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Michael Spears

M

michaelhagerty

Guest
Michael Spears, PD at KFRC from 1973-1977, died yesterday after a five year battle with cancer.

While it was his predecessor, Sebastian Stone, who broke the Drake mold at KFRC (while still working for Drake), Spears is the one who built what many consider to be the best version of KFRC...hiring talent like Beau Weaver, John Mack Flanagan, Dave Sholin, Chuck Buell, Mark McKay, Don Sainte-Johnn, Shana, Rick Shaw, Mucho Morales and Big Tom Parker (Dr. Don Rose was hired by RKO National PD Paul Drew, but clearly, Spears provided the environment that allowed Dr. Don to be Dr. Don). And, he knew when to keep top talent...Bobby Ocean being the lone survivor of the pre-Spears era until his departure for KHJ in May, 1975 (where, 2 years later, he worked for Spears again).

Under Spears, KFRC won Billboard's "Station of the Year" numerous times, expanded its demographic appeal to adults without blowing off teens and created a "stationality" that to this day many consider to be the "true" KFRC.

---Michael Hagerty
 
> Agreed, Michael. When I first came to the Bay Area from LA in 1973 as a naive new convert to the wonders of the Bay Area, the difference between KHJ and sister station KFRC was very striking. Despite the equally great on-air talent at KHJ, KFRC was much better. At the time, I thought this was because excellence was demanded by the sophisticated, enlightened, liberal culture of San Francisco. Little did I know, it was Michael Spears that deserved much of the credit for a truly great radio station. Also, I realized the error of my reasoning when I watched TV news in the Bay Area (horrible, at the time).


> While it was his predecessor, Sebastian Stone, who broke the
> Drake mold at KFRC (while still working for Drake), Spears
> is the one who built what many consider to be the best
> version of KFRC...hiring talent like Beau Weaver, John Mack
> Flanagan, Dave Sholin, Chuck Buell, Mark McKay, Don
> Sainte-Johnn, Shana, Rick Shaw, Mucho Morales and Big Tom
> Parker (Dr. Don Rose was hired by RKO National PD Paul Drew,
> but clearly, Spears provided the environment that allowed
> Dr. Don to be Dr. Don). And, he knew when to keep top
> talent...Bobby Ocean being the lone survivor of the
> pre-Spears era until his departure for KHJ in May, 1975
> (where, 2 years later, he worked for Spears again).
>
> Under Spears, KFRC won Billboard's "Station of the Year"
> numerous times, expanded its demographic appeal to adults
> without blowing off teens and created a "stationality" that
> to this day many consider to be the "true" KFRC.
>
> ---Michael Hagerty
>
 
>very well stated, Michael.

Michael plucked me out of overnights in Jacksonville at the age of 21 to do 6-10PM at KFRC. He gave me my career and a new name.

Michael was my mentor. Most people don't know that I was slated to follow Michael and Ocean to KHJ. I had even house-hunted in Woodland Hills, but Michael and Paul Drew saved me by telling me that the situation at KHJ was "deteriorating" and that I should stay put. Several months later Michael was out.

Michael also encouraged me to learn voice imaging from Bobby Ocean and John MacFlanagan. Eventually, when they left I took over that job, and it's how I earn my living to this day.

I had no idea Michael was only 5 years older than me until this week. He was gray back then and carried himself in a way that suggested he was older than he actually was.

He was a unique individual...one of my heroes...and I regret I didn't tell him that before he passed.

"Marvelous" Mark McKay
KFRC 1974-84




Michael Spears, PD at KFRC from 1973-1977, died yesterday
> after a five year battle with cancer.
>
> While it was his predecessor, Sebastian Stone, who broke the
> Drake mold at KFRC (while still working for Drake), Spears




> is the one who built what many consider to be the best
> version of KFRC...hiring talent like Beau Weaver, John Mack
> Flanagan, Dave Sholin, Chuck Buell, Mark McKay, Don
> Sainte-Johnn, Shana, Rick Shaw, Mucho Morales and Big Tom
> Parker (Dr. Don Rose was hired by RKO National PD Paul Drew,
> but clearly, Spears provided the environment that allowed
> Dr. Don to be Dr. Don). And, he knew when to keep top
> talent...Bobby Ocean being the lone survivor of the
> pre-Spears era until his departure for KHJ in May, 1975
> (where, 2 years later, he worked for Spears again).
>
> Under Spears, KFRC won Billboard's "Station of the Year"
> numerous times, expanded its demographic appeal to adults
> without blowing off teens and created a "stationality" that
> to this day many consider to be the "true" KFRC.




---Michael Hagerty
 
> "Marvelous" Mark McKay
> KFRC 1974-84

After wading through all the muck about "great radio stations" and "great radio people" that we see posted on occasion on this board, it's gratifying to see something written about a true legend in Bay Area radio -- by a true legend.

KFRC during the Michael Spears era was a station that others sought to imitate. I think that's the true measure of a great radio station: great personalities, creative management, an exciting sound and image, fun promotions, slavishly devoted fans ... and the envy of your competitors. Michael Spears did it with the help of superstars like the truly Marvelous Mark McKay. What an extraordinary team that was.

DJ

P.S. -- Thanks, Marvelous, for stopping by here. It's a real honor to have you drop by for a visit. You should have left a link to your voiceover website, but since you didn't... here it is: http://www.mckaymedia.net<P ID="signature">______________
<center>

</center></P>
 
> > "Marvelous" Mark McKay
> > KFRC 1974-84
>
> After wading through all the muck about "great radio
> stations" and "great radio people" that we see posted on
> occasion on this board, it's gratifying to see something
> written about a true legend in Bay Area radio -- by a true
> legend.
>
> KFRC during the Michael Spears era was a station that others
> sought to imitate. I think that's the true measure of a
> great radio station: great personalities, creative
> management, an exciting sound and image, fun promotions,
> slavishly devoted fans ... and the envy of your competitors.
> Michael Spears did it with the help of superstars like the
> truly Marvelous Mark McKay. What an extraordinary team that
> was.
>
> DJ
>
> P.S. -- Thanks, Marvelous, for stopping by here. It's a real
> honor to have you drop by for a visit. You should have left
> a link to your voiceover website, but since you didn't...
> here it is: http://www.mckaymedia.net
>
He also modestly didn't mention that he does afternoons on Oldies 94.9, KCMO in Kansas City...and sounds Marvelous there, IMHO.
 
> > > I believe it was Mr. McKay who did some great image voice work at KFRC...maybe 3 or 4 years ago after they put Bobby Ocean on afternoon drive, and (I assume) decided that it would sound odd to have a jock do VO work. Mark's voice seemed to have gotten even deeper and richer since the 70s. I think he worked at KMEL for awhile too, during their "All Hit" period.



"Marvelous" Mark McKay
> > > KFRC 1974-84
> >
> > After wading through all the muck about "great radio
> > stations" and "great radio people" that we see posted on
> > occasion on this board, it's gratifying to see something
> > written about a true legend in Bay Area radio -- by a true
>
> > legend.
> >
> > KFRC during the Michael Spears era was a station that
> others
> > sought to imitate. I think that's the true measure of a
> > great radio station: great personalities, creative
> > management, an exciting sound and image, fun promotions,
> > slavishly devoted fans ... and the envy of your
> competitors.
> > Michael Spears did it with the help of superstars like the
>
> > truly Marvelous Mark McKay. What an extraordinary team
> that
> > was.
> >
> > DJ
> >
> > P.S. -- Thanks, Marvelous, for stopping by here. It's a
> real
> > honor to have you drop by for a visit. You should have
> left
> > a link to your voiceover website, but since you didn't...
> > here it is: http://www.mckaymedia.net
> >
> He also modestly didn't mention that he does afternoons on
> Oldies 94.9, KCMO in Kansas City...and sounds Marvelous
> there, IMHO.
>
 
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