Revisiting The Sound 100.3, short takes coming up

As I return back from one journey (a conference in Dallas) and prepare for the next destination (Corvalis, Oregon to visit my son), I realize I'm accumulating a lot of frequent flyer miles...on Spirit Airlines. Somehow that's disturbing, but I digress.

A new edition of short takes should be posted this weekend, meanwhile I'm reprinting something that I originally wrote for Don Barrett's LARadio.com. It was five (5) years ago today that The Sound 100.3 (KSWD) signed off. I offer this story from the archives as a tribute and appreciation to a station that still have fans lamenting its farewell.


As The Sound prepares to hang up the headphones, I join the many mourning the loss of “Southern California’s Classic Rock.” There are many stations playing good tunes, yet The Sound was different. The music was the soundtrack of my formative years, which likely biases my affection for their playlist. But I found I could leave my radio on 100.3, even sitting through (the relatively short) commercial blocks, and it wasn’t just the records (wow, that word dates me) they played.

To many, the repeated lament about the “old days” of radio is likely tiresome. Millennials don’t have fan clubs for their favorite radio djs – heck, besides morning talent (and even then) I wonder if a millennial can name a current dj? Still, there are those of us still alive who grew up with ourfm receivers (what a novelty it was to have an AM and FM radio in your car back then) and not only enjoyed the music, but the friends behind the microphones and turntables who entertained us.

When the late, lamented KMET disappeared from the L.A. airwaves in 1987, listeners mourned, really mourned its passing. It wasn’t just the eclectic mix of tunes, it was the djs who did more than read liner cards. They shared stories, gave glimpses of their own life journeys, even offering words of comfort when the outside world was getting a bit crazy. 


Andy Chanley, Uncle Joe Benson, Cynthia Fox, Rita Wilde

Then came The Sound. Our friends on the radio were back! Dave Beasing put together a ridiculously amazing lineup – Andy Chanley, Uncle Joe Benson, Cynthia Fox, Rita Wilde – heck, this was a station where Mimi (the Flower Child) Chen and Mary Price were weekenders. Add Gina Grad, Tony Scott, Tina Mica and Steve Hoffman and you had a powerhouse of personalities all under one fm roof.


Mimi Chen, Mary Price, Gina Grad

It would be truly wonderful if The Sound – or something like it – could find another Los Angeles radio home. I’ve already mentioned I’ll miss the music. That being said, my bigger, personal void will be saying goodbye to the live and local veteran djs – the people who made The Sound such a special place on the radio – on a station programmed exclusively for Southern California listeners. We’ll never hear this lineup of talent together again on L.A radio. The cold reality is the current direction of the business precludes this possibility.

Since I’m not a psychic, I hope I’m wrong. I would truly be happy to offer a future retraction.


Tony Scott, Tina Mica, Steve Hoffman

I mentioned many listeners still have great affection for KMET, even three decades later. The Sound now joins the “Mighty Met” as one of the best L.A. radio had to offer. Even so, it’s unfortunate I now have to refer to 100.3/The Sound in the past tense. 

ayodaradio@gmail.com

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