Here is a recording of a “This is Jazz” program by Smitty. The tape starts a bit rough. I haven’t found the closing words and song. By mention of the recent passing of W.C. Handy (d. March 28, 1958), I’d place this program in spring of 1958. The recording includes station identification as KLAN 910, and also has a Safeco Auto Insurance promo.
Jeff Snyder
(Listening time: 35:58)
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And in between KLAN and KIXI, there was my all-time favorite Top 40 station, Wally Nelskog’s “Colorful Cutie Channel 91”, KQDE and then KUDY. Not too many radio time salesmen get mentioned here, but I just noticed that Han Choate, who was the star salesman at KAYO when I worked there, was promotion manager at KQDE.
Walt Bjerke was KLAN’s chief engineer and played C & W records as “Montana Fat”, parodying Wilf Carter’s “Montana Slim”.
When KAYO went country in 1963, Walt applied and was hired by Chris Lane for the eight-to-midnight shift. Later that day, he heard the announcement that a new deejay, Dan Williams, was coming to KAYO’s night shift in a couple of days. He phoned Chris and said, “You told me I had that job, you son of a bitch!” Chris’s reply: “You do, Dan, you do.”
KLAN 910, Your Country Cousin. The station later became KIXI.