Sam Lawson’s Audio Vault: KJR Christmas contest with Tom Murphy, December, 1970

   December 7, 2020

Remember the contest where parents would call in and force their kids to talk to a tape of Pat O’Day (as Santa)? This cut is very short but sweet as Tom Murphy speaks with a very young contestant. There’s also a live spot for Valu-Mart, and a “KJR, Seattle, Leave it on 95” jingle.


Runtime: 1:17

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Author: Sam Lawson

Student engineer at pioneer Nathan Hale radio station KNH 1210 in 1970 (prior to KNHC). Also attended North Seattle Community College and L.H. Bates in Tacoma (KTOY-FM). Sam’s career began as a KJR request line operator in 1970, with his first on-air job at KRKO in 1972. In 1976 he segued to overnights at KTAC as Cory Landon, then weekends at KING. In 1978 he moved to Lewiston, Idaho for afternoons on KOZE and KRLC. Throughout the ‘80s he was an announcer and/or engineer at "the best mix and biggest variety" of Spokane radio stations; including 97KREM, KZUN, KGA, KKER (The Sam & Pam Show), KZZU, PD of KJRB, 98 KISS-FM, and the voice of KAYU-TV. In 1989 he moved to Los Angeles as Assistant Chief Engineer and weekends at KZLA/KLAC. Also engineered for KBIG, KFI, Premiere Radio Networks, CBS Radio, and others. "After avoiding any actual work for nearly 45 years, now happily retired and very appreciatively back in the great Pacific Northwest!" ---Click here for other Sam Lawson articles ---and here for Sam Lawson airchecks

2 thoughts on “Sam Lawson’s Audio Vault: KJR Christmas contest with Tom Murphy, December, 1970”

  1. December 7, 2020 at QZVX

    Jason Remington says:

    Some of the clothing styles, flared pants, scarves, and frilly shirts, should not have been worn by men. These items, like the platform shoes John Travolta wore in Saturday Night Fever, were the fashion of pimps. Excuse me, I don’t want to go off on a tangent.

    Now, let us all open our Bibles to Leviticus 18 and 20…

    On another subject, televisions have always been over-priced. I think $219 was a bit much for a portable tv (1970 price).

    Reply

    • December 7, 2020 at QZVX

      kjrol says:

      That little TV would have cost 2 weeks take home for some folks. A day’s pay for World Famous Tom Murphy?

      Reply

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