An LA-SF simulcast, remembering Melinda Lee, and other short takes

 



We're hearing that starting tonight, the two Audacy all-news operations in California will simulcast overnight programming. The same newscasts will be heard on both LA's KNX and the Bay Area's KCBS from midnight to 5 AM. It assumes commercials will still be customized for the local market.


Rory Erikson, Joe Guimond

In a possibly related matter, long time KNX overnight editor Rory Erikson is leaving the station, moving morning editor Joe Guimond to that shift. Erikson has been part of the station's award-winning editors for 31 years. Guimond served as the Assistant News Director at KFWB before moving over to KNX. He left the station in 2015 but returned to the station's editor's desk.


A fond farewell: Former KNX Food News host Melinda Lee has died. Lee succeded Jackie Olden as host of the daily offering in 1986. She went to school in Brentwood before attending UCLA. A former corporate headhunter in New York, she retunred to LA to start The Perfect Setting, her catering business. 

In a LA Times interview in 2010, Lee explained she'd heard from a family friend about an unexpected opening at KNX for a cohost with Mel Baldwin for the station's Food News program. She heard nothing from the station for weeks. Lee took the initiative to call KNX News Director Bob Sims to tell him she was the perfect candidate because of her extensive food knowledge and “it should be obvious to you that I can talk.”


Mel Baldwin, Bob Sims


David G. Hall brought Lee back to KNX, having first hired her when Hall was a Clear Channel VP and Program Director at KFI. "Lee was an amazing talent who deeply understood her audience and engaged them like few other hosts I’ve ever seen," said Hall. "And she was an incredibly shrewd business person, also like few others I have seen in our medium."
David G. Hall
There were a number of other tributes from her past colleagues posted on social media:


Larry Van Nuys, Jane Platt, Frank Mottek

"We worked together at KNX for years.  She was not only elegant and generous person but a great broadcast partner.  She will be missed by her many fans…which includes me. RIP." -- Larry Van Nuys

"She had a unique program and handled it beautifully." -- Jane Platt 

"She was a very elegant, classy person...RIP Melinda Lee." -- Frank Mottek


Terri-Rae Elmer, Todd Leitz

"She was one of a kind. AND kind." -- Terri-Rae Elmer

"I did news during her “Food News” show for a minute. She played my Fenway Park rendition of the National Anthem on KNX, and an Angels season ticket holder listener put me in touch with the team, and I started singing twice a season at the Big A, then at Dodger Stadium. Thank you Melinda! May you rest in peace! Sometimes you only need one person -- besides yourself -- to believe in you." -- Todd Leitz

"I did traffic reports for her weekend show for many years. She was a super sweet person. I also enjoyed listening to her show every week. She told me in the hall once how to brine a turkey. Been doing it that way ever since. RIP." -- Doug Dunlap

KFI "Fork Reporter" Neal Saavedra offered his own on-air tribute.

Lee did several stints at KNX, as well as at KABC, The Zone 710 (KTZN), KRLA, KFI, KRLA, and KFWB. She lost her Altadena home earlier this year due to the Eaton fires. Lee was 80 years old.



Another WAVEr recedes: Afternoon drive host Deborah Howell has left The WAVE (KTWV). The Minneapolis native worked across the country, including well-known stations such as WNUR-Chicago and New York's HOT 97 (WQHT). She told Don Barrett her enjoyment about working at The WAVE: “It’s like driving a Lamborghini…a lush and sensual ride, with excellent people riding with you and the best audience in the world!” Howell started at The WAVE in 2010 as weekend and fill-in host. 

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We continue to work on our year-end column. If there's something you'd like to share, either on- or off-the-record, please email me at ayodaradio@gmail.com.

Also coming: Pics from a recent radio reunion. Please stay tuned.

ayodaradio@gmail.com

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