This recording did not originate from the transmitter, but came from either the Cottondale Street studio or, more likely, the West 7th Street studio, according to the 375-0105 telephone number (thanks for these tips, from Hollis Duncan and David B. Treadway). When Clyde was at the Wrightsville transmitter, the 375-1090 was patched over to him (also according to David B.).
He takes on the Clyde-persona quite interestingly, laid-back and quiet over the microphone. Listen in and see what you think! And, if anyone can identify this "mystery Ken Knight", please let us know!
By the way, in the news segment opening this aircheck, you'll note the newsman signing as "Holiday"...could this be our very own David B. Treadway?
or download here
(or stream/download from the archive page)
Thanks to Dave S. for the audio work!
Bud S. (staceys4@hotmail.com)
I'm the one who recorded this aircheck, DX from my home in Evanston IL (just north of Chicago) in May 1975. I originally sent this to AJ's blog, I think. It's a composite of various sets over 2 nights, possibly 3. Reception varied from amazingly strong to quite static-y. So that solves some of the mystery. I have another aircheck of K.Knight doing Beaker Street in Dec 1974, so he was at KAAY then too. Greg Barman, Denver CO
ReplyDeleteit brings back memories especially the fadeouts on the radio. Just like it did on my radio!
ReplyDeleteThe "KEN KNIGHT" y'all are referring to was 'BILL JACKSON". He was hired (from JOPLIN, MO) by Wayne Moss to replace "O'BRIAN" (MIKE VERDICHIO) on BEAKER ST. I left KAAY in Sept. of 76 to become P.D. at WROA in Gulfport/Biloxi. I hired "KEN KNIGHT" to be my music director shortly thereafter. The last I heard about him, he was in NASHVILLE (80's). samor.w5bib@yahoo.com Steve Scott (74, 75, 76) 8-11pm KAAY
ReplyDeleteMy name is also Ken Knight (Kendall Knight of Fraklinton, LA). I listened to KAAY each night and my dream was to be a disc jockey when I was older. I called KAAY and arranged to visit Ken Knight one night while on vacation with my grandparents. My grandparents dropped me off at the station for the visit that night. As I remember it, I asked Ken Knight to let me use the KAAY phone to call my grandparents to pick me up after the visit and he said "no." I had to walk down the scary dark streets to find a pay phone. That changed my opinion of Ken Knight forever. But I never knew there wasn't really a Ken Knight..just announcers using the name. I did eventually DJ some during and after college and have been a professional photographer for 35 years.
ReplyDeleteI used to work with Ken. (Bill Jackson)... He had some great stories about KAAY BEAKER STREET. Frank Zappa dropping by, or Black Oak Arkansa, among others... I can't comment on why he'd make a kid walk down the streets in the middle of the night. We last worked together in Columbus, MS. We'd met at 93QID when the WQID calls were still in Biloxi, MS. I'm doing mornings in San Diego as I write this ... May 2012 -Keith Miller aka Madison in the Morning- KPRi San Diego
ReplyDeleteInteresting to know because my Uncle Ken Knight was one of the first African American DJs in the United States; he passed in 1973. He was on Radio in Daytona Beach, Fla. 1947, Atlanta 1949-51 and the rest of his years in Jacksonville, Florida.
ReplyDeleteHi, all. The Ken Knight from this air check is Bill Jackson. I worked with him in the early 80s at WHSY FM, Y104. He taught me a lot. I got out of radio in the late 80s and lost track of him.
ReplyDeleteSure miss listening to Beaker Street in my old converted school bus where I lived while going to High School in Kingsville Mo. would get off work at the gas station, go home to my bus , fix something to eat.. kick back and listen to Beaker Street.
ReplyDelete