February 14, 2007

RIP: KABL's Adult Standards On The Internet

It's been gone for a month and a half, and I hadn't noticed it until today: Clear Channel has slinked away from the rotting corpse of the once proud KABL, disconnecting the life support from the Adult Standards audio stream.

Clear Channel has even cast aside the fabled KABL call letters, which they had exiled to Salinas; that station has since become KION. KABL joins KOME on the callsign scrap heap; I guess Clear Channel subscribes to the thinking that call letters really don't mean anything any more.

From KABLradio.com:


Goodbye...

Dear Friends of KABL,

Due to circumstances beyond our contol, it is our sad duty to announce that, as of January 1, 2007, Kablradio.com will be ceasing operation. On behalf of myself, our Webmaster Sean, and the KABL Gang...Jim Lange, Dino Donikian, Carter B. Smith, and Mario in Production, a heartfelt thanks for your loyal support. Perhaps at some point off into the future, a kabl 2.0 will appear. Meanwhile, please visit our friends at {LINK REMOVED}. There you will find great music and wonderful people who love this music and this era as much as we all do.

You should know that everybody is doing fine. Jim and Nancy are travelling a lot and enjoying retirement. Carter B. is plotting to corner the ENTIRE stock market. Dino is still the unofficial Mayor of San Leandro. Sean, Mario, and yours truly are busy with several radion stations in our company.

Again, our sincere thanks and best wishes for a great 2007.

Clark Reid
Program Director
kablradio.com

DOTS & DASHES -- Brad Kava reported in his blog this evening that veteran Bay Area broadcaster Leo Laporte will begin doing a computers and technology show on KGO/810, replacing Michael Finney's consumer news and views show in the 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. slot on Sundays. Finney will continue to be KGO-TV's consumer reporter ... The Marin Independent-Journal notes that KCBS/740 reporter and weekend anchor Janice Wright (Mrs. Mike Sugerman) "has joined Zanides Public Relations in San Rafael to specialize in managing bad publicity." Wright has been on the KCBS airwaves this week, however, doing that reporting thing she does...

Kevin Barrett is the guy to blame if you don't like the programming that will be emitted by Pappas Radio's new KTRB/860 in San Francisco beginning March 1. He's been named as program director for the transplanted AM station, a job he's already been filling at sister station KMPH/840 in magnificent Modesto ... Ron Stevens (ex-KOCN, KYAA) is Michael Zwerling's choice as new president of ZBS Radio's KSCO/1080 and KOMY/1340, both housed on the briny banks of Corcoran Lagoon in Santa Cruz. 10,000-watt KSCO is a news/talker anchored by Rush Limbaugh, while 1000-watt KOMY recently flipped to Oldies; those roles could potentially be reversed this Summer if a few things fall into place...

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January 11, 2007

RIP: KEWB's Mark Foster

Mark Foster at KEWB (1959)All Access reported this morning that former KEWB/Channel 91 afternoon drive star Mark Foster has passed away from cancer in Kansas City. He was 80.

Mr. Foster had also worked on the air in Dallas, Boston, Atlanta and Kansas City, where he later founded Madison Group Audio-Visual Productions.

His family has requested memorial contributions in Mr. Foster's name to either St. Luke's Hospice, 3100 Broadway, Kansas City, MO 64111 or the Kansas City Cancer Society, 4320 Wornall Road, Kansas City, MO 64111.

You may sign his memorial guestbook online at Legacy.com.

ERECTUS-FEST '07 -- The benefit concert to help raise funds to pay the medical bills of KOME's legendary Dennis Erectus will take place Friday night (January 12) at the Avalon nightclub, 777 Lawrence Expressway in Santa Clara.

The concert begins at 8 p.m. (doors open at 7 p.m.), and will feature the historic Southbay bands Syndicate of Sound ("Little Girl") and The Count Five ("Psychotic Reaction"), plus the AC/DC tribute band Long Time Bon and other local musicians. A silent auction, including wines and rock memorabilia, will be held concurrently with the concert.

Greg Kihn and Chris Jackson of 98.5/KFOX will emcee the event. Tickets are priced at $40, with every last penny going straight to assist the mighty Erectus.

If you can't attend, make out a check to Dennis Erectus for a few bucks and send it off to KBAY Radio, Attn: Jona Denz-Hamilton, 190 Park Center Plaza #200, San Jose, CA 95113.

More information is available at www.KOME.us.

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