Wow - Todd said it well. "Butch" Klein as the KRIZ KREW in Phoenix knew him in the late 60s was that rare combination of chief engineer and a pretty good DJ.
1000w day/250w night at 1230 put us at a real disadvantage going after KRUX, but Butch knew one way to get ahead was to sound better technically. Sure, most people wouldn't know what was going on, but all of sudden one could pick up KRIZ at night without nearly as much interference as before. It was a revelation (I lived in Tempe at the time).
We were often as loud as our 5000w competitor and sometimes louder. I remember one night after tweaking the transmitter and whatever processing gear we had you could finally hear one of the instruments in Mellow Yellow that was inaudible on KRUX. Butch was so excited and proud to tell and explain to us what he had done.
He was absolutely dedicated to having the finest sounding station in town and he both knew and appreciated how such an operation could help build an audience.
We weren't in touch at all after I left (to go full time at KRUX, ironically), but he was one of the people I always remembered for his attitude and competiveness, especially with those future strategy sessions with engineers at other stations.
How sad. Here’s wishing his friends and family well at such a tough time!
Larry Dean (KRIZ weekends 6/67-10/69)
