September 23, 1997|MYRNA OLIVER | (LOS ANGELES) TIMES STAFF WRITER — “Emperor” Bob Hudson, a veteran Southern California disc jockey who also dubbed himself “Beautiful Bob,” has died at 66. Hudson died in his sleep early Saturday at his Monrovia home. A master of the giant put-on, Hudson was on the air from the 1950s through the 1980s on several Southern California stations, initially anointing himself “emperor” on KRLA…Hudson regularly signed off his programs by warning the “peasants” to clear the freeway because “His Highness is coming.” The “emperor” dressed the part, complete with turban and robes, and moved around Hollywood in a gold Rolls-Royce. “The kids really thought I was nuts and they loved me,” he told The Times in 1968, when he was “Beautiful Bob” on KFWB in the days before its current all-news format. Hudson was praised by colleagues in his highly competitive business for intelligent humor and clever chatter…
I’M NORMAL – BOB HUDSON
Top 40 DJ’s – Hudson and Landry
KQKT May 1985. I forgot that KKMI was such a short-timer. I thought KKMI had an east coast sound, not west coast. Hard to explain, but it came off rather formal, white shirt and cocktail, more so than boat shoes and Olympia beer.
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KKMI > KQKT
April 20, 2025 at QZVX
toddmitchell says:
How long before KKMI became Quality Hits KQ96? I remember being crushed when KYYX went away, but I was barely 20…
Barely a year
April 20, 2025 at QZVX
Jason Remington says:
KQKT May 1985. I forgot that KKMI was such a short-timer. I thought KKMI had an east coast sound, not west coast. Hard to explain, but it came off rather formal, white shirt and cocktail, more so than boat shoes and Olympia beer.
Mike Barer
April 21, 2025 at QZVX
Maple Valley Mike says:
I actually worked a shift at KKMI for a short time. It was a Saturday Night overnight shift as a board operator.