He's in the Honor Group of the Day
[Posted Wednesday, June 24, 2026 6/24/26 9:04 am]
Easily the most famous disc jockey in the history of American radio, we remember Dan Ingram today who passed away on this day, Jun 24, 2018.
Dan spun discs at a few stations in the late fifties, most prominently KBOX in Dallas, before landing the gig that made him famous, WABC in New York, on July 3, 1961. He held court at WABC for more than twenty years, his last show was May 10, 1982, when WABC switched to an all talk format.
His quirky sense of humor, unbelievably quick wit and a voice that always sounded like he was your best friend, made him unlike any Top-40 disc jockey before or since.
He was great at making fun of the records he played, he once introduced the Chords' "Sh-Boom" by saying, "And now, the song of the exploding librarian." He called Elton John's song "Someone Shaved My Wife Tonight," and he called Paul Simon's hit "50 Ways To Relieve Your Liver."
Dan had several running features he did every day in his show, including Word of the Day, which included words like Gestetner and Amanuenses, and Honor Group of the Day, which sometimes included people that had hacked him off, like people who made him late for work, but more often than not, people he admired, like New York City's firemen.
Thanks, Dan. You were New York radio for me when I was a kid growing up on Long Island. We'll never forget you.
You are in the Honor Group of the Day.
They say it's your birthday
[Posted Thursday, June 18, 2026 6/18/26 6:30 am]
Legendary musician and former Beatle Paul McCartney was born in Liverpool, 84 years ago today, on June 18, 1942.
Fans and radio stations worldwide are commemorating his birthday today under the theme "When I'm 84", a playful nod to his classic 1967 Beatles track "When I'm Sixty-Four", which was released on the Sgt. Pepper's album.
Although the lyrics of "When I'm Sixty-Four" are about growing old together, it was one of the first songs Paul McCartney wrote, when he was about 14, probably in April or May 1956.
McCartney recently celebrated his 24th number-one album with the release of The Boys of Dungeon Lane, and he says his enduring vitality is due to a dedicated routine of a vegetarian diet and regular sessions at the gym.
From one Gemini to another, happy birthday Sir Paul!
Pet Peeve: FM in mono
[Posted Saturday, June 13, 2026 6/13/26 8:48 am]
Since December 2021, when 97.1 FM in Los Angeles dropped its top 40 music format and started simulcasting news with KNX AM, they switched off their stereo and have been broadcasting in Mono. Makes sense, news is all talk, why would they need stereo? But I was hoping that with the switchover to 97.1 The Fan last month, they'd perhaps turn the stereo back on.
But they haven't.
Now, I know the practical reason for this, an FM mono signal travels about twice the distance of a stereo signal, and can be picked up further away with better clarity. So, broadcasting in FM mono increases their potential audience.
But to me, looking at an FM radio that doesn't have its Stereo indicator lit, looks like someone missing a front tooth.
To hear 97.1 The Fan in stereo, you can stream it on the internet, but that's not always convenient to do.
So, I wish they'd turn the stereo back on at 97.1. Although I understand why they don't.
Big week for changes in LA radio
[Posted Friday, May 22, 2026 5/22/26 11:34 am]
This has been a big week for changes on the Los Angeles radio dial.
First, last Monday, KNX-FM which had been simulcasting news with the AM since December 2021, switched to all sports, becoming the first all sports station on FM in LA.
It is now the fourth sports station in the LA area, along with KLAC 570 (half-owned by the Dodgers), KSPN 710 and KLAA 830 (owned by the Angels). KNX News continues on AM 1070, and also KNX-FM HD2.
Then, yesterday, with the sunsetting of CBS Radio News which happened today, KNX changed their top of the hour newscast from CBS to ABC News, ending almost 100 years of CBS news on the radio.
Since so many stations including KNX dropped CBS News a day early, we didn't get to hear the real last broadcast of CBS Radio News. You can hear that last broadcast here:
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Adam Forrest: 
