Boss Angeles

Your article provided some subtle insights into the state of radio today. Having spent the last 25 years on-air at major stations in cities across this country, I know that all of these men are held in the highest regard by thousands of their peers from coast to coast. It's been my privilege to have known and worked with several of them. They represent a level of professionalism and an understanding of their trade lacking in many broadcasters today. They have a respect for the music as well as the audience.

Regarding Ron Jacobs' letter last Sunday in response to your article "Back When Jocks Were Boss" (April 25): The record should be "de-warped" completely. Jacobs was correct to a point. Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys did not place a late-night call asking if KHJ wanted an exclusive on "Good Vibrations." However, as Wilson tells in his autobiography, "Wouldn't It Be Nice," he called the station offering to premiere his follow-up to "Good Vibrations," "Heroes and Villains." I produce "The Charlie Tuna Show" on KCBS-FM.

Regarding Ron Jacobs' letter last Sunday in response to your article "Back When Jocks Were Boss" (April 25): The record should be "de-warped" completely. Jacobs was correct to a point. Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys did not place a late-night call asking if KHJ wanted an exclusive on "Good Vibrations." However, as Wilson tells in his autobiography, "Wouldn't It Be Nice," he called the station offering to premiere his follow-up to "Good Vibrations," "Heroes and Villains." I produce "The Charlie Tuna Show" on KCBS-FM.

In "Back When Jocks Were Boss," this tells it all: "A frequent (disc jockey) ploy is to take off the headphones while the music is playing so they don't hear it." Can't blame them. The target audience must be thought of as brain-dead by any station that repeats only the most popular records in a quasi-jukebox form with no relief, no variation, no conceivable deviation, over and over again, as if these were the only records that mattered. In reality, these records and literally thousands more rhythm and blues and rock 'n' roll records had various levels of impact during the 1950s and '60s, but to the two leading "FM gold" stations (KRTH and KCBS)

The Los Angeles ad firm Chiat/Day has long had a reputation among its clients for two things: great ads--and, occasionally, organizational chaos. Now, however, it faces the demands of its giant new client Nissan--that in one fell swoop last month doubled the billings of the firm's Los Angeles office. As a result, Chiat/Day announced on Friday a string of management changes that more carefully define who's the boss.

They were more than just the kings of the radio dial. They were more than just No. 1. They were Boss. More accurately, they were the Boss Jocks, spinning those Boss Hits for an adoring, young and huge Boss Radio audience in Boss Angeles. Even some of their names had more than a hint of Bossness to them--the Real Don Steele, Humble Harve, Dave Diamond, Sam Riddle, Walt Baby Love, Charlie Tuna. Back then, the Beatles were fighting for chart space with the Mamas & the Papas and Dylan.