Rock Radio Scrapbook
FROM THE ARCHIVES
Talent: BILL
BALLANCE
Station: KFWB
Los Angeles
Date: December
1, 1962
Time: 15:45
"Bill has many imitators, but no rivals." So gushed Time Magazine in the 1970s. The subject of the piece was Bill Ballance, one of southern California's most popular announcers.
Much of Ballance's reputation was gained during his years at KFWB from 1955 to 1965. He held down the evening shift during many of those years and in 1958 became one of the original "Swingin' Seven Gentlemen" when Chuck Blore and KFWB introduced the ground-breaking Colour Radio format.
Ballance was a great communicator, a reputation enhanced later in his career by his controversial talk show "Feminine Forum." That early 1970s show is considered to be the forerunner of the "shock talk"genre later made popular by hosts like Tom Leykis and Howard Stern. All told, his radio career spanned four decades, with stops at KNX, KFWB, KGH, KGBS, KABC and KWIZ Los Angeles, KOA Denver, KNBR San Francisco, KFMB San Diego and Honolulu stations KHVH and KGMB.
Ballance died September 23, 2004 at the age of 85.
Hear Ballance on KFWB here.
(The Jim Southern Collection)
More 1962 airchecks here!
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