Returning to the Robyn Watts collection, here’s a refreshing look at the San Diego market from one of those border blaster stations, er, well one of those FM stations that didn’t have to worry about the non commercial restrictions imposed on US stations broadcasting from 88.1 to 91.9 MHZ. Sure, it’s really in Tijuana, but the studios of this CHR station are squarely in San Diego proper.
This station really sounds like it coulda been programmed from New York City. Awesome production elements are heard all throughout… great imaging, a tight presentation, and Eddie Martinez sounds fantastic. Yes, your webmaster always knew that the San Diego market was the west’s best kept secret. You’ll really love this, originally recorded by East Coast Airchecks – an entity that apparently no longer exists, but one that Robyn Watts graciously donated to our archives. Thanks again, Robyn!
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Good stuff – your typical 1990 format – read card A at :10 after, card B at :15, weather at :20, etc. Keep the music going and the formatics are pretty tight – but it sounds great.
Also sounds like there’s a voice liner done by Ernie Anderson – the staff annoucer for ABC – and of “LOVE Boat” fame. It’s the jock ID at the top of each hour.
Wonder if this station was connected to ABC?
What a blast to go back and hear this! I am the first street hit voice you hear on this aircheck (then “The General” Jacko Adams) and the jock is BENNY Martinez, not Eddie as stated. Benny joined us from KIIS/LA, hence the Ernie Anderson voiced piece that he brought with him. The station was owned by Califormula Radio, a true mom & pop organization with Victor & Martha Diaz. Programmed by the same guy who is there today, Rick Thomas, even though he left many times over the years. The lineup at that time was Kimo Jensen (now KSON) in mornings, ChaCha (formerly of KHTS) in middays, Benny Martinez in PM drive, Kid Corona (from XHRM) at night, I did late nights, and Gnarley Charlie (from WLUM Milwaukee…now Charlie Huero at KKFR Phoenix) was on the overnights. KC left, Charlie jumped into nights shortly thereafter. Here’s the most interesting tidbit…traffic gal “Jeannie Z” is none other than Fox Sports Jeannie Zelasco! The station voice was the incomparable Bumper Morgan. MD was Monroe Greer and production director was Kristi Knight (now mornings on XHRM). We were up against the LEGENDARY KKLQ at the time, and while it took two years to finally beat them, we DID IT! We were joined over the years by Billy Burke (from KIIS, WCAU, etc.), MC Scrappy (from KOY Phoenix), Mark In The Dark (KGGI), Bad Brian (WLUM), Joe Nasty (KPWR, KTFM), and a handful of others from the original Rick Thomas incarnation (1990-91).
I remember when Mark In The Dark got moved to the morning slot he changed his name to “Mark En La Manana.”
Wow. This really takes me back. Benny can be heard promoting my show (6-10 p.m.) in this aircheck. It was great working with Benny, who used to commute in traffic to San Diego every day from Hollywood for his 2-6p afternoon shift. Often, he’d come running into the studio, sometimes with only seconds to spare before throwing his Sony headphones on and cracking the mic at 2:05. Back then we were the underdogs…up against KKLQ-FM (Q106). But Z-90 was a 100,000 watt flame throwin’ clear signal powerhouse that could be heard in Santa Barbara on a good night. At the “Q”, legendary Jo Jo Kincaid did afternoons and Chio the Hitman was on at night. I remember monitoring Chio’s stopsets through a speaker on the board…and we’d always be “…back to the music first.” We even made sweepers that said “Always a beat ahead…Z-90.” We continued this tactic when Rick Thomas recruited me to join Edens’ KOY-FM (Y-95) Phoenix. I was up against “The Janitor” at KKFR-FM (Power 92) (The two stations were literally across the street from each other in downtown Phoenix). I eventually joined KKFR and was #1 in the market (7-MID) for 2 years — as Phoenix was rapidly growing into in a larger radio market than San Diego.