Posts by: Charlie Van Dyke

KLIF…Part Two

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Working out my 13 week notice in LA, I looked at a number of really fascinating offers. But, psychologically, I felt in need of mental “comfort food.” Dallas was home and it was calling me. So, when the offer came to do mornings at KLIF,[…]

KHJ…Part 2

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I was home! So, let me be honest. Some of my friends had a great relationship with Paul Drew and have very warm feelings about him. I had a very different (maybe you could just say “complicated”) relationship with him. The morning opening on KHJ[…]

San Diego Radio Battle

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When I first met Buzz Bennett, he was Program Director at WTIX in New Orleans. He was really energetic, but he still seemed “normal,” at least normal for a radio guy. He was eager to share details of a new in-store record research method he[…]

The Magnificent Seven

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Before heading north for some stories about CKLW, I’d like to circle back and expand on something from the KLIF chapter. I met Don Barrett when he was appointed National Program Director for the McLendon stations, which owned KLIF. Don was based in Dallas, so[…]

KLIF…Part One

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So, who came up with the concept of Top 40? Was it Gordon McLendon or Todd Storz? I’ve never heard a definite answer. The story I heard most was that the two men (both of whom already owned their own chains of stations) were together[…]