Top Radio Talent - (Urban/UAC/Rhy-AC/CHR-Rhy)

[VIBE109]

I'm curious to know your opinions on some of the "top" on-air talent and personalities from L.A. rhythmic & urban radio from the past 30 or so years. "Top" can be defined however you'd like - ratings success, avid/long-standing cult following, career longevity, pure talent, etc. From KUTE, KJLH, KPWR, KKBT, KIBB, KACE, KHHT, etc. Thoughts?

Also - for those of you in the know - who are/were some of the best mixers?

 

[wdb2003]

Theo was very popular on KKBT and KHHT/KCMG. Wasnt too impressed when he took over as PD of KDAY and well you all know how that went down. Neitherless a radio legend for Los Angeles.

Kevin Nash from( KBLX SF) KKBT and now KJLH one of the best male urban jocks on radio today. Kevin Nash can still be on a Mainstream Urban station and sound good. I usually catch him at night around 11pm when he gives advice on life

John Monds from KKBT/KRBV now doing afternoons on WMMJ in D.C. I never listen to him in the early 90's but when he was on KRBV for a year I loved how did his afternoon show.

Diana Steele I never listen to her on KKBT in the early 90's. Not sure if she was on Mega doing middays before the flip to Hot. When she was on KHHT she did step in and handle mornngs after the whole celeberity host didnt work out. When she joined Cliff on KRBV for a few months I started listening another great talent

BTW VIBE 109 is a good internet station Exactly whats missing on the radio dial. Its now on my Tune In app in the car. Whoever owns it needs to get it on the air in LA. Maybe lease out a AM station or FM.

 

[AM FM listener]

I will go with (1) Big Boy, (2) Cliff Winston, and (3) Lon McQ.

 

[Big E]

For ratings succes I'll go with Joe "The Boomer" Servantez, not too sure, but I think hes one of the last jocks to have double digit ratings (I can get his actual numbers if you want.), while on KPWR, and for cult following while he was on KIBB.
For longevity and cult following i will go with John London and The House Party, while he was on The Beat, before the move to Mega 100.
And for overall success/longevity/following i will have to go with Rick Dees, even though his stuff really hasnt changed over the years, he's somehow on the air.

 

[mandella]

Big Boy is a market staple. KJLH just hasn't been the same since Cliff left. Both topical, and funny. He made the station sound major market as morning man, and P.D.. Theo was legend in the Beat"s heyday, and I also think Sean Andre at night on 'Hot', had a great sound.

 

[ronkaram]

Wasn't Joe the Boomer the morning man on The Groove during it's last days?

 

[VIBE109]

All good selections. I wonder what the ones not currently on radio are doing.

BTW we have a male-heavy selection so far. What about the ladies?

BTW VIBE 109 is a good internet station Exactly whats missing on the radio dial. Its now on my Tune In app in the car. Whoever owns it needs to get it on the air in LA. Maybe lease out a AM station or FM.

Thanks. We're gearing up for some bigger things.

 

[BJordan]

Theo Mizuhara KKBT 1994-99 a very popular voice of Los Angeles during the 90's and that's when he actually took requests, I still remember when people were shocked to discover that he was asian american and he sounded black. Julio G 1995-01 I miss the DJ Melo D mixes at 7pm everynight another great KKBT jock who started on the original KDAY as a teen. Nautica De La Cruz sounds very down to earth and a fly señorita that enjoys helping out ghettos of Los Angeles she started on Power 106 in 1998 when to KKBT 100.3 The Beat and remained there from 2000-06 and from there to KDAY 2006-07 and she can currently be heard on KJLH from 10:00am-1:00pm. Out of all the jocks my favorite is Theo Mizuhara because he was reponsible for KKBT 92.3 The Beat success as a mass appeal Mainstream Urban. The Baka Boyz were comical latino fellows on KPWR from 1992-99 they were one of many L.A. DJ's to play Warren G's Regulate and Luniz I Got 5 on It which are staples here in Los Angeles. If have more favorites Jocks coming soon…I'm just waiting on your thoughts.

 

[vonrollskyway1]

The Boomer on Power 106 Joe Servantez is my pic.Huge Huge Huge numbers.Even though he isnt on the radio anymore,he stll attracts attention with his classic voice where ever he goes..People hear him talk and say"" Hay your the Boomer that was on Power 106 back when I was growing up in los angeles.Thanks for being part of my growing up"" Boomer if your reading this We all miss you on Los Angeles radio.. ;D ;D ;D

 

[BJordan]

I also like Lon McQ because he is a trooper, he has been on KJLH since the 80's and I'm surprised that he had stood the test of time on there. Tha Goodfellas & Tito and DJ Mr. Choc. Those cat's made my afternoons especially Tito eventhough I couldn't understand what the heck he was from time to time. I miss Tito's Top 4@4. Adimu he did afternoons on KKBT from 2000-03 and just like Theo Mizuhara he had a deep voice and DJ Dense did the best mixes every afternoon at 5. Cliff Winston he was the most prominent DJ on KJLH and an excellent PD, every african american adult enjoyed listen to him from 6am-10am ranging from 1993-06. I miss Janine Hydell she was on KJLH from January 1996 to June 2009. She started on KJLH co host on Cliff's morning show then in 2006 she worked afternoons with Lon McQ until she was laid off in 2009. Oh and I forgot about Delorse Thomspon she worked the all night shift at KJLH from 1996-09 she left the same time as Janine Hydell.

 

[VIBE109]

I'm just waiting on your thoughts.

Oh I agree with all that have been mentioned. I would just add Ananda Lewis for jock and Spinderella for mixer.

 

[XMportable]

Vibe 109 is there a direct url stream in MP3(23.45.34.59:8000 format) or windows media (.asx file). for your radio. I have a portable internet radio that will only stream from those url formats. It may be embeded in your phone apps. If so, can you give out so I can listen on my portable player please.

Thanks!

 

[wdb2003]

I'm just waiting on your thoughts.

Oh I agree with all that have been mentioned. I would just add Ananda Lewis for jock and Spinderella for mixer.

Ananada Lewis was good on KKBT before the flip to Urban AC. Ananada started off doing mornings with John Salley and she handle the 9am-12pm shift well. She was replaced with Shirley Hayes who became PD of the station after Kevin Fleming stepped down.

 

[wdb2003]

Might as well add the ladies of Hot to the list

Renne Taylor One of the original and last jocks at KHHT when the station first launched in the summer of 2001. Always cheerful and inspiring during her shifts. She also VT for a few Clear Channel Urban AC stations at night in the midwest and south.

Josefa Salinas I listen to her show sometimes on Sunday morning when Im going to church or headed to work. Very informal and deeply involved in the southland community. She was at KJLH and KPWR in the early 90's

 

[VIBE109]

Vibe 109 is there a direct url stream in MP3(23.45.34.59:8000 format) or windows media (.asx file). for your radio. I have a portable internet radio that will only stream from those url formats. It may be embeded in your phone apps. If so, can you give out so I can listen on my portable player please

We have both an AAC stream and an MP3 stream. I think the MP3 stream is used for our Tunein listing (http://tunein.com/radio/VIBE-109-s140380/). The MP3 stream is definitely used for our iPhone and Adnroid apps. I'll send you a direct url via PM.

Renne Taylor One of the original and last jocks at KHHT

Speaking of KHHT, you reminded me of the "celeb jock" phenomenon. Those like Al B. Sure (KHHT), Chaka Khan (KIBB), Brian McKnight (KTWV), Mario Lopez (KHHT), etc., who had established careers in music or TV before their radio gig. Steve Harvey is another example. It's interesting to observe how they've fared in the public eye versus "traditional" jocks.

 

[wdb2003]

Some people cant stand Steve Harvey but neitherless hes apart of LA radio history so he counts. I forgot about Brian McKnight stint at the Wave. I actually did like hearing his piano playing in the morning. My cousin step mother is a sales manager at the Wave and I had a chance to meet Pat Prescott. Might as well count her in too very nice lady. Unfortunately Brian was not there he was on tour and the show was pre recorded. Rosemary Jimenez showed me around the studio when she was the producer of the morning show. It was early and none of the staff was there only the dj's at the other stations.

 

[Big E]

Dont forget Smokey Robinson on Mega/Hot 92.3

 

[wdb2003]

He counts too KHHT did bring Smokey back to host Sunday mornings for a shortwhile. I remeber the show being syndicated on KSOC in Dallas for a short time.

But also who could forget Shirely Strawberry. Shes been at KKBT since the 90's and one of original co host since John Londons days. Leaving that station open up many doors for her landing at KDAY for a brief moment then moving to New York City and now Atlanta.

And Jacquie Stephens from KJLH. I loved the way she delivered the news updates on KJLH in the afternoons and her Saturday morning show. One of the updates I remeber Jacquie saying was, Lon and Janine you been waiting for this one all day. Lon saying "Come on Girl" to Jacquie. Britney Spears once again did not show up for court during her custody battle with Kevin Federline. But her contributions to that station and the community of Los Angeles will never be forgotten shes now in Chicago.

 

[BJordan]

He counts too KHHT did bring Smokey back to host Sunday mornings for a shortwhile. I remeber the show being syndicated on KSOC in Dallas for a short time.

But also who could forget Shirely Strawberry. Shes been at KKBT since the 90's and one of original co host since John Londons days. Leaving that station open up many doors for her landing at KDAY for a brief moment then moving to New York City and now Atlanta.

And Jacquie Stephens from KJLH. I loved the way she delivered the news updates on KJLH in the afternoons and her Saturday morning show. One of the updates I remeber Jacquie saying was, Lon and Janine you been waiting for this one all day. Lon saying "Come on Girl" to Jacquie. Britney Spears once again did not show up for court during her custody battle with Kevin Federline. But her contributions to that station and the community of Los Angeles will never be forgotten shes now in Chicago.

Jacquie Stephens was also did "KJLH Sports Timer" on the morning show with Cliff & Janine. Remember Robin Banks, the lady who used do the traffic on "The Request Drive @ 5" with Lon McQ back in the day. I miss Tattoo also, he kept me laughing during Big Boy's Neighborhood even though he's not a legend on KPWR. My friend who I told you about reminds me so much of Tattoo and has a crazy sense of humor just like him.