There
was a time when AM ruled the airwaves. And in those days
570 KLAC was consistently one of the highest rated stations
in town. It's Country format drew some of the brightest
talent in the market to the station over the years. But
like so many other AM dinosaurs whose best days were now
behind it like the setting sun, KLAC withered off slowly
to no man's land, ratings-wise. It's primary selling point
when I was there beginning in 1991 was being the home of
the LA Lakers.
Malrite
had inherited the station years before from Metroplex. The
former also owned KZLA on FM where Country music from today's
artists resided. Logically, if KLAC were to continue playing
music at all, it would be the music that had made the station
famous years before. Hence the birth of 570 Classic Country
KLAC with the 'Greatest Country Hits of All Time'.
For
me KLAC was a ton of fun to work at. Firstly, in terms of
the on air presentation, it was a legitimate Oldies station
that just happened to play a different library than most
(though crossover artists like Elvis, Ricky Nelson and other
pioneers were shared with Top 40 Oldies outlets elsewhere
in the market). Secondly, having played many of these same
Country songs while they were current records earlier in
my career at both KIX 106
and WMZQ in Washington, I had
a keen familiarity with them. Lastly, when 66
WNBC in New York finally gave up the ghost, I never
thought I'd wind up on an AM station playing music again.
Ironically
I was first heard on the station doing traffic reports every
afternoon. Like 66 WNBC, KLAC
was heavily personality driven. Program Director and afternoon
man, Gene Bridges wanted a sidekick to interact with him
in doing bits during his show. Having me there to do the
traffic was a convenient excuse to wear two hats (those
would be Stetsons, son!). In addition to my daily afternoon
appearances, I also pulled a weekend shift as well as periodic
fill in utility air work during the week as needed.
This
tape was from early in 1992. Radio historians will note
the traffic chick heard on this tape with me (and playing
along with a bit) was Christine Davis who would go on to
be better known as Krickett Davis and with whom I would
go on to work with again at STAR
98.7 in LA and yet again at the Westwood One Radio Network's
'70's satellite format.
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