Jock:  Chris Bailey — Overnighter #3  —  June 1970 to August 1971


Chris tells it this way:

My professional Broadcasting career took me, as many jocks, “ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.”

I started my broadcasting career in Las Vegas, Nevada at the then number one station in the market, KENO. I was only in high school and the first time I saw a jock doing a remote I knew this was the job for me. KENO had a part- time position open and the program director asked if I would be interested. Well you know this was music to this young pup's ears.

Several years passed and when I graduated from Las Vegas High School in 1961 I had a few years under my belt and went full time with a station across the street, KLAS radio. I worked in many small markets just like the rest in the business. Then in 1968 this was the year of my first big break. I started working with the Bill Drake station in Cincinnati, Ohio WUBE.

From this point I worked in Major Market stations. To mention a few: KDWB/Minneapolis, WOKY/Milwaukee, KCBQ/San Diego, and WGCL/Cleveland.

Chris Bailey in 1970 at WRKO.

Chris in 1970

Chris Bailey in 2000.

Chris in 2000

The radio station that comes to my mind as being actually working in the BIG TIME was none other than The BIG 68 WRKO in Boston. I worked there for 13 months. Those were the days when Dale Dorman was working mornings, Johnny Williams afternoons and ALL THE GREATS IN BETWEEN.  (Click here to see a great WRKO publicity shot from 1970!)

My thoughts on radio these days are not filled with the most positive ones that anyone that worked in the business when radio was radio could be.  Now, management doesn’t care what the radio station sounds like they appear to only want to make as much money and (to heck) with the people.

When I was a Program Director they cared what the station sounded like and depended on your expertise in keeping it good and tight. THOSE WERE THE DAYS. This question was asked the other day “ What would you tell a young person if they wanted to get into the business today.”  My answer: “LOT’S OF LUCK!”

I have been out of the business for several years now, working as a Private Investigator. If you would like to chat with me, my e-mail address is courtservices@earthlink.net. I'd love to hear from you.

By the way, Chris Bailey is his real name.


Chris cookin' in 1971 at WRKO
Cookin' at "The Q," KCBQ in 1972