“Tom always wanted a radio station that sounded like you were in the living room of a friend who had the most amazing stereo system imaginable and a tremendous collection of records and impeccible taste.”
Howard Hesselman talking about Tom Donahue of KSAN in San Francisco and his vision of what a radio station should be.
Above –Tom Donahue “Big Daddy” Donahue 300 pounds of solid Sounds holding what looks like the first Big Brother album..
One got an education listening to KSAN. It wasn’t just a string of unrelated computer algorhythm generated hits. Yes- there were popular records played- but between them were other less well known tracks all connected and linked in some way. All in perfect booming stereo sound with a bare minimum of advertising. Sales of those big tube amplifier tuners went up because of this.
Each part of the day had a particular flavor depending on who was playing the records. Mornings were easy going folk and country blues. Friday and Saturday nights were very funky. Sunday mornings aired the philosophy of Alan Watts.
Saturday night midnight to 6 am the best of Bay area soul music with Dusty Street and Voco (The Mahdi) . (Photo below).
“It’s midnight….. lights off….. clothes off…… candles glowing….. incense is fading away……. don’t need no electricity, baby- I’ll be your amplifier, because we can boogie in the dark'” – and so pioneer San Francisco disc jockey Voco introduced himself every Saturday night at midnight.
Though called Lights Out it was anything but sleepy.
You tube also has this documentary below about KSAN