… by transcription, or subscription …
[Description by Uncle Ricky]
Before Emperor “Hap” Hopkins’ successful 1961-1965 run at 1240 KROY/Sacramento, William A. Hopkins was heard on WSAI/Cincinnati, WING/Dayton, and KYA/San Francisco. After KROY, Hopkins went on to KXOK/St. Louis and WNBC/New York. What a great Top40 resume!
Listening to this rarity reveals that midday jock and Production Director Mark Ford has sprained his ankle and won’t follow the Emperor on this show. Ford was a major Production Guru for Drake-Chenault fifteen years later. Jerry Stevens is featured with KROY news and a few cool stagings, otherwise, no bells and whistles. You’ll hear some great spots, a much more relaxed presentation than the KROY of the ’70’s, and a wide variety in the playlist. A few tired tunes, but there’s a Stones LP cut AND Steve Alaimo .. and more you never heard before and may never hear again.
In this May 1965 aircheck, Hopkins is ready to Spring forward. His talent and enthusiasm is genuine and he makes it work. Little Sacramento was lucky to have such a class act in morning drive. Before the year was over, Hopkins was off to St. Louis.