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A New Beginning

John:
Here's the story on Jay Stone:

---Michael Hagerty

Honolulu Star-Bulletin
TheBuzz

BY ERIKA ENGLE
Wednesday, October 17, 2001

RADIO LOSES VETERAN VOICE JAY STONE

Former "Oldies 107.9" (KGMZ-FM) morning man Jay Stone has been identified as the lone occupant of a car that went out of control and overturned Monday afternoon (October 15, 2001) in Hawaii Kai (Honolulu, HI).

Longtime friend and some-time employer Austin Vali, vice president of Cox Radio Hawaii, said he was contacted by the medical examiner's office, which was seeking next-of-kin contacts.

"Stone passed away Monday after suffering a heart attack which caused him to lose control of his car," Vali said.

Stone, who last month was left without a job in a restructuring of KGMZ FM, was on his way to the airport and a flight to Las Vegas, Vali said.

"I had dinner with him on Saturday night and had visited again with him on Sunday, both times he was in good spirits, excited about a new offer of employment and being closer to his family," Vali said.

Stone's grown son, Mark, lives in the Las Vegas area; his adult daughter, Stephanie, lives in Utah.

He was to become a vice president of marketing for San Diego-based Clifton Radio Inc., headed by Kauai resident Jerry Clifton.

"Jay and I first met in 1972," Clifton said, "We started working together in 1973. He was my morning man and really my partner more or less at a station called 99X (WXLO FM) in New York."

Through career ups and downs his distinctive and powerful voice was respected as "old-school" by radio colleagues, referring to an era when such voices were required for working in broadcasting. Aside from his former job at KGMZ, Stone also did voice-over work for KGMB TV, as a station announcer.

"He was a great morning man -- he had the radio disease in a serious way, and had a great sense of humor," Clifton said.

"Early in his career, a false story was spread about him," Clifton said. "He supposedly left a station car along the road upside down, as he was leaving town. It didn't happen."

Clifton said Stone often joked, "wouldn't it be funny," if he died in the manner described in the false story. "Somewhere he's laughing," Clifton said.

Stone, who was in his mid-50s, worked in Hawaii for at least two long stretches in various capacities, including a stint as program director and morning man for the station that is now KSSK FM (92.3), at 93.9 FM KIKI, and Vali recalled "he worked at KRTR for me for a little while."

"He loved what he did, he loved the business, he helped whoever he could. He was really a good guy," Clifton said.
 
michaelhagerty said:
John:
Here's the story on Jay Stone:
---Michael Hagerty

Honolulu Star-Bulletin
TheBuzz
BY ERIKA ENGLE
Wednesday, October 17, 2001

RADIO LOSES VETERAN VOICE JAY STONE

Former "Oldies 107.9" (KGMZ-FM) morning man Jay Stone has been identified as the lone occupant of a car that went out of control and overturned Monday afternoon (October 15, 2001) in Hawaii Kai (Honolulu, HI).
Click to expand...

Michael--I think this was the other Jay Stone (Hawaii/WXLO/et al). The Phoenix/
Las Vegas Jay Stone (KRUX/KRIZ/KUPD/KENO) was Jeff Colson.

IIRC, Jeff Colson died in Las Vegas a few years ago, he was in his mid- or late 50s.
Have not been able to find anything via a Google search as of yet.
 
Not surprisingly, this is a very interesting thread.

John,

Did you also work for a station in Chico? For years, we've regularly driven up I5 to Redding to visit close friends. In the 80s (probably) I remember hearing you on a station I remember as being out of Chico. This was probably in the 80s...at the time, I think you were also on K-101, and I remember thinking that you must have some long commute between jobs. Perhaps the Stockton station has a long range (north to south) in the "Big Valley," and that's what I was hearing. I also remember your devotion to your new hometown of Colma/DC, and your enthusiasm for the high school teams there.
 
My apologies for the confusion my post may have created for friends of either Jay Stone.

---Michael Hagerty
 
What A Great Surprise, Welcome to the board John, You are one of the primary jocks that I Idololized and was so sad when you left KFRC, I actually remember you leaving in August and Dr Don had talked about your retirement from Radio for a few weeks before you actaully left. I was born and Raised in Martinez and I think I called you just about Every Afternoon ( Hi John this is Chris in Martinez can you play____) and you were always so polite and genuine to all your listeners. Once getting in Radio myself I always treated my listners with that same respect on the phone knowing this kid is going to call me again, again. Thanks John for all the great memories, I don't think you know how many fans you have, Your a Radio Hall of famer and all around great guy, Were so excited your here, Welcome and Yes I can say I did receive one of your last tours of the Bush Street complex in Mid July before you left, I was so excited at the age of 12 and I could not beleive that you were giving the tour, it was amazing that JMF is giving us the tour and Terry Nelson (was doing mid days then 12pm-3pm) was live in Studio A, it seems like yesterday....
 
Oldiesfan, question:what's llRC? Checked slang at website, but can't find it. "Martinez" guy, thank you for EVERY kind word! Wish I'd heard them earlier. I left Radio (Oct.2000) very angry and bitter, no money or respect in my career. No matter what I did. .... I was passed over 5 times for fulltime work at Y-93! And, I hated parttime! You're lower than pond scumb/ I did year of partime at KIOI, 1989 after I left KWSS. I consider it the worst year of my life! I left KIOI for KSFO/KYA and we did 9 1/2 million profit during depression of 1990-91. Dollars are always what mattered to me. Yes I was on the air in Sacramento north valley 1989-1994. I did afternoons on the Concept network out of Roseville (Dick & Mary Wagner. God I loved those two! They were so good to me!) at one time I was on 36 stations (!) from Wheeling West Virgina to California, I was on 6 stations in California! (Did I really do all that stuff?) You heard me on "The Max" KTMX, Colusa. What a station!!! Also KDUC - The Duck of the Desert, Barstow. Monster station! And, I loved the people! Helped open KMART in Barstow and couldn't get all the cars in the parking lot! I was calling, "Ft. Iwrin! Ft. Irwin! Need crowd control!" (hee hee) Wore my new sand colored cowboy boots...I'm from New Mexico, you know...Have to keep boots and bolo tie handy, and have to hear pedal steele guitar every 30 days! (Mike Preston, KFRC knows...He was my PD at KWSS 1986-89. Whata terrific guy!) -John-
 
I've told this story a million times, but I'll tell it again. (Gotta go to work and make this short.) Where I grew up in Southest New Mexico (Roswell) we only had 4 stations in my hometown. One was Spanish, one was bigband (6a.m.-midnight, first station in New Mexico KGFL, 1936. Singing Cowboy Roy Rogers and Sons of the Pioneers were on there when Roy met his first wife Arleen who passed away and then he married Dale Evans...Am I doing this quick enough? May get to work by six p.m.!! hee hee) anyway, 910 KBIM played the hits (arrogant bastards!) but only 6 a. m. to sundown, and the station I started at, "Crazy" Radio, KRSY. 1230 a.m. Owned by two-tern ex-governor John Burrows. (I'm hurring! I'm hurrying!) He had lots of "Crazy" stations: KRZY, Albuquerque (spell that!) KRSI, Espanola, KRZI, Farmington. We were the only 24 hour station in my hometown and we were country. Love that country! (petal steele...) To hear Elvis, the Everly Brothers, Roy Orbison at night, the ONLY signal we got was 850 miles northeast: "COMA in OKLAHOMA" Yours Truly K-O-M-A! (1520 a.m.) 50,000 watt, clear channel ,blaster! THE ONLY STATION. ... When the sun would come up over the desert, and the signal of KOMA would start to fade, (Around 6 a.m. ..) it would feel like your oxygen was being cut off. I would grab for the dash board. One night before a date with Joann (my wife of 41 1/2 years! Yikes!) I fell asleep across my bed in my Mom's house on South Sequoia ... God, I love her! And Miss her! (my Mom) I woke up and this music was softly playing about 7:20 p.m. (think we went out at 8..she lived down on the corner, 400 South Sequoia..my Mom at 416..) I heard this soft music and believed I'd died, and was in Heaven! It was "You've Lost that LOVIN' FEELIN'"-The Righteous Brothers. Wall of Sound, Spector, and those two guys, coming out of the little table radio near my bed 850 miles away! Well, I said to myself, "I gotta be part of that!" and I was!!! You have no idea what radio meant to me. Now, it's just noise. "The K-O-M-A Kissing Tone! If you're a loyal K-O-M-A Listener, at the sound of the Tone, Kiss - Your - Sweetheart! 'whirr...zzzzz....smack/tone' Yours Truly K-O-M-A! (jingle/music) -John-
 
KOMA. One of the awesome things about that place was they had an Altec Voice of the Theatre (in the nice cab) in the lobby and another one in the control room...not hooked up to anything. They softly played KOMA just on the RF from that 50,000 watt monster in the back yard. I had a boss that built that building in Moore, OK. He started with Todd Storz, and worked for Todd's dad for 20 years after Todd died. What an amazing time. (He told me last summer he's writing a book about the early days. I hope he finishes it!)
 
It's my opinion, and it's only my opinion, Radio, 1955 to 1995 when computers started to creep in and change the business ... and let me make it clear, I'm not an old foogie, old school (I hate that term!) Luddite. I have an ipod and would tivo if I had time to watch tv! From '55 to '95, two things mattered in Radio: 1. People
2.Music. By people I mean all people, the listeners (remember them?) the workers (on & off the air) and yes, the advertisers. People made it happen. Today there are stations without an air staff. That's o.k., the Bible says: you reap what you sow. If you can pull a 10 share and gross a million a month (!) as we did at KFRC 1978 (not bragging. It's a fact.) then go ahead on. ... Music speaks for itself, or should I say, "sounds for itself". People? Well, I had some of the most incredible listeners and co-workers imaginable. Real, live characters! The first person to influence me was, I thought, Del Weeba afternoons 3-7p.m at KOMA, in Oklahoma City. I was able to hear him for only one hour. Period. 5-6 p.m. when the isonphere kicked in and we could get the KOMA signal 850 miles northeast. When I went to the KOMA website (By the way, if you get a chance to go to the KOMA website, go. KOMA.com It's pretty basic, but gets the job done.) I learned the persons name was: Dale Weba. But when he said, "Viva La Weba, Baby!" the hair on my neck would stand up. I was cruising in my 1954, Honduras Maroon Chevy lowered 4 1/2 inches in the front, I was cool, super cool and so was Dale Weba! See, Radio was all attitude to me. I had to make you believe I had more power than anyone else on the dial. I prayed before, during and after every show. 'God, grant me the power!' ... I'd find a way to use it. Dale did. Once I was in a recording studio at KWSS when Wayne Coy pointed straight up and said, "You've got a higher power with you on the air!" Right ON Wayne, Right ON! I know there must be tapes of Dale Weba somewhere but I have him locked in my mind 1963-64 and I want to keep him that way. That's why it's so difficult for me to get behind a mic today. In other minds I'm locked into 196_ or 197_, or 198_, or 199_. Even 2000_ although I only worked til October 2000. (Did I say I ended my career in country music, Y-93 San Francisco with the same music I started with August 15th, 1964? Cosmic, Eh?) My last,best friend in Radio? Kim Schaffer. Kind, understanding of my pain over everything ending, and my Mom dying. I never thought about it ending. Age 17 to 53, and then it was over. Kim was there. My hero, and she never even knew it. I still stay in touch with her and email her from time to time. Maybe I'll email her now, and tell he how much she means to me. -John-
 
I REALLY ENJOYED JOHN MAC FLANIGAN AND REMEMBER HIM AT 97.3 KCBS FM IN 1980 BEFORE CBS CHANGED TO KRQR THE ROCKER BACK IN 1982 JOHNWAS THE AFTERNOON GUY AT KYA IN 1990 HE CAME ON RIGHT AFTER THE BEAUTIFUL CELESTE PERRY AND STAYED TILL 6 PM TILL SYLVIA CHACON CAME ON WHAT A LUCKY GUY JOHN BELONGS IN RADIO I HOPE SOME ONE PUTS A MICROPHONE IN HIS HAND AND HE DOES A OLDIES FORMAT AGAIN ! I REMEMBER JOHN ON KFRC AND HE KNEW HIS MUSIC !! HE HAS THAT RADIO VOICE !! KENNY IN CONCORD
 
John,

Though I've never worked in radio, I've always loved the medium - I don't listen much anymore, partially because I commute to work on public transit, and because radio has become so homogenous and repetitive. In my mind, you were one of the top talents on the air over the 30 or more years I'd listened to radio. I discovered top 40 AM radio when I was about 10 years old in LA - about a year before the Beatles and the British Invasion...and grew up listening to people like Dave Hull, Charlie O'Donnell, the Real Don Steele, and Lohman and Barkley on stations like KRLA, KHJ and KFWB. I also loved "underground" radio stations like KMET and KPPC. When I moved to San Francisco in the early 70s, I loved KSAN and KTIM in Marin where I first lived, but also thought KFRC was probably the best Top 40 station among all the great stations I had grown up listening to. And you were among the best of a great group of DJs. Then I followed your career at other stations. When Infinity ended up owning both KYA and KFRC - I guess it made sense to flip KYA to Country, but I was sure you'd end up back on KFRC in afternoon drive. That you ended up as a part-timer on Y93 - to me - speaks to the stupidity of program directors. I guess that's nothing new, and was a problem well before consolidation took over the industry. A loss for us, but I'm sure you're a lot happier without radio. Still, it's great to hear your memories and thoughts on your career.
 
LKeller and XM, how very kind of you. Isn't it great to feel warm and good? So much of the world today is cold and mean. Sometimes I hurt for people. What a world to suffer in. ... Where did I get the 'belief' to hang in, and hang on? I'll tell you a little secret not too many people know: by the age of 10 I had a serious, serious speech defect. I could not say "S"'s, and had to learn to speak all over again. Since I had been singing as long as I could remember (my Mom would take me to quilting bees and put me up on a chair when I was 5 and say, "John, Sing Davy Crockett!") I was very aware of the voice. I never had much education, barely out of Roswell High, but I'd had the benefit of master's and phd's of education, learning to speak again. I knew there were people with better voices, better looks, better education, better everything, but Radio gave me a chance to express myself and compete. These were two things I really love to do. (As you can tell by my postings...I'm kind of compulsive! hee hee) Yesterday there was a multi page article on KSFO's Melanie Morgan in the Sunday Chronicle. The only words in the article were, "hate", "shout", "angry", how can people live like that? I truly feel sorry for Melanie. My heart breaks for her. Life is too short to make the world worse. Everyday people suffer enough without adding to it. It's like Horror films, I don't care if others watch them but not me. I say there's enough horror in the world, i.e. School Shootings, Rodney King, War in Iraq. Walk out in the street, you'll see horror live, in color and surround sound! I always wanted to do or say one thing to make your life better. I may not have started with much, but I had a heart full of love. -John-
 
When I worked in Slayton, Texas 8 miles from Lubbock, it was a 350 watt daytimer No pre-sunrise agreement. We came on at sunrise, sometimes 8:15 a.m. It seemed? And we went off at 4:15 p.m. When I left to go to KLBK in Lubbock, April 1966 because I knew I was going to be drafted, and I was headed from Vietnam ... KCAS was #3 in Lubbock and I was #2 in afternoon drive. The first time a single station market had broken into a multi-station market in the state of Texas. "You're the One"-Vogues, "Lightning Strikes"-Lou Christie, "Homeward Bound" Simon and Garfunkle, I played them all at KCAS. We called the station "K10" because we were 1050 on the dial. I was Program Director. The first 10 years in the business 1964-1973 I was either Music Director (I loved (!) Music!) or Program Director. I came up with a idea in Slayton and it was so goofy, stupid, and simple, I should have been laughted out of the country! It was a contest called: "The World's Greatest Mom" here's how it worked: The first week we took nominations for the World's Greatest Mom". (Pat the station secretary helped me, because it got a little crazy...) The second week we took votes for the World's Greatest Mom. (This reallly got crazy!) The third week I announced a winner and dedicated the whole show to them 1 p.m to ??? And the fourth week I took a dozen long stem red roses over and knocked on their door. (This got crazy too..they were all dressed up in makeup and heels. Usually gave me cookies (homemade) or Brownies (homemade) ... It was a very big deal!) I traded out the roses myself. (mentions for a dozen roses a MONTH.) The advertisers got the best of the deal, but did it stir things UP! Wow! Wish you could have been with me. Now, I do highrise security in an office tower in San Francisco (and love every minute of it! Hello Bob Pester (Peester) Steve Colvin and Joe of Boston Properties. We own Times Square in New York, and are the #1 Appraised real estate property in San Francisco 1.8 BILLION!) people walk past my console everyday, won't look at me, and think I'm sooo beneath them. I just smile and laugh! They have no idea of my experiences! Why, I found the World's Greatest Mom(s) in Slayton, Texas! -John-
 
John Mack, great to read your posts here!. You exemplify the good vibes Top 40 radio era more than just about anyone. Glad to see your doing well man.
 
Hugh Silvas was one of the greatest people I met in radio. As Rick Shaw, he rode the airwaves of the Bay Area from the Mid-70's til 1998, when he died of a massive heart attack. It would have to be "massive" because Rick had the biggest heart I've ever known. When I was bumped to the graveyard in 1982 on The Rocker, KRQR-FM, Rick spent his precious time with me over a cup of coffee at Lyon's Resturant. Encouraging me, easing my depression. By the way, did you know 2.am. til 6 a.m. or 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. is prime time on hard rock stations? I didn't either. One morning I got a call from a young guy named Jon Bon Jovi. I didn't know Jon Bon Jovi, no one did. He was just starting his career. "Hey John!", "Send some people over, we need a crowd." He was shooting a video in Crockett across the San Francisco Bay. AC/DC, Queen, Led Zepplin, I threw them all down and people loved it. (Never thought I'd have a good word for the Rocker!) I always kidded Rick about never forgiving him...It was about 20 minutes to 3 p.m. on the West Coast when the word flashed through KFRC, The King Was Dead. Elvis had died in Memphis. I started my shift at 3 p.m. Gosh, that was a scary day. How do you handle the death of The King? Well, Rick signed of with "Can't Help Falling in Love With You". The song Elvis ended every concert with. ... ... ... How do you follow that? I sat down behind the board, and as the song totally faded away, I keyed the mic and said, "All the world's a stage...and it's just a little emptier now...The King is Dead. This is K-F-R-C, San Francisco"...and I played some (???) song. The Batphone rang immediately, ( a red unlisted, private number only the program director knew. It flashed a large red light above your head.) Les Garland asked, "What was that?!? That was the greated thing I've ever heard on the radio!". I told Rick Shaw I'd never forgive him for leaving me in such a tight spot! -John-
 
John: A tape of that moment in KFRC history would be priceless! Thanks for sharing that story and moment! And by the way Phlash Phelps at XM Satellite Radio's 60's on 6 told me this morning that you are one "great" voice from San Francisco radio's past! I have to agree with him! John Mac Flannigan......KSFO...KYA-FMmmmm....San FranciscoooooSan Jose.....loved that TOH ID.
 
One day Michael Spears called me on the Batphone and said, "I want to see you in my office as soon as your shift ends". (I was working 9-noon behind Dr. Don Rose. 1973-77, then afternoon drive 1977-79) This was noon, when I stepped into his office, there was a guy there, and Michael said, "Meet Charlie Van Dyke". "You're going South." Now "going South" meant you were going to KHJ. My heart leapt into my throat! My wife Joann had told me 10 years to the month before, "Someday you'll work at KHJ." I said "Get out of here!" I was 18 and never believed it would happen.Did you know I was offered the Music Director position at KFRC? (Michael knew I loved Music.) Dave Sholin took the job, and the rest is history. (Love that Duke!!!) I was offered every PD job but KHJ. CKLW, WRKO, WOR-FM New York, "FIRE" Chicago, WHBQ Memphis. I turned them all down. I wanted to stay on the air and in one place. I did, and I am. Know my sign on the first time at KFRC? "God sent me here. If SHE'S listening...Thank You!" When I got to KHJ I was so scared I couldn't key the mic. I followed Billy Pearl and he had to do it! Turn on my mic! I had a blast! Everyone had done the "love me, love my numbers thing", but I turned things around, "You! You Superstar!" (Everyone in L.A. thinks they're a star!) The hitline operator Errol (great guy! Never forget him!) asked, "Who are you? People want to know where you're from?" I said, none of that's important, but what I'm doing is! -John-
 
The day I met the Bee Gees and their little brother Andy Gibb were the most special days in my life. The Bee Gees from 1967 to 1972 rivaled The Beatles. It was hit,hit,hit. When you heard the Bee Gees it sounded like nothing you'd ever heard. Only the Everly Brothers came close because of the harmonys. But I thought the Bee Gees were Supermen. And each one had a power and charisma. I ask "Maurice" Gibb some question (God Rest His Soul") and he bristled. "It's Morris", he said. (I'd called him "Maurice" all over the Southwest.) I said, "Oh, like the cat!" Well ... he didn't like that! On to the next part of the story, Andy Gibb was the most special person I met (along with the Raiders John Matuzak). Andy Gibb was so pure, and warm, and fresh, and special he drew people to him like a magnet. When Andy Gibb died, it was like my little brother dying. Tears fill me eyes now, just thinking of him. -John-

God I am obsessive I must stop posting for a while. God Bless You. -John-

(My wife is locking up the computer.)
 
I love it when another legend discovers our little piece of heaven! I was so wrapped up in the last post that I wondered when John Matuzak was with Paul Revere & the Raiders. :)
 
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