Pat Duffy was KRTH's General Manager from 1991 to 2004, coming in at the bottom, hiring Mike Phillips, bringing Bill Drake back to consult, hiring Robert W. Morgan and The Real Don Steele.
Here's his take in Don Barrett's LARadio.com today:
“KRTH has arguably the best fm signal in America. First position on Mt Wilson, 6,000 feet, 53KW. Goes from Santa Barbara to San Diego, East to Mojave.
We always knew the station was underrated during the diary methodology because it was a second favorite. On everyone’s dial but never first up. The new methodology proved us right.
Then there are the programmers, from Bill Drake to Mike Phillips to Jhani Kaye during my time they kept the format intact and evolved the music. We went from 50’s-60’s to the 70’s. Now they have moved into the 80’s still playing the tight rotation big hits. They have also transitioned from the ‘big balls’ jocks of my era to a younger sounding air staff. I don’t know the new pd staff but respect them immensely. They haven’t broken the format. They have tuned it to the current times.
And they have the last of the ‘live local’ morning shows. I can say that hiring Gary Bryant was the best decision I ever made. The fact that he is still on the air makes me happy to be a radio guy.” – Pat Duffy