Back in ’78, Charlie Fox was heard on the legendary 64 KFI. And, for a guy who isn’t exactly considered a legend himself, unlike his contemporaries, he sounds pretty darn good here.
KFI is TIGHT! Nothing sloppy about this presentation! KFI in the 70s was essentially put together by PD John Rook – a legend himself in the world of programmers! This was at the time that KHJ was taking a major nosedive after essentially wiping out personality – and the competition clobbered them for it. The other player in L.A.’s three-way Top 40 race would be out of it two years after this ‘check – KTNQ. Ten-Q was so well programmed, it made the competition so tight, KFI just HAD to be great!
Notice how, while this is Christmas day, KFI isn’t playing all Christmas music? You get TWO holiday songs, and BOTH are by The Eagles! Everything else is 1978 Top 40 hits – the way it should be!
Once again, a big thanks to Matt from Big Apple Airchecks, whose many contributions helped launch this website in a BIG way back in 2002.
Another great voice !!!
What a great air-check. Charlie Fox is incredible. Does anyone know what he is doing today?
34 years…not 24.
KTNQ was out of it seven months after this aircheck…not two years. In fact, by the time of this aircheck, they’d already announced plans to change format to Country. That never happened because they were approached to sell…and that company took them Spanish July 31, 1979.
As for ratings, the fall ’78 Arbitron shows a tight race…KHJ with a 2.7, KFI with a 2.6 and KTNQ with a 2.1. But that put KHJ 12th, KFI 13th and KTNQ in a tie for 18th.
The real action? KMET…4th place with a 4.9.
A year later, with KTNQ gone, KFI would crack the top 10 at #10 with a 3.3, KHJ would fall to tied for 16th with a 2.4. And KMET would be #3 with a 5.9.
Charlie Fox may not be an L.A. legend, but he’s a well-known and respected jock, who had successful runs at WRKO, Boston; CKLW, Detroit and KDWB, Minneapolis before moving to L.A. and KFI.
Within a year of this aircheck, Charlie was across the street at KHJ, where he stayed until the end or very close to it. After that, it was KUTE, KMGG, Westwood One’s satellite network and KRLA. That’s his last known stop, 20 years ago.
CKLW is actually in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, across the river from Detroit.
This is exactly what made me like radio. A great voice. The mix of 1978 music still is as good today as back when it premiered.
Great aircheck Steve… Thanks for posting.
I was a baby jock in Oregon in the late 70’s and listened to Charlie Foxx at night, as KFI boomed in to the Portland area. This aircheck reminds me of how solid he really was. Damn, radio was fun in those days.
Actually TenQ went Spanish (August 1979), not country. KHJ would flip country two years later.
Maverick:
Here’s what I wrote:
KTNQ was out of it seven months after this aircheck…not two years. In fact, by the time of this aircheck, they’d already announced plans to change format to Country. That never happened because they were approached to sell…and that company took them Spanish July 31, 1979.
KHJ flipped to Country in October, 1980.
Damn! Kinda wish I’d lived in L.A. at that time. I did get WLS during the Rook years back home in the burbs of Chicago, though. This is one of the reason I loved (and still love) radio. WFYR was kinda like this in the late 70s back home, so I didn’t miss it all, although with a softer rock blend. Can’t get much of this anymore except here. (Homogenized radio, anyone? Damn Clear Channel!!!)
Charlie Fox…FACEBOOK /FM looks forward to Afternoons…with YOU !
Charlie Paints a Beautiful Southern Ca. Picture here ! So GLAD we have THIS Christmas Present !
SO RARE is ANYTHING from Charlie Fox , at least, to my knowledge.
Therefore…THIS oughta come to us with a $10,000,000 Insurance Policy !