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L.A. Radio Veteran Recalls Some Classic Jocks & Their Great Timing
Ever hit the post, either on air or dashboard DJing in your car? A former Los Angeles radio & TV veteran talks about how time flies when you're jocking and how you get used to the pace. But the real highlight of the piece is his memories about some of the greatest who ever did the job - including the amazing Robert W. Morgan, who ruled the roost on stations like KHJ and KMPC.
"During the station’s Great American Songbook years, Robert was introducing Jo Stafford’s You Belong to Me. He closed with, “Jo Stafford… on KMP…” and stopped. A split-second later Stafford sang, “…See the pyramids along the Nile,” effortlessly completing “KMPC” with the word “See.” It lasted less than a second. Most listeners probably smiled without realizing why. Every broadcaster listening knew they had just heard a master hit the post in a way only Robert W. Morgan could."
Brilliant.
‘It’s About Time!’
- darcyh
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Re: L.A. Radio Veteran Recalls Some Classic Jocks & Their Great Timing
Compelling article. I've noticed today's radio announcers don't display the personality of the past. Other than talk radio or perhaps morning hosts, most announcers (if a station uses them) are generic and talk about celebrities or irrelevant stories. Because they are networked across many stations they don't comment on or read the weather forecasts. I remember a message on a Kitchener billboard advertising CKKW 1320 as personality radio and the board would mention one of the station's announcers. The stations sounded different even though a lot of them played the same music.
- RadioActive
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Re: L.A. Radio Veteran Recalls Some Classic Jocks & Their Great Timing
I've always said that personalties are what makes a radio station. Anyone can play Taylor Swift or (pick your favourite artist.) It's what's on BETWEEN the hits that makes the difference.
The guys mentioned in the article, from KMPC to CKLW, were absolutely amazing. They weren't just DJs. They were entertainers. And every radio station is poorer without them.
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Thread Starter- Dale Patterson
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Re: L.A. Radio Veteran Recalls Some Classic Jocks & Their Great Timing
No one had better timing than Tom Rivers. He even talked over the intros of commercials!
From Doug Thompson in the CHUM Archives, here's Shotgun Tom from March 17, 1970, just a couple of months after he started there.
Check out his clever talk-up on "Nobody But Me."
Last edited by Dale Patterson (August 17, 2026 11:10 pm)
"Life without echo is really no life at all." - Dan Ingram
- mace
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Re: L.A. Radio Veteran Recalls Some Classic Jocks & Their Great Timing
RadioActive wrote:
I've always said that personalties are what makes a radio station. Anyone can play Taylor Swift or (pick your favourite artist.) It's what's on BETWEEN the hits that makes the difference.
The guys mentioned in the article, from KMPC to CKLW, were absolutely amazing. They weren't just DJs. They were entertainers. And every radio station is poorer without them.
Exactly. They all played the same songs. But you listened for the jocks. It was appointment listening for Dan Ingram/ Cousin Brucie on WABC or Larry Lujack on WLS and later WCFL.