Surprising Breaking News out of Stockton! Well I'll Be!

[Burgess]

I wonder how many deejays got their start at there?

That's where I started. Did weekends and some overnights (remember those) there back in 1992. Ron Good in the morning (Randy "Bubba" Black at Kat), John Hampton middays, Steve Garcia in the afternoon, Dave Myles at night.....then me Chris Wylde. Horrible fake DJ name but Knox had a rule that jocks could only have one syllable names, and it was my first gig...so I wanted something that sounded cool, I guess. John & Steve were exempt. Some great stories from that place....... my car got shot up on Cinco De Mayo......hot summer days with the windows open and a cow hanging in head inside....the rubber boots you had to put on the get meter readings.....and all the dedications you would get on a saturday night from lock up....."Yo, this is Chuchi. Can you play "I'm Your Puppet" for my girl La Brown Eyes?"

Tons of stories......I've got a memory like a vice.

It ended when Knox came into the studio on a late Tuesday evening, claims he had no idea who I was and fired my ass on the spot. It was about 9:30. The next jock wouldn't get there until 12. "It's OK." he said. "Just let the record play out and leave." RIP Knox.

Moved from there to a pretty successful 15 year career that I just finished as the afternoon guy at the Fish in Sac. Now in PR....more money....better hours......no pink slips.....not getting fired tomorrow....

 

[ricoontheradio]

It ended when Knox came into the studio on a late Tuesday evening, claims he had no idea who I was and fired my ass on the spot. It was about 9:30. The next jock wouldn't get there until 12. "It's OK." he said. "Just let the record play out and leave." RIP Knox.

Oh, I'm sure everyone has great stories from that place. My two favorite occurences at that place:

1. Reading a PSA and seeing some kind of movement outside the studio window. I glance over and see a bull trying, very hard, to mount a cow. Legs were up on her back, and he was kinda chasing her on his hind legs. You try keeping a straight face... I did! Afterall, it was a PSA about ADD. I didn't want to appear a victim.

2. This one happened often: Same kind of deal. Reading a PSA and you have to speak up louder because the landscaper is driving by your studio window on the lawnmower! ha ha!

Ahhh, memories...

 

[Madmansam]

I wonder how many deejays got their start at there?

That's where I started. Did weekends and some overnights (remember those) there back in 1992. Ron Good in the morning (Randy "Bubba" Black at Kat), John Hampton middays, Steve Garcia in the afternoon, Dave Myles at night.....then me Chris Wylde. Horrible fake DJ name but Knox had a rule that jocks could only have one syllable names, and it was my first gig...so I wanted something that sounded cool, I guess. John & Steve were exempt. Some great stories from that place....... my car got shot up on Cinco De Mayo......hot summer days with the windows open and a cow hanging in head inside....the rubber boots you had to put on the get meter readings.....and all the dedications you would get on a saturday night from lock up....."Yo, this is Chuchi. Can you play "I'm Your Puppet" for my girl La Brown Eyes?"

Tons of stories......I've got a memory like a vice.

It ended when Knox came into the studio on a late Tuesday evening, claims he had no idea who I was and fired my ass on the spot. It was about 9:30. The next jock wouldn't get there until 12. "It's OK." he said. "Just let the record play out and leave." RIP Knox.

Moved from there to a pretty successful 15 year career that I just finished as the afternoon guy at the Fish in Sac. Now in PR....more money....better hours......no pink slips.....not getting fired tomorrow....

Boy I also remember all those Saturday Night dedications especially from the loved ones both in and out of the County Jail. Makes me wonder if the jail didn't allow FM Radios there? I fondly remember this dedication: "I'd Like To Dedicate A Song To My Homie In The County Jail...". I'd always bust up laughing.

 

[Madmansam]

I am surprised noone has mentioned this before, but KSTN-1420 had a fierce battle with KJOY-1280 back in the 1970's. At the time both stations were Top 40 (KSTN went Top 40 in 1957 and KJOY in 1969). In the 1970's, KSTN played a more R&B type of Top 40 while KJOY went for the Pop type of Top 40. By the mid-1970's, KSTN played lots and lots of Disco Music while KJOY played almost none. KSTN also was 100% Live And Local while KJOY had the occasional Syndicated Show like AMERICAN TOP 40 WITH CASEY CASEM and THE DOCTOR DEMENTO SHOW. On Sunday Mornings, KSTN-1420 played Gospel Music And Local Church services. In 1981, When KJOY went to an more Adult Type Of Top 40 (bordering on AC), KSTN tweaked its format and played more Pop Top 40 and less R&B but when KJOY went back to Top 40 in 1984, KSTN went back to R&B. By the late 1980's, if I recall, KSTN was one of the first stations in the area to play Rhythmic CHR with some Rap.Even before KWIN! What did KSTN-1420 in was the fact it was on the AM dial and Knox was insistant that the FM remained Spanish.If KSTN had flipped its FM to CHR/Rhythmic in the late 1980's, Who knows how the current situation would be in the ratings? By 1999, KSTN dropped CHR/Rhythmic to become POWER OLDIES 1420. at that time, it was more like a JACK type of format, where they played almost anything.But recently KSTN became more CLASSIC HITS.

 

[ricoontheradio]

On Sunday Mornings, KSTN-1420 played Gospel Music And Local Church services.

They did this when I worked there, and the reverand would fall asleep on the air... snoring and all. I'm not making that up.

 

[Tube Shortwave]

I never, EVER thought I would read this!

I thought that there was a LaRue family partnership formed so that the stations would ALWAYS stay in the family, or am I wrong? Knox transferred the licenses of KSTN AM and FM to 'LaRue Family Partnership' before he died. Was the family just waiting for his passing to cash in on all his hard work?

Although I never had the pleasure to work there, I heard plenty of stories, and I know plenty of people there then and now.

#1 person whose future I wonder about is John Hampton. I mean, except for KJOY (99.3) who would hire him to be on the air? The guy has a lot of recognition with the older Stockton crowd, but that is about it. I remember tuning in John Hampton once in a while when I was younger with his unique speech impediment (pronounced the calls "Kay-Ess-Tay-Enn") which he has apparently since outgrown. I remember picking up the latest copy of John's KSTN Top 30 lists every week at Tower Records. I remember John doing his remotes from the American Cancer Society office and livening up an otherwise dreadful day and event. I remember taking the bus to the station to pick up prizes and John himself would help me. I remember John talking shamelessly about driving Eddie Money to the Lizanne Martinez benefit in his orange Gremlin. I remember John doing the remote from Dodge Ridge with Paul Shinn and dropping an 'F' bomb on the air at Paul. I remember John dutifully staying up all night doing the elections returns remote broadcasts distributing info that you could easily find on the net or any TV station. I remember John getting on the air and announcing the passing of Mr. LaRue and you could really hear the pain in his voice, yet he was professional and put together a marvelous live tribute to the legendary station founder and owner/operator.

Even with all this, is John really hire-able?? I hope he has a 'plan-B'.

Also, with new owners comes new directions, and that makes me wonder about longtime Chief Engineer Paul Shinn. I know the guy does work for other stations, but KSTN is his full-time job. He is probably more hire-able than John because there is more need for engineers than washed up, yet talented jocks. However, after performing miracles with that old gear all this time, can he work on anything modern? After changing tubes, can he make an HD station? I hope he doesn't lose his job there in the transition.

Last, I wonder what will happen to ex-FM jock Lupe Esquer (sp?). Lupe has been there like 30 years I think. Although I don't ever remember listening to her, I have met her and she was really nice. The AM jock that introduced us told me that she had quite a following with the spanish listeners. Even though she wasn't on the air full-time anymore, concentrating on her office duties, apparently she STILL draws a crowd. Will the new owners keep the format and recognize the name recognition of Lupe and put her back on the air where she belongs? Will she get a pink slip?

Inquiring minds want to know!!! Does anyone at KSTN AM or FM have anything to add?

 

[RadioStarOne]

Famous Last Words: "All Things Must Pass, Even Radio Stations!" Greg Mundae KXOA-FM 107.9 Stereo Rock as it became Classic Gold Rock and Roll in the early 1970's. RIP Greg... Same for KSTN AM/FM All things Must Pass... How long before these stations get flipped over to Clear Channel by Independence Media Holdings? You know that is what will happen now don't you? I went to High School with Greg and I knew him and his twin sisters very well. Hello Mary and Hello Terry...

 

[Red78]

Re: Surprising Breaking News out of Stockton! Hell has Frozen Over!

I worked for KSTN-AM ifor about six months in the mid-90's and Knox LaRue couldn't have been more of a gentleman. That's because he WASN'T. He had so much hate for disc jockeys it wasn't even funny...Both stations were in a structure that resembled an old house from the post-WWII era.I'm surprised the building code people didn't bust him. There were even separations in the cinder blocks.

I am thankful for my time there because my aircheck allowed me to move on to bigger and better things in my radio career. I'll always have fond (and occasionally hilarious) memories of that place. You are certainly the exception. Hats-off to John Hampton for outlasting him.

 

[kestrel]

Just checkin' in.
"Fast Eddie" Garcia here, worked there twice, the second time being from 1996 to 9/98. I worked at KJOY and KSTN at the same time, at one point. Had no car. Rode a bike. Between the two stations I was doing three airshifts a day.
Knox was good to me. I cried a little when he died.
I'm worried about John, but I bet he lands okay. I know he will.
Some of my closest friends in the business passed through there, like Terry Simmons, who was "Syl McCray" on the air there in the 80s. Used to be real tight with Charlee Simons, too, until he became a fundiBushie and started sending out anti-immigrant brown-bashing emails to people.
Zeena, if you are reading this, I was in love with you. I hope you know that. It could have been great. I would have dumped who I was with for you at the time in a cold minute. I hope you are well.
Ryan Stone, I used to give you a hard time, but you were cool people. Thanks for putting up with my practical jokes.
Funniest thing I ever did there, in the 80's: I was doing mornings, and came in 2 hrs early to clean up the prod room. Couldn't sleep. I killed my lights at the end of Ralph Avenue and crept around the back of the building. Looking in the control room window, I saw the jock yakking on the phone with his back turned. I banged on the window with the flat of my hand, hard. Made a noise like to wake the dead. The poor guy shot straight up out of the chair, did a 360 in midair, and landed back in the chair white as a sheet and grabbing his chest. Sweet! ;D
I work in Fall River, MA, now, at WSAR-AM. The station's physical plant reminds me a LOT of KSTN, so I find myself thinking of that shop a lot lately.
Them were some damn good times.
I wouldn't trade my time there for anything.
Tossup between that and nights at KWG-AM being the most fun I ever had on the air.
And the stuff about Reverend Crosby falling asleep on the air is true!
It is, as many in this thread have said, the end of an era.

 

[Burgess]

Reverend Crosby!!! That's right. I forgot his name. John Hampton and the Gremlin!!!! His license plate actually said "Hampton"!! More memories.....

I actually got a chance to interview Randy Macho Man Savage at the station. He came in to the studio and off the air, he kept saying," What the hell is this place? You actually work here?" Imagine in the macho man voice, much funnier.

I was standing outside with the late night guy one saturday night, he was having a smoke, and I needed a break, we had only one record, a mix record that was about 13 minutes long. So we're outside and the late night guy, his name was Eddie, said dude, it would be funny if we walked back in and the record was skipping. At that point we'd been outside about 9 minutes or so, and of course, we walk back in, the record WAS skipping........within the first 1 minute of the track.

The old filing card rotation system.....

Gosh....I'm sure I will remember more....

a KSTN reunion might be kinda interested. Anyone know how to get ahold of John Hampton?

 

[ricoontheradio]

Anyone know how to get ahold of John Hampton?

They're business number is probably still the same: I wanna say it was 948-KSTN -- 209 area code of course.

 

[djj]

I was trying to remember the Reverand's name, too...Crosby! lol! Thanks, folks!

Mad Man Sam mentions:
>> By the late 1980's, if I recall, KSTN was one of the first stations in the area to play
>> Rhythmic CHR with some Rap.Even before KWIN!

Yes...that was when they became "Fresh 142"...great format!
And then they were "World Famous 1420" before the "Power Oldies" flip, no?

>> What did KSTN-1420 in was the fact it was on the AM dial and Knox was insistant
>> that the FM remained Spanish.If KSTN had flipped its FM to CHR/Rhythmic in the late 1980's,
>> Who knows how the current situation would be in the ratings?

It likely would've been a ratings powerhouse if the format switched to the FM, but it sounds like
Uncle Knox didn't want to put any more money into either the AM or FM toward the last decade
or so of his life...

Like others mentioned before me, I never had the "pleasure" of working at KSTN, but knew
many others who did in the early-mid-1980s like Gentleman Jim overnights, Charlee Simons,
Jeff Burnett on weekends, and P.D. Marc Hunter, whom John Hampton replaced in 1981!!
(Hunter became my boss at KWG in 1981 during its country format, Feb 1981-June 1982.
I left for KWIN in October '81)...

Hampton's a good guy; I remember when I handled music at Delta College Radio (KSJC),
I would visit KSTN on Ralph Avenue and John would always give us extra copies of records
we couldn't obtain from the record companies or elsewhere. I hope things go well for John
in the upcoming transition...

Someone collaborate here: I was told by one ex-KSTNer that Knox's pet phrase upon
dismissing people was, "Pick up your check!...(snaps his fingers, then points thumb in
a hitchhike manner)...GET OUT!!"
--jay

 

[Tom_KYA1260]

I remember John talking shamelessly about driving Eddie Money to the Lizanne Martinez benefit in his orange Gremlin.

Inquiring minds want to know!!! Does anyone at KSTN AM or FM have anything to add?

I can only add that Lizanne would still be with us if it weren't for Knox costing a certain air talent in 1982 a job.

 

[Tube Shortwave]

The way he fired me was by calling me 'dumb'! Ha ha! I worked the weekends. One weekend, he popped his head in the door and was yelling at me for parking my car where it shouldn't have been, so I said 'no problem' and got up to go move it. Then, he yelled at me for leaving the studio, so I sat back down at the board. Then, he started yelling at me for parking where I shouldn't. You get the idea. So, I just couldn't take it anymore and got up to go move the car anyway. He followed me all the way to the car yelling the whole time, said "You know what you are? You're D-U-M-M, DUMB!". I got in and started the motor, then the thought flashed through my mind to just drive away. I didn't, but I wanted to! Anyway, I parked the car 'where I was supposed to' and went back in and finished my shift. The next payday, my check wasn't signed, but there was a note clipped to it to see Knox. He was in his office, so I went in and said 'Hi'. He told me that I wasn't needed anymore, they got someone else to cover my shift next weekend, and signed my check. Then he thanked me and told me to have a nice day. No big deal. All in all, I thought he did the actual firing with a lot of class. The stuff he did the weekend before was outrageous!

 

[Madmansam]

Does anyone know if Independence Media is planning an immediate LMA or will it be a while before the changeover?

 

[newsperson]

Newsperson responds:

Yes I know for a fact that they are not planning on doing an LMA. It's the old traditional wait for the FCC approval and take over the station operations when you consumate the trasaction.

You can read some other facts in the FCC filing. They have the right to lease the present studio/office up to six-months. This means they want to have the use of the existing office/studio while they look for a new one.

They also have a long-term right to lease the FM tower space on Mount Diabo, for 25-years. This means they believe in the site!

It took a lot of time for them to solidify the purchase and you will notice that they are buying the stock of the individuals and not the assetts of the company. In this situation the sellers are only taxed once on the capital gain of the stock.

I heard through another general manager in Stockton that Robert LaRue is not happy about the sale. Yes he will have to move on except he will have money to buy a different station so he will be in a very good position. I do not feel sorry for him in any way because there are new opportunties ahead that he doesn't know about yet.

That's the latest, does anyone have any other news on this?

Newsperson

 

[kestrel]

djj, I have a feeling I know who you are.
Your name is "Jay?"
Did you ever work at KWIN when the Farrs owned the station?
How about at KUIC?

 

[Tube Shortwave]

Hey Newsperson-

Do you have a link to the FCC filing? I can't locate it anywhere!

 

[djj]

djj, I have a feeling I know who you are.
Your name is "Jay?"
Did you ever work at KWIN when the Farrs owned the station?
How about at KUIC?

Yes, that is me...at KWIN til 8/11/83, then at KUIC for
two-and-a-half years...
Hope all is well, "Fast Eddie"...I remember you well and happily,
especially in 1982-83 at KSJC, but also at KWG during my
infrequent trips to the Valley...
Barney Farr, fyi, passed away a coupla years ago;
Keith, the longtime Sales Manager, is alive and well in Lodi,
studying radio history...
--jay

 

[milford]

Nice to see so many familiar names on here! Hello, Jay, Eddie, Jeremy.

Madmansam, we MUST know each other! Obviously, you've worked in this market for a while, or at least kept good tabs on it.

I also never had the "pleasure" to work at KSTN, which is why I remember Knox fondly. LOL! Like most people in the Valley, I've known many, many jocks who have worked there over the years and know many fun & outrageous stories!!!

It is indeed the end of an era.