It’s been a long time since we took a look at the HUGE 610 – and back in ‘82 KFRC was simply ENORMOUS! Check out the (scoped) hits, from artists like Charlene, Stevie Wonder, Springsteen, Donnie Iris, Journey and more!
KFRC was imaged, of course, by Harry Nelson. Some of the very best promos ever produced for any radio station ran on KFRC and this aircheck demonstrates that once again.
On this composite, KFRC is promoting the premier of “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan” and giving away tickets to the event. Considering two of the main characters of that movie and the original series are no longer with us (James Doohan & DeForest Kelley)… it really WAS a long time ago! Also, note on this aircheck that there are pauses between the jock segments, so when you hear the audio fade down, don’t panic, it’ll resume in 2 seconds. This was on the tape that way and I left it in for this presentation.
Here’s an hour and a half of KFRC, split into two 45 minute segments:
* Part 1: Bill Lee 7-11PM 5/18
* Part 2: Shannon 11PM-1AM 5/19, Sue Hall – 1-3 AM, Donn Sainte John 3-6 AM, Shannon – time unknown
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What a great composite! While many would disagree with me, this is probably the best era of KFRC’s history. Gerry Cagle & Sue Hall (KFRC’s then-MD) did a very good job balancing the Pop, R&B, & Rock product that was available in 1982, considering that most other Top 40 stations of that era were Adult Contemporary-leaning, or (in the case of WLS/Chicago) Rock-oriented. One has to wonder if KFRC would still be around as a Top 40 outlet if RKO-General had kept the FM (106.1, which is now KMEL, of course), instead of foolishly selling it off in the mid-70s.
Robyn
Robyn
Great Aircheck, I would agree with Robyn that this Gerry Cagle era was the best era of KFRC with the jocks, music, promos. Working alongside Bill Lee was a great experience that a young radio guy was able to learn so much from.
the airstaff at the time was 6 to 9am Dr Don Rose
9am to 12 noon Dave The Duke Sholin
12 noon to 4pm Harry Nelson
4pm to 7pm Mark Mckay
7pm to 11pm Bill Lee
11pm to 2am Shannon
2am to 6am Don Ste Johnn
Weekends/Fill Sue Hall
Sue Hall actually was not the MD of KFRC at the time, Sue had actually been hired by Cagle as the Mobile Studio Promotions Coordinator in 1981, Sue joined the airstaff in early ‘82 doing weekend and fill in work and later would take over late nights when Shannon Left in the later summer of 82 to become a mommy.
At the Time the the MD was Sandy Louie who had been with KFRC since the Les Garland era, Sandy had left KFRC breifly in early 81 to join KDIA (oakland) but returned within 2 months, Sandy Joined the airstaff in the late summer of 82 handling weekends replacing Sue Hall who moved into full time late nights.
Don Sainte Johnn a very good friend always sounding good was doing the all night program which he did for nearly 4 years solid and always sounded great, Prior to taking over all nights, Garland had Ste Johnn doing weekends for a year in 80, prior to that Ste Johnn did 10pm to 2am for several years, after coming over to the am side from KFRC FM Ste Johnn did do some day time stints 9am to 12 noon, and 12 noon to 3pm in the 70s, Ste Johnn’s original job in San Fran was the PD of KFRC 106 FM. With some programming changes in the mid 80’s Ste Johnn worked his way back into day parts later handling 10am to 3pm, Ste Johnn was one of the few to cross over to the magic 61 handling mid days and departed KFRC after a brief stint doing all nights on KFRC FM 99.7, Ste Johnn is now doing afternoons in Sacramento on V101.
Just a quick note about the KFRC Image Voice, this was actually Mark Mckay Not Harry Nelson, at the time Mark was APD and the KFRC Voice, the Proudction Director at the time was The genius Albert Lord who worked very closey with Mark.
During this stint at KFRC Harry was only handling an airshift 12 noon to 4pm, Harry left KFRC during the summer of 82 to PD a station in Portland, Maine. Harry returned to KFRC in “83 replacing Bill Lee, Harry would eventaully take over the KFRC image voice in “84 and replacing Mark Mckay in Afternoons as Mark exited 610 after 10 years.
Hi Chris,
Thanks for the correction on who was the MD during this era. After Gerry Cagle was let go in early 1984, KFRC started it’s slow decline (highlighted by the “Game Zone” fiasco) which didn’t stop untill they’ve flipped to Adult Standards. Truly sad, but understandable as most people abandoned music on AM in favor of FM.
BTW: I have to say (from someone that has observed Bay Area radio from well outside of the market) that KMEL for a time (around 1985-86) had muscically picked up where KFRC had left off. Both stations were very similer as both were playing R&B, Rock & Pop side-by-side. After 1986, KMEL went more rhythmic.
Robyn
Those were the days, my friends.
Just came across these old airchexx. . .what a trip. So long ago, but the memories are so fond.
Hope all is well with ya’all. . .
Shannon
08/30/07
I spent some time in San Francisco about 3 weeks ago. It had been a long time.
I was a pleasure to sit in Bobby Ocean’s back yard in San Rafael, and reminisce about KFRC. We were joined by Sue Hall and Tim Kelly (of KIIS, LA Fame)
Thanks to everyone for keeping the dream alive.
KFRC under Cagle. What a trip??
Harry Nelson
Wow! Harry Nelson. What a pleasure. Harry, I got into radio about 10 years too late and missed the best years. What I wouldn’t give to have worked with you! Fortunately I’m still doing radio. Must be crazy but still love it. I did get to work in the same building as Rich Brother Robbin a couple of years ago. Whata trip he is, just an awesome guy and I was lucky to get to chat with him and share some experiences.
Welcome to Airchexx!! Hope you’ll come back often and share with us!
Steve, I just returned to the site after a while.
Thank you so very very much for those really kind words. It means a lot to a guy who never wanted to do anything else but be “On the Radio”. I am truly grateful for the wonderful experiences at KFRC and WRKO. I worked along side the best the business had to offer, and truly looked up to them.
Tim, Bobby, Sue, Bill, Dave, Mike, JJ, and DJB, are life-long friends.
What a great life it is,
Harry
I’m sitting here reading these postings from eveyone. KFRC jocks Harry Nelson and Shannon and I sense a kind of sadness or loss… I agree… I’m so missing “The Big 610″ KFRC! So many years have passed since KFRC AM went away. Now 22 years and counting and I can still hear it like it was yesterday… I was lucky enough to work there @ 500 Washington in the mid 80’s, and even during the final days as a top 40 we all had the attitude that it would never end… Even today, I still find myself tuning in to 610 every once in a while hoping to find KFRC playin’ the hits like the old days… The spirit of KFRC will always be there at 610… Listen carefully… Somewhere out there in space KFRC is still alive as the signal travels the galaxie. The KFRC calls now live at 106.9… And the station still has some of the elements from it’s Amazing AM days… “The Duke” Dave Sholin doing mornings… Sue Hall…
Mid-days… even John MacFlannagan is back on KFRC. And many of the Classic Hits are there on KFRC… Unfortunatly it’s difficult to capture that spirit, that energy that was 610 KFRC. For now we can all just reflect on the memories of a radio station that was the heart of San Francisco… The jocks, the jingles, the crazy cutting edge promotions, the mobile studio, the music… and those call letters that we all love to say proudly, K-F-R-C! The greatest radio station of all time!
Regards all
Bill Shakespeare
You know I think we all have our favorite eras when it comes to KFRC. I grew up in Sacramento and the Big 610 boomed in like a local. In many ways it was. If you listen to air checks of KFRC from 1966 through 86 you’ll find something to love about all of the incarnations of 610. A great audio chain, some of the best deejays ever and an attitude that they were the best. I know that a lot of people think that KHJ was better, but outside of Morgan and Steel I think KFRC was better. I did get to work with Terry Nelson who was at KFRC in 1979 & 80 and he taught me a lot about the way radio was done at 610 and I still use what he taught me today. The spirit of KFRC lives on…