KTKT DJ Hall OF Fame
1966
KTKT started out the New Year in need of someone to fill Joe Bailey’s vacancy while Joe was fulfilling his reserve obligations. That someone turned out to be Tom Wright. Tom joined KTKT right after the start of the year coming from cross town rival KFIF where he had been doing he afternoon drive program. KFIF was purchased September 1 1965 by Texan John B Walton. Soon after Walton bought KFIF he set out to challenge KTKT by putting a fake “Drake” Boss Radio format in place. John Walton put Dave Button in charge as GM. Previously at KMOP as GM Dave hired a brand new staff. Ted Randle a consultant from California was brought on board to oversee the format. But KFIF faced the same shortcoming that hampered the short lived top 40 effort in 1962 in that KFIF was a day time only station operating from sunrise to sunset. Tom Wright plugged at big hole at KTKT when he took over the 6 pm show the first of the year. Joe Bailey returned near the end of February. At this same time Colin Gramatsky decided to return to New Mexico. So Joe Bailey took over his old program at 6 pm with Tom Wright moving to the 9 pm to midnight slot. By early April 1966 KTKT finally had a set line up.
April 1966
6 am – Jerry Stowe
9 am – Dan Gates
Noon – Tom Madison
3 pm - Frank Kalil
6 pm – Joe Bailey
9 pm – Tom Wright
Midnight to 6 am – Dick Nelson
Spring and summer had lots of comings and goings at KTKT. In addition to the normal summer vacation schedules Joe Bailey had to leave for a couple months for additional military training. Several additions – mostly short term – took place at KTKT during this period of time. Late spring Lloyd Young joined the KTKT staff to do some fill in work. Dan Gates had him use the name “Pepper” Young (a name from the days of network radio and serials) while at KTKT. I doubt if any Tucsonans remembered Young was also a member of the 1962 KFIF Tiger Radio staff as Jack Jackson. Probably not too many even remember him at KTKT as he was only there for a week or two. Also coming on board at about the same time is the pride and joy of Glendale California - Russ O’Hara. Russ did some afternoon news and fill in DJ work over the summer. But by the end of summer he was also gone. Russ then did evenings at MOR KCUB. Russ would go on to do stints at both KFIF and KIKX during 1967 before leaving Tucson to return to California and a very successful radio career. Also on board this summer at KTKT is Terry MacDonald. Terry did weekend shifts for the summer - but like Russ O’ Hara left at the end of summer. Terry found full time work doing mid days at KOLD. Terry would later turn up at KIKX and KHYT later in the decade. Today Terry has very successful voice over business. He can be heard narrating many specials on PBS TV. Late summer –early fall 1966 would also see Tom Madison leave to join KCUB as the afternoon drive DJ. Tom would later mover over to KHOS to do mornings. Overnight man Dick Nelson also leaves KTKT at about the same time. To fill the noon to 3 pm spot held by Tom Madison for the last couple of years Dan Gates hires Bob Holiday. This is Bob’s second tour at KTKT. Bob last worked at KTKT during the fifties. To fill the overnight shift Lee Poole joins the KTKT Staff.
December 1966
6 am – Jerry Stowe
9 am – Dan Gates
Noon – Bob Holiday
3 pm - Frank Kalil
6 pm – Joe Bailey
9 pm – Tom Wright
Midnight to 6 am – Lee Poole
