KATT succeeded KECC in 1957 after the purchase of the station by the Contra Costa Broadcasting Corporation, a group led by bandleader Les Malloy. Malloy, who had recently sold San Mateo station KVSM, announced that his group would invest in upgraded facilities as the station moved from 1,000 watts of transmitter power to 5,000 watts.
Malloy’s concept was “personality radio” from 6 AM to midnight (plans were in the works to go to 24-hour operation); he brought in veteran disc jockeys Don Pitts and Gene Taylor. Among Taylor’s attributes was his record collection, reportedly in the range of 5,000 discs.
The station was soon leaning hard on the sound of music, running an ad campaign that said the station was “90% music, 10% conversation”.
Malloy’s ownership of KATT lasted barely a year. In the summer of 1958, Dayton, OH-based Skyland Broadcasting Corporation acquired KATT for $300,000. Jack Grant, who had managed KVSM for Malloy, stayed on as station manager after the change in ownership. Bandleader Benny Strong, who’d also been part of Malloy’s ownership group, remained as production director.
On September 15, 1958, KATT became KKIS.
