‘The Emp’ and Chet Rogers join Charlie Brown in this segment from the ‘70s reunion week on KJR-FM. Original air date 1995.
Runtime: 11:59
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!
I saw Chet Rogers about 30 years ago at a Burl Barer booksigning.
We fact-check the Emperor. The event he referenced with Knievel was a series of appearances at Valu-Mart.
April 1970
What a great clipping. Wish I could say I remember Evel Knievel showing up at the Aurora Valu-Mart in April, 1970 – but I was in first grade. I know the Beatles officially broke up right about then. I heard about that from one of the 8 girls who lived next door, and they probably heard it from Emperor Smith on KJR
I wonder which one attracted the larger audience, Evil or Emperor.
A whole week of such craziness. So cool. “Would the old format work?” Emp says NO. Due to fragmentation.
These days, we don’t have very much to choose from on terrestrial radio. This aircheck is awesome!