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Writing for a newspaper is a rather recent endeavor in my media career, something I am very much enjoying. Gathering material for my next column is an ongoing process. But what happens when key ingredients don’t materialize in time for deadline? We’re gonna find out.
But first, a quiz question. Last column, we talked about music streaming numbers from 2025. Dennis Fitzgibbon shared a fascinating list of the more than 300 music videos on YouTube that each have achieved more than a billion views. Name the most viewed song by a male, and the most viewed song by a female. Answers at the end of my column.
A disc jockey turned author, a man I’ve never met, saved me in preparing this column with little time to spare.
It’s not surprising that I have read a lot of books that chronicle the lives of radio personalities. Most of the books are not about nationwide household names — just personalities applying their skills in a regional setting.
Authors include Chicago personalities like Tommy Edwards, Connie Szerszen, Clark Weber, Roger Triemstra, Merri Dee and Mitch Michaels.
How about these book titles? “Disc Jockeys, Preachers and Elvis” (2023) by Ron Brandon, who was a Top 40 star in markets across the south; “Drunk & Disorderly Again” (2009) by Claude “Hoot” Hooten, aka Brad Edwards, from Houston to Los Angeles; “Dead Air: The Rise and Demise of Music Radio” (2011) by KILT Houston’s Bill Young; “Do Not Air!” (2019) by Nancy Plum, chronicling her 50-year career in radio; “A DJ’s Spin” (2015) by Dick Williams, a superstar in London, Ontario.
There’s also hip-hop legend J.J. Johnson, Vancouver’s Red Robinson and Muncie, Indiana’s Larry McCabe.
Which brings me to a new book from Don Sainte-Johnn: “San Francisco’s Last Top 40 Disc Jockey (Another One Bites the Dust)” (2025, Coquihalla Publishing). The only reason I bought this book was hearing Don on the air during my senior year at Pattonville High School. I was interested to read his take on working at St. Louis’ newest soul station, 1380 KWK, “The Station That Swings with those Soulful Things.”
Growing up as a radio geek, I loved Top 40, album rock, R&B and country radio. 1600 KATZ was my go-to R&B station starting in junior high. Robert B.Q. and Doug Eason were my favs. I had a very cool conversation with the Rev. Claude Shelby Sr. from Salem Baptist in Champaign about KATZ. He was as big a fan as I was. Shelby knew the guys that made KATZ a superstation in the community.
When KWK came on the air, they flat-out kicked butt, anchored by longtime KATZ personality Bernie Hayes, who had crossed the street, the great “Scoop” Sanders in the morning and Don Sainte-Johnn at night. KWK gave us a “hip” (when hip was an awesome adjective) difference in radio not heard before in St. Louis. FYI, in 1969, I was a 16-year-old just starting my career at WGNU just across the Mississippi River from KWK.
All I wanted from this book was Don’s tenure at KWK. But, wow! What I read over 281 pages was a journey that made his career path inspirational. My wife, Linda, commented last weekend how I was locked into this book and couldn’t put it down.
Growing up in Monroe County, Ala., Sainte-Johnn’s story mirrored that of my late friend, Tony Clements. As most of you know, Clements grew up in North Carolina. I wish I could hand a copy of this book to T.C. I bet I would hear him say “been there, done that.”
With the support and blessings of his family, Sainte-Johnn headed west after high school to Southern California to find his radio career.
What blew me away was that Sainte-Johnn and I had two educational experiences in common. He graduated from Cal State Long Beach, the place where I got my degree. He and I also both graduated a few years apart from the Radio Engineering Institute in Glendale, with Sainte-Johnn being the first African American graduate. Both of us benefited handsomely by having our FCC First Class License. In the 1960s and ’70s, having that ticket in your hand meant you could always find work somewhere.
His career path quickly led him to Yuma, San Diego and then the big break at KWK. His success in St. Louis morning radio led to Chicago and 950 WGRT (later WJPC), which did battle with WVON.
His recruitment by the RKO chain of legendary Top 40 stations in the mid-’70s began an almost-20-year run at KFRC San Francisco.
The KFRC stories make for fascinating reading whether you’re a broadcaster or listener. Sainte-Johnn was blessed to work along side some of the best in our business.
I loved his stories of how he handled the peaks and valleys during his career. He demonstrates what I talk about every day on the air, “Attitude and Gratitude” — the only two things in life you have 100 percent control over.
Hopefully this book report gets an “A” and inspires you to obtain a copy. Congratulations, Don; thank you for sharing your story.
Answers: Despacito Luis Fonsi with over 8 billion views; Waka Waka (This Time for Africa) (The Official 2010 FIFA World Cup™ Song) by Shakira with over 4.35 billion views.
