AM Radio: L.A. in the 60s and 70s

KHJ, "Boss Radio,"  was "the" AM radio station for me to listen to while growing up in southern California in the 60s. Disc Jockey legends like Robert W. Morgan, Charlie Tuna and The Real Don Steele worked their way to L.A. to hold some of the nation's ultimate radio gigs. KEZY was another favorite. In my youth I was entertained by KEZY DJs like Bruce Chandler, Paul Freeman, Mike Wagner, Dave Sebastian and Rick Carroll.

The DJs were as important to us as the music they played. Little did I know growing up there that some of the classic music of the last half of the 20th Century was broadcast for the first time from those tiny radio control booths--making an initial impression on Los Angeles and eventually, the world. Some producers in Hollywood were known to finish a mix in the recording studio, run to one of these radio stations and beg the DJs to give it a spin. I was so blessed to have grown up in the midst of all that.

I recently read a great book about the formative years of radio called, The Hits Just Keep on Coming: The History of Top 40 Radio, by Ben Fong Torres. For those like me, who's life has been deeply touched and affected by AM radio, you will find this a very interesting read. It was fascinating to learn how radio would evolve, even to survive competition from the broadcasting behemoth--television.

These days I listen to Sirius XM. But even they use DJs on my beloved "70s on 7" channel,  just like KHJ and KEZY did back in the day. The following is an exerpt from an upcoming tribute film to the L.A. studio musicians of AM radio's golden age: The Wrecking Crew. In it, you'll hear some cool anecdotes from folks who were part of, or associated with, the Wrecking Crew. They specifically talk about Todd Storz and Gordon McLendon, from the birth of Top 40 radio to the homogenous nature of  radio today.