KSFR made its official debut on March 11, 1958 after several weeks of testing. It was the Bay Area’s 12th FM station, broadcasting from 8:00 AM to 12 midnight seven days a week. The transmitter was atop Mt. San Bruno and with a 10,000 watt signal, KSFR covered a large slice of the Bay Area.
Calling itself “The Concert Music Station”, KSFR targeted an audience of classical music aficionados. Beyond that, the station made a point of saying that, as a part of its “good taste policy”, it would refuse to accept any singing commercials.
Owner Al Levitt ran a San Francisco music store and record label. He’d been heard on the air at KLX and KYA.
It wasn’t long before Levitt was facing financial problems. He’d reportedly cut a deal to sell a half-interest in the station for $20,000 and when it fell through, the station ran on-air appeals and newspaper ads, seeking funds to cover operating expenses.
Levitt was able to stabilize the station’s finances as advertisers came aboard. A multiplex stereo signal and an increase in transmitter power came in the early 60’s. Levitt was the morning host with a program entitled The Wolfgang — Baroque, Renaissance and Classical Sounds.
In May 1966, Levitt announced the sale of KSFR to Metromedia, Inc., which already owned Oakland’s KEWB. The deal called for Levitt to remain as general manager and be paid a consulting fee. The classical-music format would continue.
That ended in May 1968. Metromedia pulled the plug on the classics, switching to the free-form rock format that would cement the new call letters, KSAN, in radio history.
The last song heard on KSFR was Brahms’ “German Requiem”.
