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Michael Jackson KABC-AM Radio Host dead at 87

david

david

My favorite all-time talk show host in Los Angeles has passed away today (Saturday, 1/15/2022)

An erudite gentleman with a compelling rolodex and an enthralling on-air persona, his children have requested “everyone honor” their father’s “time-honored legacy by being polite and good to one another. To unite as one people and to uphold Democracy in the America that our Father so cherished and promoted throughout his life on-air and at home.
 
RIP for sure. I remember hearing him years ago in syndication on our local talker. In the mid-1980s when callers would say something favorable about Michael Jackson on the air to our local hosts, they often asked if the caller was referring to the talk host, or the pop star who was nearing his peak popularity at that time.

I've read where Jackson was beloved and appreciated, but once more boisterous and opinionated hosts like Limbaugh came along, Jackson's ratings suffered and some radio station management considered him a relic at that point. After seeing what Limbaugh and his ilk ultimately brought us, I think some would be happier to hear the likes of Michael Jackson on the airwaves.
 
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Mikey Radio said:
RIP for sure. I remember hearing him years ago in syndication on our local talker. In the mid-1980s when callers would say something favorable about Michael Jackson on the air to our local hosts, they often asked if the caller was referring to the talk host, or the pop star who was nearing his peak popularity at that time.

I've read where Jackson was beloved and appreciated, but once more boisterous and opinionated hosts like Limbaugh came along, Jackson's ratings suffered and some radio station management considered him a relic at that point. After seeing what Limbaugh and his ilk ultimately brought us, I think some would be happier to hear the likes of Michael Jackson on the airwaves.
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If a Michael Jackson Type talk show host was to exist today he would be on NPR News/Talk affiliates like KQED, WAMU, KXJZ, WHYY, WNYC, WBUR and WGBH or podcasts.
 
Sorry to hear this. Jackson did a great show. It's sad that today's talk radio has broken down to what is simplistic and one note. Jackson could interview a guest, author, political or cultural figure and then invite callers to question or comment. He leaned to the left but had guests of both parties. And most shows were not about national politics.

You can see him as a young man as a guest on What's My Line. He was still a disc jockey then. Those old shows are available on You Tube, although I'm not sure that show's title includes Jackson's name.
 
Michael Jackson had very good ratings on 5000 watt KABC. But how did his show hold up once 50,000 watt KFI went talk and put a guy named Limbaugh on as his competition in middays?
 
Here’s video of Michael in the KABC studio, the morning after the 1988 election. At the time, the first two hours of his show were on the ABC Talkradio network, the second two were KABC only.

www.c-span.org

The Michael Jackson Radio Show

A simulcast of KABC Radio's [The Micheal Jackson Show]. Micheal Jackson interviewed guests over the phone and commented on listeners' questions. During program breaks, He talked about his career in talk radio.
www.c-span.org www.c-span.org
 
radio128 said:
Michael Jackson had very good ratings on 5000 watt KABC. But how did his show hold up once 50,000 watt KFI went talk and put a guy named Limbaugh on as his competition in middays?
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Also Michael Jackson's show was simulcast at one point on the ABC Talk Radio Network in the 1980's.
 
michael hagerty said:
For ten years, from the beginning of the network until its end.
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Not quite the end. Talkradio basically syndicated KABC personalities like Owen Spann, Michael Jackson, Dr.Joy Browne and Ray Briem. Owen Spann's retirement opened up 2 hours that Ed McLaughlin was able to obtain to launch the Rush Limbaugh Show. Near the end, ABC blamed the cost of satellite time to stop originating programming from LA and beginning originating from WABC with different hosts, none of whom I remember. Eventually Daynet, which I believe featured Dr. Browne and Alan Colmes came along, as well as the American Radio Networks (Ted Byrne, Paul Bicknell) but they were only heard in markets like Fort Wayne, Ann Arbor and Grand Rapids.
 
gr8oldies said:
Not quite the end. Talkradio basically syndicated KABC personalities like Owen Spann, Michael Jackson, Dr.Joy Browne and Ray Briem. Owen Spann's retirement opened up 2 hours that Ed McLaughlin was able to obtain to launch the Rush Limbaugh Show. Near the end, ABC blamed the cost of satellite time to stop originating programming from LA and beginning originating from WABC with different hosts, none of whom I remember. Eventually Daynet, which I believe featured Dr. Browne and Alan Colmes came along, as well as the American Radio Networks (Ted Byrne, Paul Bicknell) but they were only heard in markets like Fort Wayne, Ann Arbor and Grand Rapids.
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www.sfgate.com

Owen Spann -- influential voice in Bay talk radio

Owen Spann, the consummate interviewer who helped define talk radio as a medium and...
www.sfgate.com www.sfgate.com

I know what you mean though but Owen Spann was a KGO-AM Host in San Francisco when ABC Talk Radio Network was around.
 

Michael Jackson TalkRadio Content

www.michaeljacksontalkradio.com www.michaeljacksontalkradio.com

Here is an archive of Michael Jackson the radio host responding to the death of Michael Jackson the Pop Star in 2009.

I am not sure who owns this site domain given that this was Michael Jackson's former blog page after he stopped being active in radio.

Many stations.. radio and TV... have been reporting nationwide and worldwide that the instant memorial being created at the Hollywood , Walk of Fame, Michael Jackson star, is at the "wrong" star. His is covered by a red carpet because of a film premiere. So, the fans have gathered and placed mounds of flowers to pay respects to him at my star.

I am willingly loan it to him and, if it would bring him back, he can have it. He was a real star. Sinatra, Presley, The Beatles and Michael Jackson.
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michael hagerty said:
Here’s video of Michael in the KABC studio, the morning after the 1988 election. At the time, the first two hours of his show were on the ABC Talkradio network, the second two were KABC only.

www.c-span.org

The Michael Jackson Radio Show

A simulcast of KABC Radio's [The Micheal Jackson Show]. Micheal Jackson interviewed guests over the phone and commented on listeners' questions. During program breaks, He talked about his career in talk radio.
www.c-span.org www.c-span.org
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Excellent, thanks @michael hagerty for posting!
 
gr8oldies said:
Near the end, ABC blamed the cost of satellite time to stop originating programming from LA and beginning originating from WABC with different hosts, none of whom I remember. Eventually Daynet, which I believe featured Dr. Browne and Alan Colmes came along
Click to expand...
Sorry to move away from the subject of Michael Jackson's obit and tribute, but as an aside, ABC Talk told its affiliates it would stop delivering content on Friday, Sept. 28, 1990. Daynet was quickly formed by Barry Farber, Alan Colmes, a producer and an engineer and yes, Dr. Joy Browne was in the lineup when they went live the following Monday - Oct. 1. Farber and Browne were previously on the ABC network. Daynet was purchased by Major Networks in 1994 and went through a few bumps, eventually coming under the talk arm of United Stations.
 
I am reminded of the September 15, 1965 incident when the KNX tower was toppled during his evening talk show. At the time, KNX-FM/93.1 simulcast the AM 100% and he continued on FM only. The engineers rigged a temporary antenna, and as fate would have it 1070 returned to the air during his program the next evening. His first words once the simulcast was restored were "As I was saying as I was so rudely interrupted ..."

Someone who remembers hearing that recounted it in a letter to Don Barrett's LA Radio People website in 1998:

And the tower incident was recounted in the Daily Breeze's history blog, including clippings showing the aftermath of the collapse:

This is how I want to remember him ... a host with a dry but quick wit.
 
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