Van Nuys goes surfing

Larry Van Nuys got his first job on the Los Angeles radio airwaves on KBCA (now Go Country KKGO, 105.1 FM) back in 1959. Since that time he has worked at numerous radio and television stations including the original KBLA (no longer on the air), KNOB (now KLAX, 97.9 FM), KGFJ (now KYPA, 1230 AM), KFI (640 AM), KABC (790 AM) and KMPC (now KSPN, 710 AM) and KTLA television Channel 5.

His last radio gig came after he gave up radio “for good” in the mid 1980s, working at KNX (1070 AM) until retiring from radio again in 2009. Voiceover work and other announcing kept him busy when he wasn’t on the radio.

Now he’s gone full-circle, returning to the studios that also house Go Country 105, as the new morning-man (6 a.m. to 9 a.m. weekdays) at K-SURF (1260 AM, 105.1 HD2).

Actually this isn’t the first time Van Nuys has been on the 1260 airwaves. He worked there from 1964-1966 when the station was known as KGIL, serving the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles. He started this week, though station opener Saul Levine has been sitting on the announcement until everything was ready to go.

“Just imagine – Larry is returning (to work with me) after 50 years!” Levine told me. “And we are still friends.” Van Nuys concurs, telling LARadio.Com‘s Don Barrett that the opportunity to work with Levine for a second time is “something fitting the order of the cosmos.”

Van Nuys’ show will still be music-intensive playing hits and lesser-known nuggets from the 1950s through the ‘70s. He’ll also report on local traffic and weather, which means he’ll be live and in-studio during his weekday 6-9 a.m. shift, a nice treat.

Van Nuys’ smooth voice should be a perfect fit for K-SURF.

Pioneer

Saul Levine isn’t just a local owner, though being among the last independent radio station owners in the entire country is itself impressive. Levine is much more – a pioneer who helped move the FM band forward when he launched KBCA in 1959, and is among the last radio station owners in the country to still play music on the AM band (of course, more should be doing so).

Variety Magazine took note of Levin’e accomplishments and put together a nice story about his life and his radio accomplishments. Read it here: tinyurl.com/saullevine

And if that weren’t enough, online Radio Survivor did a little story on his push to keep radio local and competitive. Read that at tinyurl.com/radio-survivor.

A Brand New Day

K-Surf isn’t the only station getting a new morning show. KABC has found a replacement for Doug McIntyre in-house, as John Phillips and Jillian Barberie move from their former afternoon slot to morning drive (5 a.m. to 10 a.m.) weekdays. Taking over afternoons is the syndicated Ben Shapiro, last heard as part of the morning show on KRLA (870 AM).

Those are not the only changes at KABC. The station is moving Peter Tilden to early evening (6 to 9 p.m.) and switching Leeann Tweeden for Lauren Sivan as Dr. Drew Pinsky’s co-host on the 12 noon to 3 p.m. shift. No word on Sivan’s whereabouts.

And finally, Larry O’Connor has been added to the roster of hosts, taking the 10 a.m. to 12 noon shift formerly held down by Tilden. O’Connor will simulcast his show from the studios of WMAL AM-FM/Washington, D.C.

Hmm. That full-service format I suggested for KABC is looking better and better.

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