China Smith

Thomas Wayne Rorabacher was born in Grand Rapids in 1943. He used the name Wayne Thomas for his first four years in Michigan radio. In 1969, at KCBQ-San Diego, pd Gary Allyn gave him the name China. The name Smith was picked to give an ethnic balance of exotic and American. Bob Wilson brought China to the South to work at KDAY from KING in Seattle.

After KMET, China had the urge to go back home to Michigan. "I was at the old KROQ with Jimmy Rabbit and Lee Simms, and I left with the station owing me $12,000. I went home to fish, water ski and get back near family." He worked for stations in Lansing and Detroit. "I hated Detroit so much that I drove 90 miles each way each day to avoid living there."

August 7, 1970

In the 1980s, he was the voice on tv's Solid Gold syndicated show. He was most proud of a syndicated program called "Fusion 40," which was heard on four continents. China described the program as "a combination Quiet Storm, jazz/NAC and World Beat." He did the show for almost five years. He was involved with the Academy Award-nominated music from Young Guns II and was thrilled to attend the awards ceremony.

China hosted the afternoon and midday slot on KACD, "CD 103" until a format change to “Groove Radio” when he returned to Grand Rapids.

WHERE DID CHINA WORK? Here is the list: KDAY, KRLA, KROQ, KMET, KCBQ, KLOS, KWST, KMGG, KUTE, KTWV, KAJZ/KACD, and KCBS.

Smith died of a heart attack on Aug 22, 2005 in Los Angeles.