NEW REVELATIONS UNEARTHED IN THE CITY OF MISSIONS
When a person has broadcast on as many Texas radio frequencies as I have in four decades, there's
bound to be several cross-over hits and misses. North Dallas' Radio Park at 9900 McRee Road, which was the noble home
of KBOX/KTLC FM, was my domicile from 1971-72. CHET MAXWELL chetmaxwell@sbcglobal.net was the General Manager.
All these years, just took it for granted that CHET still maintained his residence in Big D, but MASTER MAXWELL
just informed me that he has been a citizen of the Alamo City since he retired from Dallas radio. CHET proudly proclaimed,
My Daughters and Grand Kids are here. Skipper MAXWELL said his premiere engagement in radio was as he put it,
My first job in Radio was in San Antonio as a salesmen and later Sales Manager for KENS radio (now KKYX). KENS originally
had KABC as its name.
As does happen too often in radio, management tired of those monikers. KBAT became the new choice. KBAT moved from
the city to way out northwest to its huge transmitter site on Bandera Highway. Pop Standards KBAT-680 was my home as a newscaster
and talk show co-host in 1971. Beautiful area where deer roamed freely and birds chirped in harmony. When the Country two-step
boogie-bug bit Swanco's Alamo City spot on the dial in the early 1970s, KKYX was its new epithet.
CHET let another cat out of the bag, You will be interested to know that I hired your good friend Harrell Banks
into Radio. It was CHET who placed HARREL BANKS into radio? What a coincidence, because BANKS was my airwaves Manager
during time spent at KBUC FM/AM-San Antonio (1968-70) and KXOL-Ft. Worth (1975-76). HARREL was also a lawyer. BANKS is a guy who cannot escape my memory. Loads and loads of testimony still exists.
DEAN MARTIN's #1 blast from the 1955 Christmas past says it all, Memories Are Made of This, and what remembrances
they are. Only 12 years of age in 1955 but so many of those wonderful Golden Oldie tunes remain in the memory chip. The importance
of teeny-bopper (12-17) listenership should never be overlooked.
Radio's merry-go-round keeps on a turnin'. KAJA FM in San Antonio has announced that PAM TYLER's
two year contract ran its course. PAM has left the building. TYLER moves on from her position on the morning show she shared
with RANDY CARROLL. KAJA FM's Program Director, CLAYTON ALLEN, will fill PAM's boots.
My radio galaxy link in the Alamo City, ED GUERRERO, has some fascinating trivia on the proverbial
SONNY MELENDREZ.
ED GUERRERO (San Antonio, TX) edward-guerrero@sbcglobal.net Jim, Sonny had an AM drive show on KLUP until management decided to change the station format to a conservative
talk show late last year. Now, he is somewhat focused in his public service through his website. As for Sonny, he went out
to different markets through the years, but always returned back to San Antonio in between. Did You cross paths with him during
your SAT tenures? Talk Shows: While here during the late 60's and 70's did You run across "Ole Leather Lungs" WOAI's talk
show host..Allan Dale? Read the Dr. Don Rose obit...missed his show by a few years. I worked in the Bay Area ( San Leandro
and Hayward ) in the mid 90's. Ed, UR'SATC ( Your San Antonio Texas Connection )
Never came across either ALLEN DALE-WOAI or SONNY MELENDREZ-KTSA during one or the other of twice-made
trips to San Antonio radio. These excursions blanketed six radio frequencies in the Mission City. Do remember when
SONNY arrived from El Paso as the much bally-hooed 6-10 night creature on the Big T in the early seventies. MELENDREZ really
pumped out the hits on KTSA-550.
Appears that we deejays tend to become web site writers with a broadcasters' touch when we step
away from the radio mic. SONNY joins JIMMY RABBITT, BOB HAMILTON and the ROSE as keyboard clickers.
BOB HAMILTON sysop@newradiostar.com Jim...How totally cool your website is...I want to make sure that people are aware of it...how also amazing you
still have a copy of the Radio Quarterly report 77...28 years later..that really means a lot to me...I have some ideas on
how I can direct more people to sites like yours...have to figure out the best way to do this...thanks Bob Hamilton
BLAKE LINDSAY (Dallas, TX) blazin_blake@iqmail.net Hi Jim! My name is Blake Lindsay, and I want
to commend you, on your fun column. I enjoy hearing your take on radio, and the people you allow to communicate their
views.
I worked in San Antonio radio, from early 1984, through the end of 1991. I had worked part time prier
to KTFM, at Austin's K-98, KHFI. I want to share with you, my first full time radio story, which emphasizes a very positive
program director, who gave me, a totally blind guy, a nice break. Here is my true story. Hope you enjoy.
My first full time radio job, was with KTFM, in San Antonio. I had made a choice, to not inform
Billy Thorman, the program director, that I was totally Blind in both eyes. I hoped it might help, to literally keep him in
the dark on that potentially shady subject.
Billy and I, had a very positive introduction. I firmly shook his hand, like nothing was at
all different about me. He handled his brief shock beautifully, when I confidently asked him, do I begin this week, or
next? This question rang out, before I was officially hired. I was pleasantly pleased to observe that Bill's reaction,
was upbeat, and he became considerately inquisitive, asking me whether I had special needs that we should address, prier to
making my job work smoothly. I was impressed, that all of Billy’s questions, were all excellent.
I began, in a few days, and had a four year relationship with Waterman Broadcasting. Some of
the best memories in my whole life are about my first airshift with KTFM. I was out to show Billy Thorman, he had made the
right choice, by giving me the appreciated and encouraging opportunity to shine, despite my challenge of sight impairment.
It was a breeze. Bill, was completely at ease, and didn't ring the stations dreaded red phone one single time. I was
able to completely relax, and have an enjoyable experience.
My show producer's duties were to set me up for a full hour of music and commercials. They would
also read titles, and commercial out cues, on a blank cassette tape, enabling me to work independently and know in advance
all that I needed to. They also assisted me, by completing our stations commercial logs. I didn't miss a beat.
Fortunately, Billy, was quite impressed and best of all, completely relieved. He had never
worked with a blind person before, which makes anyone realize, that Billy took what many would consider a risk, or gamble,
and made both of us winners. Blake Lindsay
A terrific story which BLAKE LINDSAY has brought to us. This brings to mind another fellow radio
deejay with a sight impairment by the name of JOHN JAKSHA. This was back in 1978 or early 79 when I had moved
over from noon-3 pm at KNUZ-1230 to join KULF-790 here in Houston as a swing deejay, which involved 7-midnight (M-F),
plus week-ends.
CHUCK JOSEPH was Program Director of KMCV FM. CHUCK hired me as the mid-day deejay. Here I was in another
double-duty situation in radio, but that's the way I like it. Bring it on.
KMCV FM's music format was Christian with a slight hint of Country. Among many of his other
activies, the right REV. JIMMY SWAGGART owned KMCV FM. SWAGGART demanded that his deejays spin a minimum of one
LP cut of his plinkin' and singin' no less than once per hour. Preacher JIMMY did not consider himself a Country
singer. SWAGGART proudly proclaimed that his style of music was sent from heaven above. Chaplain JIMMY let it be known
that his music mode was Middle of the Road. Middle of what road?
JIMMY SWAGGART, MICKEY GILLEY and JERRY LEE LEWIS were cousins from Louisiana. JERRY LEE was the
oldest of the three and had taught them how to plink the piano keys. Ferriday, Louisiana was THE KILLER's birthplace. LEWIS
had played the piano since he was nine years old. Nobody in the entire world could compare with JERRY LEE LEWIS and his pumpin'
piano, but MICKEY and JIMMY tried their best to duplicate that sensational LEWIS verve. Both GILLEY and SWAGGART
developed JERRY LEE's style, except for jumping on top of the piano or kicking the piano bench backwards or slinging
their long hair in the wind. MICKEY and JIMMY were subduded versions of JERRY LEE LEWIS.
Evangelist SWAGGART constantly sermonized about the dreadful sinful ways of his cuz, JERRY LEE LEWIS. Hey,
it was JERRY LEE who taught vicar JIMMY his pumpin' piano mannerisms and crooning style. LEWIS'
pizzazz had transformed pastor SWAGGART into a multi-millionaire status. Minister SWAGGART's home office,
huge church, college, enormous residence and spacious ranch were nestled in the kingdom of Baton
Rouge, Louisiana. This was BROTHER JIMMY's world headquarters.
KMCV FM's General Manager was a real character. His name was SAM. He looked similiar to BOSS HOGG on
the Dukes of Hazzard TV show. SAM was not harsh or gruff spoken like mayor HOGG but had a somewhat
comparable attitude and appearance. Good ole SAM knew absolutely nothing about radio programming, but the word from above
was to never air any of that evil Rock-n-roll music. The game plan was to stick to established gospel quartets and
soloists with friar SWAGGART's melodies tossed into the musical salad.
SAM dressed, talked and performed very much like the proverbial used car salesman at a tiny car lot way
out in the boonies. A shiny lime green suit with matching lime green tie and socks was one of SAM's favorite attires.
Get the picture? KMCV FM had a circus clown for a manager.
Both CHUCK and I had First Class FCC licenses. So, JOSEPH was also the Chief Engineer. As did happen
quite frequently, SAM and JOSEPH disagreed. One fine day, CHUCK was told to leave the building. JIM ROSE became
the new Program Director, Music Director, Chief Engineer and head bottle washer of KMCV FM.
JOHN JAKSHA possessed a sight impairment. JOHN inherited the mid-day time slot and I moved
over to PM Drive. JAKSHA never let on to anyone of his eyesight difficulty. JOHN ran an absolutely supurb deejay show. No
dead air, great music selection and balance. JAKSHA and I were in total harmony with the music direction.
At least a third of the LP's were not what I wanted to air on KMCV FM. One day I scoured through all
the albums and removed each one which did not meet my yardstick. Must've been at least 300 LP's in that
assortment. So that boss SAM would not notice these record gems were absent, I hid them in the cabinet under
the turntables in the control room. KMCV FM became more and more like a cat and mouse game.
Late one Saturday night, a phone call from JOHN JAKSHA entered the picture. JOHN said the all night
fella never showed. JAKSHA had sort of become KMCV FM's assistant Program Director in my absence. JOHN remarked
that he would hurry to the station so the other deejay could go home. Told JAKSHA to hang tight. I was on the way. Informed
my girlfriend, SHIRLEY MORGAN, that tonight she was going to become a deejay.
KMCV FM's studios were quite a distance away but SHIRLEY was the chauffeur. She starmed Houston's highways
and byways in her 350 powered Monte Carlo. When we arrived, JOHN JAKSHA was holding down the fort. Told MS. MORGAN to plop
her pretty blond self down behind the mic. Showed SHIRLEY how to cue up records on the turntables. She
was very nervous. Observed her for a couple of minutes, then went to my office for a listen. JAKSHA remained
in the control room if she needed any assistance. The divine MS. MORGAN was a pronto student of broadcasting, plus, SHIRLEY
had the voice of an angel and was as witty as LENO. This was just what the doctor ordered.
Later, JOHN came to me with a huge grin on his face. Asked him why the big smile? JAKSHA told me that SHIRLEY
had made a big blunder and she quickly exclaimed in a loud voice ****! JOHN said SHIRLEY quickly gained
her composure and begged JAKSHA, Please don't tell JIM what I said. So, my new deejay trainee had uttered
a four letter undesirable word in the control room of a Christian radio station? At least she hadn't said it on the air. Life
goes on.
SAM's daughter was the receptionist and station stool pigeon. GOLDIE HAWN of TV's Laugh In was exactly
her IQ, attitude and looks. This junior quack tried to act as KMCV FM's Music Director. If she heard any
tune which she thought had too much of a Rock-n-roll sound, she would ring daddy SAM at home. Then, SAM would chime the
radiant radio station hotline.
Finally, become totally disgusted with the whole SWAGGART bunch and slammed Promised
Land by ELVIS onto the heavenly voice of KMCV FM. This brought the rafters down. SAM's spy daughter woke him up
at home. The crimson hotline reverberated. It was SAM. He yelled at me to get ELVIS out of the building. That fine
E-P LP joined my personal record collection.
Not too far away from that event, SAM told me to leave the building. Almost immediately, KULF's new Program
Director, JOHN LONG, made me a very appetizing offer to perform the noon-3 pm slot permanently. Well, as eternal
as radio allows. LONG unfolded many more bucks than radio had ever stacked in front of me. Yeah baby! Everything
was onward and upward. JAKSHA became KMCV FM's Program Director. Not much longer, a voice from the
east in Baton Rouge, Louisiana demanded that SAM leave the building, also.
JOHN always was full of ideas. JAKSHA came up with the notion to change the call letters to KJOJ FM, which
stood for Joy of Jesus. A few years later, JOHN was told to leave the building. Not too long after that, JIMMY SWAGGART
and his entire crew were evacuated from the building.
SHIRLEY sailed on to Victoria to become a deejay at a Top 40 radio station. Victoria is about
100 miles straight from Houston on the Southwest Freeway (59) near the Gulf of Mexico. In the meantime, KXYZ
had changed ownerships and switched formats from Contemporary Rock to Contemporary Christian music. CHUCK JOSEPH was the new Program
Director. SHIRLEY returned to Houston to become a deejay on KXYZ-1320.
KJOJ FM became fodder for the common market. Several different ownerships and formats came
to pass. The initial direction was Dance Music. So the Joy of Jesus became the joy of satan. Today, KJOJ FM's music
has as its title, Regional Mexican. A brand new KJOJ AM radio station has sprung up in Houston at
880 on the dial, but with a Vietnamese format. Houston is an international city. We have something for everybody in the entire
world right here in the Bayou City.
Radio is much akin to a fast merry-go-round. Quickly hop onboard for the fast twirl. Hang on tight until your
grip slips, then someone else leaps forward to take your position. But, oh what a fabulous ride.
