Radio Memories
By “Radio” Rick Meyers
KFIV-1360 kept its #1 ranking longer than most AMs. K-5’s last #1 ratings was in 1979, as the ’80s ushered in the dominance of FM Stereo. The station to dethrone K-5 was KOSO, known as KO-93, featuring outstanding radio personalities Rob Sherwood and Gary DeMoroney.
Bob Fenton sold KFIV AM & FM to David Benjamin’s Community Pacific Broadcasting in 1982. CJ Stone was brought in from Sacramento, and K-102’s Soft Hits became ROCK-102, and garnered an unbelievable 12-share.
Radio was strong in the ’80s, and true entertainers took over. Paul Peterson was the morning star at Sunny-102, and was later replaced by national talent, Gary Michaels. Beaver Brown was making fun of Manteca’s Spreckler’s Sugar aromas on KKDJ, and a young man going by BALTAZAR, was part of KFIV’s Hot Hit format. Baltazar went right to New York City, and ruled the airways! He’s still a major entertainer in Boston.
Bob Salmon owned KMIX Country, and it ruled the Country Market for the entire decade. KATM, Kat Country, didn’t debut until August 6, 1992.
Radio Stations started doing Music Auditorium Testing. Stations honed in on which songs were popular in Modesto, and which songs were “getting tired.” Auditorium Testing was quite expensive, and the results were treasured secrets. Two Oldies that always tested well were “Unchained Melody” by the Righteous Brothers, and “Heard It Through the Grapevine” by Marvin Gaye.
Concerts were big! Mountain Air had a decade of outdoor concerts, and other big venues included Cal Expo and the Concord Pavillion. Graffiti Night was a yearly spontaneous happening through 1987. Then it became locally organized, and is a signature Modesto event to this day.
