In the 1970s Oregonians are fighting to keep nerve gas from being stored in Oregon, the war in Vietnam ends, Arab Oil Embargo began and Gov. McCall initiates the “Odd/Even gas rationing system.” Pink Floyd transports us to the Dark Side of the Moon and Richard Nixon resigns. Hank Aaron breaks Babe Ruth’s home run record, Steve Prefontaine dies at the age of 24, Oregon’s only nuclear power plant Trojan opens and the Portland Trail Blazers defeat the Philidelphia 76ers for their only NBA Championship.
The 1970s are an exciting time for KINK. Jeff Douglas begins a slow process of moving away from automation. Scott Carter, Jack McGowan, M.L. Marsh, Rebecca Webb, and Les Sarnoff start while Mike Bailey leaves. True love is found just next door and Lights Out begins. Jack McGowan creates the second KINK logo as well, which is still used today.
Jeff Douglas grows ever more frustrated with the slogan “The Underground Link” and pushes to have it changed to “True To The Music”. Listen as Jeff Douglas explains how “The Underground Link” was developed and why he disliked the branding so much.
1974 M.L. Marsh becomes Program Director (pictured right circa 1977).
That same year Scott Carter is hired to host over nights and soon coins the term “You change positions, we’ll change records.”
Lights Out Begins In 1974 Lights Out is born. As a fan of jazz and classical music coupled with the easy going directing of Jeff Douglas, the development of Lights Out leads KINK in a new musical direction. Scott Carter, a long haired hippie out of San Francisco approaches Jeff Douglas with the idea of an instrumental show. Jeff says, “let’s give it a try,” and with that Lights Out is born. Listen as Scott talks about his inspiration for Lights Out and the birth of Ocean Sets.
During this time Scott Carter begins a courtship with a young lady that lived in the apartments just next door to KINK. The courtship soon blossomed into full blown love and ultimately ended in marriage. Listen as Scott talks about how he met his wife.
New KINK Logo In 1975 Marketing/Promotions Director Jack McGowan decides it's time to update the KINK logo to a more contemporary look. The original logo utilizes block lettering with a mountain and a bird in the background, and according to Jack was too “60s.” Listen as Jack talks about how the new logo was developed.
1976
Mike Bailey returnes to KINK as the Program Director. Mike uses the name "Bob Marx" this time. Jerry Chan also starts as KINK’s Public Relations Director.
INSPIRATION FOR 'SHORT PEOPLE' That same year Randy Newman stops by the station to play live on the air. Little does he know that only moments later he would find the inspiration for his hit song “Short People.” The story goes like this; as Randy was making his way out of the building he rounded a corner in the KINK hallway and ran into a woman from KGW. The woman, although not very tall, electrified Randy. Their eyes met and sparks flew. The next day this woman resigned from KGW stating that she was “going on tour with Randy Newman” and wouldn’t be back. 8 months later, their romance was over and Randy wrote a song called “Short People” about that woman and their turbulent break up.
1977
In 1977 Carl Widing starts as an unpaid jazz music assistant. It would be almost 10 years before Carl becomes KINK’s Program Director.
Also in 1977 Scott Carter decides to head to L.A. to work in film. In just three years, Lights Out has developed a loyal following. The fans demand a going away party for Scott. Scott decides to get a permit for Delta Park and instructs listeners to bring food for a potluck. Scott anticipates that just a handful of listeners will actually show up but is astonished when hundreds make the journey, some traveling from over one hundred miles away. Listen as Scott and Jack McGowan talk about that party and what it meant to them and KINK.
LES SARNOFF ARRIVES In 1977 the search begins for Scott Carter’s replacement. A skinny theater lover named Les Sarnoff is hired as KINK’s Music Director and evening host thus beginning his nearly thirty year tenure at KINK.
Mike Bailey believes that Les is best suited for the job, but Les’s first day doesn't go so smoothly. Listen as Mike talks about Les’s first day and how it almost cost Les his job.
Only two days after learning a lesson about which songs should be played on KINK, Mike Bailey is forced to teach Les how to do a proper Ocean Set only hours before Lights Out is set to start. Having never heard Lights Out or knowing what an Ocean Set was, Les figures it is simply playing the sounds of the ocean for an hour. Not once thinking that music should be playing over the sounds of the Ocean. Well, luckily Mike Bailey is there again to help the young Les Sarnoff. Listen as Les reflects on that moment.
THE GOOD OLD DAYS
During KINK’s early years, “we were really underground - we weren’t mainstream,” Sarnoff says. The station used to play entire albums but had to stop because listeners were taping entire LPs off the broadcasts, and record companies weren’t happy. Still, it wasn’t until the late 1970s when most people started connecting to FM radio, Sarnoff recalls. There weren’t many listeners at first, “but they were loyal,” he says. And their numbers kept growing.”
During that time the microphones that the DJ’s used were powered by 2 triple A batteries - and as we all know - batteries are prone to wearing out only when you need them most. Well, this was true, especially for DJ’s back in those days. Listen as Les Sarnoff talks about how frustrating the studio microphone was.
1978 KINK turns 10!
Rebecca Webb begins her first of three stints at KINK as News Director. Rebecca is also KINK’s first full time news person. Listen as she explains her approach to getting the news to the listeners.
It would be nearly another decade before Rebecca Webb and Les Sarnoff will be conducting the Morning Show together, a partnership that will last almost 10 years.
KILLING THE AUTOMATION BEAST During that year Les is fed up with the automation system (pictured to the right) and took matters into his own hands to once and for all put an end to KINK’s era of automation. However, killing the automation beast isn’t as easy as it seems. Listen to Les talk about his attempt at sabotaging the automation system.
To further understand how frustrating and comical the automation system was during this time, listen to Mike Bailey explain the “Phantom News Cast” that lasted for months in 1976, and why people were getting snow forecasts in July.
Towards the end of 1978 Jeff Douglas steps down as KINK’s station manager and starts working for KGW in programming. Ron Sado takes over and shortly after KINK’s staff jumps from 7 to 21 in a matter of months.
Jeff Clarke also starts in 1978, while Jack McGowan leaves. (Jeff Clarke pictured circa 1988)
The KINK Primate Test Around this time KINK starts to develop a series of television commercials called "The KINK Primate Test" staring a gorilla, "The KINK Memory Test" staring an elephant and "The KINK Vegetable Test" staring a tomato. These three commercials will be aired at the start of the comming decade along with a number of other unique KINK TV commercials. Interestingly enough, the costumed gorilla in "The KINK Primate Test" is a Hollywood professional who played a gorilla in countless TV and Movie productions. He didn't come cheaply! Watch the commercials in the player on the top-right of the page.
A "KINK Primate Test" home version is mailed out to listeners in the Portland area as well and comes complete with 7” vinyl record, instruction manual and comment card.
Listen to the Home Version (below) and think back to that day when you took the KINK Primate Test. If you have never taken the KINK Primate test, click here for the instructions and initiate the test in the comfort of your own home.
As the 1970s come to a close KINK finds itself in a transitional phase. A new studio is in the works and the rumors of digital music in the form of something called a “compact disc” begin to circulate. By this time KINK has completely moved away from automation and live jocks are on-air 24 hours a day.
1974
In 1975 Marketing/Promotions Director Jack McGowan decides it's time to update the KINK logo to a more contemporary look. The original logo utilizes block lettering with a mountain and a bird in the background, and according to Jack was too “60s.” Listen as Jack talks about how the new logo was developed.
KILLING THE AUTOMATION BEAST
To further understand how frustrating and comical the automation system was during this time, listen to Mike Bailey explain the “Phantom News Cast” that lasted for months in 1976, and why people were getting snow forecasts in July.
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