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KFAT Radio 94.5 Gilroy, California

KFAT Radio was a classic of its era - one-of-a-kind. I worked there from 1979 until January 1983 as the Gilroy studio engineer. I've dug into the archives and found some goodies. KFAT is gone but not forgotten. Enjoy.

Listen now in RealAudio - Mid-morning Thursday March 4, 1982
Amy Airheart 1 - 46 minutes        Amy Airheart 2 - 46 minutes

Amy knew I was taping her. I sent 10 cassettes overseas to an Air Force Sergeant in Germany so the troops could listen to KFAT. Sergeant Downing brought this one cassette back from Bitburg, Germany years later, and I copied it on the spot. You'll hear references to Germany on side 1, and this is why.

Images and Trivia (hi res versions open in new windows)

 Bumper Sticker
384 KB jpeg

Flyer Handout
777 KB jpeg

AM Competitor Bumper Sticker
114 KB jpeg

Here's a rare shot of the people who took over from KFAT after January 1983. The burlap covered plywood letters are long gone as is the El Paseo de Saratoga shopping center where this picture was taken. KWSS was in turn "eaten" by another big corporation in 1991 and became K-FOX. The KWSS sales manager Dayton Philips and receptionist Shirley Sanchez standing on the right side have both passed away. GM Palmer Pyle (green cap/white shirt on the left) played pro-football with the Colts, Vikings, and Oakland Raiders from 1960-66 - he convinced Nationwide Corporation to keep me on as engineer after KFAT, so he's my hero. 

In the KWSS photo from left to right are Kevin O'Brien (AE-sales), Palmer Pyle (GM-manager), George Moody (AE-sales), Mark Durkin (AE-sales), Kim Borden (traffic director), Dave Van Stone (program director), Robin Kipps - seated (music director), Gordon Pirie (AE-sales), Bill Kelly (morning team), Al Klein (morning team), Shirley Sanchez (receptionist), Dayton Philips (sales manager). This photo was on the KWSS 1983 Christmas card. 
See high res image - 387 KB jpg

Links (open in new windows)

Google KFAT Search

KPIG Radio

Johnny Westurn

Radio Paradise

SF Bay Area
Radio Museum

Y'all hear now...if you really love something - radio station, person, era in time, anything - make sure you love it all the way right then and there because it won't last forever.

This page is under construction as a work in progress. Check back for new items - Jim


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