If you listened to local radio for a roughly four-decade period, beginning in the mid-1960s, you may remember a DJ named Jay Stevens. Born Stephen John Janovick, Stevens passed away in July at the age of 84.
Known as Steven Jay at the time, he was heard at KFXM (now KTIE, 590 AM) in the Inland Empire. He soon moved on to become one of the original “K-G-Beach Boys” on Drake/Chenault’s KGB (now KLSD, 1360 AM) in San Diego, where he emceed The Beatles’ 1965 concert in the city’s Balboa Park.
In 1966, he was moved up to KFRC/San Francisco, which is when he changed his on-air name to Jay Stevens; it seems the DJ he followed was named Steve O’Shea, and that was too many Steves!
Nineteen-sixty-nine brought him to Los Angeles on the original KRLA (now KWVE, 1110 AM) where he was found three different times through 1993; he was also heard on numerous stations including the original top-40 KROQ (1500 AM at the time), KKDJ (now KIIS, 102.7 FM) and KRTH (101.1 FM) where he was heard doing weekends and fill-ins — using the name Steven Jay once more — from 1993 until he retired in 2003. He was also on television, reading the taglines on commercials for Paul’s TV, the “King of Big Screens,” during the ‘90s.
Stevens was trained as a Drake/Chenault Boss Jock, and he carried it well. A quick wit and smooth delivery made for a long career. He is survived by his wife of 63 years — Marlene Stevens — along with his son, daughter, in-laws, and two grandchildren.
Motor-Slinging
Leon “Motorman” Kaplan, who was heard talking about everything automotive for over 40 years on KABC (790 AM) until he retired in 2023, is going to be a guest on the KRLA (870 AM) Gunslinger Show on Sunday, August 23, from 7-9 p.m.
Gunslinger host Jeff Taverner is the owner of Gunslinger’s Gun Shop; the show offers expert advice on firearms, including discussions ranging from gun laws to auctions, consignment, and more.
When Kaplan comes on, as he does periodically, the show takes a turn and includes Motorman’s favorite topics — cars, engines, and repairs. Taverner calls it the “Motor-Slinger Show” when Kaplan is a guest; reader Brian Tominaga — who let me know of Kaplan’s appearance — tells me it is one of his favorite shows.
The program can also be heard on KXNT/Las Vegas, KKNT/Phoenix, KTRB/San Francisco, and one of my childhood (former top-40) favorites, KCBQ/San Diego; due to the online presence, says Tominaga, people call in from all over the United States.
Country’s Popularity
Remember when Emmis dropped country on the former KZLA (now KLLI, 93.9 FM) because Los Angeles can’t support a country station? I wonder what they think now that not only is Go Country (KKGO, 105.1 FM) among the top-rated stations in the U.S., but in early August, the top five songs on the Billboard Hot 100 were all, you guessed it, country. Or at least country-adjacent.
That list includes number one Ella Langley (Choosin’ Texas), followed by Morgan Wallen (Been By Now), Taylor Swift (I Knew It, I Knew You), Ella Langley with Morgan Wallen (I Can’t Love You Any More), and Stella Lefty (Boston).
You hear these songs all over the various channels of SiriusXM as well as on top-40 and adult contemporary radio stations. Note also that Go Country owner Saul Levine was right in saying that women should get more recognition in country music — women are at least part of four of those top-five on the Billboard chart.
Purists, of course, will say that the songs aren’t really country. But just as top-40 and rock are no longer The Beatles and Led Zeppelin, country is no longer Hank Williams and Dolly Parton. No disrespect to anyone, but country has evolved, and right now … it is hot.
No More Odyssey
The online tribute station known as TheMellowSound.Net — an homage to The Mellow Sound format of the original KNX-FM (now KCBS-FM, 93.1) — has dropped one of my favorite features — The Odyssey File, which gave quirky and interesting news tidbits in short segments throughout the day, just like the original Mellow Rock format on KNX-FM.
That is a shame, as it is indeed one of the things that made the old KNX-FM and the online tribute so special. Perhaps they could at least run some of the originals, if the recordings exist. Yes, they would be dated, but … who cares?
Richard Wagoner is a San Pedro freelance columnist covering radio in Southern California. Email rwagoner@socalradiowaves.com.