February 19, 2010

For Stockton's KSTN, Sudden Death

I learned just a few moments ago from a longtime employee at Stockton's KSTN (1420 AM, 107.3 FM) that both stations will go dark tonight.

The AM station will reportedly be dismantled and remain silent. Its future, if it has one, is unclear.

The FM, which has been popular in the Central Valley as La Poderosa, will be off the air over the weekend, then will return on Monday as a "repeater" for Educational Media Foundation's K-Love Christian network.

Both stations are expected to go off-air tonight at or around midnight.

UPDATE (5 PM): I am now informed from personnel inside the radio ranch house at 2171 Ralph Avenue that KSTN/1420 will sign off for good at 6:15 PM this evening.

UPDATE (6:30 PM): Following Queen's "Another One Bites The Dust," KSTN program director John Hampton, who has been with the station for thirty years, and chief engineer Paul Shinn, who has been there for a dozen, said their final farewells and played her out with the KSTN version of the theme from "WKRP In Cincinnati" by Steve Carlisle. Then, sadly, dead air on 1420 kiloHertz.

Click here for an excerpt from the final moments of KSTN/1420.

UPDATE (2/20/2010 12:05 AM): No sentimental send-off for La Poderosa. At midnight, following a quick legal ID, the power was simply shut off on 107.3 FM.

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3 Comments:

Blogger Unknown said...

I have KSTN airchecks on You Tube at http://www.youtube.com/RadioAirchecks

March 31, 2010 1:02 PM  
Blogger Art Uvaas said...

When I lived in Sacramento in late
2002/early 2003, AM-1420:KSTN was
my favorite radio station. They
played forgotten oldies no other
station would play. For example,
they were the only station in the
last seventeen years to play soul-
ful, [albeit nominal hits], by
THE PRESIDENTS and MOTHERLODE,(to
name a few).

When the AM side powered down at
sunset, I would tune into the all
request oldies show on the FM side
each Saturday night. I can't remember the disc jockey's name,
but he used to love to play Big
Joe Turner's: "SHAKE,RATTLE-and-
ROLL." It's too bad that the
management couldn't broker some
of the time to keep AM-1420:KSTN
on the air. It's a depressing loss
for its faithful Stockton and San
Joaquin Valley listeners. SIGH...

Art Uvaas
Ontario, California

July 22, 2010 7:56 PM  
Blogger DavidFerrellJackson said...

Hey Art, that mystery DJ was and is the legendary Herbie Hancock. His website is at QMProductions.com.

He still does cruisin' events around the Valley and puts down an amazing Wolfman Jack impersonation. We're having a Papa Burger and a Root Beer Float at the A&W in Modesto next week!

July 23, 2010 7:18 AM  

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