in the summer of 2001. Theo worked afternoons at “Hot 92.3fm” until late 2003. He joined KDAY in early fall of 2006 and was made program director in the summer of 2007. He left KDAY in late 2008. Radio Facts reports that Theo is in the tech industry in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Gary’s first gig in radio started when he was 11 years of age. He attended Illinois State University as a Mass Media (Radio-TV-Film) major, graduating in 1973. After graduation, Gary moved to Los Angeles and started working overnights at KSRF.

Theroux joined KIIS in the mid-1970s, when the station was also operating the KIIS Broadcasting Workshop. “I also spent time at XPRS, alternating evenings with Wolfman Jack, who became a good friend.”

In addition, Gary taught music and entertainment history at UCLA. In 1978, Theroux worked at Drake-Chenault Enterprises as a programmer and producer of special features – most notably the revised, reformatted and updated 52 hour “History of Rock ‘n’ Roll.” It ran on over 800 stations worldwide and won Billboard’s “Top Special Program of the Year” award.

Gary next wrote his first book, The Top Ten: 1956 – Present. In 1982 Theroux began a 20 year run as the music & entertainment editor of Reader’s Digest, compiling and annotating CD box sets with cumulative sales topping 39 million copies. Still a broadcaster at heart, he spent nine years co-hosting (with now Fox Radio News anchor Kerin McCue) the comedy and oldies series The Saturday Night Special. New York area stations Theroux broadcast over include WZFM, WRKL, WXPS, WSTC, WNLK and WKHL.

Gary, who owns the trademark name “History of Rock and Roll,” has launched into international syndication (via G Networks) a weekly two-hour series version of “The History of Rock and Roll” which Wink Martindale hosts. Each themed episode spotlights a different facet of rock and pop history and is packed with not only original hits but the stories behind each song and star, often told by the hitmakers themselves. “Every year I also write and produce the annually updated 10-hour countdown “The 100 Greatest Christmas Hits of All Time,” which Wink Martindale also hosts. Each December this award-winning cavalcade of Yuletide classics airs in more than 175 countries – but, oddly enough, despite first debuting on KRTH, not in L.A.!”

From 1992 – 2008, Bill worked at Shadow Traffic, which later morphed into Metro Networks. In 1995, and for the next 13 years he worked at Westwood One’s Mainstream Country Format. He’s been the airborne traffic reporter for KTLA/Channel 5 and KABC/Channel 7. He’s heard in morning drive at KABC with Doug McIntyre.

Born in Costa Mesa and raised in the O.C., Bill graduated from Cal. State Fullerton. After college, he went to flight school and became a licensed helicopter pilot, returned to flight school after a few years and became a licensed fixed wing pilot as well. “I’m not a star struck kind of guy, but always found it interesting to meet all the rock stars and movie stars that came into Pirate Radio way back when. Richie Sambora was a gem and Jon Bon Jovi was one of the most normal, unassuming guys you could ever meet. Working for Robert W. Morgan for a short spell at KMPC was a riot and he was one of the most generous guys I’ve ever met. In the early and mid 90’s, working at Shadow Traffic was a blast because you got to work on a variety of stations/formats, including Greg Tantum’s KFWB. Growing up listening to Charlie Tuna and M.G. Kelly and then doing airborne traffic on their programs was a dream.”

Jay, former morning man at KPWR, died of cancer on August 24, 2017, at the age of 69. In 2021, Jay was posthumously inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame.

The co-star of the hit movie Mr. Holland’s Opus was born in 1948. He attended the University of Tennessee. Jay spent three years at WAYS-Charlotte and eventually became pd. His wacky on-air sidekick characters started to emerge during this period: Mister Denise, the station hair dresser; Granny Glick, the oldest skin flick maker in the world; Dr. Henry the K; Rock, the inflation fighter; and Caleb Kluttz, the local redneck policeman.

His first visit to the Southland was a two-season stint as a deli owner on ABC/TV’s Mork and Mindy, but the third season the producers introduced Jonathan Winters, and five character actors hit the street. Jay recalled: “Winters said, ‘I’m 58. I need the work.’ What, and we didn’t?”

Before joining KPWR Jay did a number of tv shows, including Love Boat and Spencer for Hire as well as dinner theater. He arrived at KPWR in October 1986 from morning drive at WKTU-New York. KPWR captured NAB’s first Marconi Award during the 1989 convention in New Orleans. Even though the award was new, it was being touted as the Oscar of radio. Jay commented on the station’s award: “It’s a great, fabulous honor. Marconi invented wireless transmissions. Unfortunately, if Marconi heard ‘Power 106’ he would probably die again. I don’t think this is what he had in mind. But he’s dead.”

Jay’s later tv carreer includes Cheers, Almost Grown, Murphy Brown, Family Ties, The Golden Girls, Love & War and others. He has won an Emmy. When Jay was terminated from “Power 106” in 1993, he filed a $1,000,000 breach of contract lawsuit. He was nominated for Billboard Top 40 Radio Air Personality of 1993.

At the start of the second season of Love & War, Jay lamented about his firing from KPWR: “I’m having withdrawal symptoms. I had the rug pulled out from under me. It’s very hurtful.” Jay told the LA Times in September 1993, that KPWR fired him “because they became jealous of my tv show. They could not parlay my television popularity into what they wanted.” His breach-of-contract lawsuit with Emmis Broadcasting was settled in late 1994. In addition to his acting career, Jay was the promotion voice of Comedy Central.

John works for an Oldies station in Jacksonville. John Thomas was a 21 year old aspiring jock at the tail end of KHJ at a Top 40 station in 1978-79. He worked for a number of iHeart stations before moving to St. Johns, Florida.

Kayla joined KIIS as the nighttimer in February 2022.

Kayle is a Maryland native who grew up with a love for music, content creation and making people laugh. After graduating from Liberty University in 2016, she received her first shot in the radio world at a local radio station in Roanoke, Virginia. Kayla went from being an intern to doing weekends, nights, then middays at WXLK-K92. “Her powerful voice and sassy personality quickly made her a recognizable voice throughout the Virginia Blue Ridge,” per the iHeart press release.

In 2018, Kayla got the opportunity to move to New Jersey and become an on-air personality at Townsquare Media. Not only did she do the night show at WPST in Trenton, but she also landed her very own nationally syndicated show at just 24 years old. In just three years, Kayla helped grow ‘Popcrush Nights’ into a number one show with over 50 affiliates across the country. In 2020, Kayla was named one of Radio Ink Magazine’s 30 Under 30 Superstars. Throughout her career, she has also interviewed some of the biggest names in music, such as Adele, BTS, Justin Bieber, Olivia Rodrigo, Miley Cyrus, Lizzo and more. Major publications like People Magazine and Billboard have also featured her interviews.

“I’ve been dreaming of living in Los Angeles since I was a little girl and to be able to do what I love at the legendary KIIS FM is an indescribable feeling,” said Kayla. “Words cannot express how thankful I am to John Ivey and Beata Murphy for this exciting opportunity. Being a world away from home is bittersweet, but it’s still surreal to be living my childhood dream. I’m ready to bring my east coast flavor to this LA heat!”

Mark was a news anchor at KNX until his retirement from radio in late May of 2022.

Mark has been a broadcast journalist for over three decades. Two-thirds of that time has been spent in Southern California. He was the co-host of “Marketplace Morning Report” heard nationally on NPR-member stations. He was also the midday news anchor at public radio station KPCC, managing editor for the Tavis Smiley Show on NPR, commentator for the Tavis Smiley Show, pd at KLAC, and apd as well as nd at KFI. In 1995 he was a per-diem news writer for KCAL/Channel 9.

Mark graduated from the University of Illinois with a B.S. in radio and television. Following graduate course work in educational psychology, he started as a reporter/anchor and later becoming news director for WIVK-Knoxville. In 1981 he went to WEEI-Boston and a year later to KSOL-San Francisco for five years as the news director. He has served as president of the AP Television and Radio Association for California and Nevada. He was the news director and morning anchor at KABC. He left the station 10.26.11 following the Cumulus take-over of Citadel/LA. He joined KPCC in early 2012.

Marshall was born Marshall Thomas Willetts in Dallas. He grew up in Bell Gardens and majored in radio and theatre at East Los Angeles College.

Marshall has also worked at KTPI-Palmdale, KMIX-Lancaster and KOSS “(“Oasis”)-Palmdale. Marshall worked afternoon drive at “The Toad.” Beginning in 2005, he joined KFRG-Inland Empire. Marshall left in the summer of 2020.

He spent time as a vocal coach and personal instructor at the Academy of Radio & TV.

In early 2018, the LA Times saluted Oscar announcer Randy Thomas. The veteran of KMET, KMPC/FM/KEDG/KLIT, and KTWV, Randy made history in 1993 as the first woman hired by the Motion Picture Academy to be the announcer for the Academy Award. This was her ninth time in the Oscar announce booth. Randy has gone on to be the first woman to announce the Miss America pageant, the Super Bowl, the Emmys, the Screen Actors Guild Awards, and the Tony Awards.

Born in New York, then raised in South Florida and Detroit, Randy returned to New York at age 17 with an enormous zest for life, waiting on tables while she studied acting. She was inspired to pursue radio while listening to WNEW and the “Nightbird,” Allison Steele. Randy packed her bags and headed home to Detroit where she was hired at WWWW, then WRIF. In 1974, an ABC executive took her to WPLJ-New York. Next was KZEW-Dallas, then “Zeta-4” (WZTU), WAXY and WSHE in South Florida before arriving in Los Angeles in 1986 with no job but a great resume.

From a boat tucked away in the Marina, Randy ventured forth, knocking on radio station doors until KMET hired her. “It was a dream come true to finally add those legendary call letters to my resume.” Shortly thereafter, the entire air staff was fired as KMET made way for KTWV, the first New Age radio station (that featured no DJs). Inspired by the music and spiritual aspects of the format, Randy created Crystal Vision Productions with her husband, to produce a syndicated show. Then Alternative radio knocked and Randy moved on to KMPC/fm (“The Edge”) for middays. While at KMET, Randy became the commercial spokeswoman for the reading program “Hooked on Phonics.” Randy recalled “they tell me that I have taught more people to read than almost any teacher.” In 1991 Randy was back on 94.7, becoming the morning show host for “The Wave.”

In the Times article, Randy was asked if she has an Oscar voice compared to her other VO work. “I do have an ‘Oscars voice,’ and it seems to show up when I’m doing the Oscars. All of the other shows that I do, I tend to find a voice for them.”

Randy’s philosophy: “If you dream it and never give up – anything is possible.”

In late spring of 2013, Rick was appointed pd at K-EARTH and the WAVE. He left on May 1, 2014 for the programming chores at WNOW/fm-New York, now AMP Radio. In early 2017, he became operations manager for the Cox cluster in Tampa/St. Petersburg. In late summer of 2019, Rick became vp of programming for rhythmic oldies KJHM “Jammin’ 101.5” and hip hop KFCO “Flo 107.1” in Denver. He left in late 2020. He spent time with SummitMedia’s Top 40, Hot AC and AC formats. Rick is also pd for Top 40 WWST (Star 102.1)/Knoxville. In early 2023, Rick was named Brand Manager Of Beasley Media Group’s Tampa Bay Stations.

Born in New York, he was recruited by Frankie Crocker at WBLS then to KUTE in LA in 1981. He later worked at XTRA, KUKQ-Phoenix during its Urban era, program director at WLUM-Milwaukee. In 1990, Rick signed on Z90 in San Diego. His radio journey took him to KSOL/WILD-San Francisco, KSFM-Sacramento, Univision in San Antonio and over a decade at Magic 925 in San Diego. Rick also consulted for Jerry Clifton’s New World Communications and spent 4 years growing Ohana Broadcast’s cluster in Honolulu before joining CBS/Los Angeles as pd of K-EARTH and the WAVE.

Bill went on to join the Smothers Brothers Show Featuring Glen Campbell. He was the announcer and associate producer of the Glen Campbell summer replacement.

He went on to run Pacstar and its seven Hawaii stations.

Delores worked all-nights at KJLH until the summer of 2009. She is currently programming KOSA Internet radio and working weekends on-air at 102.9 KBLX-San Francisco.

Born the sixth child in a family of seven, by age three Delores was dancing, singing and acting up a storm. While attending Crocker Highland Elementary Delores wrote a play called the “Singer.” By 1982, she joined television station KSBT, The Bay Area’s first 24 hour African American owned music video station. Delores adapted quickly to the art of on-air Host. She had an ability to make whomever she interviewed feel right at home.

“I for some reason wanted to grow and I didn’t feel that KSBT would take me to the level I wanted to go”. Moving to Los Angeles in 1991, she landed a job with Inspired Artist Management working with comedians, Through Inspired Artist, Delores helped organize the auditions for Russell Simons “Def Comedy Jam.” After she returned from her dad’s funeral Delores decided she wanted out of the management business and while driving down the street one day, she saw KGFJ radio station and said to a friend “I’m getting a job there!” Delores became assistant pd and in 1996 the station made the switch to Gospel. “I couldn’t believe it, everyone was fired except me.”

It was while Delores was listening to a song about three Hebrew boys that she wanted to know more. After buying her first Bible and studying day and night God ministered to her. “When I heard The Spirit of the Lord, I knew exactly who it was. God told me that he turned that whole station around for me and after that the station was sold.” Four years later, God blessed her with a ministry at KGFJ called “The Sista Girl Network” which is 74 women strong and still growing. “I have been Blessed beyond what I ever imagined. Praise God!

Diane was afternoon news anchor at KNXNewsradio. She retired in February 2019. In early 2021, Diane was honored with a Golden Mike Lifetime Achievement Award from the RTNA.

The Greater Los Angeles Pro chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists honored Diane at its 44th annual Distinguished Journalists Awards Banquet.

Diane spent 40 years in the broadcast news business. She started, while still finishing college, at KVUE/TV in Austin as a weekend producer. She moved to Los Angeles in 1980 after working for 18 months in Phoenix as a news anchor/reporter at KJJJ and KBBC/KTAR.

Thompson worked at three legendary stations in Los Angeles: KFWB, KHJ and KNX. She spent 34 years as a news reporter and anchor at KNX.

She covered 26 Academy Award ceremonies, 14 Rose Parades, the 1984 Olympics, the opening of the Reagan Presidential Library, the official visits of both Pope John Paul II and South African President Nelson Mandela, the L.A. riots, San Francisco and Northridge earthquakes, the Simpson/Goldman murders and broke the story nationally of the murder of Phil Hartman.

Starting in 2007, she produced the “KNX Hero of the Week” feature where, she said, the people and their stories changed her from a cynic into a believer and restored her soul.

Frank Thompson, veteran of Top 40 XTRA in the late fifties and KDAY in the mid-60s, died August 4, 2012, in British Columbia, Canada. He was 85.

Born June 4, 1926, at Grande Prairie, Alberta, Canada, Frank attended the University of Alberta at Edmonton. He learned his voice work from fellow Canadian Lorne Greene, who operated a radio school in Toronto. He worked at CJVI-Victoria, British Columbia, before joining KFMB-San Diego in 1953. Frank was at KOGO and the “Mighty 690”-San Diego before arriving at KDAY.

When he left, he became news director at KJR-Seattle from 1969-75. He also spent a decade at CKLG-Vancouver.

Frank was an author, a history buff, and poet.

Shotgun Tom Kelly remembered Frank: “In 1961, he, Ernie Myers, Rick Martell, and Art Way were hired by KOGO AM 600 radio to start a new MOR station. Ernie was the morning man and Frank Thompson was put into the 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. midday show to do remotes in the KOGO mobile studio. Frank broadcast his show from a remote location almost every day from local shopping centers, banks, car dealers, food stores, even local attractions like The San Diego Zoo and The Hotel Del Coronado.”

Shotgun continued: “Frank would wave to people with a Big ‘Hello’ and ‘How are you’ to all who would be passing by his KOGO mobile studio, from kids at the 4H club who had a farm animal on display, to a man or woman who had just won a prize at the game booths, or someone who had just experienced one of the rides at the fair. It was at one of his mobile studio remotes that a 10-year-old kid from Lemon Grove looked in the window at Frank talking on the mic and playing records. Frank called the kid into his KOGO mobile studio, interviewed him on the air and gave the kid tickets to see the LA T-Birds at Westgate Park. That kid later became Shotgun Tom Kelly.”

Gary was interviewed for LARadio.com: “It’s been WAY more luck and ‘right place, right time,’ than talent. In early 1990, I was an electrical engineer in the aerospace industry, working at Hughes Aircraft in El Segundo, studying for my Masters. Within a year and a half, somehow, I was doing afternoon radio in Los Angeles (K-Lite), throwing out the first pitch at an Angels game, and working just studios away from two of my radio idols, Robert W. Morgan and Jim Healy (KMPC).

“In that year and a half after leaving the defense industry, there were four stations, three of which had less than perfect outcomes. The fourth location, Transtar, was a REALLY great place that would be my home several more times over the years. It’s where I met Dan McKay, who left Transtar to program K-Lite and ask me to come along for afternoons. Right place, right time.

Gary detailed how he was part of a tv show talking about radio. “While at K-Lite, I was on an episode of 48 Hours about ‘contest pigs.’ It was pretty widely watched, and that opened a door at Star 98.7 with Bob Kaake, vp/programming at Viacom. Literally the day after K-Lite let me know they were moving in a different direction, [read: letting me go].”

Gary’s next gig was at KYSR. “I went to 98.7. In the next six years I did imaging, mornings, middays and afternoons. “LUCKY! Although I did develop a LITTLE talent, thanks to Kaake, and pd’s Greg Dunkin, Dave Beasing, Randy Lane and Angela Perelli.

He described how he arrived in Southland. “Born in Milwaukee, raised in the suburb of Menomonee Falls, undergraduate engineering degree in Dallas, then high-tailed it to California, Manhattan Beach, thanks to Hughes Aircraft. From 1984-91, I was designing and maintaining equipment and procedures that tested lasers and thermal imaging systems used in tanks and aircraft.”

Gary ended up being on-air and director of programming for Westwood One from 1999 – 2007. He went to Dallas later in 2007 to program The Bone (KDBN 93.3/fm). He returned a year later to Westwood One. In 2015, he was the founder of ImagingThing, an imaging company for radio stations and podcasts.

Mike was appointed pd at KSPN in the early fall. He exited 2010.

During his stay at 710/ESPN, Mike oversaw all aspects of programming, talent development, and 710 ESPN’s play-by-play partners, the Los Angeles Lakers, USC football and men’s basketball, and AM 830 KLAA (The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim). He also worked on integrating the station’s digital site into the framework of 710 ESPN.

Thompson, whose sports-talk experience began 16 years ago at WCNN in Atlanta, had been gm/pd for WEAE, 1250 ESPN in Pittsburgh. Previously, he laid the foundation for the format of one of the most successful stations, Sports Radio 1310 The Ticket in Dallas/Ft. Worth, and programmed ESPN’s WEPN, 1050 ESPN in New York. As senior director of Digital Media, Mike created content for ESPN branded channels on Sirius and XM Satellite Radio.

In 2019, Mike was named head of programming for NRG Media’s Omaha AM Stations. He oversees sports talkers KOZN “1620 The Zone” and KZOT “1180 Zone 2,” news/talk KOIL, and regional Mexican KMMQ-AM/K258DC “La Nueva 99.5.” He left the Omaha cluster in early 2021 and returned to Southern California to start a consultancy business.

The former Lakers star joined XTRA Sports 690/10 in June 2003. XTRA Sports moved to KLAC in 2005. He’s now the color man for the LA Lakers. He was a member of the Lakers championship teams in 1987 and 1988.

Formerly the Minnesota Timberwolves television color analyst for two seasons, Thompson teams with play-by-play announcer John Ireland for all Lakers radio broadcasts. Thompson, a standout at the University of Minnesota, averaged 20.8 points per game throughout his four-year collegiate career and was named All-America following both the 1976-77 and 1977-78 campaigns. The leading scorer in Golden Gopher history with 1,992 points, Thompson was the first overall selection in the 1978 NBA Draft by the Portland Trailblazers. In 12 seasons and 935 regular season games with the Trailblazers, Lakers and San Antonio Spurs, Thompson averaged 13.7 points, 7.4 rebounds and 2.3 assists.

Ron “Ugly” Thompson passed away April 9, 2019, at age 74.

“This is the best job I’ve ever had,” Ron said of his involvement with Korean-formatted KBLA. For a man who worked for RKO and every legendary California Rock station in the fifties and sixties, his comment speaks volumes. Ron was born in Ottumwa, Iowa but moved to Southern California when he was 15. After a stint in the Marine Corps, Ron started his radio journey in sales in 1958 at KAFY-Bakersfield. He quickly moved up the sales ladder to KROY-Sacramento and in 1962 became part owner of KACY-Port Huenene and then KMEN-San Bernardino. After a time at KARM-Fresno, Ron joined RKO in 1980 as gm of WHBQ-Memphis. He arrived at KHJ for the launch of “Car Radio.” In 1986 he joined Kent Burkhardt as minority partner in a number of Southern radio stations.

Ron started working in ethnic radio in 1988 with Dwight Case and George Fritzinger at KAZN and is currently running KBLA, which ran language programming. Other stops in his career included: CE at KKJZ (KLON), KFI, KCBQ-San Diego, WOKY-Milwaukee, KOIL-Omaha, WIXY-Cleveland, KISN-Portland, and WDRQ-Detroit.

Will has been described as the “djs’ dj.” One of his admirers said, “He was the most brilliant human being and one of the most gracious. Will should have been Orson Welles.”

Will wrote liner notes for albums by jazz greats. Even though he toiled over each one for extended periods, often his work brought him $75 an assignment. Jazz lover Kirk Silsbee wrote: “For a time in New York, Will made his living in tv commercials as the Camel Cigarettes Man and the Kent Man. It was easy work with travel and good money (a habit he began at thirteen in the backyard of his best friend, David Nelson of Ozzie and Harriet fame, would eventually take the form of the cancer that killed him.”

While in the army during the Korean war, Will worked with Armed Forces Radio Services. In the late 50s, Thornbury studied literature and acting at Los Angeles City College.

Over the years he worked at KCRW. Will was married to vocalist Ruth Price. Will wrote Aloha, Bobby and Rose, Dusty and Sweets McGee and The Christian Licorice Store. LA Free Reader Silsbee said, “He was a great interviewer whose easy manner and vast knowledge of his subjects assuaged many an uneasy musician – he made them comfortable and let them tell their stories.”

Will died of cancer on April 8, 1992. He was 57.

Jim is an anchor at all-News KNX. He’s also the announcer on the Wheel of Fortune.

Jim began his broadcast career in 1983 back in his hometown of Huntington, West Virginia by working as cameraman at WOWK/TV. He studied linguistics at Marshall University. “In 1984, I moved my wagon West to California and within a year was reporting for Metro Traffic Control.” After four years as “Thunder Jim Thornton” at KMGX working morning drive, and another 4 years at WW1, he started at “KNXNewsradio” full-time.

After working as staff announcer at KCOP/Channel 13 (“Stalag 13”) from 1995 to 1999, Jim signed up with Abrams-Rubaloff & Lawrence Agency and now does quite a bit of voiceover work. This new schedule also leaves a lot of time to spend with his wife Sue, and son Sam. “We live in ‘Tujunga Heights,’ often going back east to visit family and stay in their house on the ‘Ohio Riviera’ across from my hometown of Huntington, West Virginia.”

Longtime radio personality Ted Prichard, a.k.a ThrashPie/Thrasher, former morning dude at the late, legendary metal station KNAC-Long Beach, published his radio memoir — Head Bangin’ Radio: My Life at Southern California’s Heavy Metal Flagship KNAC/fm.

Lovingly described as a “metal memoir,” Head Bangin’ Radio humorously details Ted’s long and winding radio road, from Charlotte to Orlando to Tampa, and finally, to sunny SoCal, where, from 1986-1990 he did mornings on KNAC, which flipped to metal in January of 1986.

Scott worked mornings at KURB-Little Rock for six years until late summer of 2006. “In Aug 2008, I left radio for a career in medicine and am with a large hospital in Little Rock,” he wrote at 440INT. “Even on my worst days as an RN, there’s not been even one time when I’ve thought, ‘Why did I leave radio?”‘

He was born November 25, 1959, and grew up in Salem, Oregon. “I got into radio in 1975. I was writing record reviews for my high school paper and was approached by the teacher who oversaw the publication. He said two of the radio stations in town were looking for a reporter from my school to phone in a report or two per week about what was happening at school. I ended up hosting an all-night show on Sunday mornings.” Scott went on to do mornings in Philadelphia, San Diego, Portland, St. Louis and Memphis. He’s appeared on Miami Vice and other tv shows.

“Twenty three years later, I want to know who I have to sleep with to get out of this business!!” After 33 years behind the microphone, he called it quits. “I’ve taken a year to decide that I don’t want to get up at 3 a.m. or throw sales people out of the studio anymore.”

Lindy and her husband Tom King own the Academy of Radio Broadcasting in Huntington Beach.

At “K-Hits” Lindy worked evenings. “I started out doing all-nights and when they moved me to evenings they told me not to talk. Then they ended up firing me because I ‘had no personality.'”

Born in San Diego, Lindy grew up in New Hampshire. She graduated from the University of the Pacific with a degree in classical music. “I played the bassoon and wanted to be a musician. But once I started hanging around the campus radio station, it was like a disease and I had it real bad.”

After graduation Lindy worked in Reno, New Hampshire and KLOK-San Jose in 1978, where she did afternoon drive. In 1984 she and her husband Tom King (they met at KLOK) opened the Academy of Radio Broadcasting in Huntington Beach. “We worked in the good part of radio and run the school from that same perspective. Casey Kasem sent both his kids to our school.” They now have schools in Phoenix, Walnut Creek and Fremont. “We owned KTHO-Lake Tahoe for a while. It was just something we had to do.”

Bea Shaw, the wife of the late Bruce Hayes, was a long-time resident of Toluca Lake. Bea was born on January 17, 1925. She was an actress, known for Crossroads, and The Dick Powell Theatre, among other productions. She died on September 2, 2003 in Toluca Lake, from complications of emphysema. A heavy smoker for many years, Bea stopped smoking in 1976 and spent the next ten years conducting smoking cessation seminars. She was also politically active in passing legislation to help keep young people from becoming addicted to cigarettes.

A native of Dallas, where she starred in a popular tv show called Miss Bea, Bea Shaw came to the Southland with her husband dj Bruce Hayes. Bea was the voice of “Tiger,” a sexy sounding personality, on Bruce’s morning show on KFWB. “Tiger” stood for “Traffic Information Girl – Exclusive Report.” Bea did the reports from home on a remote mike the station patched in at the house. “I would give a report on freeway traffic conditions in a seductive voice and add a quip, a flirtatious remark, or maybe heckle the dj. In between reports, I’d go back to sleep. The groggier I was, the huskier and sexier my voice sounded. Thank goodness it was radio and the audience couldn’t see me with my hair in curlers, no make-up and wearing a bathrobe and wool socks.”

Bea was also the voice of Connie the Computer, predicting football scores on a syndicated radio show, and a regular member of the Steve Allen and Donna Reed tv shows. In 1965 she started Bea Shaw Productions, writing and producing radio commercials and frequently used hers and Bruce’s voices – as in the enormously successful “Backaruda” campaign. Bruce played the pompous Plymouth dealer who couldn’t pronounce “Barracuda” and Bea as the lady who for five years tried to cajole, hypnotize, bully or seduce him into saying it right. Bea has been honored with numerous industry awards for her commercials. She was named Advertising Woman o the Year by the Los Angeles Advertising Women in 1976.

Peter was no stranger to KABC. He worked a variety of shifts including “American’s Earliest Morning Show with Peter Tilden.”

He spent a half decade between 2001 and 2006 working morning drive at Country KZLA, prior to a format flip. Tilden first arrived at KABC in the early 1990s where he co-hosted shows with the late Tracey Miller and later, Ken Minyard. Peter then moved to sister station 710/KMPC when the station went talk in 1994. He eventually went to host mornings at KZLA. Tilden has also enjoyed success in television as host of NBC’s Later, ABC’s The Midnight Hour and PM Magazine and has written and produced pilots for a number of networks, including ABC and FOX.

Before returning to KABC he was not focused on a job, but rather his daughter. His mind, heart and soul was focused on his 23-year-old daughter, Rachel, who lived in Philadelphia. She was in need of open heart surgery. Rachel was born with a heart murmur which then became a prolapsed valve, then a regurgitating valve that doctors wanted to fix. “The doctors did an incredible job. You wrote about the LARP who went through the heart valve surgery about four months ago. It was about the same time I got the news about Rachel. It was like the story was placed there for me. I read about his surgery in your column and how well he did and how quickly he recovered. It actually made me hopeful.” “I checked out the Philadelphia surgeon because I have a friend who does heart surgery at Cedars and he had heard of him. The waiting in the waiting room is excruciating. The hospital had a communication director who sits with you during the surgery and gives you all the news. An hour and a half after they took her down for surgery and you start doing the math wondering how she is doing. And then all of a sudden she calls down and this is something you don’t want to hear, ‘they have her on the heart/lung machine and they’ve stopped her heart and started the operation.’ I tell them thanks very much and I’m next. Twenty minutes later they told me they were able to repair the valve, they don’t have to replace it, she’s doing great and the doctor will be up in fifteen minutes. I broke down and now I’m emotional relating the story. That night they had her sitting in a chair and the next day she was walking. Within five days they sent her home.” “She came through it really, really well,” Peter said, “but I must have aged about thirty years.”

Mike syndicated ESPN midday sports show was carried locally on KSPN. Beginning in 2006, Mike was the play-by-play voice of ESPN’s Monday Nigh Football, as well as anchoring the No. 2 team for NBA games among several other marquee announcing duties at the network. In late spring of 2016, Mike exited ESPN to join NBC. The versatile Tirico will most likely become the play-by-play broadcaster for NBC’s upcoming NFL Thursday Night Football package it is sharing with CBS and NFL Network. NBC does not have any NBA rights, but it does have the PGA Tour Championship and the British Open for golf as well as the Olympics, which could also be landing spots for him.

At ESPN since 1991, he has also covered college football and tennis and has become a go-to guy. Currently, Al Michaels is the lead play-by-play man for NBC’s Sunday Night Football, and Bob Costas toplines the network’s Olympics coverage.

Max left his pd post at Indie 103 in early 2009 following a format flip to Spanish language. In 2008, Rolling Stone magazine named Indie 103 as the Best Rock Station in America in its Best Of Rock 2008 issue. Max’s account of the demise of Indie was published in the Huffington Post.

For hundreds of years, Max has walked both sides of “entertainment boulevard.” In addition to his radio programming, he has worked as a record label promotion executive, and also as a chronicler of events within the industry as an editor and writer for two different trade publications – Radio & Records and The Gavin Report.

Currently, Max is the head of his own independent consultancy. He also co-founded Mutant Promotions, a record promotion company serving the Alternative format. Prior to this, was 0m of Alternative powerhouse WFNX-Boston. For most of the 80’s Max was the pd of 91X in San Diego.

Keri has a very successful voiceover career and is married to screenwriter-actor Thom Babbes. Keri was among the original radio personalities at KTWV. She returned to KTWV in late 1999 to host “The WAVE After Dark.” Keri left in the fall of 2013. She is now the voice of channels 2/9 in L.A.

Keri’s likability factor is huge, just ask anyone who knows her or who has worked with her. She’s a proud member of the Armenian community and ends up on the cover of Yerevan, “a magazine with an accent.” The whopping six-page story on Keri is filled with her history and her perspective on radio.

Some highlights from the story: Keri Tombazian’s love of music comes from her parents. Her father, who was the soloist in the church where she grew up. When Keri was a little girl, her grandmother made sure that Keri and her sister got a good dose of culture, taking them to see great American musical theater at the Music Center. Her parents often took the girls to the Hollywood Bowl.

“I actually started in radio in my teen years. I wanted to act, and I was coming up in the ranks of Equity Waiver theater and in high school. However, a very dear family friend who was an accomplished television and film actor said, ‘You are too ethnic for television, but you have a beautiful voice. You should really think about using it.’ Coincidentally, around the same time, I heard about the KIIS Broadcasting Workshop. I jumped into a 12-week course, which set me on the path of my career. My conversation with Los Angeles listeners began when I was fresh out of high school at a small station in the Valley, KGIL. It was a musical campfire that we gathered around. I played soft rock, big bands, ballads, oldies and blues. I worked at K-EARTH in the early 80s and did a bit of news at KMPC Talk station.

The WAVE bumped world famous KMET off the air on Valentine’s Day, 1987. Rock fans were angry that we had taken away their station; jazz purists were angry that we were playing ‘bogus jazz.’ The regular listeners of KMET called it the Valentine’s Day Massacre, but times were changing. Over the years you get to know many musicians, especially if you’ve been on the radio for so long. As the station was emerging in the 90s, all these different musicians, Dave Koz, Richard Elliot, and Basia, were completely new.”

Daisy, daughter of Mel Torme, worked afternoon drive at Adult Standards, Fabulous 690 until a format flip and ownership change in early 2006.

“I really fell into radio,” said Daisy, when interviewed for Los Angeles Radio People. By training, the daughter of Mel Torme is an actress. For years she has been a voiceover actress (ER, Dawson’s Creek, Girl Interrupted and Austin Powers: Goldmember. “I was not on the college radio station. I’m Shakespeare in the Park. I’m musical. I’m City of Angels. I’m Mack and Mabel. That’s what I am. But, I’m also Mel’s daughter. Pretty amazing he got me a job after he died. Let’s face it. Even if I were the most talented VO person in the world, I would never have gotten this job at KLAC if I wasn’t Mel’s daughter.”

She tells of an idyllic father/daughter relationship. “He was the most incredible dad and such a tremendous musician, arranger, and orchestator.” Even if young people are unaware of Mel Torme (he wrote the classic Christmas Song), Daisy’s mission is to tell all about him to all who will listen. Growing up in a home filled with entertainers, when did Daisy realize who her father was? “That is a difficult question to answer because everyone in the family was in show business. Mother was a British actress and my grandparents were all in the business. It is impossible to compare that experience with someone else’s situation.”

“My father worked very, very hard,” said a thoughtful daughter. “When he was ill, I never saw anyone fight so hard. He was an incredibly strong willed man.” Daisy and Mel were devoted to each other. “My dad would call me every single day, sometimes twice to check up on me. He was always overly protective of me, his little fragile daughter.”

Joe was the co-winner of the 1996 American League Manager of the Year award. He became the coach of the LA Dodgers until 2010. In early 2011 baseball commissioner Bud Selig appointed Joe the new executive vice president for baseball operations for Major League Baseball.

The colorful manager of the World Champion New York Yankees in 1996 was the color man for the California Angels and filed reports for KTLA/Channel 5. He was the first Yankee manager born (July 18, 1940) and raised in Brooklyn. He grew up playing baseball under the tutelage of his older brother Frank. The former catcher with the Milwaukee Braves and Philadelphia Phillies from 1956 to 1963 was the co-winner of the 1996 American League Manager of the Year award. He’s written a book, Joe Torre’s Ground Rules for Winners, where he reveals the twelve keys to his phenomenally successful management philosophy.

Other stations JESSE T ‘The Brown Beauty On Duty’ worked at: KHJ,KMGG,KCSN,KLAC,KNJO and stations just outside of L.A. KFXM,KGGI,KMEN,Q105,KACY.

He managed recording artists and negotiated contracts with Mac Daddy Records, Motown, Sunshine Records, and Arista Records. He has done many recurring roles in daytime tv in the 80’s such as Santa Barbara, Days Of Our Lives and General Hospital. He’s also had roles in Trapper John MD, Knight Rider, Hill Street Blues, Sanford and Son, What’s Happening Now, with film roles in the Shootist with John Wayne and other films check out his IMdb site.

Jesse has done thousands of voice overs in a 44 year broadcasting career that started at 14 years old at KLAC with Godfather Harry Newman.

He is the ceo/broker of WINWINWIN Group,Inc. specializing with 40 years of experience in Real Estate, Loans, and Notary Services, also a new business Importing and Wholesaling PPE masks, and owner of KTNT Radio and TV Network an on line podcast and social media radio and TV network.

Recently at KTNT Radio and TV NETWORK on The Power Of Voices Podcast/Live Social Media TV Broadcast out of Los Angeles. Doing afternoon drive full time 5-6 p.m. with The JESSE T Show (Daily Talk Show covering all topics and the ent. biz with L.A. Radio/TV Veteran Host #MEJESSET. Certified 12M Google viewers, 125K facebook viewers/shares/likes monthly, 90K viewers from various on line TV and Radio Networks, and 50K subscribers from 2015-2020. Currently revamping the show for a reboot in 2021 on several larger networks on line, cable, and possibly network TV utilizing ZOOM and YouTube as the live platforms.

Bernie was an integral part of Bill Drake’s close circle of social and professional friends. Bernie died on January 12, 2011, at the age of 79, following a bout with pneumonia. “Torres served an important role for Drake,” said Woody Goulart , who wrote the ultimate thesis on the Drake/Chenault Empire. “What we today would call a ‘handler’ for a celebrity, Torres was referred to by others as the administrative assistant and personal business manager to Drake. But, clearly, Torres was more than merely an employee. It seemed obvious to me that Torres was a trusted friend of Drake as well as someone who socialized with Drake after work as a confidant.” (Photo: Annie Van Bebber and Bernie Torres at Bill Drake’s 2008 memorial at the Little Brown Church in Studio City)

A 1968 True magazine article described the role Torres played: “Drake has built a wall around himself and Bernie Torres is its biggest brick. This is to keep record-promotion men and assorted hustlers from driving Drake to distraction. Drake is a night person who only rarely rises before noon. Part of his staff, including administrative assistant Bernie Torres, a stocky, good-looking type, comes to the house daily. Torres takes the phone calls, usually telling you Drake isn’t home. When he recognizes the name as that of someone Drake will talk to, he reverses his position and calls his boss to the phone.”

Luis is a veteran writer, documentary filmmaker and broadcast journalist. Now working as a freelance writer, he retired from KNX/CBS Radio after twenty-six years as a reporter, covering everything from politics to criminal court cases to the arts.

He is the recipient of the George Foster Peabody Award, the duPont Columbia Award, the Edward R. Murrow Award, nine Golden Mike Awards from the Radio and Television News Association of California and four Greater Los Angeles Press Club Awards, among many others.

Luis reported stories on assignment from Mexico, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Cuba. Recently he published his first book, a biography of educational reformer Vahac Mardirosian titled Doña Julia’s Children. The title is derived from Mardirosian’s experiences growing up as an Armenian-Mexican in the border city of Tijuana in the 1920s. He was a little boy when his mother died.

Poverty had the family by the throat. Young Vahac had a neighbor named Doña Julia and she took time to feed him and give him some care and comfort. “How can I repay this woman?” he says. “By devoting my life as an adult to helping other Doña Julia’s of the world.” That’s why he devoted himself to a life to compassion and caring, first as a Baptist minister and then as an educational reformer who helped poor immigrant parents work with the public schools in order to give their children better educational opportunities.

He left KNX in 1988 to work as a professor of journalism at California State University, Los Angeles and as a producer at KCET, the Los Angeles public television station. He returned to KNX/CBS Radio in 1991. He took early retirement in 2008. He is currently a freelance writer and adjunct professor of journalism at Los Angeles Mission College. The Golden Mike award winning newsman is a native of Los Angeles. Luis obtained his B.A. degree in 1976 from the University of California at Santa Barbara, where he majored in political-science.

Howard co-owned and taught at the Don Martin School of Broadcasting in Hollywood. He died February 1, 2008, of natural causes in Palm Springs. He was 89.

In 1965, Townsend and two cousins acquired the school, once considered the largest school of television and radio broadcasting from its founder. He taught radio and television to talk show host Don Imus, game show hosts Bob Eubanks , Tom Kennedy, and Jack Narz. He also taught legendary Boss Jock The Real Don Steele.

Townsend was the announcer and narrator on several programs in the golden age of radio and was a character actor on Space Patrol , a popular television show of the ’50s. When Townsend retired to Palm Springs, he played piano solo at various nightclubs.

Tritia is a veteran Southern California television journalist who has more than 30 years of experience in Los Angeles news media, much of it at KCBS/Channel 2.

In November 1994,Toyota was the only journalist to be granted an interview with Lance Ito, the presiding Judge of the 0J Simpson murder trial. Her longtime interest in Southern California’s ethnic diversity has resulted in numerous special series and reports. She visited South Korea to report on growth tensions between North and South Korea and its effect on Southern California’s large Korean community. Tritia has anchored locally since 1975.

She began her professional career at CBS. In 1970, she started at KNXNewsradio as a copy person. She was later named action reporter, serving as the listeners’ ombudswoman, as well as writer and producer of the segment.

In 1972, Toyota joined KNBC/Channel 4, as general assignment reporter. She was named weekend anchor in 1975, taking over the 5 p.m. and ll p.m. weekday broadcasts in 1978. Along with anchoring, Toyota headed the station’s election coverage and moderated public affairs programs. Toyota is a co-founder of the National Asian American Journalists Association.

For her efforts, she has received several Emmy, Golden Mike, Associated Press and Los Angeles Press Club awards. Tritia graduated from Oregon State University with a Bachelor of Science degree. There she was elected to the Dean’s List and to the Theta Sigma Pi, and the National Journalism Honorary. She received a Master of Arts in Journalism from UCLA. She is now an adjunct assistant professor in anthropology, Asian-American studies and the media at the University of California at Los Angeles.

Jill worked weekends at the all-Jazz station, KLON.

For most of the 2010s, Jill has been a member of the WHQT (HOT 105)-Miami family.

A native of Detroit, Jill’s career began as a South Beach gossip columnist which led to a career in radio and tv that has taken Jill to Los Angeles, New York, Atlanta and now back to Miami.

Following a stint in sales at KNX, in 1997 Don opened Malloy & Associates, a buying service and ad agency in Pasadena.

Originally from Pittsburgh, he was born Don Malloy in 1941. After Schenley High School he graduated from Roger Williams Junior College in 1962. He started out at WEHW-Windsor, Connecticut and went on to WPOP-Hartford and WNHC-New Haven. He came to Los Angeles to work at KGFJ. Don started the first minority-owned-and-operated school of broadcasting. He said his goal was “cultivating a student’s talent rather than merely cranking out a graduate. That may have sounded corny but that’s the way I was raised.” The school’s curriculum ranged from newscasting to copy writing. Since 1975, Don has also been pd/md and afternoon drive on Armed Forces Radio/TV Network. In 1991 Don became director of radio for S.I. Communications, a radio syndication company. In addition to his career in radio, he was the international editor of R&B Report, wrote many songs for Freddie Hubbard and was a music correspondent for German and Japanese publications. Following a stint in sales at KABC, Don has opened Malloy & Associates, an advertising agency in the San Fernando Valley.

Eric was a sports anchor at KFWB News 980. He died September 15, 2022, after a long battle with cancer.

Eric was the creator of the Charity Golf Online Guide, the Internet’s only clearinghouse for charity golf tournaments in Southern California. Eric was very active in the golf community, serving as Master of Ceremonies for more than 50 tournaments a year. “I joined KFWB soon after an unceremonious sacking at KABC Talkradio. After 15 years, I wasn’t even able to say good-bye when I was let go in the fall of 1996.” He did his farewell on the op-ed page of the LA Times.

Born in Detroit on March 7, 1951, Eric grew up in the San Fernando Valley and worked in Montana, Colorado Springs, Wichita, Kansas, WOKY-Milwaukee, WWL and WSGO-New Orleans and KSFO-San Francisco prior to starting in L.A. At KSFO he worked afternoon drive and was involved with the broadcasts of the Oakland A’s and the San Francisco 49’ers. Eric was part of the launch of RKO’s “American Overnight” in 1981. The launch was based on the overnight success of Larry King. He shared the six-hour talkfest with Ed Busch, who was hosting from Dallas. The program was heard on about 80 stations. In 1982 he went to KABC to work sports for the first time. However, because of his talk radio background he soon was the station’s #1 fill-in general talk host who proudly claims to have worked every weekday shift on the station, even doing fill-in work for psychologist Dr. Toni Grant. General manager George Green called him “a true radio renaissance man.”

Eric spent 12 seasons as a member of the Los Angeles Dodger radio broadcast team as the pre- and post-game host. He co-hosted KABC’s “SportsTalk” with Steve Edwards. He had several tv and theatrical credits, and was an active “Big Brother.”

Trammel , Charles: KGFJ, 1954-60. Charles died in 1983.

With a background mostly in sports media, in early summer of 2021, Premiere Network tapped Clay to join Buck Sexton as replacements for the Rush Limbaugh syndicated show.

Travis appeared on the first-ever linear sports gambling show, FOX BET LIVE on FS1. He also hosted the morning program “Outkick the Coverage with Clay Travis” on FOX Sports Radio. The author, radio host, lawyer and television personality has previously worked with FOX Sports as a regular contributor on former shows Fox Sports Live and Fox College Saturday. Travis runs the popular blog Outkick the Coverage, and prior to establishing the site in July 2011, the former attorney worked as a columnist for CBSSports.com and FanHouse and as an editor at Deadspin.

The controversial and often irreverent columnist has authored two bestselling books – Dixieland Delight and On Rocky Top — in addition to Man: The Book, an international bestseller in England, and Republicans Buy Sneakers Too: How the Left is Ruining Sports with Politics.

Travis was born and raised in Nashville. He earned a degree in history from George Washington University in 2001, where he also worked as a student basketball manager. Afterward, he graduated from Vanderbilt University Law School in 2004.

Adam became operations manager for KPAN in Hereford, Texas.

Adam Eskenazi-Treff spent the next 25 years in media/advertising, marketing and market research experience. Most recently, Adam served as senior account manager for Empanel Online, Inc., a major provider of online B2B and consumer sample on a global scale.

He’s now the founder/ceo of Survey Motive in Amarillo. Adam is an avid bird watcher and his greatest love is watching trains near his home in Hereford, Texas.

Born Larry Steinman, Larry was a second generation Angelino, growing up in Beverly Hills. His grandfather, a renowned artist who designed catalogs for major department stores in Los Angeles, arrived in L.A. from Europe in 1912. Larry died May 31, 2014, at the age of 70.

Larry attended UCLA, then started his career in the entertainment field as “Larry Tremaine,” a name given to him by Elvis Presley. Starting as a rock singer with his group Larry Tremaine & the Renegades, they later changed the group’s name to the Sunrays, which had a successful hit single, I Live for the Sun.

Larry was also a concert promoter and a disc jockey at KRLA.

In the late 60’s, he starred on tv as the host of a nationally syndicated rock ‘n roll dance party show called Casino Royal Fun Circus, where he discovered and promoted artists. He played a key part in the careers of The Beach Boys, Sonny & Cher, Herb Albert and the Tijuana Brass, Bobby Fuller and others. He also hosted Disneyland’s Saturday night dance party.

In 1969, Larry moved to Europe for two years. While in Europe, Larry, with his vast knowledge of radio and television broadcasting, became a partner in “Pirate Radio,” known around the world to this day as “Radio Caroline” and “Radio Nordsea,” which broadcast from a ship off the coast of England and Holland.

Returning to America, Larry entered the family import/export business and worked with his dad, a designer who had the license for Raggedy Ann and Andy products, among thousands of other novelty items, which were made in their factories in the Orient. In the 80’s, Larry specialized in the “art” branch of the family business and owned the Carol Lawrence Fine Art Galleries in Beverly Hills. He was soon elected president of the Beverly Hills Art Gallery Association.

Talaya was the midday dj at “the Wave” for over 30 years and she left in April 2019. She’s now with the Watercolors channel at SiriusXM.

“Well, I am Talaya. My Dad gave me this name which I love, although can be a bit difficult for many to pronounce. Just think papaya or jambalaya and you’ve got it. I have been in radio since the previous century! Celebrating my 31st year with The Wave (go ahead and do the math) first and foremost I am grateful to you the listener, for making my job a breeze.

One of the reasons I got into radio was knowing that music brings the world together and that, in itself gives me much joy. Plus singing in a band and waiting for the club owner to pay you at 3 a.m. just was no fun while radio gave me much better hours and a solid paycheck.

I am from the beautiful state of New Mexico and moved to San Francisco to attend San Francisco State University to study Broadcasting after volunteering for a few years in college radio. It took me getting away from New Mexico to be able to appreciate its pure unadulterated charm. Living in the amazing city of San Francisco I was able to get my dream job at radio station KRE in Berkeley playing Jazz and Latin Jazz. Format got tweaked a bit and call letters were changed to KBLX “The Quiet Storm” and I was offered the full-time shift during the midday. Success was big and bold and I was offered the same gig, but here in The City of Angels at KUTE which was changing to “The Quiet Storm”.

Following that I worked briefly at KNX/fm, K-Ocean and eventually here at “The Wave.” I also have a small line of handmade jewelry of which I call Talaya Designs. My husband and I have two adult children and five grandchildren (googie heads) and my family keeps me grounded, because being On the Air on a daily basis can easily put me in the clouds and not sure I need to stay there at this point of my life. Radio? I love it!” (from the KTWV website)

Peter was hired at KGFJ the day John F. Kennedy was shot. He came to the Southland from KUDL and WHB-Kansas City and WMGM-New York where he was known as “The Curly Headed Kid in the Third Row.”

When interviewed for Los Angeles Radio People, he was asked how he got the moniker? “I was born in Port Chester, New York on June 11, 1926, and my father was a sales executive with Forbes magazine. He took a bunch of his friends to the hospital after I was born. As they looked through the window in the maternity ward, he pointed to the curly headed kid in the third row and it just stuck.”

New owners arrived at KGFJ in 1964, a year after Peter arrived. “I got a letter from the owner saying they were letting me go because they have to have an all-black sound. I took the letter to my lawyer and we ended up winning a fair, but not great settlement. I invested the money into a series of topless beer bars in the Southland, one was called ‘Pussy Cat A Go-Go’ and there was another in ‘Torrance’. Peter left the beer bar business and has been involved in many endeavors. His most successful venture was a home exercise device called Slim Gym that he advertised on tv. He said the Slim Gym had ” a lot of sparkle and charisma.”

His career gained national attention with his 1959 record breaking 201 hour wakeathon(working on the radio non-stop without sleep to benefit the March of Dimes). For much of the stunt, he sat in a glass booth in Times Square. After a few days he began to hallucinate, and for the last 66 hours the observing scientists and doctors gave him drugs to help him stay awake.

When the payola scandal exploded in the early 1960s, Peter was swept up in the frenzy and was charged with accepting $36,000 in bribes. Despite his claim that he “never took a dime from anyone,” he was found guilty on a charge of commercial bribery, receiving a $500 fine and a six-month suspended sentence.

Tripp died January 31, 2000, at the age of 73, following a stroke. He was married four times.

Blake joined the KFI news department from two years at KXL-Portland.

“As a Claremont kid, I grew up listening to KFI in the backseat of my grandma’s van. My journey doing what I call the ‘Market Climb’ brought to places like Rapid City, South Dakota, Fresno, and most recently Portlan. You can find me on most of my off days hiking, fishing or trying a new restaurant.”

Honest John Trotter, born in Ft. Smith, Arkansas, was one of the prominent air personalities on Chicago’s Country radio station WJJD.

He began his work in radio at a $13.50 weekly salary as announcer and janitor. In 1946, he took up radio again by voicing three lines on his sister’s radio show. By 1950, John was doing three shows a day for three different stations in Ft. Smith: KFPW, KWHN & KFSA. He moved to Tulsa to join KRMG, and he later joined KAKC where Chris Lane was program director.

Trotter’s next move was to KABC in Hollywood as program director in 1955. There he earned fame in 1958 when he initiated the first helicopter traffic reports Trotter was also the “voice” on Walt Disney Presents for two years. While working for station KILT in Houston, Trotter threw his hat in the ring as candidate for mayor. Although he didn’t win, the race was so close that a recount was necessary. This was the source of the nickname “Honest John,” which stuck with him for the rest of his career.. John’s next stop was San Francisco station KEWB.

In 1965, friends George Dubinetz and Chris Lane urged him to sign with station WJJD, where Lane was now program director. Trotter won the Gavin Award that year, and again in 1967. In 1966 John received a letter from President Johnson commenting on a record Trotter made called I’m a Square. After several years in Chicago, Honest John moved to station KBOX in Dallas and retired to Abilene,in 1974. He passed away on May 19, 1976. John Trotter was inducted into the Country Music DJ Hall of Fame in 1996.

Born in Blythe, in 1945, Earl arrived in Southern California as pd of KDAY from KDWB-Minneapolis. One of his early stations was KFIF-Tucson. He called himself “Horrible Head.”

Earl went on to be one of the founders of L.A.B. or the KIIS broadcast school.

In early 2005, Earl exited as the Pacific Northwest cluster manager for Crawford Broadcasting. He was executive director of the Kansas City Automotive Museum and writer of fun stuff, including The Pink Panther tv shows. Read his UERT blog posts here.

Tammy left all-News KFWB following a format flip in early fall of 2009. She joined KPCC in the summer of 2011 and left in early 2014, but continues to do fill-in. In the summer of 2022, Tammy became an anchor at KABC.

Tammy was news director for Cameron Broadcasting and news director for the nationally syndicated show Animal Radio. She is also the news narrator for online content provider Wochit.

Tammy continues her work as professor of Broadcasting at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut and gm of the campus radio stations, 90.1/fm Mt Rock (KSAK) and Audio8ball.com. She’s now co-hosting a podcast with Tim Piper.

Bud was a longtime sports columnist for a number of L.A. newspapers and former talk show host at KABC, KWIZ and KMPC in the 1970s and 80s. Bud, a native of Saskatoon, Alberta, Canada, started his career in 1967 with “Press Box” on KTLA/Channel 5 with Dick Enberg, Bud Furillo and Tom Harmon . Bud died August 24, 2005, at the age of 80.

During the 1972 season, Bud was the color man for Los Angeles Sharks hockey team. In 1974, he hosted “SportsTalk” on KABC. During the mid-1970s, Bud hosted the pre-game and halftime activities at USC and Raiders games. In the spring of 1981, Bud started reporting sports commentary on KMPC’s morning drive show with Robert W. Morgan . While at KMPC he hosted “Rams Report” and the pre-game show for the Angels. In 1985 he purchased KIOT-Barstow and four years later put KXXZ-Barstow on the air. “It was fun running a radio station, but just too much paper work with the FCC, lawyers and the tax man,” confessed Tucker when interviewed for Los Angeles Radio People . “Honestly, I was trying to accomplish the same thing on radio as I did in print,” Tucker said.

“Most of the sports shows on in L.A. back in the 1970s were just really, really dull. I thought it would liven things up to give the fans a role in the show. Guess I was right, because what I was doing back then with the most primitive technology you can imagine is exactly what Jim Rome does now. Only thing is, he’s getting paid a hell of a lot more than what I was bringing home.”

LA Times media writer Larry Stewart described Tucker as a lovable Buddy Hackett look-a-like. Stewart said Tucker once told a young sportswriter, who was wearing a new plaid sports jacket he was quite proud of: “Nice jacket. Where did you get the material for it, from a Holiday Inn bedspread?”

Skip was part of Metro Traffic for all-News, KNX. Skip is working as a negotiation consultant and teaching negotiation seminars for Karrass.

Since 2009, Skip has been president of Business Train Seminars, conducting business seminars, workshops and speeches including negotiation, sales, purchasing and motivational.

Roy, aka Roy of Hollywood, hosted KPFK’s overnight “Something’s Happening” for 50 of the station’s 64 years on the air, with a mix of spirituality, alternative health care, old time radio and political analysis and commentary, according to ChangeLinks.org. At 84, Roy passed away on April 20, 2023, in the company of his wife “Lady Di” Diane Schmidt after an illness and hospitalization. Roy produced the Alan Watts recordings that helped popularize Buddhism to Western audiences.

“He had literally devoted his life and career to public radio at Pacifica, earning very little money, but great satisfaction in knowing he was providing news, information, and entertainment that could not be found anywhere else on the dial,” emailed colleague Michael Benner. “Roy was a kind and loving, spiritually-oriented progressive activist, working tirelessly for peace and social justice.”

Roy was born in Los Angeles, and earned a master’s degree in social anthropology from UCLA in 1967.

Born Art Ferguson, Charlie grew up in Nebraska, where he started on the radio at age 16. He died February 19, 2016, at the age of 71.

When writing my Los Angeles Radio People books, readers were asked to vote for their favorite personalities in the last 50 years. Tuna made the Top 10.

Charlie started noon-to-three on KHJ and moved to mornings in 1970 when Robert W. Morgan left for Chicago. He was named rock dj of the year in 1970 by the LA Times. In 1972, Charlie went to KCBQ-San Diego, commuting from his home in Tarzana because of contract restrictions imposed after he quit KHJ. He was the first morning personality on KROQ/AM.

In 1973, Charlie was very active with numerous radio specials through his Alan/Tuna Production company. That same year, he joined KKDJ, becoming pd in 1975. When KIIS AM/FM debuted on October 1, 1975, Charlie was the first morning man and pd of both stations. He hosted “Record Report,” a syndicated series. In 1977, Charlie replaced Charlie Van Dyke at KHJ. He was one of the hosts on KTLA/Chanel 5’s Calendar show. In 1990, Charlie was the first KHJ “Boss Jock” to receive a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He teamed briefly with Dean Goss when KODJ debuted in 1990.

On September 10, 1993, KCBS became “Arrow 93” and Charlie was gone. Within a month Charlie started on all-Sports KMPC as the morning anchor. He was active in Voice of America and AFRTS for decades. He appeared in the Universal movie Rollercoaster and was the announcer on numerous tv shows including The Mike Douglas Show and Scrabble. In a 1993 Times interview, Charlie reminisced, “I’m much more regimented than I’ve ever been. It was a lot more unstructured then, and, to be honest, a lot more fun. Now there are a lot more bankers and accountants in it, but you adapt.” Charlie worked as 1994 summer fill-in on KABC and KMPC. In 1994, he moved to mornings at Orange County Country KIKF, then to KLAC, where he remained until May 2000, when he moved to mornings at KBIG. He continued an active voiceover career and hosted the syndicated “Oldies Calendar” and was the morning personality on “The Music of Your Life.”

Charlie was inducted into the Nebraska Radio Hall of Fame in 1999.

Fran worked as senior copywriter for iHeartMedia, Los Angeles. Prior to that she worked as a copywriter for Salem Communications. She is a voice actress and Audie nominated audiobook narrator. She is also a freelance writer with stories published in the Los Angeles Times and the Pittsburgh Post Gazette.

Fran was sidekick/news reporter and traffic reporter in morning drive on KLAC with Charlie Tuna. She was also a tv traffic reporter for Channel 4/KNBC. Prior to that she did traffic reports on KABC’s “Ken & Barkley Show.”

Fran’s career in radio began in 1986 at LA Networks, a traffic operation and she’s done traffic and news for numerous stations including, KCRW, KBIG, KFWB, KLON, KLIT, KGGI, KMEN, KJLH, KAVS, etc. Fran worked in television news prior to that, as a writer and producer for KHJ/Channel 9 and KCOP/Channel 13. She holds a Professional Designation in journalism from UCLA and a B.S. in education from Clarion University of Pennsylvania.

Bob flew over the Southland freeways reporting traffic and breaking stories for a variety of tv and radio stations. Born on June 8, 1960, Bob was one of the first to use a helicopter to cover breaking news, and the first to televise a high-speed police chase. Bob covered the 1992 LA riots, filming the brutal attack on Reginald Denny. Two years later he was one of the first to broadcast OJ Simpson’s slow-speed Bronco chase.

His 23-year marriage to Marika Gerrard came to an end in 2003. (He is the father of NBC’s Katy Tur). A decade later, Tur publicly came out as transgender and a year later had gender reassignment surgery.

Reflecting on her transition in a 2017 interview, Tur stated, “What I have is not political. It’s a medical condition that was treated. I’m cured. I’m done. It’s not a mental illness. There are differences in the brain.” (Wikipedia)

Zoey Tur

The contagious laugh is unmistakable. Richard was a outstanding sidekick to some many outstanding LARP. Richard left Metro/Shadow Traffic in February 2007 after 22 years, but returned later in the year.

“I’ve always loved radio, listening to all the greats like Dick Whittinghill, Lohman & Barkley, Dave Hull and others. I listened to and admired the great Robert W. Morgan. As a kid in the ’60s, I would walk all around my neighborhood with a small transistor radio glued to my ear, listening to Robert and all of the Boss Jocks on KHJ. Little did I know that I would be working with Robert W. 25 years later.”

Richard started his radio career while at CSUN, working at KGIL-AM/94.3 “Magic” FM in the San Fernando Valley. “At the same time, I got my first on-air gig at the campus station, KCSN, spinning old-time Country records on actual turntables! I was paid $5 an hour as a student announcer.” In 1988 he joined Metro Traffic and started doing fill-in at KMPC on the Robert W. Morgan Show. “I showed up on the first day and sat down in the traffic booth minutes before the show began. Robert W. breezed in, sat down, glanced at me and, even though he’d never heard of me or even knew who I was, said over the intercom, ‘I want you to feel free to join-in during the show. I’ll have your microphone up at all times, and you should laugh and react and become part of the conversation.

“I was stunned! I was fully expecting to only do some quick traffic updates and sit quietly on the sidelines. But he had me join in right away. We seemed to click, and during that two-week fill-in assignment, he treated me like I’d been on his show for years.” This was the start of a 7-year on-air relationship at KMPC followed by KRTH. “I joined the ‘Good Morgan’ team full-time as Robert’s traffic reporter/sidekick/chief gag writer and enjoyed being a part of a great show on two heritage radio stations. The experience of being at the elbow of the greatest morning personality in radio every day is something I’ll always treasure..”

Barry worked weekend sports at KNX and for a number of Ventura County stations. The longtime sports broadcaster and Golden Mike recipient died September 19, 2017. He was 60 years old. Barry was known in Los Angeles as a part-timer with Shadow and MetroBroadcasting, heard on all-news KFWB and KNX. He had a long run with KVEN / KHAY-Ventura as the station’s sports director and hosting weekend call-in shows, along with a time at KVTA. Barry was awarded a Golden Mike in 1992 for his KVEN sports commentary.

Born in Whittier, Barry grew up in Garden Grove. He earned a bachelor’s degree in communications from Cal State Fullerton in 1981. Barry’s first job in radio was in the early 1980s, working the news beat at KDES-Palm Springs. “At KDES I learned so much under the man I call Mr. Golden Mike Palm Springs, Mike Meenan.”

When he was interviewed for Los Angeles Radio People, Barry offered some thoughts about sports broadcasting. “There is no question that Vin Scully is the voice of Southern California baseball. As the sports director for a Dodger network affiliate, I feel cheated now because Vinny only does two innings a game on radio, at best. But as a broadcast team, there was none better than Dick Enberg and Don Drysdale in the 70s on KMPC. They made an Angel team that was especially bad on the field still fun to listen to regardless.”

Barry experienced various health issues over the years. In 2006, his time at KVEN was interrupted due to illness, though he would eventually return to the station. As recently as year before his death, Barry spent time in a convalescent home, recovering from a knee ailment.

Barry also used the name Brad Wallace while dispensing traffic reports for various stations.

Barry was Brian Wilson’s second cousin who is credited with naming the Beach Boys album Smiley Smile, which was released on September 18, 1967, according to Cory Sabblut-Baker.

Ken died June 26, 2009. He was 61.

In 2009, Ken bylined a piece for LARadio.com on ‘The Great KSLY Flood of 1969’. After his radio career, he moved into television as an audio mixer for many network sitcoms, including Three’s Company, One Day At A Time, and All In The Family, Dodgers telecasts, People’s Court, and hundreds of other shows. He was also an award-winning editor/producer for the “Mr. Rock ‘N Roll” segment on KTTV’s Channel 11 News, and co-produced the Fox documentary Marilyn Monroe: Something’s Got To Give.

Born and raised in Santa Barbara, Turner became a trusted resource for many in the music industry. Turner paved the way for many young audiophiles and put his knowledge of music and recording into a production career in radio and video journalism, creating such series as Backbeat and producing a weekly music news show for Fox Television in Los Angeles. He produced music videos for L.A. bands and was respected by many of the music industry decision makers. A consummate professional, Turner inspired all he worked with to be their best and brought a sense of wonder and joy to all he did. For his friends and colleagues who had the honor of working with him, there is no one who matched his wit, knowledge and commitment to his craft.

“Stunned to read that Mary Turner has died,” wrote Charlie Van Dyke on her passing. She died May 9, 2023. “We met in San Francisco when I was at KFRC and she was at KSAN” continued Charlie. “Wonderful friendship and remarkable lady.”

Ace Young worked with Mary at KMET and wrote: “The news has hit me like a ton of bricks. “Mary was the best. So much can be said of her career; her success; her life with husband, and recently passed, Norm Pattiz. I am grief stricken!”

“One of the most beautiful women on the radio in the 70’s was my radio hero and she just left this earthly plane,” wrote Randy Thomas on Facebook. “She was one of the first women I had ever heard on the radio. She was the queeen of LA Rock radio. KMET was the station where “Turner the burner” played the best music and the biggest rock stars on the planet sat down to talk to her about their music and their love of the rock and roll lifestyle.

In the past 50 years, there are half dozen formats that continue to be idolized and end up in a special place in the history of LARadio. KMET, “the Mighty Met,” was one of those stations that caught lightning in a bottle and complemented the turbulent times of unrest, free speech and free love.

The Burner, Mary Turner, arrived at KMET in June of 1972 and left on the eve of her 10th year with the “Mighty Met.” Mary reflected on her early radio days: “It was an exciting time back then, because you didn’t operate under any rules. You could play anything you wanted, say anything you wanted and who cared? FM at that time was a joke, especially to Top 40 people. We were the hippies, and they were the stars.” On being a successful female: “I think being a woman helped more than anything else. The time was right for it, and I happened to be in the right place at the right time.”

In the early 1980s, Mary married to Norm Pattiz , founder and chairman of Westwood One. In the early 1990s, she eventually came to terms with a substance abuse problem, and took steps to get clean and sober. Mary became a UCLA-certified drug and alcohol counselor and earned a Ph.D. in clinical psychology.

Mary became the chairwoman of the Betty Ford Center at Eisenhower Hospital in Rancho Mirage. This was a departure for the 28-year-old facility that had been led by a member of the Ford family up until this point of Mary taking over.

Sam Bellamy was Mary’s boss at KMET. The program director remembered: “When I arrived at KMET in 1974, Mary was already there paving the way for women in radio. We became fast friends and partners in crime, based a lot on our shared sense of humor and intense desire to succeed.”

Sam continued: “I learned very quickly that Mary would set the bar high for aspiring air personalities and radio executives alike, especially in the highly competitive L.A. market. Before Oprah and others started preaching it, Mary was living the purpose-driven life. Back in the early 70’s, Mary had set goals for herself and she kept building on, and and reaching for, those goals – always mindful of inspiring and teaching others along the way.”

Born in Baltimore in 1947, Mary was a tv/radio major at Indiana University in Bloomington. She wanted to be a television director and left for San Francisco after graduation. She got a local phone book and started dialing tv stations. Her first industry job was in traffic at Metromedia’s KNEW/TV. She listened to KSAN and was influenced by the music and lifestyle of the “underground station,” resulting in stints at ABC’s KSFX and KSAN.

Mary worked as an engineer for the legendary Tom Donahue before graduating to a weekend shift. Mary was a strong female voice for five years in the San Francisco area before coming to Los Angeles. Her real increased exposure began with the taping of “Off The Record” for Westwood One, which was heard by an estimated 25 million listeners. Her second venture was the syndicated “Rock ‘n’ Roll Never Forgets.”

When she left KMET, Mary did a daily program on Armed Forces Radio/TV, worked for Canada’s CHUM group and “Music in the Air,” a pre-recorded airline program on TWA. Her photo appeared in a 1981 edition of Oui Magazine as part of an article on “Ladies of the Airwaves.”

Thomas is teaching broadcasting and has a voiceover career. He worked under various names – Chase Turner and Tommy Teeh – while in the Southland.

He was born in Detroit and moved to New York when he was 8. “New York was an amusement park that people lived in. I have yet to have as much fun with as many people.” As a teen he moved to South Central Los Angeles. He graduated from Air University in Denver with a BA in communications/journalistic photography. He served in the US Air Force as a Still Photographic Specialist. Following two years at the Don Martin School of Communication, Thomas joined KFOX in Redondo Beach.

When he left the Southland in 1991, Thomas joined KQPT-Sacramento. “I left L.A. beat up, battered and bruised. It was mostly my ego. I taught radio at Columbia College and worked for a newspaper. An offer from Greg Mack, now a station owner, took Thomas to KTTA-Fresno. “The station was just like I’d hoped. A start-up with strong major players. We cooked and we served.” KTTA folded shortly after its first record year “due to owner disputes.” Back to Sacramento where he worked KSFM 102 as a morning news guy and weekends. He built KBMB from scratch. It was first true Urban station in that region. Thomas closed their initial deal with ABC Network and hired all its original personnel, according to colleagues.

Pete, former program director and general manager at KNJO-Thousand Oaks (now ‘Playlist 92.7/fm’), is a member of the Thousand Oaks Planning Commission. He’s been active in local politics for a number of years, serving as president of the Rotary Club Foundation and chairman emeritus of the Conejo Valley Chamber of Commerce.

Pete was born in Long Beach and as a military kid he grew up in New Mexico, Hawaii, Mississippi and California. Pete started his broadcasting career at WSSO-Starkville, Mississippi. “I fell in love with radio when I was a kid listening to the Boss Jocks of 93/ KHJ and, of course, the alternative side with the Mighty Met [KMET]. Jim Ladd encouraged me to stick with radio while I was working for the college station at Mississippi State University.” Pete also worked at: KGAB, KSRF, KAAP, and KPLS.

Pete founded a production company that specializes in creating marketing solutions with professional audio for telecommunication and web applications called “Phone On Hold Marketing Systems.”

Leeann joined Bill Reiter at KLAC for a midday sports talk show in late 2014. She later co-hosted a new show with Fred Roggin. Leeann left the all-Sports station in early 2017. In February 2017, Leeann joined Doug McIntyre at KABC, as news anchor. Following a shuffle of personalities in early 2019, Leeann joined Dr. Drew for the midday show. By the time 2019 was over, the live programming was eliminated from KABC and Leeann was gone.

She has been on tv shows including: Hannity, Dr. Drew, Red Eye, and Good Day L.A. Tweeden was formerly co-host of UFC Tonight on FOX SPORTS, was co-anchor of Good Day L.A. and developed a national profile as a cast member of FSN’s The Best Damn Sports Show Period. She was also host of NBC’s National Heads-Up Poker Championship and the popular late night show, Poker After Dark.

In 2017, with the #MeToo movement just getting started, Leeann posted on the KABC website that Senator and former KTLK (1150AM) Talk show host Al Franken kissed and groped her without her consent. “Franken had written some skits for the show and brought props and costumes to go along with them,” Leeann wrote. “Like many USO shows before and since, the skits were full of sexual innuendo geared toward a young, male audience. As a tv host and sports broadcaster, as well as a model familiar to the audience from the covers of FHM, Maxim and Playboy, I was only expecting to emcee and introduce the acts, but Franken said he had written a part for me that he thought would be funny, and I agreed to play along. “When I saw the script, Franken had written a moment when his character comes at me for a ‘kiss’. I suspected what he was after, but I figured I could turn my head at the last minute, or put my hand over his mouth, to get more laughs from the crowd. Franken and I were alone backstage going over our lines one last time. He said to me, “We need to rehearse the kiss.” I laughed and ignored him. Then he said it again. I said something like, “Relax Al, this isn’t SNL…we don’t need to rehearse the kiss.” “He continued to insist, and I was beginning to get uncomfortable. He repeated that actors really need to rehearse everything and that we must practice the kiss. I said ‘OK’ so he would stop badgering me. We did the line leading up to the kiss and then he came at me, put his hand on the back of my head, mashed his lips against mine and aggressively stuck his tongue in my mouth. I immediately pushed him away with both of my hands against his chest and told him if he ever did that to me again I wouldn’t be so nice about it the next time. I walked away.”

Chuck is program director for the Salem/LA cluster.

Chuck was the host of “The Game Show” during its brief programming run on KFI. When he left the Southland he headed for Nashville to program A/C WLAC/fm. Then opportunity took him to the Northwest as program director at KXL-Portland (“Star 95.5 “). In the fall of 1995 he was laid off in a reorganization and felt “God was leading me into Christian Radio, that’s where He wanted me.”

Chuck joined Salem Communications at Christian KPDQ-Portland. In the summer of 2000, Chuck launched Salem’s new outlet, KFSH, “The Fish.”

Donn was the original Boss Radio weekender who worked with Ron Jacobs at KMEN.

After a few weeks at “Boss Radio,” Donn returned to Hawaii and ran Commercial Recording for 35 years.

He’s currently an announcer on K-MOZART.

On the Los Angeles radio scene since 1981, Nick’s introduction to jazz came at Nick’s first radio job, in 1969, at KOOL-AM/Phoenix, when the all-night dj turned him on to his “secret stash” of jazz albums that were for use only after midnight. That and an association with Phoenix jazz radio personality Herb Johnson(“Mr. J”) cinched his interest in America’s true art form. Joining KKGO/fm in 1983, Nick then worked with such radio legends Chuck Niles, Jim Gosa and Sam Fields. Says Nick, “These men introduced me to the jazz greats and I’ve been a fan ever since. I am truly blessed to have worked with some on the best people in radio. After 16 years in classical music, I am grateful for the opportunity to get back to jazz here at 88.1”

Tyler, Pat: KWIZ. Pat lives in the Midwest.

Randy works afternoons as part of the Jeff & Randi Show on KLove/EMF/K-Love Radio.

An upstate New York radio personality for close to 30 years, Randi has shared many offbeat characters and experiences about her pathetically funny childhood growing up in Schenectady, New York. She has genuinely loved the instant connect made with listeners and friends who share the same common threads, seeing firsthand how sharing & laughing together is the best therapy in the world. “We are all so much more alike than we are different!,” she said in her bio at the “Fish.”

In addition to being a big Chef Ramsey wanna be – food is fellowship, right? – Randi also suffers from blocks of writing which sounds way better than writers block but only half as productive. She is currently doing what LA people do, screen-writing her first collection of humor essays about growing up in upper, lower class, middle America. There’s no better place to live than fabulous, sunny SoCal and no better place to chase your dreams. “God would never put a dream on your heart too big to accomplish when it’s His strength and grace that will guide you to it and through it. You may not think you can do it – but God can!”:) “To encourage, uplift, laugh and cheer lead is just part of my DNA – Basically if you can find something wrong with it, I can find something right with it…or at least something to laugh at!:)”

Ed joined KABC for afternoon drive from WTKS-Orlando in late 1997. He now broadcasts daily at noon on Florida Man Radio.

He began as a talk host in 1982 working in Chicago, New Orleans, Atlanta and Pittsburgh.

Ed grew up in New York and was influenced by talk host, Bob Grant. He is a graduate of St. John’s University in New York with a degree in journalism. A few months after joining afternoon drive at KABC, the station let him go on February 9, 1998, his 42nd birthday. He was told that his style was not compatible with the station’s image.

Ed joined evenings at “Real Radio,” KLSX in the spring of 1998 and left a year later for Detroit. His show eventually dropped out of syndication. Ed is not cookie cutter talk radio. His provocative curiosity, ability to instantly connect with audiences, often with laugh out loud humor, leads to questions they have never been asked before on any and every topic!

In addition to hosting his radio show, Ed performs stand up comedy, appears on network tv as a commentator and as a MC at Gala Events. He was mentored by Larry King in the 80’s. Called a “Shock Jock” by Hollywood’s Variety in the 90’s, and an “Arthur Godfrey” in the Detroit Free Press in the 2000’s.

Ed was honored with an UPI Journalism Award, listing on TALKERS Magazine Heavy 100 Hosts, and Radio Hall of Fame recognition.

Tyra Dennis, better known as “Tyralucia,” was born and raised in Los Angeles and has always been drawn to the stage by her talents: singing, composing music, playing the piano (as well as other various instruments), acting and writing. She joined KKJZ in the spring of 2021 for morning drive.

Her career launched in 2003 when she was discovered by her high school band teacher. While still in high school, Tyra began performing with musical legends such as Chaka Kahn, Stevie Wonder, and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame member Jackson Browne. In 2012, Tyra launched Music Mayhem — a full-service entertainment company. She performed at The Playboy Jazz Festival.

One of the most amazin stories in the music business. From music supervisor in the film business with his breakthrough performances in Father of the Bride and Father of the Bride II, Steve reinvented and re-popularized classic pop standards for a modern-day audience. He produced hits for Grammy-winning artists ranging from Linda Ronstadt and Aaron Neville, to Rod Stewart and Diana Ross. And on his own, Steve himself has sold hundreds of thousands of albums and gained a passionate following all over the world.

Steve hosts afternoon drive at KKJZ (K-JAZZ).

At the request of the Sinatra family, he reprised that performance at Carnegie Hall. This is one of the rare times the family has reached into the vault of original Sinatra arrangements to share them with another artist. In 2005, after the passing of the legendary Bobby Short, Steve was asked by New York City’s Café Carlyle to take over their revered Holiday Season of November and December, which Mr. Short had not missed for 36 years.

As an artist, all 9 of his American Standards albums have achieved top 10 status on Billboard’s Jazz charts, 7 of which have achieved top 5, and his first album A New Standard was amongst the best selling jazz albums for over 5 years. His voice has been featured on television and in numerous movies. As a music supervisor and music producer for film and tv, Tyrell has worked with such distinguished directors as Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, Nancy Meyers, Steven Soderbergh, Hugh Wilson, and Charles Shyer.