My Story

So … you want to know more about me? Well, it is a strange one, but here you go. My Navy career father was transferred from Long Beach Navel station to Pearl Harbor when I was born. I grew up in Hawaii. I used to sneak in the YMCA on Sunday mornings and listen to records. During that time I attended AlaWai Elementary School. We later moved to Kaimuki. Dad was transferred several times from 1959 to 1963, but I remember marching down Kalakaua Ave when we became a State in 1959. From 1959 to 1962 we lived in Norfolk, Washington DC, Chicago and Long Beach. In 1963, at 16, I quit High School. I got a job as an intern at KFWB, a news station and was assigned to cover stories that nobody wanted to cover with little interest to our listeners. They included the 12 night Billy Graham Crusades at the LA Coliseum. Billy Graham was the first celebrity I ever interviewed. I also got to interview, Jimi Hendrix, Frank Zappa, Janis Joplin and others during this period. In 1963 I also moved on to KRLA to answer phones, emptying trash and helping the jocks there who included Casey Kasem and Bob Eubanks. It was there that I met Sonny Bono who was working for a record company. Things really started to happen, I was 17, I was still a flunky but learning a lot doing flunky things like help Bob Eubanks who booked the Beatles at the Hollywood Bowl. I also met a lot of people that would change my life, like Agent Jerry Heller (who several years ago a movie was made about him, called Straight Out Of Compton) I worked for him booking oldie acts in small towns around the country, and with that knowledge, started booking “Cesar and Cleo” with a garage band I met, at half times of LA Hi School basketball games. And the Grand Teen Club, The Sugar Shack Teen Club, Jamaica West, Retail Clerk Dances, The Reveler Club and many others. After only a few gigs, “Cesar and Cleo” started using their real names – Sonny and Cher. I was with them when they recorded the album LOOK AT US, and I Got You Babe. An amazing time. 1966-1969 I started rallies against the Vietnam war, and that led me to over 3 years of an incredible journey which what is now the book IMPOSTORS. In 1970, When I returned, I helped my step mom raise my half brother and sister as my dad had died. I also went to work at KNAC radio stations, and did freelance work at KBIG radio, covering the Dodgers and Angeles. 1971-1974 Sold a syndicated daily baseball interview show in 9 markets including P.S. Stockton, San Diego, Las Vegas and Fresno. Traveling with the Dodgers and Angels. 1974-1975 Worked doing weekends sportstalk, producing the Superfan show and was the Assistant Program Director under Jim Simon at KABC. I Became great friends and Tennis Partner of Maureen Reagan who also worked there and the great Kieth Jackson. 1975 – 1978 Worked doing Gossip for the National Star and was then the West Coast Sports and Entertainment Editor of the NY Post. I Got to interview everybody from John Wayne to Magic Johnson as a college player. I Was in the movie Fast Break with Gabe Kaplain and other films. I was a Contributor to Page 6 Gossip column. I Got married and had 2 children. 1978 – 1980 – Did Play by Play for Cal State Football and Basketball and became friends with basketball coach Tex Winter who would go on to be Phil Jackson’s assistant coach with the World Champion Bulls and Lakers. Also did a lot of free lance writing and radio. 1981 – 1989 Did mornings and mid-days at KROQ, the #1 radio station in Los Angeles. My time there included interviewing many, many top recording artists. I was also was invited to entertain the athletes in the 1984 Olympic Villages. However during that time, I quit twice and was fired once from KROQ. And all 3 times, I returned home to Hawaii and did mornings there. In 1983 at KPOI with the radio name. Mike “The Hose“ Evans, In 1986 at I-94 with Jay Stone and again in 1988 at the FOX. In 1989 I returned to KROQ for 9 months until I was replaced by Kevin and Bean, the morning show there for 28 years! 1990-91 – Went to work at 92.5 the Flash in San Diego. I went back to Los Angeles and did more free lance and started planning a new feature. 1992-1993 I started pitching a Hollywood Gossip/Big Story commentary radio feature for morning shows with morning show friends around the country. In 1994, O.J. Simpson killed Ron and Nichole. I made a daily report from the courthouse the main focus of the reports and I had 42 affiliates. Since 1993 I continue to do the same feature you have come to know and love. But besides Hollywood I have also covered everything from the Oklahoma City bombing, 9/11, Inaugurations, World Series, Super Bowls and celebrity interviews. It has been a strange, fascinating, wonderful journey and I have been blessed.