KHJ 1974 - 1980

While the “Boss Radio” era is the primary focus of this site, KHJ continued to be a formidable station well past the end of “Boss Radio.” I’d be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge the air talent of KHJ that entertained Angelenos up through the end of the Top 40 format in 1980.

To that end, if a deejay made the cover of the KHJ survey you will see them here. They will be presented in the chronological order of the surveys and not necessarily the order in which they were first heard. This is because a lot of the later surveys have issues (e.g. poor picture or contrast) and I’ve had to pick and choose surveys that will display the best.

And here we go...

Bill Wade

These are the final two surveys featuring KHJ veteran Bill Wade on the cover. Bill was with KHJ for five-and-a-half years and he also ran the Bill Wade School of Broadcasting.

Issue #445 - January 8, 1974

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Issue #451 - February 19, 1974

Tony Mann

Issue #460 - April 23, 1974

Tony Mann came from WRKO in Boston WCAO in Baltimore and landed in the afternoon drive slot at KHJ for a short period. He appeared on three surveys in a two-and-a-half month span and that’s about all I know about him.

Dave Sebastian

Issue #464 - May 21, 1974

Dave Sebastian makes his first appearance on the cover of the survey. He initially worked weekends and then took Johnny Williams’ shift when Williams departed. After that he went back to weekends, had a 9AM - Noon shift, and eventually settled into the 2AM - 6AM shift. He last appeared on a survey in March 1976.

Dave worked at a variety of Los Angeles stations after KHJ and also had the final shift on KHJ in 1986 before the call letter change to KRTH-AM. As with several KHJ alumni, he’s also had success in the voiceover field. He has a website at everythingVO.com.

Machine Gun Kelly

Issue #472 - July 16, 1974

Machine Gun Kelly came from KSTP in Minneapolis and initially worked the 6PM - 10PM shift. He then moved to the afternoon drive slot where he stayed for better than three years. He left KHJ for KTNQ in March, 1978 and returned briefly to KHJ in 1979.

For much more on the career of Machine Gun Kelly, click on the Biography link at www.mgkelly.com.

Johnny Williams

These are the final three surveys to feature Johnny Williams on the cover after 9+ years at KHJ. The last of the original “Boss Jocks,” he moved on to WTAE in Pittsburgh. He currently lives in Hawaii and is the founder of the radio-related www.440.com website.

Issue #447 - January 22, 1974

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Issue #455 - March 19, 1974

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Issue #481 - September 17, 1974

Larry McKay

Issue #487 - October 29, 1974

Larry McKay first appeared on the survey in July 1974 and worked a 10AM - 2PM shift until appx April 1975. He has worked at a variety of Los Angeles stations since departing KHJ and also done voiceover work. He has a website at www.larrymmckay.com.

J.B. Stone

Issue #488 - November 5, 1974

J.B. Stone makes his first appearance on the cover of the survey. He held down the 10PM - 2AM shift for better than two years. His final appearance on the survey came in February 1977. J.B. worked at KGFJ and KJLH after departing KHJ.

Billy Pearl

Issue #496 - January 7, 1975

Billy Pearl first appeared on the survey in September 1974 and he worked the 6PM - 10PM shift for appx one year. A fan favorite during his time at KHJ, his final appearance on the survey came in August 1975.

He went on to become a lawyer and was the founder of the LB Report website, which covers important issues related to the City of Long Beach. He passed away on January 4, 2022 at age 71.

Bobby Ocean

Issue #522 - July 8, 1975

Bobby Ocean was the one constant in a sea of jock changes at KHJ between 1975 and 1980. Having come from KFRC in San Francisco, his first appearance on the survey was in May 1975. He worked the Noon - 3PM shift until 1979 when he moved into the afternoon drive slot. His final appearance on the survey came in January 1980.

A multi-talented individual, he’s the owner of Bobby Ocean, Inc., which provides voice imaging and other services to the broadcast industry. His blog can be found at Ocean Views and Ways.

Dr. John Leader

Issue #543 - December 2, 1975

Dr. John Leader makes his first appearance on the cover of the survey. He worked the 6PM - 10PM shift before moving to 9AM - Noon in 1977. His final appearance on the survey came in September 1977.

After KHJ he worked for the trade publication Radio & Records then went on to become a well-known voiceover artist. He retired in September 2008.

There’s a clever video called Five Men in a Limo featuring John Leader and Mark Elliott from KHJ as well as other voiceover heavyweights Don LaFontaine, Nick Tate, and Al Chalk. Take a look if you haven’t seen it.

Charlie Van Dyke Sparkletts Sticker

This is a Charlie Van Dyke sticker that Sparkletts stuck on the side of their water bottles. Measures 3" x 6".

Beau Weaver

Issue #570 - June 8, 1976

Beau Weaver makes his only appearance on the cover of the survey. He worked weekends during 1975-76. As with other KHJ alumni, he’s had a successful career in the voiceover field.

He has a website at www.spokenword.com.

Shana

Issue #598 - December 21, 1976

Shana came from KFRC in San Francisco and first appeared on the survey in October 1976. She worked the 2AM - 6AM shift then moved to the 10PM - 2AM slot in 1977 before departing in 1978.

She went on to have a long career in Los Angeles radio, most notably at KLOS, KLSX, and KCBS-FM (Arrow 93).

Shana passed away in Detroit on July 17, 2015 at age 62.

Mike Dunaway

Issue #610 - March 15, 1977

Mike Dunaway makes his only appearance on the cover of the survey. It states on the survey that he worked weekends and that’s about all I know about him.

Mason Dixon

Issue #624 - June 21, 1977

Mason Dixon worked the early evening shift during part of 1977 after Dr. John Leader moved to the 9AM - Noon slot.

These surveys were an eight-panel design (8.5" x 13.5" folded twice). Besides the singles and LP charts, they also had artist bios, lyrics, and pictures of KHJ happenings. This design only lasted until the end of 1977.

Sally Adams

Issue #628 - July 19, 1977

Sally Adams’ only appearance on the cover of the survey comes in a group picture with the other KHJ jocks. She landed the 2AM - 6AM shift when Shana moved to 10PM - 2AM.

Note there are only twenty-seven songs on the “Thirty.”

Don Cox

Issue #641 - October 22, 1977

Don Cox makes his only appearance on the cover of the survey. He came from WKTQ in Pittsburgh and worked the early evening shift previously held by Mason Dixon.

He achieved a great deal of success as a deejay in the Miami area (both before and after KHJ). He passed away in 2003.

The Faceless Surveys

Issue #668 - May 16, 1978

A bare bones survey design with no pictures was used during the first six months of 1978. Below is a representative example.

The Unknown Disc Jockey

Issue #677 - July 25, 1978

The Unknown Disc Jockey makes his first appearance on the survey. He brought his bag of sounds to the 3PM - 6PM shift when Machine Gun Kelly departed. His final appearance on the survey came in January 1979.

We’ll see him again in a few months sans the bag and using his real name, Pat Garrett.