Format Change: Soft Rock KNX-FM Los Angeles flips to Top 40 HitRadio 93 KKHR | August, 1983 (57:28)
In researching the format change of KNX-FM to KKHR, I ran across a fact I wasn’t aware of. After the ‘HitRadio 93 era, KKHR returned to the KNX-FM call letters as an Adult Rock station, before flipping to Oldies as KCBS-FM. Wow, I didn’t know that till today. And, wouldn’t we love to have THOSE format changes!
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This aircheck documents the demise of the single best programmed music radio station in history. Music segues within the same key, the classic jingle series, and the best 70’s-era music and news personalities ever assembled combined to make KNX/FM the quintessential liefestyle radio station.
I was a personality at an Orange County adult contemporary station at the time KNX/FM went off the air. LA area radio was never the same and has been a music radio wasteland ever since.
I miss the music, the sound, and the people. I appreciate getting a chance to go back in time with your posting this aircheck. Many, many thanks.
Pat is right. I have the same aircheck on tape, dubbed from Dave Hall’s collection, one of the DJ’s of KNX-FM. I have worked through the years to restore and amass a collection of airchecks/samplers of the original KNX-FM, various formats, between 1974 and 1983.
My dad was the VP of the CBS FM division in the 1970s and was instrumental in both founding and supporting the creation and evolution of KNX-FM, working together with general manager Bob Nelson. Bob would send my dad aircheck tapes which allowed me to discover the unique sound of KNX (as I lived on the east coast I’d never heard anything like it) and I still have those old tapes which I have been working to restore and archive on CD. I am always looking for others with KNX tapes. It was a truly original station and a format that will never be copied.
I am a SoCal native who grew up in a house where KNX-FM the “mellow sound” was on almost 24-7 thanks to my father. As a child this was all I heard as he only left the dial on 93-1 FM. I remember him griping that the station was losing it’s way in early ‘83. He went beserk when it flipped to “Hit Radio”.
To this day when I hear any artist connected to that format I think my childhood, soaking in what was the in my opinion the best station ever to grace the L.A. airwaves.
I never knew what moment the station actually flipped unitl landing on to thissite. The jingles are priceless and I remember them.This aircheck, I now have closure. My father passed in 1985, my junior year in high school.Would do anything for more airchecks or tapes of this FM legendary soft rock giant.
Thanks to whoever made it possible to have this available over the internet. I miss this station forever. I have satellite radio but nothing will compare to KNX-FM the “mellow sound.” I am seeking any other tapes that anybody can offer, sell of this most unique station.
Emil Derdowski
Boulder City, Nevada
Wow! After listening to that aircheck, I just can’t help but wonder, what happened to the passion and creativity that used to make Radio great. Great points well taken Pat! Where are you these days? I began listening to KNX FM in the late 70’s while in High School. I loved the Mellow sounds. KNX FM was a station that took chances and played quality new music by the hotest studio musicians. Much of the music they played is timeless and still sounds fresh even 25 plus years later! Aja by Steely Dan, Europa by Gato Barbierri, etc.
Brad Goldman, Valencia, CA
Oh, the memories! I first came across KNX-FM in the early 70’s when a swimming pool that I frequented played that station daily. Of course, it didn’t hurt that, as a 12 year old male, I was deeply in love with the 21 year old beauty who was one of the lifeguards…but I digress… I loved the music, the DJ’s, the jingles, the Odessey Files, etc. Emil, I can relate to your father’s seeing changes in early 1983. I remember distinctly coming home from college for Christmas break in ‘82 -’83, driving over the Cajon Pass into range of my favorite station and finding…it just didn’t sound the same. I couldn’t believe it when the format change came about and I was unaware that it ever returned. I had long gone over to the dark side of KOST and..some San Diego station that I can’t remember now.
Is there a playlist available somewhere? Are any stations anywhere playing the same music?
I worked with pat at that o.c. radio station in the early eighties as an engineer and knx was the best in
the biz.
KNX/FM was my best friend in the late 70’s and early 80’s - It was the best station to me - and even though KSCA fm101.9 became my favorite of all time (I have the last hour on tape) I always look back to ‘The Mellow Sound’ for my musical upbringing. Peace - Joe The Bear
KNX/FM was my best friend in the late 70’s and early 80’s - what a great companion to have - while my friends were listening to Def Leppard on KMET 94.7 - I perferred Jackson Browne on 93.1 - I miss this station VERY much. I have satellite radio - and it’s okay, but you miss the magic done locally by someone like “The Mellow Sound” - Peace. Joe ‘Bear’ Goria
I wanted revenge…. Those bufoons at CBS had comitted the unforgivable. Called the new management
at KKHR- got a guy on speed answering the phones - asked if they wanted feedback on the ” new sound”.
” you bet “, well, it stinks, was my unwelcomed reply. I promised that my dial would NEVER venture left of 94.7 again! Broke my promise in 86 and happened upon KNX’s return - life was going to be o.k. once again. Ahhh, but it was not to last, even after my multiple calls praising them for pulling their head out. ” Like a warm mellow friend, KNX FM”
the best jingle ever. Miss it greatly
Randy Bishop
KNX-FM was my introduction as a teenager to Bonnie Raitt, Joan Armatrading, the folk undertakings of Led Zeppelin, and all the more interesting album cuts by Joni Mitchell, Steely Dan, Fleetwood Mac, Jethro Tull and other artists that were downplayed by other stations that played their singles in heavy rotation. Some of what was played was pablum, but most of it was not, and I truly miss this station, so much that years ago I created my own taped compilation of what I did have on hand of their playlist. One wonders what they would play if still extant: Shawn Colvin? The Continental Drifters? Tori Amos?
The Voice kinda sounds familiar
The closest thing to KNX-FM these days is channel 50, The Loft on XM Radio
Between KNX-FM (the second incarnation) and KCBS-FM, there was “Goodtime Oldies” KODJ, which was the format on 93.1 from March 2, 1989 (just shy of three years from the KKHR/KNX-FM flipback, which was May 30, 1986) until July 12, 1991.
I know of at least one person with a copy of the KNX-FM/KODJ flip, but the KKHR/KNX-FM flip in 1986 appears to be lost in the ether forever. (I was in the car when that happened, with no way to record it. *sigh*)
I was introduced to this station by my wife Fayaway, who grew up in Southern California, but who joined me on the east coast in 1979. She really missed the mellow blend that was KNX-FM. Whenever we drove out to visit her folks, we knew that we were in So. Cal. again when we could pick up the signal from this station–we were shocked and dismayed when, as we came to the point where we ought to have become enveloped in the smooth sounds of KNX, we drove headlong into a cacophonous wall composed of synthesizers, drum machines, and the screeching & wailing of the self-obsessed.
Fay & I have tried to pull out of our collective memories the playlists from the station and gather those tunes into a playlist at http://www.youtube.com . We have had some success in remembering the tunes and just a little less in finding videos that use them. The playlist is linked to my name, above, and here:
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=C80B0CAD2402DC8A
Anyone who can remember other songs from the playlist and wants to remind us of them can email me at hermester AT gmail DOT com . It’s so refreshing to touch base with others who recall this station, and I hope to hear from many of you soon!
Curiously,
Hermester
KNX FM was the station of my youth and it filled my heart with joy. I remember awaking to the
“new sound” of KKHR and deemed it forever as
“the day the music died”. My warm, mellow friend was gone and I felt so lost without it.
I loved the format, the jingles, the briliant segues, the intelligent radio personalities. I actually went to broadcasting school and became an on-air personality for a while because of this station.
Hermester, thank you for the YouTube link of songs! I loved the “B” side record and album cuts they’d play. I fell in love with Elton John for all the songs you never heard on the mainstream stations, such as “Come Down in Time”, “Goodbye” and “All the Nasties”.
I agree with an earlier comment here that the closest thing to KNX FM we have today is The Loft on XM satellite radio. Still, nothing will replace that timeless, classic station. I am glad to have lived in Southern California during those years and enjoyed the greatest programming of that era and perhaps of all time. Thank you to all of those at KNX FM both on air and behind the scenes for making that time of my life the best listening experience ever!
Rebecca
I just came across this site and was so pleased to realize that others felt as passionate about KNX FM, “The Mellow Sound of LA”, as I did. It was the backdrop to my life from the early 70’s to the end of the station. My children, who are in their 30’s,still love the groups they always heard on this station….our radio dials were always set to 93.1…..it was always a pleasure to drive anywhere because I could listen to this great station. I agree radio has been a vast wasteland since 93.1 except for 101.9, KSCA and I was heartbroken as well when that station went off the air…..I hear there is another station on 100.3 that is done in the style of the Mellow Sound of LA….so far it doesn’t disapoint…..
Becky
Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you! It was sublime to hear those late seventies KNX Fm jingles! Every now and then I check to see if there is any info I can find about my beloved station!
As a teenager I would fall asleep with my headphones on and periodicaly wake to those jingles and the mellow music that would follow! I was lost wihout the soundtrack to my life that the station gave me. I have remained faithful with my love for that station, there is no substitute! I have not given my love to another station since!I have never found a station in any genre (on either coast) that even came close.
I remember Richie Havens, Quarterflash, Steve Windwood, James Taylor, Ambrosia, Dave Loggins and so many others.
I love that they were not commercial pop songs and maybe even a bit obscure! I have collected as many of the songs that I can remeber, but I loved the whole atmosphere that was created at KNX Fm.
I am so happy to be able to hear the “jingles” (to me they were much more)- my memory didn’t do them justice. Upon hearing them, they were instantly remembered word for word. I will always miss you KNX Fm.
I live in NY now and nothing will ever replace that station in my heart- it was perfection!I still resided in S0 Cal, when it changed and I was really saddened by the loss!
I am happy to know that I am not alone in my allegience. I will hope that there are master tapes of the broadcasts that I can purchase on a CD collection, someday soon!
Love to all………………..Corinne