Contributor J.R. Russ sent this in back in 2008 and it’s a superb aircheck from the days when KFI and KHJ were duking it out, along with KTNQ – “The new Ten-Q”! FM was making inroads, but in L.A., the biggest format, arguably, was AOR.. and its own battle of stations KMET and KLOS. But that’s a different story. There’s something about a three-way battle for top ratings that makes all three stations sound great. They had to be and this is no exception.
Before anyone gets too excited, this is a short and rather difficult aircheck to listen to, as it was obviously recorded from a great distance from Los Angeles. Certainly, Terry Nelson sounded great on KFI and this would be an awesome aircheck, except for the fact that this is a DX catch and there’s just not quite enough carrier wave to give this the punch needed. But… for all you folks who sat through minutes, or sometimes HOURS of fading, just to hear your favorite station come in at night… this will bring back memories of a time so long forgotten now.
You know, the kids of today will barely sit through 30 seconds of non music programming on an FM station, never mind a signal that fades away in the middle of their favorite song. That’s the big difference between my generation, and today’s CHR consumer of 16 years old. I’d sit all night and put up with the fading because I loved the STATION more than the music. Oh… for the old days.
You’re correct that Terry was a great jock. Always super smooth and it’s too bad that this is a DX aircheck as Terry always sounded like he was having a good time. I worked with and for Terry at KROY and KXOA and it was THE BEST OF TIMES!
I have to correct the timeline on this though as Terry didn’t start working at KFI until the fall of 1978 and he didn’t stay long leaving the Super 64 for the Big 610 KFRC in 1979. Terry also worked a few years at 99X-WXLO NY in the mid 70’s.
Terry Rocks on, I had the pleasure of getting to know Terry while he was at KFRC joining the BIG 610 in 1979 when he joined KFRC for 12noon-3pm, Terry did that shift for awhile and was later moved to 10pm-2am unitl leaving KFRC in Feb 80′ to return to his home back in Sacramento for PD duties.
While Sacto Terry did many gigs including a long running moring show on KCTC. Last I heard Terrry was in Stockton doing Sales at KSTN.
Terry’s KFRC stint was very short but he sure did have a great sound, relationship with his listners.
I gotta tell ya. I worked with Terry Nelson in Sacramento for a while. Not just a great talent, but a truly sweet guy.