RADIO THRU THE YEARS

[hornet61]

Gary...thanks for the update on Paul and Johnny. I remember KDEF-FM being given to the U of ABQ. As I recall, they didn't do much with it, did they before Gaylord purchased it? Did Gaylord simulcast KRKE-AM on the 94.1 signal? When did it morph into 94-Rock?

I remember the Shulke-programmed start of KOB-FM, only because I worked in the basement studio of KRST-FM (2401 Quincy round building) which got it's start as a low-budget "beautiful music" station too. Jack Hughes, the engineer at KRZY/KRST, had built a "make-shift" switcher for us basement dwellers ;D to "switch" between LPs and spots/ID's on cart. There wasn't a microphone in sight

I thought I had died and gone to heaven when I got bumped upstrairs to an overnight weekend slot at KRZY-1450,
and actually got to speak From there I went on to do 7p-12midnight weeknights on KRZY when that became available.

Happy New Year!

KQEO/KRST/KRZY/KABQ best places to go dumpster diving.....what treasures were always being dumped. I have some great syndicated weekly countdown LP's and Cd's and other pieces from dumpster diving in the 60's and 70's. Ironically some of them went to program three different AM stations, in subsequent years.

 

[gdiamond]

I don't think the college did anything with the 94.1 signal they were given. They had plenty of cash problems at the time, and they couldn't figure out what good an educational station would be whose signal couldn't be heard on the campus. I think they only managed part-time service with it, going on at 3 PM or so and turning it off around 10 at night. When Gaylord bought it and after the transmitter was moved to the Crest, the mornings of KRKE AM were simulcast (Mike and Lisa in the mornings), and the rest of the day was automated with a Schafer 903 automation machine. Not sure who provided the program source tapes for it, but Burkhardt/Abrams consulted the station then, so I'm sure it was a service they recommended. I worked at KRST a couple of times in the round building downstairs -- 6 grueling hours of listening to elevator music. I think Jack might have spent $5 at Sandia Salvage on the parts for that little source switcher. Never worked there again -- went up to Denver and passed the First Phone exam shortly after that and had offers from Don Lincoln to do weekends for KQEO after Joe Clayton left. The same day, Lanigan called from KDEF with a job offer. Always wondered if I did the right thing back then... I knew a lot of people at KRZY through the years including Jimmy Madrid. I knew Jerry Groner some years later when he was GM there.

 

[jerry0612]

Gary...are you sure Jack spent that much at Sandia Salvage for the switcher? ;D I worked with PD's Terry Moss and John Graham Findley during my KRZY tenure. Ahhh...Jimmy Madrid...what a great guy! He followed me at midnight for over a year and a half. Last time I saw him was years ago...working in a jewelry store in Coronado Center. Do you know what he's up to now? John Lanigan...now there's a name from the past. He had a long tenure at WGAR-AM in Cleveland after his KDEF days. Know what he's up to now? You probably know Bob Reymont (ex KGRT-AM/KGRD-FM Las Cruces Chief Engineer)...he would stop in at KVSF in Santa Fe every Christmas when he was back from Cleveland to see his Mother and update Jose Pino and myself on John and WGAR. He became Nationwide Communication's Chief Engineer and later handled all of their western U.S. properties. I believe he's retired and living in Mesa, AZ.

 

[gdiamond]

Last time I heard from Jimmy was about 35 years ago. He called me out of the blue one day, and we talked for about an hour. At the time, he was owner or part owner of a restaurant on Eubank, the name of which escapes me now. I believe he still lives here in town. Don't know about Lanigan, but I suspect he has retired to a life of leisure by now. I think I met Reymont once on a trip down south. I used to fly light aircraft down south and pay for the plane rental by taking little consulting jobs down there. I know a couple of people in Cleveland and the next time we chat, I'll ask if they know anything about these guys.

You could never accuse Jack of over-spending his budget. One night when I was running KRST, someone called and told me that the "KRST Background Music" in their store was stuck. Evidently it was an automatic record changer someplace, but I hadn't any idea where it was. Called Jack and he said to go into his office and kick a black relay rack behind his door, and that should solve the problem. So, I did - kick it hard. The rack rocked on one corner and nearly toppled into the hallway. Thinking I'd solved the problem, I went back to the control room. A few minutes later, I got a call from the airport, and a nice lady who asked me if everything was all right at the station. She told me that there was the sound of a stuck record for about an hour, then all of a sudden a loud CRASH and the sound of a phonograph needle scrubbing across a record about a half-dozen times. The sound was so loud that people on the concourses were running for cover, thinking flaming pieces of an exploded jet engine would soon be tumbling through the ceiling. I assured her that all was well, and I just had to perform a little maintenance right then. Years later, Ray told me that the bulk of the revenue the station brought in at the time was from that music service.

 

[jfrancispastirchak]

This wonderful thread has been quiet since Jan 2010, but I feel moved to reply anyway... Yes, Paul Britt did indeed work a mid-morning show, followinging Dan Evans' drive-time show, at the old KDEF-AM in the late 60's and early 70's. His tenure there brought a sophistication otherwise missing in Albuquerque's TOP 40 Market. KDEF's chief engineer MIke Langner once observed that, while other jocks simply spun records, Paul "played music". Yes, Paul had a genius for juggling his selections, to the beat of a tempo as smooth as his bassy vocal delivery. And he did so even within the constraints of KDEF's rigid format.

Other KDEF-AM jocks during Paul's day were Ed Kay, Frank Cody (now a jazz music programmer on the west coast), Dave Horne, Carl Bell, Bob Knight, Neil Murray and Art Ortega. Zane Blaney was the station's News Director. Zane moved briefly to KMYR on Menaul (the former KBNM FM). He later moved to San Francisco. I exchanged e-mails with Zane back in 2009. As CEO of San Francisco's local access TV operation, he was taking some body blows over operational issues.

About KDEF FM's working arraingement with the now-defunct U of Albuquerque-- Yes, the U of A was indeed cash-strapped, and offered only limited operating funds through the Student Senate. I succeeded John Millholland as the campus station manager, in exchange for a full time scholarship, which was withdrawn after my 1st year as manager.

 

[jerry85303]

@jfrancis...just an update on Frank Cody...he's back in New Mexico living in beautiful Abiquiu as Co-founder of PAZONA Productions-Frank Cody, Inc.

 

[jfrancispastirchak]

Jerry-- thrilled to hear Frank is back in NM! Production was always Frank's strongest talent. Thanks for the update!

Frank and Zane Blaney were close friends during my own UNremarkable "day" in the Albuquerque radio market. As I recall, the two had first become aquainted in Denver, where Zane attended college in the '60s, before making their marks in the Duke City. I myself struggled there, and never really got traction. I got fired from my 1st "professional" jobs @ KGGM (Radio), KBNM and KPAR. Zane, and to a lesser extent, Frank (whom I didn't see as frequently), would inspire me with tough but fair critiques on my flawed, immature work habits. Their wisdom eventually paid off for me. I just wish I would have listened a little closer, and a little sooner.

PS: Whatever became of Carl Bell? Soon after moving from KQEO to KDEF, Carl had successful heart surgery at an unusually early age in 1972. After my demise at KPAR in '73, I left Albuquerque and lost track of most of my radio aquaintances.

 

[hornet61]

Carl Bell is alive and well, we email once in a while....

 

[jfrancispastirchak]

Hornet-- thanks for comeback on Carl! I don't think he would remember me; I chatted with him a few times on my occassional visits to the KDEF studio on 2nd St. Once or twice, I brought along a friend, a delightful young lady from the old U of Albuquerque. She was fascinated with the radio scene, and even did a shift or two on KDEF's FM affiliate on the U of A campus when I was the station manager. She had quite a crush on Carl. Since this is gossipy stuff, I've omitted her name.

If I was smart, I would have also asked about Dan Evans & Ed Kay, both KDEF-AM alumni, and Dennis Trambley. Ed went on to KRKE soon after they claimed the old KGGM-610 from the Hebebstriedt clan. Dennis bounced around Albuquerque's AM market in the 1970's. After a run as KPAR's station manager, he took up with one of the show-ticket businesses, possibly Ticketron. I believe Dennis also did some outside production work with the late Frank Ragan and another KPAR fellow Larry (Ashby?). Larry also worked in the Santa Fe market.

 

[jerry85303]

@jfrancis…our paths may have crossed…I’m an x-KGGM radio and KPAR radio guy. I did weekends, fill-in at KGGM-610 in the summer and fall of 1971, then was asked by Hebenstriet Sr. to take over the morning show at co-owned KVSF-1260 in Santa Fe in early 1972. I lasted in that time slot until 1979 when I made the switch to full-time radio advertising sales at KVSF. Larry Ashby came over to replace me on mornings from his De Vargas Mall Promotions Manager job. Prior to that I had been a combo guy (sales and on air).

I was at KPAR-1190 in early 1970 (as best I recall) when Dennis Trambley was our Sales Manager, K.C. Carter (Peter Benson, "The Jesus Music Revolution" on KNKT-107.1) did afternoons, and Dave Brooks was our Program Director. Sam “Brother” Tate and Jim Carnegie (who publishes Radio & TV Business Report; rbr.com and tvbr.com) were our Weekend guys at that time. Both Sam and Jim were stationed at Kirtland AFB at the time.

Last I had heard/read, Carl Bell is in the San Diego involved in Ministry work. A google search produced this October-2003 interview with Carl;
http://www.musicdish.com/mag/index.php3?id=8640
Hope that helps.

 

[jfrancispastirchak]

Jerry-- Thanks for the Carl Bell google-link. Will open soon... Our time-lines are tantalizingly parallel, so maybe we did cross paths. Here is a rough portfolio of my Duke City days: 1969-1972: managed U of Albuquerque's share of KDEF FM's broadcasts under a PWA with Doubleday Broadcasting. U of A 'dropped' station mgr scholarship, so I left in '72.

Summer '72 to Fall '72: KGGM AM sta mgr Andy Sandesier hired me for midnight to 6AM shift @ the Xmitter sight in the south valley, following "young" Andy Hebenstriedt's 6 PM-midnight gig from the main studio. Andy often forgot to "throw" the Mutual News switch, cutting off my newscasts, so I complained. One night, "Mrs" H called at 3 AM, saying I had strayed from format. Andy Sandesier fired me. KGGM had a red-haired part-timer named Jerry. Fall '72 to Mar '73: rebounded to KBNM's low-budget operation. Got fired by Earl Craven. Mar '73 to June '73: Hired by recently promoted Dennis Trambley @ the re-formatted "Beautiful Music" KPAR to fill Frank Ragan's shift. Frank had no appetite for elevator music. Larry Ashby stayed on a while, then left about the same time I did. Larry's departure was honorable; he got hired in Santa Fe. Dennis T fired me for shoehorning a 60-sec. commercial on to a 45-sec. cart.

Hope this mini-bio sheds some light. In fairness to all mentioned above, I deserved being fired in all cases. I was too immature to cut my teeth in a market the size of Albuquerque. I made too many mistakes. I was once told that I was the first jock Earl Craven ever fired!

 

[jfrancispastirchak]

Jerry-- Just finished reading the Carl Bell interview on Lance Monthly off the link you sent. Never got to know Carl too well, but I can remember sensing that depth and peace of mind he communicated in the interview. Thanks again for sending!

J F P

 

[Radio-logist]

I'm pretty sure KQUE was at 920 at least by 1957 ---12 years old at the time. Probably heard Elvis and Fats Domino for the first time on KQUE.