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John Mack Flanagan's Letter In Datebook...

BossRadioDJ

BossRadioDJ

The Chronicle ran the following letter from the great John Mack Flanagan in this morning's Datebook:

Editor -- Bill Lueth of 95.7 MAX-FM needs to wake up and smell the Sunday morning coffee (Letters, Oct. 29). There is no way to compare MAX-FM with KFRC. First of all, MAX-FM is just soulless noise. There's no there there. I resent stations picking over the bones of KFRC. KFRC has history going back to Sept. 17, 1925 -- the date the license was granted. MAX-FM brags, "We play whatever we want." That's the problem. What about what the audience wants? I want KFRC back. I don't care what frequency (99.7 was KYUU anyway, and KNBR-FM before that). I'm just one listener who wants to hear "K-F-R-C" again -- anywhere on the dial.

John Mack Flanagan (former KFRC disc jockey)
Colma

I'll add this: with all due respect to Bill Lueth, his letter on October 29 inviting ex-KFRC listeners over to MAX-FM was nothing more than a transparent (and rather silly) attempt at advertising his radio station. Any comparison between MAX-FM and any iteration of KFRC is ridiculous.

DJ
 
Please forgive my anger in the letter to the Datebook this morning (11/12) I usually don't lash out (really!) but Bill Lueth's letter was too much. And it's not the first time I've seen Bill Lueth try to profit from the misfortune of others. I just said to myself, "Enough is enough!". I hope people don't judge me as an angry old crank (I'll be 60 Wednesday! 60!!! is it possible?) Well, anyway if you knew me personally and were hanging out with me today (I'm getting together with Dr. Don's first board operator: Steve Rood...) you'd find out I'm a happy-go-lucky grandpa! I also don't want Mike Preston, Tim Jordan or the folks at KFRC 'Movin' to be angry with me. I was just getting stuff off my chest! I realize business is business. I was fired 7 times in 6 years at the end of my career, so I understand tough decisions. Radio; it sure ain't what it used ta be. -John-
 
You've got that right. In a few years, maybe Rupert Murdoch will own all of it, and 5 guys and gals chained in a booth will voice track every station in the US. Sad, particularly when you know in your heart that good local personalities and great music and production values teamed with a little sizzling marketing could roll over most of the stations presently on the air.

As for the Datebook, I wish the Chron would pay Ben to write a Radio Waves weekly!
 
I knew Bill back when he worked at Buckley's KKHI and at that time he seemed so smart and knowledgable. He had an interest in Classical Music and was an excellent Classical Announcer (I can't seem to call anyone who works on air at Classical Stations as DJ's.). I have heard that he has worked for many years with Bonneville for its Classical Station, KDFC. What position does he have at MAX-FM? I just can't see Bill doing anything more than Classical?
 
Bill Lueth, I would like you to know 95.7 The Max is the saddest excuse for a radio station Ive ever heard!! Your always gonna finish last in the ratings !! And It amazes me Bonneville doesnt make some changes Right away!!!They Just Dont get it at Bonneville!!! If you had a brain you would put John Mack Flanagan on your station and dump your format!! As far as comparing 95.7 to KFRC, forget it!!!! Your station should have never lasted as long as it did!!!!!I dont support KFRC and them dumping the 60 s and 70s format, I moved to XM last year ,when Sue Hall said to me no more " Duke of Earl" or Elvis !!! I would have never cosidered your station Bill!! No one I know is that excited about "The Max" !! Funny how KOIT 96.5 is a real Proven Winner!! Its always playing in my Dentists office in Concord!! It puts me to sleep!! Bill Lueth , heres an idea, hire some live DJ s, scrap your current format, hire John Mack Flanagan , Celeste Perry, and "Lee Baby Sims", get some "Legends in Bay Area Radio" on your station!! And also get Candi Chamberlin , She made KYA 1260 famous in 1979!! Till that Bill Minchler fired her!! And for Sunday nites get "The Real Chris Edwards " for a "Time Machine" show every Sunday!! Im sure John Mack Flanagan could turn your station around !! If I had this kind of radio, like Ive mentioned, Bay Area radio would come Alive!!! Put John on @ 2 " oclock pm No one does this line better , ITS TWO O' CLOCK andJohn Mack Flanagan!! This guy does Radio !! Kenny in Concord
 
John Mack Flanagan, Happy 60th Birthday!! I wish one of these "Media Giants" in the Bay Area would "Tune In" and realize the truth, Bay Area Radio is just Idling now, and with you backon the airwaves they could really Rev it up! That would be the "Talk of the Town" John Mack Flanagans back!! For any GM"s who might read this, Dont pass this guy over, Personally Im not into the most recent DJ's that CBS let go!! Its a "No Brainer" John Mack Flanagan ,or a Ron and Cammy? Correct answer, John Mack Flanagan!! What can I say, 70 s music and 70 s DJ s are a perfect combo!!!! No more Duo's on the radio, please, In the 60s and 70's these "Super Talented" DJ 's did it solo!!! Ron Parker could never measure up to John Mack Flanagan, it was a punisment to listen to Parker in the 90 s!! Terrible radio voice, I was thrilled he left!! The KFRC Menu had many things I would never enjoy!! But they gobbed up KYA FM April of 1994, so you had no choice, but 99.7!! I hope things change soon!! Kenny in Concord!!!
 
Late Birthday Wishes John...

As for KFRC and Mr Leuth...I worked with Bill Leuth for a short while. I don't think he's a bad guy. Fairly nice, really. He's just workin' the angle....and he works for a rival radio corporation. Key word there being 'corporation'.

It's just the way of the radio world these days. National formats competing with other national formats in YOUR local market. You can hear Movin' in L.A. and other large markets. "Hey! This format worked in Chicago!". Wah, wah, wahhhahah....

Although I thought KFRC did need updating (new morning show), I thought the music was starting to sound pretty good. Shame they didn't stay with it.
 
Dyingmedium, I agree that KFRC needed a new morning show, and for 13 years, We were "Stuck" with Ron and Cammy,and then Dean And Cammy, in between we had JD Jeff Dean,so much better than Ron Parker!! KFRC didnt need to overlook John Mack Flanagan, he would have radio much more enjoyable than "These Duos" they just had to have!! If KFRC had kept the "Oldies' format and hired John, ratings would have gone thru the roof!! They could have saved alot on payroll with one DJ verses two, It amazes me all the times I would call that station ask where some certain Ex KFRC DJ was, they acted like they never heard of him! Wake up CBS, its time for a change,if you ever get a Oldies Format, use the Bay Area Legends, you know, the ones who made you what you are today!! Kenny in Concord
 
Too bad I missed your letter John, I'd have lashed-out myself. Who wants to listen to a juke box? Just from a listener's perspective, I don't want any "whatever" radio. I listen for the jocks. Instead, I get this voice-tracked trash and crappy music programmed by people too lazy to do it themselves and rely on some old computer system instead.

From a professional perspective, this kind of cost-cutting ("I know, let's get rid of the TALENT!") not only makes for bad radio, it chokes the life out of anyone with a passion for the business.

You're right about one other thing. All these stations love comparing themselves to KFRC. None of them held a candle to KYA.

Happy 60th Birthday. It really is the new 40... just ask Ron Dante. ;D

Make sure you visit Bay Area Radio.org and hear my KWUN and KKIS (when David has them ready) airchecks.
 
SFStatic said:
You've got that right. In a few years, maybe Rupert Murdoch will own all of it, and 5 guys and gals chained in a booth will voice track every station in the US. Sad, particularly when you know in your heart that good local personalities and great music and production values teamed with a little sizzling marketing could roll over most of the stations presently on the air.
Click to expand...

You're right. It's pitiful when programmers get lazy and let a computer decide "whatever" gets played and they don't rely on the expertise of someone who's been there when these songs were new and know the nuances of programming music. As an example, I guarantee if I ran an oldies station and somebody who doesn't know oldies very well ran another oldies station, you'd here a lot less Beatles, Beach Boys and Supremes on my station.
 
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