KRE Friday, April 26, 1963
As a teenager, he'd done a radio stint in Red Bluff, where his dad had moved after remarrying. His first local job, while still a student at State, was at KRE in Berkeley.
Smith studied broadcasting at San Francisco State and, while still in school, became a DJ on KRE. His music ranged from pop to classical, which he called "serious music." On weekends, he got serious on KSFR-FM, in San Francisco. In 1963, he landed a job at KSFO, which dominated the market with morning star Don Sherwood. The Program Director told Carter that he'd be working with Don Sherwood, and added that he should be very careful. If Sherwood didn't like him, he wouldn't be working there very long.
Smith didn't get credit for how much he added to the Sherwood show. He could compete with him -- he wasn't just a foil, and he soon had his own DJ shift.
The date is Juy 24, 1963 and the station is KSFO. [ LISTEN ] (31:40)
Carter moves from the news desk into the morning seat at almighty KSFO, if only as a sub for the oft-absent Don Sherwood. "It appears that Mr. Sherwood is ill today," the new fellow notes during the broadcast, which includes a Mike Powell newscast.
Mr. Smith stood up to the test and became a sidekick fill-in during Sherwood's unexplained absences, which were often. Sherwood had a life in tatters at all times, but when he went into the studio, he was the most controlled man you ever met, according to Smith. Together they used to do radio as good as any radio was ever done.
"Super Frog: The Fairbanks Series" Circa 1965. [ LISTEN ] (35:39)
A series of seven episodes starring "the champion of the oppressed, scourge of the scurrilous," directly from KSFO's studio tape recording. The label on the tape reel reads "Fairbanks Series" (the villain in these episodes is from the Alaskan city).
After a decade at KSFO, Smith moved to KNBR, where his "Carter B. Smith Show" was the afternoon counterpart to "Frank and Mike in the Morning," another legendary show featuring Frank Dill and Mike Cleary. Smith's moniker was "the prince trapped in the body of a disc jockey." He was also called "the man with the million-dollar vocabulary."
Thursday, September 10, 1970
Among Carter's greatest accomplishments was his effort in 1982 to publicize the need to restore San Francisco's landmark cable cars. In addition to taking an 18-hour marathon ride on "Cable Car 68" to raise funds for the restoration effort, he appeared on radio stations from coast-to-coast (and around the world via shortwave) to increase awareness of the venture. His interests were varied and wide-ranging, and included aviation history and ham radio.
When KABL switched to talk-only, in 2005, Mr. Smith found himself out of a job for the last time, as it turned out, 50 years after he'd started in Red Bluff. But he never formally retired.
As a local celebrity, Mr. Smith lent his talents and mellifluous voice as an auctioneer and emcee for various causes, including the Muscular Dystrophy Association. He also served on the board of the San Francisco Zoological Society and the Marin Family Service Agency.
Carter B. Smith was elected to the Bay Area Radio Hall of Fame in 2007.
After a lengthy illness Carter B. Smith passed away in 2011. He was 74.
Carter B. Smith was elected to the Bay Area Radio Hall of Fame in 2007.
After a lengthy illness Carter B. Smith passed away in 2011. He was 74.
Some materials found on this page were originally published by the following: Bay Area Radio Museum, SFGate.
