Mellow voiced, fast-rappin’ Bobby Mitchell hosted afternoon drive on KYA in December, 1961. Our friend Ken Levine offered much-appreciated information about Bobby via his COMMENT, below.
Most of us know a lot about the other 1260 Men. Morning drive was handled by the yet-to-be Mega-Merchant of Boss, Bill Drake. The Noon to 4 shift belonged to the yet-to-be Father of Underground, Big Daddy Tom Donahue. And the 9 to noon talent was veteran Peter Tripp, freshly released (with the help of the Justice Department) from New York’s WMGM.
This soft-scoped aircheck of the entire 5-6pm hour includes authentic DX noise, two “Newswatch” reports, complete with newsbugs; a promo by Big Daddy Tom, and what sounds like Mel Blanc with a 10-second spot for Red’s Tamales. Unfortunately, this remarkable window to the past closes unexpectedly in the middle of the second “Newswatch” ending.
“America’s Number One Popular Music Station”, aka: The Boss of the Bay featured an acapella jingle, “Boss Sounds”, and “Constant Music” almost 4 years BEFORE the advent of KHJ Boss Radio in L.A! This pre-boss KYA was a laboratory in which American pop-music radio DNA was forever enhanced. Consider the odds of so much pioneering talent – all concentrated in one place at one time!