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Benny Martinez dead at 66

michael hagerty

michael hagerty

(Moderators: In line with a conversation we had a year ago about jocks who either were prominent in a market or in this case, spent their entire careers there, I'm cross-posting this here. Many people don't read "In Memoriam".)

Benny Martinez died January 3, 2023 at age 66 from a diabetes-related illness. Benny was all over the L.A. radio dial, KDAY and KIIS-AM in the 70s, KUTE, KFI, KWST, KHTZ and KIIS-FM in the 80s, KCBS-FM, KRTH, and KIBB in the 90s and KCMG and back to KRTH in the 2000s. Don Barrett's LA Radio site says Benny worked as car salesman after his last radio gig.
 
Sorry to hear this. I just joined a KFI fan Facebook page which featured an ad for Benny as the Saturday night dj in the 80s. I met Mr. Martinez once at a KIIS-FM Weekend Warmup Party at The Cattleman restaurant in Hacienda Heights in 1985. RIP.
 
I worked in radio for the better part of 50 years, retiring in 2015. During my times on the beach I did various kinds of non-radio work because I needed to be around other humans, make a few bucks or learn about things I knew about and wanted to know more. Those were brief but important times for me. It helped me to understand and relate to what people in the general population were thinking. When I'd go back on the air I felt my work had improved because I could better relate to our listeners.
Oh, and a good feeling of having done something useful at the end of the day is uplifting at any job.
... Just my $.02.

Bob Gowa
 
DavidEduardo said:
That is just as sad as John Mac Flanagan's last jobs.
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Why does this have to be "sad?" Radio has been gasping for air for 20 years, thanks to automation and cost-cutting in general, leaving fewer jobs than ever, and it was competitive, to begin with. Every day we are/were allowed to work on the air is a gift, but people have to make a living, and certainly are allowed to have other interests or explore other "real world" jobs. Most DJ's and reporters didn't become huge 6-figure celebs, so there are probably more former radio folks who work or have worked non-industry jobs, even simultaneously, than people even realize.
 
radio128 said:
Sorry to hear this. I just joined a KFI fan Facebook page which featured an ad for Benny as the Saturday night dj in the 80s. I met Mr. Martinez once at a KIIS-FM Weekend Warmup Party at The Cattleman restaurant in Hacienda Heights in 1985. RIP.
Click to expand...
Me as well. Had the privilege of sharing mutual friends with him and even met him at dinner one evening. Class act.
 
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