Hip Hop History Month #3

KDAY first signed on in 1948 as a 10,000-watt soul/R&B outlet at 1580 AM. Its call sign represented that fact that it was a "daytimer"; i.e., it broadcast only during daytime hours and signed off every evening. It flipped to a top 40 format a short time later.

Fast forward to1968. KDAY moved it's transmitter to Los Angeles, and concurrently upgraded to 50,000 watts day and night. FM stations such as KJLH grew in popularity in the early 1980s, cutting into KDAY's audience. KDAY fought back by hiring Greg Mack from KMJQ in Houston as music director in 1983. Mack eventually added hip hop music to the station's playlist to appeal to mostly young Black and Latino listeners, and in doing so, created something NO other station in the country was doing. 24 hours of hip-hop!! Dr. Dre and DJ Yella Boy became the FIRST mixer DJs at the station, which Greg dubbed "The KDAY Mix-Masters". They would perform live mixes in the afternoon complete with cutting and scratching.

The first ratings period under Mack's leadership, KDAY's ratings beat another Los Angeles Black AM station, KGFJ, and "began to enjoy a second life as the only rap-friendly station in town and, like I said, in the entire country. By September 1983, KDAY also upgraded its sound to AM stereo.

KDAY broke all the early West Coast AND east coast acts, allowing them to see numbers that they would have NEVER acquired before. Enough so, that early promoters, such as Uncle Jams Army (RIP General Jeff), and Alonzo Lonzo Williams (who was the first to book a New York act, but more on that in a later post), were able to profit and capitalize on hip-hop before ANYONE else could. It also lead to the beginning of major hip-hop tours, like the Run DMC "Raising Hell" Tour in August of 1986.

But after violence in the stands forced the cancellation of the concert at the Long Beach Arena for the groups, KDAY organized a "Day of Peace" on October 9, 1986 In a two-hour special, KDAY featured Run-DMC, singer Barry White, and boxer Paul Gonzales, appealing to rival gangs to stop feuding and opened phone lines for callers to describe gangs' impact in their communities. There were no murders or incidents of gang violence that day. Within two weeks, the Bloods and Crips, the two largest gangs in Los Angeles, signed a peace treaty, which was worked, in part, by the legendary Eazy-E.

But, I'm getting ahead of myself; just SO much information to this. I discussed the mixmasters earlier. The KDAY Mix-Masters can't be overlooked because they were the FIRST group assembled like that. And most of them went on to become essential pioneers in the culture. I mentioned Dr. Dre and DJ Yella; no need to write what they became. Tony G, who later became the head of the snake, went on to produce huge hits like "La Raza" for Kid Frost, to name a few. Joe Cooley, of Rodney O and Joe Cooley fame, Julio G, who went on to revamp KDAY ON the FM station you hear today, or DJ MWalk who has and still DJs for many artists on the road today.

And there were other radio personalities that found success. Russ Parr, created a character that Eddie Murphy would soon bite called "Bobby Jimmy", who, was basically, Buckwheat as an adult. Bobby Jimmy & the Critters (included General Jeff, and production of Dr. Dre), would obtain success by changing the lyrics of popular songs. This was BEFORE Weird Al. "Roaches" which was a parody of "Rumors" by the Timex Social Club, is a prime example. I suggest you Google them both.

I could go on and on and on about the ground breaking, game changing 1580 KDAY and Greg Mack made to the culture, and he personally introduced Run DMC, LL Cool J, Whodini, 3rd Bass, KRS, Public Enemy, Doug E Fresh, Slick Rick, The Fat Boys, UTFO (I think you get the picture) to the west coast, but this post is long enough as it is. I'm just proud to say that most of the people involved were and are my friends. I love all of them!!

This station needs a documentary.