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Must be the dinner hour. John Doremus would create a mood. There were few who could really do this. John was also the one that came up with the idea for music on your airplane rides. Amazing talent.
Sunday, July 5, 2026
Ira Cook 1974
He started his career at KMTR in 1938 (later became KLAC) , working as a record librarian and occasionally as an announcer. A recent graduate from Stanford with a degree in basic medical science, his passion for radio began at the tender age of eight during a visit to a local station with his father. Ira, a native of Duluth, Minnesota, recounted in a detailed interview, "During World War II, at the Battle of the Bulge, we lost 10 to 15 guys from my platoon." Post-war, Ira teamed up with Frank Bull to broadcast boxing and wrestling matches from the Olympic Auditorium. Later, he became the host of Lucky Lager Dance Time on KFAC and pursued his interest in songwriting.
In a 1957 Newsweek story connected with a payola probe, Ira made the following comment about being a DJ: "It's safer than stealing, more legal than gambling, easier than loafing, and it beats working!"
Mary Helen Barro 1983
Las musica mas major en el mundo! Mary Helen Barro plays your Latin favorites on a Monday in 1983.
Sunday, June 28, 2026
Charlie Tuna 1986
Charlie in Boston 1965, he worked there with "Johnnie" Lujack.
The scary part of listening to a lot of Charlie Tuna shows is the end. It's amazing how many of the affiliate locations don't exist anymore or don't have an AFRTS station (I have the one for SCN as the logoff sound on one of my computers, "before we say goodbye..."). It's always great listening. Thanks again Charlie!
Charlie's website : http://www.charlietuna.com
Meet the Press 1962
Edward R. Murrow was the journalist's journalist. Eventually Mr. Murrow was a vice president of the CBS. In 1961 he was the director of the US Information Agency for the Voice Of America and presented America to the rest of the world.
AFRTS presented the big news interview shows. This is from a 1961 "Meet the Press"
Saturday, June 27, 2026
Wolfman Jack 1978
Wolfman SURVIVED. The 1950s, the English Invasion, Motown, AOR. He'd connect with his audience and make magic. He always sounded so comfortable.
Wolfman Jack - 1978
Roger Carroll 1981
I always find it special to transfer a disk that I would have run at the station. In 1981 I was at SCN, did the cleverly titled "Morning Show", played Charlie Tuna then Roger Carroll. RC brings us straight back to a Friday in 1981. It really is the best sounds in town..
Hear RC every morning at 9am Central mybestsounds.com
Sunday, June 21, 2026
Mary Turner 1984
A whike back, Mary checked in:
"I often think about my 18 years at Fort McCadden with great fondness. Loved that Roach Coach-I remember always getting teased for actually paying for a bottle of water. I was ahead of my time!"
And she certainly was.
Turn Back The Clock 1958
Andy Mansfield and Kay Starr
Turn Back the Clock was a fascinating show. Andy and Virginia Mansfield were playing the songs of 20 and 30 years ago. Of course, in the mid-50s that could mean Al Jolson and acoustic cylinders. Let's revisit 1958 and Turn Back the Clock.
Roland Bynum 1978
Roland Bynum now, with daughter April
Are you ready for the weekend? Here's Roland with a Friday party from 1978
Hear Roland and the Creators Workshop Evenings at 9p Central on mybestsounds.com
Sunday, June 14, 2026
Mary Helen Barro 1983
Seemed like every time I was at finance, trying to guess what they did to my check Mary Helen Barro was on. It was great mid-day show. Take a listen.
AFN Nightside - Craig Miller with Van Morriison 1974
Van Morrison
The stars sure came out for AFN in the 70s. Today Craig Miller speaks with Van Morrison in 1974
Charlie Tuna 1973
Photo: Charlie with Jessica Alba
Charlie Tuna? Always great. How did he do it, always a great show and as close to perfect consistency than anyone. There have been a lot of greats over the years but for a Dan Ingram or a Larry Lujack there's changes over the years. Charlie never really changes, he nailed it.. Let's revisit 1973, it's Thursday. Stay Tuna'd.
Joe Allison 1968
Joe Allison was a Nashville songwriter and a member of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame who's credits included "He'll Have To Go" ,"Live Fast Love Hard and Die Young" and many others. His songs were recorded by Elvis, Tom Jones, Nat King Cole, Ray Price, Eddy Arnold and The Limeliters. He died in 2002 aged 77 from lung disease.
Wolfman Jack 1975
From 1975, Here comes the Wolfman, totally on his game. Quite a guy...
Wolfman Jack - 1975
Roger Carroll 1981
Roger has another hour of the best sounds in town. Roger is shared a bunch of his shows with us and I for one am very grateful.
The majority of the shows that he sent in were the same shows that I ran in Korea and in Panama. Deja Vu...
Saturday, June 13, 2026
Mary Turner 1983
Mary Turner and Ted Nugent
Mary Turner was the opposite of GI Jill and Chris Noel, a broadcaster that was a female, it kept with the times, yet still was the girl left behind.
When Mary started her show we were concerned about how an hour of slamming rock and roll would go over. I knew the troops would love it but the Colonel. The Canal Zone civilians? They really liked to complain. It went over great and was a wonderful addition.
Melody Roundup 1947 - Spade Cooley
He made some pretty amazing music and performed for the troops a lot. Take a listen.
Saturday, June 6, 2026
Herman Griffith 1967
For the brave and the bold! It's the Records Caravan!! Some pretty amazing radio from Herman.
Her Herman every day at 3pm Central on My Best Sounds
Turn Back The Clock 1958
Andy and Virginia Mansfield share some highlights of their record collection, and they're excited about it. That always makes for great listening. Andy had to build special shed to store his collection. Hmmm...
Andy went on to do other shows for AFRTS for many years.
Tom Campbell AFRTS demo 1971
Tom Campbell is one of the AFRTS-LA friends that's been great in keeping this whole thing running.
After serving in the United States Air Force, Campbell was hired for his first radio job, at KEEL in Shreveport, La., by Al Hart, who would later become a newscaster and radio personality in San Francisco. Campbell subsequently worked in Minneapolis, Minnesota and at WONE in Dayton, Ohio before his move to KYA San Francisco in 1967.
In 1971 was one of the periodic restructurings of AFRTS. They were concerned we'd be rocking too hard.. AFRTS sent a demo...
Roland Bynum 1981
Roland's back in the Creators Corner with your Thursday favorites on American Forces Radio.
Hear Roland every night at 9pm on mybestsounds.com
Bill Stewart 1970
Bill Stewart was another of the KMPC talent that had the AFRTS gig, He was the Bill of the KMPC jingle..."Ira, Johnny, Bill and Dick!" Bill graced LA playing his mixture of Swing, jazz and MOR at several great stations.
KMPC, 1951-59; KGIL, 1965-66; KRHM, 1966 and 1969; KGIL, 1973-75. For Armed Forces Radio he hosted "A Quarter Century of Swing." In 1969, the 30-year veteran was honored with a concert at the Palladium. For 20 years he did in-flight airline music programming. Bill died in 1993 of congestive heart failure.
Bill Stewart - 1970
Chris Noel 1968
Memories of 1968. Chris Noel takes us home with "A Date with Chris"
Hear Chris nightly at 11pm Central on mybestsounds.com
Jim Pewter 1967
When we ask enough, there are answers. Mike Brown checked in to say that Jim Pewter worked at Radio Cavalier in the 1964-65 timeframe. By 1967 Jim was doing the AFRTS-LA show. Something I hadn't heard was that Jim worked at the station with the late Richard Nader. Nader was responsible for the big oldies rock and roll shows in the 1970s
Hear Jim evenings at 6pm Central on mybestsounds.com
Wednesday, June 3, 2026
Don Tracy 1983
Don paid his dues in Connecticut radio, through WPOP, WNHC and WAVZ then to win in Los Angeles.
KGFJ, KDAY, KABC-TV, KNX as a sales executive, his own ad agency and editor of the R&B Report.
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