Freshly hatched out of Bates in Tacoma in 1972, I was lucky enough to land my first on-air job at KRKO in Everett. I worked overnights for a year, then evenings for three more. In this tape from 1976 we also hear Chris Murray, Robert O’Brian, Kris Parks, and a report from KRKO’s longtime News Director, Shirley Bartholomew.
Runtime: 7:27
Shooting a free throw during a KRKO vs. high school faculty game
Student engineer at pioneer Nathan Hale radio station KNH 1210 in 1970 (prior to KNHC). Also attended North Seattle Community College and L.H. Bates in Tacoma (KTOY-FM). Sam’s career began as a KJR request line operator in 1970, with his first on-air job at KRKO in 1972. In 1976 he segued to overnights at KTAC as Cory Landon, then weekends at KING. In 1978 he moved to Lewiston, Idaho for afternoons on KOZE and KRLC. Throughout the ‘80s he was an announcer and/or engineer at “the best mix and biggest variety” of Spokane radio stations; including 97KREM, KZUN, KGA, KKER (The Sam & Pam Show), KZZU, PD of KJRB, 98 KISS-FM, and the voice of KAYU-TV. In 1989 he moved to Los Angeles as Assistant Chief Engineer and weekends at KZLA/KLAC. Also engineered for KBIG, KFI, Premiere Radio Networks, CBS Radio, and others. After avoiding any actual work for nearly 45 years, now happily retired and very appreciatively back in the great Pacific Northwest!
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Sam..you were the coolest DJ I’ve ever met..when I would call the station, or stop by in 1975 or so, you were always so very graceful and kind to me..those days I will never forget, such as the “Dedication night”..last time I talked, you were Chief Engineer at KRKO, I think Dale Good was showing you the ropes, I met Dale Good that day also…but you were cooler more hip then he was, he seemed very uptight…but thanks for all the memories of my late teenage years.
Sam, there is a KRKO reunion event this weekend. Please contact Moose Moran. moosemusic1@comcast.net
Had the great pleasure of working with Sam at KRKO in 1975-76. Not only did Sam do a great rock-n-roll radio show but always had an idea how to make the Great 138 sound better by using the engineer tricks he knew so well. He also wasn’t afraid to walk into the KRKO transmitter room and open the doors on the 5000 watt transmitter beast, while we were on the air!
Hyper-attentive to every detail, such as proper bulk-erasure of a reel tape, the great Russ Rebel. One of the great air personalities of the Northwest and one of the pro instructors at LH Bates Voc-Tech.