Well, “Best of JacoBLOG” lasted exactly one day. On Friday, I announced the remainder of the year would be comprised of some of the best posts of the year….”barring something truly newsworthy happening in the next two weeks that cannot wait until the new year.”
And of course, that happened. The news sadly broke yesterday that Jim Ladd, a true rock radio icon passed away over the weekend. If you’re just getting that news here and now, I’m sorry to be the one breaking it for you. In a year that has had more “downs” that “ups” for most of us in radio, Jim’s passing puts an exclamation point on an already trying time.
The radio guy who was the last of a dying breed has himself died.
Jim Ladd epitomized cool. We may all aspire to it, but only a handful truly do. Ladd was in that elite group. I wrote a post – “When Radio Was Cool” – last year. And the photo at the top of this post was also the face of that blog post. Here’s how I described it:
“Fitting, isn’t it, that a blog post about the epitome of cool radio – Jim Ladd – is staring right at us from the top of this blog. I love the knowing expression on his face. He has it, he knows it, and he wants to tell us all about it.”
If you’re in the radio business, but were oblivious to the Jim Ladd Era, you truly missed something special. And a run not the least bit likely to happen again. Ladd spent pretty much his entire broadcast radio career entertaining So Cal audiences – at KLOS, KMET, and at KLSX. I signed on the latter for Greater Media in 1986. Later, Ladd would join the station at night for a tumultuous run. (More on that later.)
There’s a lot to know and appreciate about Ladd, the radio personality, and Ladd the man. One of the many rock artists he connected with was Tom Petty, who recorded a great album. And it’s title song was inspired by the legendary Jim Ladd, “The Last DJ.”
“Well, you can’t turn him into a company man
You can’t turn him into a whore
And the boys upstairs
Just don’t understand anymore”
Jim Ladd was the real deal. He didn’t just talk the talk. He walked it – every damn day – fighting for his right “to play what he wants to play” and for the audience to be able to enjoy it. For Jim, the cause was freeform radio. He did not hesitate to tell you he knew the music better than any program director or consultant. And while his show could sound “loose,” it was prepped but could turn on a dime depending on mood and the vibe of the moment.
It’s just a bit ironic that Jim left us in the same year we’ve been debating about the value and efficacy of AI-powered “DJs.” Talk about incongruity – Ladd wouldn’t even waste his time or yours talking about bots behind the mic.
I first became connected to rock radio in L.A. when I worked for ABC’s Owned FM Stations in the late 70’s. KLOS was one of those seven pearls the company owned. And when I showed up one night to moderate focus groups for the station, I became quickly aware of the holy war it was engaged in versus KMET.
After the first night’s groups, I heard some amazing things about that station that was “a little bit of heaven at 94.7.” KMET was everything a rock radio station of that era aspired to be. And while respondents talked about a slew of personalities, promotions, and great music on the station, many pointed me to this guy at night – Jim Ladd – who they promised would be unlike any radio personality I’d previously had the pleasure of hearing.
So leaving the focus group facility in Encino after 10pm to head back to my hotel, I turned on KMET…and Ladd. And I caught him reading a letter from an offended listener, a school teacher to be precise, who took exception to some of Jim’s musical choices. Jim read her entire letter, pointing out how some of the songs played on his show didn’t reflect the most wholesome of values. And to that, Ladd told his audience that his response to the complaint would be best voiced by the next set of music.
Starting with AC/DC’s “Dirty Deed (Done Dirt Cheap) and continuing for an entire set, Ladd clearly communicated his thoughts on the matter. And in the process, winning over his “tribe” of Southern Californians, night after night.
When you listened to Ladd, he was listening right along with you. Besides his signature “Lord Have Mercy,” he frequently reminded his legions of fans, “I’m Jim Ladd and you and I are listening to (insert call letters here).”
Aside from his great syndicated shows, “Innerview” and “Headsets,” Jim also “wrote the book on
rock radio, “Radio Waves,” in 1991. It’s subtitle – “Life and Revolution on the FM Dial” – said it all.
At KLSX, I remember getting dragged into a “discussion” between Jim and programmer Andy Bloom. Now, you cannot name two more polar opposites in radio – politically, philosophically, musically, and even their physical sizes.
And the topic?
Why Ladd wouldn’t play Elton John on his show.
Andy recognized Jim’s freedom to play a number of “option songs” every hour, but insisted several other positions would be occupied by Classic Rock “hits.” Ladd didn’t seem to have much of a problem with that – except when those songs were from Elton John.
We all have “those songs” and sometimes artists we just don’t think belong. And for Jim Ladd, it was playing Elton John on what was supposed to be a credible rock station. I’m sure in Ladd’s head, he was hearing Top 40 pablum like “Island Girl” and “Philadelphia Freedom.”
And Andy tried to win his intransigent night DJ with logic – that is, test scores. He waved the printout in Ladd’s face. And of course, Jim didn’t care about how many “5’s” Elton’s songs scored. It was about fit, cred, vibe, and what was cool – or not. Jim Ladd gave zero shits about how a song scored in callout or in an auditorium test.
“Well, the top brass don’t like him
Talking so much
And he won’t play what they say to play
And he don’t want to change
What don’t need to change”
When I tell you it was a “knock-down-drag-out” argument, take my word for it. Both guys dug in and wouldn’t move. I honestly don’t recall the outcome – whether Ladd ended up playing “Tiny Dancer” or told Andy he would but never got around to actually doing it. The takeaway was a passionate personality arguing on behalf of his show – and his audience.
When I think about Jim Ladd, the literary character “Don Quixote” comes to mind. If you remember from high school, Don was an errant knight at the epicenter of romance and reality. The phrase, “tilting at windmills,” became synonymous with Don Quixote as he took on impossible causes. For me, that was Ladd.
The character in the Tom Petty song moves to Mexico to “play what he wants to play” on foreign airwaves. In reality, Ladd joined SiriusXM in 2011 where he’d been ever since.
Not long after his put his iconic house in Laurel Canyon up for sale in 2018, I wrote a blog post – “A Tale of Two Houses.” It featured a real estate walk-through of this incredible space, a window into the mindset and soul of a radio host unlike no other.
A few days later, I got a call from Jim and Helene Ladd, thanking me for the post. And from there, we had conversations – about radio, the industry, technology – you name it. Our last call was earlier this month.
Yes, this one hits hard. I’m not sure I was able to accomplish much more than I did that day in Andy Bloom’s office.
I know there are other amazingly talented personalities in rock radio, many of whom were inspired by Ladd. But I think they’d tell you his passing marks the end of an era that’s been coming for a long time.
“There goes the last DJ
Who plays what he wants to play
And says what he wants to say”
Sincere condolences to Helene, Jim’s family, his friends, and his “tribe.” For this latter group – Jim’s fans, the ones who dutifully followed him from station to station and later satellite radio, I’m sad to tell you there aren’t more left like this guy.
Lord have mercy.
Jacobs Media has consistently walked the walk in the digital space, providing insights and guidance through its well-read national Techsurveys.
In 2008, jacapps was launched - a mobile apps company that has designed and built more than 1,300 apps for both the Apple and Android platforms. In 2013, the DASH Conference was created - a mashup of radio and automotive, designed to foster better understanding of the "connected car" and its impact.
Along with providing the creative and intellectual direction for the company, Fred consults many of Jacobs Media's commercial and public radio clients, in addition to media brands looking to thrive in the rapidly changing tech environment.
Fred was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 2018.
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Mr. Jacobs, thank you for taking the time to write and post this. Jim Ladd’s story and career are a study in “relevance.” Like your blog a couple weeks back, regarding “authentic,” the importance of these traits are vastly underrated in our industry. Put the two together: Dare to be authentic, it breeds relevance. Thank you.
I had the pleasure of knowing Jim. And, by that, I mean I felt that I got to know him like we all did – by listening to him. I loved his shows, regardless of which LA station he was on. He was one of the giants – along with Bob Coburn and Uncle Joe Benson – that got me to actually want to work in Radio. For a while while I was learning the craft, I did a pay-n-play show that blatantly ripped off his “thematic sets” concept, and knew I’d never come close. Somewhere, I still have the “Lord Have Mercy” t-shirt he sent me after I called into one of his shows late one night and simply wouldn’t hang up until someone answered. I didn’t expect it to be Jim!
I had the pleasure of working with BC and Uncle Joe early in my career, but never had the chance to work with Jim. That is, until his time at KLOS came to an end and I got the opportunity work with him to help him prepare exactly one show – his “farewell show” from KLOS, which aired on KFI AM 640.
Like so many in Radio, Jim wasn’t given a chance to say goodbye to his audience when he and KLOS parted ways (no judgment implied; that’s how our business works sometimes). The morning after the news broke, KFI PD Robin Bertolucci came into the station and, knowing I had spent a brief time answering phones at the Rock station, said, “I need you to help me get in touch with Jim Ladd.” And I knew what was going to happen.
We reached Jim, and offered to let him say farewell to his “tribe.” He came to KFI and I couldn’t help but tell him that he was, in part, responsible for my career. He was gracious and kind with his response to that unsolicited information from a momentary “fan boy.”
We worked with him on the concept of doing a final, three-hour, free-form Rock show for his audience on an AM Talk station. He knew what he wanted to do; I just made sure he had what he needed to do it. The result was exactly what you might imagine from Jim – Rock Radio done right. I still have a copy of that show from Saturday, 11.05.2011.
Of course it wouldn’t be his final show, but it just might have been the final time he hosted a full show on a terrestrial station. He was soon to move to Sirius XM and continue holding true to his belief that Rock Radio could inspire people, and Radio, to be better.
Radio has lost another legend. I think I’m going to go back and listen to that “farewell” show again, if for nothing else to hear him say “Lord Have Mercy!” one more time. Rest in Peace, Jim Ladd.
Mike Schaefer
WBT, Charlotte
Jim (and a few others I grew up with in Detroit—Fred, you know who they are—paved the way for so many and helped shape what was to come. I didn’t know Jim, but my friend, Tony Scott (a former Westwood One co-worker) who worked with Jim at KLOS put it perfectly:
“I can’t even begin to process this news of Jim Ladd’s passing. How many nights I said goodbye to him at the station only to end up at home listening in the driveway. He had that on-air presence that just grabbed you and made you listen”. When that comes from the guy on the air before you every day..it’s pretty special.
Fred, you make me cry. Thanks for the brilliant observations every morning. Couldn’t do it without you. merry Christmas.
Thanks for this great tribute to Jim Ladd, Fred! Growing up in Los Angeles in the 70s, when FM radio dominated the airwaves and AOR was burgeoning, Jim Ladd was an icon, my hero, and inspiration for getting into radio. I wanted to BE Jim Ladd! I spent many a late night- his shift was 10p-2a – listening to KMET with friends, somewhere in the foothills of the West San Fernando Valley, enjoying Ladd’s free-form, themed sets, discovering music and artists – and (ahem) other things. As you so accurately recounted, his catch phrase was “Lord have mercy,” and he personalized our time together by constantly reminding us, “I’m Jim Ladd .. you & I are listening to the mighty Met -KMET.” In 1993 I finally met him, introduced through Rachel Donahue (another Rock radio legend), who randomly came into KZLA/Los Angeles which I was then programming. Jim let me sit in on his show – by then he was doing evenings at Classic Rock KLSX – and it was everything I ever thought, wished, and wanted it to be. Most recently, I was a Ladd devotee on SiriusXM Deep Tracks channel. He sounded great as ever. Thank you for all those nights, mixes, and curating what became the soundtrack of my formative years, Jim. RIP 🙏
Fred, thanks for the beautiful words today. When I heard of Jims passing,
my heart just broke. I looked up to him, he and Joe Benson have always been my Guides on what being a passionate air personality is all about. Yes Tom Petty was right he was “the last DJ”, But as Roger Waters showed us, he was also “Radio Kaos!”
Thanks Fred.
Offering this to your group.
Paul Ingles introduces a clip of Tom Petty, talking to Jim Ladd, about what is special about radio, the way Jim did it, and many of us still try to do it:
https://www.paulingles.com/TomPetty/PETTYonRADIO-LastDJ.mp3
Paul Ingles
https://paulingles.com
Thank for doing this with such class and thought. I grew up on KMET and KLOS. Ladd was a living legend. You did him right
Two rock radio icons, Jim Ladd and Bob Coburn, both passed on the same date, 12.17.
Lord Have Mercy
I’ll BC-ing You
Didn’t know Jim, but his name will be etched into the radio wall of greatness forever. There are some whose talent can overshadow opinion. Jim seems to have been one of them. Rest In Peace, Mr. Ladd.
Jim and I first met around 1984, in (of all places) the reception area at Westwood One; I was there to finalize an affiliation contract with them for the radio station I was program director of at the time and he was waiting for his studio to be ready for him to cut some voicetracks for “InnerView” which was syndicated through WWOne at the time. We got to talking, had a really good conversation, and he was so down-to-earth I forgot he was already a legend in the business.
Fast forward about five years and I became acquainted with the late J.J. Jackson at KEDG (“The Edge”) here in L.A. On one of my trips down to the studios I ran into Jim in the hallway and — wonder of wonders! — he remembered meeting me at WWOne.
I almost went to work at KEDG, except that management had a format change in the works that J.J. wasn’t aware of when he tentatively hired me. But I did get to hang out with the airstaff at the studios the last night and at the “wake” afterwards. Apparently Jim had been made aware of my potential hiring, because when I walked into the DJ lounge, he looked up and said:
“K.M. Richards … I was wondering when you were gonna turn up.”
We stayed in touch during the ensuing years and I have an inscribed copy of his book “Radio Waves” as a result of that. He was a true professional, a trailblazer in album rock radio, and one hell of a nice guy. I’ll miss him.
Jim and J.J. were very close friends. Now, almost 20 years after the latter’s death, they’ve been reunited. That, at least, makes me happy.
Hey fred, this is a fantastic article. To put his legacy in perspective, I’m 34 years old, and I didn’t grow up in Los Angeles. I’m so grateful that SiriusXM had him on and when they had him on, I was in college, mostly playing, run-of-the-mill, active rock music, when I heard the attention, he paid to artists, going deep, and getting personal, I made a vow to change my delivery right that minute. I hated classic rock, he made me realize that those bands actually were good, they just weren’t having proper respect paid to them. I don’t know him, I’m only a fan, but he reminded me why I loved radio in the first place. He inspired a whole generation of personalities, who did it for the art, and for the love of music, and even though he’s gone, the band plays on, and he wouldn’t have it any other way. I definitely agree with the sentiments of John Densmore of the doors.
On the Canadian side there is a last dj in the form of Dave Marsden. He was among the first to do free form radio in this country. In 1977 when most rockers went to formatted play lists he founded CFNY in Toronto, The Spirit of Radio which inspired the Rush tune of the same name.
The free form playlist continued until the 90’s and today Marsden (now in his 80’s) is still flying the flag on his site NYTheSpirit which includes a couple personalities from the glory days of CFNY.
While that level of freedom is practically non-existent on the commercial terrestrial dial, it’s good to see a few are still maintaining the spirit in some form.
Fred:
I have most of my tribute to Jim written for my Barrett News Media column that will be posted Monday morning. I’ll write in advance that I didn’t steal the idea of using the Petty lyrics, in fact, I write more about the song and Jim.
“Lord have mercy,” nothing better than flying back into LAX (often from Detroit during the period I was overseeing WCSX, Detroit too) in time to hear Ladd’s first break. Nothing told me I was back in SoCal better than hopping in my car and hearing his dulcet tones for his opening break, “How you doing everybody? I’m Jim Ladd. Thank you for being my friend.” Above all, he was my friend, and I would usually call him on my “brick” phone just to say hello.
Jim and I debated – more than argued – a lot. Yup, he wouldn’t play Elton John and several other artists or songs that didn’t meet his definition of cool. Not only did I show him test scores, I asked him why he wasn’t at the Troubador for some of Elton’s early American appearances that many hipsters attended. You know what he told me? It’s what he wrote in my copy of “Radio Waves,” “Andy, either you were on the bus to Woodstock in 1969 or you weren’t. Welcome aboard.”
But Ladd NEVER told me he would do something and then didn’t do it. He was a gentleman and a man of his word. If he didn’t agree to something, he told you straight to your face. There was never a time I worried that Ladd said or did something different when he left the room.
He could be maddening. Although we disagreed, we were never disagreeable. Even more than music, you can imagine how we disagreed on politics – except in 1992.
I’m going to tell these stories and many more when I write about Jim Ladd in the column that will appear on Barrett News Media, Monday morning (hope you don’t mind the pre-promote).
I tuned to “Deep Trax” occasionally just to hear his voice for the past couple of years. When it comes to music jocks, nobody has ever compared to Jim Ladd.
There goes the last human voice.
And there goes the last DJ.
The Lonesome L.A. Cowboy
RIP Jim Ladd
BTW, Fred,
I should have led with this – a beautiful tribute to one of the greats.
Thank you
I first heard Jim on KMET when I was stationed at Camp Pendleton. Great voice, eve. n better playlists. I was in awe. I never got stationed on the west coast again, and I missed the voice. There wasn’t an east coast comparison, and only when I got to Tampa, and started listening to Russ Albums, was there a new voice. I rediscovered Jim Ladd after getting satellite radio in my car, and I felt like I had gone home. Jim Ladd was my friend again. I would message him on Facebook, and talk about coming back to LA, so he could give me the grand tour. Alas, it was not to be. But he always signed off in the same way: “You’re listening to Deep Tacks on sirius/xm, I’m Jim Ladd. Thank you for listening, and for being my friend.”
No Jim, thank you for being my friend. I’ll miss hearing from you.
Cool moment in my life was back during Roger Waters Radio K.A.O.S. Tour when it rolled into Buffalo. They had Jim on the road with them to supply his vocals on the lp and the late Iron Mike Bensson and I got to chat with Jim. The dude couldn’t have been more giving and down to earth. You know how pissy road managers can be about time restrictions on talent for the radio guys…Jim wasn’t going to let them give us the bums rush. A wonderful slice of time!
I worked in LA Rock radio with Jim for many years and he was always more a listener advocate than format or management adherent. He did not hesitate to express misgivings of the business and some of the ridiculous decisions meted from the corporate tents of power. He was openly cathartic and stood witness for those who could not. Last DJ indeed! Proud to call him my friend and compatriot in an otherwise uncertain entertainment landscape. Jerry Longden
Thanks for the story, Jerry.
Great tribute, Fred. When Jim Ladd came to SiriusXM, I was lucky to be his envoy. We quickly became friends. Even as a supervisor, Jim was kind and respectful 100% of the time. He was one of a kind and we’ve lost another gem.
We have indeed, Gregg. Thanks for the story.
There’s so much I want to say but you and those commenting have already said it all–and much better than I could–so I’ll simply say thank you for this wonderful tribute to one of the truly greats among greats. And thanks also for the link to the “tale of two houses,” too. Great read and great video. I’ve got a feeling Mr. Ladd spent the first ten minutes of meeting his countless admirers trying to make THEM feel comfortable, too–just as he did millions over the airwaves.
Appreciate it, David.
Fred,
Once again, I recognize the value of your columns: you ignite both reflection and relevance. As a boy I grew up with WABC, WLIR and WNEW, so in my world until I did college radio, I was well-educated on popular music. I never heard radio outside of that market, and I wasn’t influenced by anything else until I kept hearing about WBCN, then WFNX later, both in Boston. I ended up in Albany for four years almost by accident.
My ignorance of any other air personalities remained for years, even as I went to conventions and such. I concentrated on learning my skills and gaining knowledge. Eventually I networked in the bar after hours, but I didn’t feel confident like some owning conversation and being a natural off-mic entertainer. For this reason, huge jocks and hosts were a complete mystery to me, and reading about them in your work has driven home a wonderful and also tough lesson: that what we did on radio was totally unique, and unlike television. No mainstream recognition will ever happen with our efforts, only scattered regional appreciation that joins people in nostalgic conversation. MeTV won’t be rerunning our bits, interviews or cool segues.
Because my current non-profit radio show requires research and reflection (it’s called One Year at a Time on WUMB Boston), I appreciate so much more the individual life stories of who did what and why. I did not recognize Jim Ladd’s name or voice when I read this, and he never directly influenced me. But I’m well aware that each of us had to be self-centered and local to do our jobs. We weren’t there to imitate someone from California – and yes, the only reason I knew about Steve Dahl was the “Disco Sucks” event. I never heard his voice or knew what station he was with. Our universe is as big as we want it to be. Thank you, Jim Ladd, for your trailblazing talent and integrity. and thank you to you Fred, for telling his story.
Best,
Tai Irwin
Thanks for the column about the loss of Jim Ladd.I listened to him on KMET when it was a powerhouse and was sad when the station went off in 1989. Afterwards,I started listening to a lot of jazz and lost touch with the rock music.I don’t have SisusXM so I was not able to hear Ladd there,but I understand he was the same on that outlet.
I am sure he inspired many radio personalities now on air.I wonder if many radio PDs and GMs ever listen to him.They probably loved listening to Jim Ladd,but they probably decided to play it “safe” and not let their on-air personalities shine with their ideas.
What a loss for radio.May Jim Ladd RIP.
Jim Ladd fought the good fight for every ounce of freedom to “play what he wanted to play, and say what he wanted to play.” Personalities from all over the country envied him and listened. And yes, he was “himself” on SXM, too.
Ladd was a pionneer and a swashbuckler. Most of us don’t have those qualities, and that’s part of what made Jim special. And yes, a lot of radio hosts admired Ladd and listened to him, even though they were playing “Rocket Man.”