Today there are so many options when we want to listen to music – Pandora, Spotify, and more. But there’s one music option with such great history. One that springs from a dream that began forty-five years ago. In the late 1970’s, KIOI FM was among the top stations in the San Francisco Bay Area. Its reputation was that of a creative radio station with an appreciation for the sound of music. Two people chose the music – one of them was Jim Gabbert, the station’s owner – and they insisted the highest sound quality – played directly from vinyl records. Remember records? And with features like the quirky “Anything Goes” show, hosted by Gabbert and a format that was different from all other Bay Area stations, KIOI captured the imaginations of listeners who loved radio and music. It also captured the imaginations of disc jockeys who wanted to be part of something unique and successful. Along with Jack Friday, Liz Bentley, Hoyt Smith and a few others, I was privileged to be a part of it in the late 70’s. That’s where I met Paul Patterson, who was the General Manager and Air Personality at San Jose State University, and studying engineering and business, while working part time as a board operator at KIOI. Paul says while running the KIOI board he was tempted many times to crack the mic and say the hourly station ID, but he somehow managed to resist. When Paul was still in high school, Jim ran a contest on “Anything Goes” asking listeners to send in sound effects to win AMPEX Cassette Tapes and Paul won twice! That piqued his interest in radio which grew in college, where he enjoyed a measure of success. Paul was an affable and eager radio fan who loved KIOI and dreamed of one day being a DJ on that station. But dreams don’t always come true – at least not right away, and his path led to making his living as an engineer working in tech sales and marketing in Silicon Valley. Still, he kept his dream of being on the air alive full time, knowing in his heart that someday he’d do it. After 2 years of announcing for KLOK in San Jose on the weekends, Paul made the decision to leave radio so he could work full time in Silicon Valley. And after working in the tech field for over 35 years, he got the bug again to be on the air. But radio had changed and getting hired at a radio station was not as simple as it once. What to do? Simple: build your own radio station and hire yourself to do afternoons! These days, Paul very happily helms the afternoon drive show daily on KIOI Live365. Since Paul grew up listening to KIOI and James Gabbert’s adventurous “Anything Goes” show, he had hopes to one day reprise the format. Paul even acquired KIOI’s jingles and a fascinating vault of Jim Gabbert’s “Anything Goes” shows! He’s built a “Time Machine” of his own. A few years ago, Paul became inspired by internet radio formats, like “Gary Mora’s KYA”. Over the next few years, Paul recruited retired DJs like yours truly, Don Bleu, Dennis Terry, and from the Southland, the legendary Boss Jock “Shotgun Tom” Kelly. Before Paul took over the afternoon spot, I personally held it down via voice tracks for two years, before realizing the meaning of the word “retired”. Most of the terrific talents heard on KIOI Live 365 recognize that we are helping a fellow radio lover out. We also appreciate that Paul is keeping the spirit of KIOI alive. KIOI Live365 can be found by using the link: K101 – Free Internet Radio – Live 365 at Live365.com. The station features the voices of KIOI stars from our past. Don Bleu, the strongest link to terrestrial KIOI, hosts “80’s at 8”, Jeff Serr, Sherry Brown, Jim Bryan and Celeste Perry entertain us with special shows. Steve Garland does “Top 10 at 10” (like the KFOG show), and KIOI also offers the iconic “Time Machine”, made famous by the late great Chris Edwards, featuring songs from the 50’s and 60’s. Jona Denz-Hamilton, Dennis Terry, Clark Reid, Shawn King, and Steve Jordan make weekends sparkle, and Paul Patterson can be heard every weekday afternoon from 3pm to 6pm. It’s a dream come true for Paul, and for those of us with fond memories of our best years, with KIOI as the soundtrack, it’s a way to reminisce while dreaming our own dreams.
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