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April 28, 2024 8:21 pm  #1


On This Day Spring 1965


April 28, 1965 at 3pm a small 5,000 watt radio station in Los Angeles, and #15 in the market, shifted from MOR music to something called BOSS RADIO.  The format did away with the MOR tunes, long breaks and chatter from announcers.  Replacing the over produced lengthy jingles with new short and punchy stations idents. Some jingles only three seconds in length, and sung by the Johnny Mann singers. 

Much More Music was the key with a drastically smaller playlist, less talk and the hits played in a tighter rotation. Some on air heavy weights like the Real Don Steele were brought in to navigate the new sound.

The format was developed by Bill Drake and Ron Jacobs.  A few other California markets also had the BOSS RADIO format for a few months prior.  However it was KHJ that made the new sound a success.  Variations of the format eventually were adopted in other markets in the US and Canada.   

By October/November 1965, 93/KHJ had zoomed to the top of the radio ratings in Los Angeles.