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KLSX Los Angeles Radio History
by Alex Cosper

see also American Radio History

Introduction 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s


Los Angeles Radio History


STATION HISTORY: KABC KBBQ KBIG KBLA KDAY KEZY KFAC KFOX KFWB KGBS KGFJ KGIL KHJ KIEV KIIS KIQQ KKBT KKDJ KLAC KLOS KLSX KMET KMPC KNAC KNX KOST KPOL KPPC KPWR KQLZ KRLA KROQ KRTH KSRF KTNQ KTWV KUTE KWST KZLA XPRS

The station that became top 40 outlet 97.1 AMP Radio was originally called KFMU in 1954, owned by Nicolas M. Brazy. The format was called "Good Music," featuring easily listening hits. Storer Broadcasting purchased 97.1 FM in the late sixties as the call letters changed to KGBS FM, the sister to 1020 KGBS AM. Both stations played country music, although the AM was only on in the daytime, whereas the FM broadcast around the clock. The station experimented with rock and pop but then became "Gentle Country" in 1973.

The call letters of KGBS FM changed to KHTZ on August 28, 1978, but the format remained country. On July 31, 1979 Storer flipped 97.1 to top 40 as "K-Hits," while its AM sister KTNQ shifted from top 40 to Spanish. KHTZ moved more toward adult contemporary then changed call letters to KBZT as "K-Best 97" on November 27, 1985. Another big change happened on September 26, 1986 when the call letters shifted to KLSX and the station began playing classic rock. The station began airing the Howard Stern Show weekday mornings on July 21, 1991.

The station moved to a talk format as "Real Radio 97.1" on July 31, 1995. It featured Susan Olsen from the Brady Bunch and Kato Kaelin, who gain notoriety from the O.J. Simpson murder trial. The slogan switched to "The FM Talk Station" in 1996. Greater Media made a deal with CBS Radio to swap the station in 1997. From 1995 to 1997 KLSX played alternative music on weekends, but once it became KROQ's sister station, the weekend programming switched to adult alternative music until 1999. By that time the only show still playing music on the talk outlet was Breakfast With The Beatles.

After Howard Stern announced his departure from CBS Radio to Sirius, Adam Carolla was named his successor to begin in January 2006. When the announcement was originally made on October 25, 2005, the station began calling itself "97.1 Free FM" as a jab at satellite radio, which required a subscription. Danny Bonaduce was added to the morning show in 2007. KLSX dropped its talk format on February 17, 2009 to become top 40 station 9701 AMP Radio the next day.

KLSX Personnel

1986-1997 Frazer Smith
1986-1995 Shana (LaVigni)
1986-1989 Tom Yates
1987-1987 Marshall Phillips
1987-1993 Dr. Demento
1987-1987 Nicole Sanders
1988-1990 Joe Reiling
1989-1991 Billy Juggs
1990-1994 Dusty Street
1991-1992 Jack Snyder
1991-2005 Howard Stern (syndicated from NY)
1991-1995 Jim Ladd
1993-1995 Cynthia Fox
1993-1993 Mary Turner
1994-1994 Tawn Mastrey
1994-1996 Walter Sabo
1995-1996 Kato Kaelin
1995-1996 Susan Olson
1996-1997 Riki Rachtman
1997-1997 Geno Michellini
1997-1998 Chuck Nasty
1998-2001 Kevin Scott


Introduction 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s


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