When KHJ debuted Boss Radio in April, 1965, the lineup was Robert W. Morgan, Roger Christian, Gary Mack, The Real Don Steele, Dave Diamond, Sam Riddle, and Williams.
One by one the originals left. Diamond was the first to go, just a couple of months after the launch. Christian went in 1966, Mack left in 1967, Riddle departed in 1970 and Steele said goodbye in 1973. Morgan left KHJ in 1970, returned in 1972 and departed for good in 1973.
That left Williams as the last of the original Boss Jocks, and he finally departed in the fall of 1974.
That left Williams as the last of the original Boss Jocks, and he finally departed in the fall of 1974.
Johnny at KHJ on November 26, 1971. [ LISTEN ] (13:22)
Being a scoped aircheck, there's not much music, but we hear Johnny at his best. Complete news and plenty of time-honored commercial spots. We even get a minute of Charlie Tuna commenting on Thanksgiving dinner.
Johnny was working at WTAE in 1976. [ LISTEN ] (9:41)
“WTAE Transitions to 96 KX”. This does sound like format change day on the FM side of this simulcast of 96.1 FM / 1250 AM. The change happened at 6pm at the conclusion of the Johnny Williams show.
Johhny Williams arrived at WTAE from KHJ on March 31, 1975, replacing Mark Roberts in afternoons. Johhny was the consumate radio professional. He was held in such high regards by Bill Drake at KHJ that, hung in the studio, was a highly complimentary memo praising his value to the station. It was rare for Drake to single any one person out in such a manner.
Bill Drake's memo to KHJ jocks.Johnny spent a number of years doing the afternoon shift on WTAE and each week counted down the WTAE Hit Parade. Johhny moved to nights when Bob Dearborn came to Pittsburgh in 1977.
Johhny left WTAE in 1985 and spent time at Field-Williams Advertising. He moved to Hawaii and worked at KHVH and KHNR.
Here's Johnny in the closing moments of WTAE in Pittsburgh circa 1976, as WTAE transitions to 96 KX. [ LISTEN ] (9:43)
This does sound like format change day on the FM side of this simulcast of 96.1 FM / 1250 AM. The change happened at 6pm at the conclusion of the Johnny's show.
At this writing, he is the president of one of the premiere radio websites, 440 Satisfaction. He started 440: Satisfaction as a hobby.
It began with Johnny listing the radio stations he had worked for and the people he had worked with. The initial response was so great that Johnny moved 440: Satisfaction from his personal site to 440int.com & started 440 International Inc.
By the turn of the century, 440: Satisfaction had become the radio industry's genealogy of people past and present: DJs, newspersons, engineers, sales and administrative personnel, etc. and where they are now. Literally thousands of radio stars and unsung heroes are included, with more names and their favorite stories added every day.
WHERE DID JOHNNY WORK?: Here is the list: KBOL (Boulder) 1959, KICN (Denver) 1959, KIMN (Denver) 1959 - Dapper Dan, the All-Night Man, KICN (Denver) 1960, KTKT (Tucson) 1961, KIMN (Denver) 1961, KISN (Portland OR) 1961, KKEY (Vancouver WA) 1962, WABB (Mobile) 1963, KDAB (Denver) 1963, KRIZ (Phoenix) 1963, KBTR (Denver) 1964, KCBQ (San Diego) 1965, KRLA (LA) 1965, KHJ (LA) 1965, WTAE (Pittsburgh) 1975, Field-Williams Advertising (Pittsburgh) 1985 - VP, KHVH (Honolulu) 1992, and KHNR (Honolulu) 1993-1995.
Some materials found on this page were originally published by the following: Rock Radio Scrapbook, Airchexx.
