Edition #1398 |
Talent: DIRK ROBINSON
Stations: KYNO Fresno, Calif.
Date: May 29, 1972
Time: 31:19 (UNSCOPED)
9:59 (SCOPED)
"It all started in a little 5,000-watt radio station in Fresno, California."
The words belonged to the character of bombastic newscaster Ted Baxter on the Mary Tyler Moore Show. But the same could be applied to KYNO, the Fresno station that was the launching pad for Boss Radio in 1964.
Before it was rolled out in larger markets, the Bill Drake-Gene Chenault format that reduced playlists and jock chatter for a more consistent listening experience needed a testing ground. That testing ground was KNYO, which debuted Boss Radio in 1964. Earlier in the decade, Drake had introduced elements of the tighter format at KYA San Francisco, but this took it a step further., making a heavily researched fast-paced 24-7 experience. KYNO quickly lept from the basement to the penthouse of the Fresno ratings, quicky surpassing cross-town rival KMAK.
Before long, Boss Radio had spread to major markets like Los Angeles (KHJ), San Diego (KGB) San Francisco (KFRC) and Windsor-Detroit (CKLW) with incredible ratings leaps. The era of more rock, less talk had begun. Top 40 radio would never be the same again.
Dirk Robinson came to KYNO inbound from KTOM Salinas, California. A native of the Netherlands (his birth name was Dirk Raaphorst), Robinson spent two-plus years at KYNO, before moving to KLOK San Jose. From there he went to K-101 San Francisco.
A full newscast with Pat Davis included.
Hear Dirk Robinson (UNSCOPED) here. 
Hear Dirk Robinson (SCOPED) here.
(The Don Shuttleworth Collection)
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