Thoughts of Bakersfield radio history on Krista's birthday - By N.L. Belardes
Radio history. Bakersfield is like any other California town and has its own radio past. I don’t know much of it except from a listener’s perspective—a native who grew up listening to AM, then FM: KKXX, Magic 98, some pirate radio, Bakersfield College Radio, etc (feel free to talk Bakersfield radio history in the comments). I remember the old Trans-Lex commercials. There’s a historical connection there with music formats, live music, and Bakersfield venues in the modern rock era.
Others would know such history.
Oct. 3rd was Krista’s birthday. I don’t know her last name; might be the same as her mom's, Kat Snow. What I do know is that Kat was a DJ in Bakersfield. She had her own particular influence on how music played on the radio formed in the consciousness of Bakersfield listeners in the 70s (maybe), 80s, and possibly some in the 90s. I met Kat at the Player’s Lounge and only spoke briefly enough to know she would be interesting to talk to, to sit down with and pick her brain.
OP Stylee...
A patron hanging out at the bar...
One can only think that Bakersfield radio station music formats had an influence on people like Jonathan Davis in Korn, or Kenny Mount of the Filthies, or Ty Elam of old Videodrone. Maybe their interpretation of Bakersfield radio is something horrid about Bakersfield’s radio station formats (there certainly must be stories of battles between DJs and their bosses over alt formats).
Krista boogeying to the beat of OP Stylee...
Alternative music has been played in Bakersfield for years. But how did it co-exist with mainstream formats? And how did local radio DJs figure in to alternative formats?
What did or didn’t they fight for?
I know Rocky Nash probably fought for the right to free speech after she was canned for making fun of Brian Head Welch, formerly of Korn. “Korn gives head to God?” That’s what she said over the radio in conservative Bakersfield. Funny how a town that once ignored Korn would can a DJ over blaspheming the band and God in the same sentence. She didn’t even make that phrase up.
Recently Hammer from Hell of KRAB brought Brian Head Welch back into the news. Was Welch rejoining Korn? Was his gospel goodness website hacked? I went to the Head to Christ website and found these words:
…no, I’m not going back to Korn. Someone hacked into my site. I will be announcing what my real plans are soon.
I just hope Hammer isn’t fired for even mentioning Brian Head Welch on the radio.
It was strange being at the Player’s Lounge. I grew up nearby and rarely step into the old South Bakersfield neighborhood. Sure, the community has changed. But I like to leave the past where it is: somewhere distant yet familiar. Had I gone to high school with any of the people in the room?
OP Stylee! Reggae band in the house...
Krista was happy OP Stylee was in the house. She danced and grooved to their sounds. Throw an Irish accent on the lead singer and I swear you would feel like you were in an Irish pub about to be blasted by the Waterboys or the Pogues (they're not reggae, it's just the vibe I had). Anyway, the atmosphere struck me. This was a Bakersfield dive, but with history, and people, and joy on a birthday night that saw Billy Russel, Opee Stylee, Luis Cruz Beltran, and others.
One final note: I go a threatening message today from Opee Stylee's leading man, Otis Paul. It read:
N.L. just wanted to say thank you for your time tues night. I do hope you had a good time--of course krista is pretty good about covering the bases to make sure everyone has a good time. I know we have much more to work on and we will be a tightly knitted group after said and done. Again thank you very much to lend your time and ear--next time I'm going to get your feet involved also on the dance floor! Otis Paul
Yikes! Not even Mento gets me to cut loose. Sorry Ska King!
Mother and daughter. What's their story...?
This entry was posted by N.L. Belardes, on
Thursday, October 05, 2006.
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I remember Kat used to have a killer record collection! I thought I had a big one...
Is there anyone you don't know, Buckaroo?
i used to love listening to the radio growing up with all the different stations playing a mix of everything. sadly, i don't listen to much radio anymore... it's like they play the same stuff over and over... i'd rather just listen to my ipod or cds.
I'm gonna date myself here, but I grew up with KAFY when it was stealing the "Boss Radio" format and drifted to KERN long before FM and talk radio. Living in Fresno now, and one of the guys I work with DJ'd for KKXX and KLLY back in the day.
One of KAFY's old jocks just made the news in the 'No for buying a Christian radio station in Kingsburg and announcing it was flipping to a "Porn Radio" format.
Got lotsa panties in bunches. It was fun. :)
I should dig up some old radio history links for y'all...
best,
debbie in fresno
I have an old KAFY 55 sticker somewhere. Hey does anyone remember the old "Magic 98" in the 80's? That station was so cool! And Glenda Robles was night D.J. for a while. It was a free for all, man, she'd play anything we requested. She's still kickin' ass!Luv ya Glenda!
Well, where do I start. Both of my parents were DJ's growing up. My father is Lee Duncan. He was a big part of KERN radio. He then moved to Aspen, Colorado. Where he became the program directer at KSPN. He now resides in Renton, Washington and really wants nothing to do with the radio industry. As for my mom, I wish that she would get back into the music world. I used to love to listen to her. She would always make you feel like she was talking just to you. Her personality was so strong that you felt like she was one of your closest friends. Just by listening to her on the radio. She had such power that I remember when I was about 12, we were living in Long Beach and she was on air at KNAC. She would tell her listeners that there were no request lines open during Led Zepplin. I was usually grounded for ditching school so I would have to go to the station with her and answer phone calls during her shift. There had to be atleast 8 lines that were constantly blinking. But as soon as she would play Zepplin all 8 lines would go dead. If a listener did get through as soon as I told them no calls during Zepplin they would apologize, and say they forgot. It was cool. My props off to Miss Anne Kelly she is the closest thing to my mom on the radio these days.
She still has that record collection. I had to alphabetize them once. Thanks for joining us for my party. I am blessed with wonderful friends. Player's is a great place. To become part of the family all you have to do is start up a conversation. O.P. Stylee and Billy Russell were great. I only have one complaint, what is up with the picture you took of me? UGH!!!!!!Thanks again. Don't be a stranger come back to Player's and visit us.
Happy Birthday Krista. I still remember
K
K
X
X
And recording songs on my tape recorder and how pissed I'd get when the DJ's talked over the song and screwed up my recording. hehehe
And on Krab radio I remember this guy...gosh I can't remember his name though. It was some sort of beetle... LOL anyways, he'd come on after midnight and play local bands music. I forget what that segment was called?
Are they still charging $4.25 for Corona at the Players Lounge?
i don't know. that's a lot of moolah for a brewski. i had a margarita.
it was like jet fuel but tasty.
strong.
Debbie, tell some history...
no, they are not still charging $4.25 for corona. It is usually $3.50 but when the band starts it is raised a quarter. We have to pay the band when we don't charge a cover....
Not ever venue in Bakersfield pays bands, so that's way cool!
I remember KQXR (Q94 FM!).
"Rollin', rollin', to the sound of travellin' music.."
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