BAY AREA RADIO HALL OF FAME
The Class of 2010
San Francisco (August 18, 2010) – The Bay Area Radio Museum, in conjunction with the California Historical Radio Society and Broadcast Legends, is proud to announce the Bay Area Radio Hall of Fame’s Class of 2010.
This year’s group of inductees was celebrated at a gala gathering on Saturday, September 25, 2010, at the Doubletree Hotel and Executive Meeting Center on the Berkeley Marina.
Nearly 7,000 votes were cast online and at various CHRS and Broadcast Legends events during the public advisory balloting period for this year’s nominees in seven categories (Announcer/Personality, News, Sports, Engineer, Owner/Manager, Specialty and Pioneer).
The board of directors of the Bay Area Radio Hall of Fame also selected KGO (810 AM) of San Francisco as its Legendary Station Award recipient for 2010. Legendary Station status is awarded on an annual basis, to honor one of the area’s historic stations.
The Bay Area Radio Hall of Fame’s Class of 2010, listed alphabetically by their category:
ANNOUNCER/PERSONALITY
John McLeod – Through Top 40, Rock, Disco, Big Band and News formats, McLeod has been entertaining and informing audiences on San Jose’s KLIV since 1967.
Dave Morey – One of San Francisco’s favorite voices, Morey’s laid-back style made him a morning must-listen for more than 25 years at KFOG.
Don Sainte-Johnn – A Southern California native, Sainte-Johnn became a local favorite during a decade-long run at San Francisco’s legendary KFRC, and later stops at KYA, KBGG, KSOL and KIOI.
Tom Saunders – The radio man’s radio man, a consummate professional whether working in Top 40 (KYA), middle-of-the-road (KSFO) or light rock (KOIT). Served as staff announcer at KGO in the early 1970s, then became the lone “live voice” of automated sister-station KSFX. From 1980 through 2005, Saunders was morning voice and mainstay of KOIT.
Bonnie Simmons – A pioneer in free-form radio, Simmons was instrumental to the success of KSAN during its Jive 95 heyday. She also worked locally at KFOG, Live 105 (KITS), KOFY-FM, Double 99 (KDBK) and KUSF, and currently hosts a weekly show on KPFA.
NEWS
Stan Bunger – Yet another product of San Francisco State University, the respected morning news voice of KCBS first joined the station in 1982 at the age of 25, venturing out after ten years before returning to the station in 2000. Bunger has also worked at stations in San Jose, Sacramento, King City, Sonora and South Lake Tahoe during his career.
Dave McQueen – Authoritative but understated, McQueen brought “network sound” to the decidedly underground KSAN at the height of its success. Later delivered the news on KNEW, KFRC, KKCY and KKSF before moving to KCBS, from which he retired in 2009.
SPORTS
Jon Miller – From 22-year-old rookie with the Oakland Athletics in 1974 to his current role as lead play-by-play man with the San Francisco Giants, the Hayward native and College of San Mateo product has become one of baseball’s most beloved voices. Inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2010 as recipient of the Ford C. Frick Award. Also broadcast California Golden Seals hockey, San Jose Earthquakes soccer, Golden State Warriors basketball and University of San Francisco basketball on the local airwaves.
Amaury Pi-Gonzalez – Cuban-born Pi-Gonzalez is one of the pioneers of Spanish-language baseball play-by-play in America. Began as Oakland A’s Spanish-language voice in 1977, a role he continues to this day (interrupted by stops with the Giants, Mariners and Angels). Voice of the Golden State Warriors from 1992 through 1998.
Gary Radnich – Bay Area born and bred, Radnich is a lightning rod for sports fans devoted to his mid-morning weekday program on KNBR. Filled to the brim with his unique view of sports and the world, the fast-paced program intertwines copious amounts of pop culture with a not-so-fanatical approach to sports-talk radio.
ENGINEER
Art Lebermann – During a career spanning over forty years, Lebermann has served as chief engineer at Berkeley’s KRE and is currently transmitter engineer for KSFO, KGO and KMKY. A noted radio historian and expert in the repair of vintage receivers and broadcast equipment.
OWNER/MANAGER
Al Newman – In its glory days, KSFO was rightfully known as The World’s Greatest Radio Station, a rank it would not have attained without the skill and brilliance of program director Newman, who assembled a Murderer’s Row team of talented personalities, newsmen and sportscasters that made the station second to none.
Heber Smith – Served as general manager of two legendary local stations, KABL and KNBR, during periods of great growth and popularity.
SPECIALTY
Ben Fong-Torres – Became almost famous as a reporter and editor for Rolling Stone, but has always held radio near and dear to his heart as an on-air personality (KSAN, KFRC, KQED-FM, KUSF) and Radio Waves columnist. Served as managing editor of Gavin, the pioneering radio and recording industry trade publication. Author of numerous books, including The Hits Just Keep On Coming: The History of Top 40 Radio.
Isabelle Lemon – As the director of promotions for KNBR, Lemon helped boost the station to the forefront locally, serving as the creative force behind listener-friendly events such as the KNBR Good Times Parade and numerous charity events.
PIONEER
Evangeline Baker – One of the first female performers to serve in a starring role on local radio in the Bay Area, “Vangie” started as a girl singer, then hosted and produced programs on KPO and KGO before becoming one of the first stars of KGO-TV. She also served as a mentor to countless young people entering the broadcasting industry over the years.
Hilario “Lalo” Caballero – One of the first true legends of Spanish-language radio in America, “Lalo” was the number one disc jockey and promoter of conjunto music on the local airwaves, most notably at KLOK and KEEN.
Budd Heyde – Versatile and talented, Heyde hosted all manner of programs, from children’s shows to historical dramas. During a career spanning three decades on KPO, KNBC and KNBR, he was the common thread from radio’s golden age to the modern era.
Lewis Hill – Founder and guiding spirit of the first listener-supported radio station in America, KPFA, and its network of progressive Pacifica stations. Hill was a pioneer in FM broadcasting, independent media and community-based radio, and left a legacy that has only grown stronger over the past sixty years.
Walt Jamond – A friendly, stalwart voice on numerous Bay Area stations for three decades, Jamond worked behind the mike at KROW, KABL, KQBY, KRE/KPAT, KNBA and KMPX among other stations during his career.
LEGENDARY STATION
KGO (810 AM) of San Francisco.
CONTACT:
David Jackson
Executive Director
Bay Area Radio Museum