Buzz Lawrence (John Maynard), KOOL Oldies, Spokane aircheck
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The Buzz Lawrence show, produced and directed by Joe Michaels, airs Saturdays from 9am to 1pm on Spokane’s KOOL oldies station (now changing frequencies from 107.1 to 89.5) and can be streamed on the internet. https://www.koolops.org/
Here is a scoped aircheck from this year’s (2025) Apple Cup Saturday, where the Huskies squeaked past the Cougars 59 to 24.
Runtime: 18:27
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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
I don't know if KJRB (KNEW) had a jock named Buzz Lawrence prior to 1965, or if they just had a jingle ready for one. That is a good question. I know that when John arrived in Seattle he was permanently John Maynard.
KJRB --
Erik Erickson 67-72
Joe Michaels 69-74
Gary Taylor PD KJRB & KNEW
Norm Gregory, Charlie Brown, Buzz Lawrence, Bobby Mitchell
Ralph Koal 70-74
Peter B. Hayes 70-73
Ross Woodward ND
Paul Freeman 68-69
Lee Smith, Steve West, Jerry K, Bob Anthony, Wade Henry
Tom Murphy 65
Good Morning (Lee) Smith, Dan Walker, Jay Orr, Mike Dalton.
Let me give you some background on Seattle’s John Maynard, also known as Buzz Lawrence in Spokane.
In 1965, he started at KNEW/Spokane, which later became KJRB. He was given the radio name “Buzz Lawrence” by the program director, Gary Taylor, because the station already had a pre-made jingle with that name on it. By the way, John has never particularly cared for the name Buzz Lawrence.
In 1970 he moved to Seattle to work at KJR where he dumped the Buzz Lawrence name. His biggest claim to fame was working alongside Robin Erickson for over two decades as half of the “Robin & Maynard” morning show (on various Seattle stations, primarily KXRX).
The current day Buzz Lawrence show came about because Bob Anthony, owner of KOOL in Spokane felt that listeners might remember him from the 1960s, and John has fun doing it (from his home studio in Seattle).
As far as KETO, that was a different dj by the same name, and I have no idea about KNBX/ Kirkland.
So John Maynard, on Seattle radio, was always (John) Maynard?
Before 1965, did KJRB actually have a dj named Buzz Lawrence and save his jingle or did they have a library of jingles with listenable names and give whoever they hired one of those names?
John was called Buzz in 1965, but the Buzz I heard every day on KNBX was in '58 or '59. I never heard the one on KETO.
Thanks for the info.
. . . 1959, Buzz Lawrence counting down the top ten every day at four on KNBX 1050 Kirkland.
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I don't know if KJRB (KNEW) had a jock named Buzz Lawrence prior to 1965, or if they just had a jingle ready for one. That is a good question. I know that when John arrived in Seattle he was permanently John Maynard.
John Maynard HICKS. https://www.inlander.com/culture/former-spokane-djs-and-radio-staff-reunite-to-reminisce-and-honor-friends-28035374
Soundcloud entry requested by Feliks Banel https://soundcloud.com/history-northwest/john-maynard-and-joe-micheals-remember-knew-and-kjrb-spokane
KJRB --
Erik Erickson 67-72
Joe Michaels 69-74
Gary Taylor PD KJRB & KNEW
Norm Gregory, Charlie Brown, Buzz Lawrence, Bobby Mitchell
Ralph Koal 70-74
Peter B. Hayes 70-73
Ross Woodward ND
Paul Freeman 68-69
Lee Smith, Steve West, Jerry K, Bob Anthony, Wade Henry
Tom Murphy 65
Good Morning (Lee) Smith, Dan Walker, Jay Orr, Mike Dalton.
My two favorite airchecks have to be:
Funniest: Roy Otis
Best compilation: 93 KHJ 1978
Let me give you some background on Seattle’s John Maynard, also known as Buzz Lawrence in Spokane.
In 1965, he started at KNEW/Spokane, which later became KJRB. He was given the radio name “Buzz Lawrence” by the program director, Gary Taylor, because the station already had a pre-made jingle with that name on it. By the way, John has never particularly cared for the name Buzz Lawrence.
In 1970 he moved to Seattle to work at KJR where he dumped the Buzz Lawrence name. His biggest claim to fame was working alongside Robin Erickson for over two decades as half of the “Robin & Maynard” morning show (on various Seattle stations, primarily KXRX).
The current day Buzz Lawrence show came about because Bob Anthony, owner of KOOL in Spokane felt that listeners might remember him from the 1960s, and John has fun doing it (from his home studio in Seattle).
As far as KETO, that was a different dj by the same name, and I have no idea about KNBX/ Kirkland.
To hear more in John's own words, you can check out https://www.qzvx.com/2025/04/15/the-conference-call-john-maynard/
So John Maynard, on Seattle radio, was always (John) Maynard?
Before 1965, did KJRB actually have a dj named Buzz Lawrence and save his jingle or did they have a library of jingles with listenable names and give whoever they hired one of those names?
John was called Buzz in 1965, but the Buzz I heard every day on KNBX was in '58 or '59. I never heard the one on KETO.
Thanks for the info.
. . . 1959, Buzz Lawrence counting down the top ten every day at four on KNBX 1050 Kirkland.
Disc jockeys share names across the country. Buzz Lawrence of KNBX https://www.qzvx.com/2024/10/31/1964-p-i-radio-june-7/ was not the same Buzz at KJRB (John Maynard)
I know nothing about KJRB or John Maynard but what I've read here. Where and when did he assume the name Buzz Lawrence?
What's the significance of the 1964 listing with Buzz on KETO?
Good tunes and humor. We all, most of us, remember the jingles and commercials.