A bit of light processing returns this performance of the Bobby Ocean show on KCBQ to life!
Quoted from Wikipedia
“Some of KCBQ’s most legendary personalities included Don Howard, Jim O’Leary, Ralph James, Jack Vincent, Dex Allen, Harry “Happy Hare” Martin, “Shotgun” Tom Kelly, Charlie & Harrigan, Charlie Tuna, Bob Shannon, Perry Allen, Bobby Ocean, Lee “Baby” Sims, Jimmy Rabbitt,[5] Rich Brother Robbin, Brian Roberts, China Smith, Chuck Browning, Jimi Fox, Harry Scarborough, Dave Conley, Chris Bailey, Gene Knight, Gary Kelley, Paul Kelley, Jim Barker, The Magic Christian, Brian “The Blind Owl” White, Gary Allyn, Robert L. Collins, Neilson Ross, Phil Flowers and Ron “Ugly” Thompson, (and) Mason Dixon.“
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This is fairly early in Bobby Ocean’s career, before he went on to stardom at KFRC San Francisco, and all the talent is there. So is the voice that imaged numerous stations in the 70s, 80s and 90s.
This aircheck comes to us by way of Big Apple Airchecks – “Your Full-Service Aircheck Source“. BAA is an aircheck trader.
There’s a funny story about how I finally got this aircheck…Thirty one, yes THIRTY ONE years ago when I met Batt Johnson at WNBC, he told me that he had this Bobby Ocean aircheck at KCBQ, and would I like it? Of course I said yes…the years go by, Batt and I remain friends, but no aircheck. Last November, I’m talking to Batt, and he says “guess what? Remember that Bobby Ocean aircheck I promised you? I found it in an old suitcase, and I’ll mail it to you.” WooHoo! It took him another month to mail it, but it finally arrived, and the sound was great! So thanks Batt for keeping a long held promise!
Thank you. Bob was my brother. It’s good to know someone remembers him.
Barbara (Elliott) Hedrick
heartbeat@jps.net
Bobby Ocean is the coolest sounding disc jockey in the history of the medium. “As incredible as it may seem”, it’s true!
As one who enjoyed working with Bobby Ocean at both KCBQ and KFRC, I can’t tell you what a joy it was to hear this aircheck.
I particularly liked the “KCBQ plays less commercials” drops, which featured the voices of little kids, at least one station engineer and others.
Ocean was at the top of his form from this period forward and his form is very good, indeed.
Thanks for posting this.
I don’t think Tom Kent ever worked at KCBQ. He almost worked at KHJ, but didn’t go !
Some of the descriptions, Tom Kent was unknown when Buzz came up
with the Keep on Trucking contest. It was based on Trucking by
the Grateful Dead which was a hit in San Diego. Tom Kent likely
heard all this and changed his name and no he never worked at
KHJ either.
Tom Kent wasn’t just unknown…he was a high school freshman in Winston-Salem, North Carolina in May, 1971. He didn’t start using “Truckin'” in his name until 1974. It probably had way more to do with the Dead song than Buzz Bennett.
The KHJ thing actually went like this: When Charlie Van Dyke fired Billy Pearl as the night jock in the summer of 1975, his choice to replace him was Tom Kent. But CVD was overruled by RKO national PD Paul Drew, who picked John Leader. Kent never got the offer.
commenter William R. Hatch was indeed one of the better w. coast top-40 newsmen from those heyday years…we liked his work at KISN in Portland too…
Just in case there was ever Any DOUBT
as to what MAJOR MARKET means !!
wanted to hear the entire long version of born on bayou. lol
On some of the shotgun jingles, it sounded like they were saying “WKCBQ”. Bob “Wizard” Wayne (deceased), who was from my home county was at KCBQ in the ’60s.
I be,I’ve that jingle is saying “The New” KCBQ.