KKBT-FM LOS ANGELES FM 92 THE BEAT
CHR-URBAN FORMAT

SKY WALKER THE BEAT

SMASH MOUTH "All Day And All Of The Night"

I was just let go from KWOD 106.5 in Sacramento in 1992, and got hired right away by Bob Lewis, program director at 97.7 KWIN in Stockton, California. This was my first show, doing weekends. I would later replace Pat Garrett as the night jock for two years.

Kidd Kelly on KWIN 1992

When I was hired to do nights at Power 97 (KYRK) in Las Vegas in 1988, to go up against the powerhouse top 40,  98.5 KLUC, I was programming KISS FM (KSMK) in Flasgstaff, Arizona and doing weekends at 92.3 KKFR in Phoenix. 
I Kidd you not, on my first day at Power 97, I got a call from JJ Morgan at KKFR saying that they wanted me back in Phoenix to do nights as they change the name of the station to Power 92. There was no way I could do that. It would be wrong. But we kept talking for the next few months.
In the meantime, in my first ratings book, I beat KLUC at night. It had never been done before. But that didn't last long. Cat Thomas was hired to do nights at KLUC, and he regained the stations high ratings.
So by then, knowing that Power 97 wasn't going to last long, I decided, after only 6 months in Vegas, maybe I should return to Phoenix to do nights at Power 92.
But before I could even tell my boss, Bob Cummings, he called me into his office to say that reporter, Bruce Christiansen from the Mesa Tribune called and was writing a story about Kidd Kelly returning to Phoenix. Cummings was a bit shocked to say the least. So I told him that my show would be at the end of the week.
And during the entire week, I told listeners that I was having weird dreams about UFOs taking me away. Then at one point during a show, a remote broadcast was interrupted by aliens on the radio telling me that they were going to take me away, and that my dreams were clues to where I was going.
Then finally on Friday night...well...you'll have to listen.
On this aircheck, you'll hear several legendary Power 97 DJs like Don Action Jackson, Harmon & Holiday, Bobby Mitchell, and Johnny West. 

Kidd Kelly's Last Week on Power 97 in 1988

When I was a Kidd growing up in Los Angeles, one of my favorite morning guys to listen to, and call up was Charlie Tuna. I was just about 14 or 15 years old with these quick two airchecks. First one from TenQ, and the 2nd one from KHTZ. 

The Kidd with Charlie Tuna

One of my favorite DJs of all time was Beaver Cleaver. He had been on numerous legendary radio stations like KCBQ/San Diego and TenQ/Los Angeles. He was, in my opinion, the funniest DJ....ever. 
Little did I know at the time that in real life, he was Ken Levine. A writer for many TV shows like M*A*S*H and Cheers.
I never got to meet Beaver/Levine in person...but I came close.
I was interning at K.West 106 in LA in 1982. But I left because I was getting more airtime on 93.5 KFOX in Redondo Beach. The next weekend, Beaver Cleaver was on the air at K.West 106 during the time I would normally come in. I was soooooooo bummed.
In 1994, one of the part time jobs I had was working at Cool 101 in Sacramento. PD, Jonny B thought that because I sounded way too young to be on an oldies station, Perhaps I should use the name Beaver Cleaver. So I wrote to Ken Levine and asked if it would be OK to continue the name on the radio. Ken Levine said, he would be honored to have someone like me to continue the name. Some day I'll post an aircheck of myself as Beaver Cleaver on Cool 101.

Beaver Cleaver on K.Hitz 97

Beautiful Bomb

Cover Tunes

"Never Let Me Down Again"

Something Soon

1260 KYA -- airchecking at 3:04 AM while doing an all night air shift across town in San Francisco. AVCO-owned KYA sounded bigger than life to this 19 year old young broadcaster and was the first inspiration to run tight shows and killer production! Reminder: this is middle of the night and sounded SO well produced, including an 11:12 newscast with plenty of "actualities." They also ran many PSA's and my guess is they powered up their news and public affairs log quite well.

KYA circa 1970 3-05AM

Pop Rock Solo

Day's Like These

Program Director for New Country 99/7 The Bull and All the Hits 1077 The Beat in Bend, Oregon.

Beaver Cleaver on K.Hitz 97

RadioMaverick

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