KKJZ Brings Back the Wagman Blues

Details: By Steve Propes; | Friday, 14 August 2009 08:20

According to LARadio.com, CSULB-based public radio jazz outlet KKJZ (88.1) has announced that longtime blues host Gary “the Wagman” Wagner will take over the Saturday and Sunday blues show as of Saturday, Aug. 15.

In 1992, Wagner, who was previously a rock jock and longtime associate of the station's Program Director Ken Borgers replaced Bubba Jackson, who had replaced Bernie Pearl as KLON blues host. This time, Wagner replaces Nick Gerard.

In 2001, Wagner abruptly resigned from KLON in a disagreement over station fund raising policies. In 2002, KLON changed its call letters to KKJZ.

Most recently, Wagner has operated his on-line blues music site In To Blues, as well The Jazz Knob, programmed by Ken Borgers, brother of KKJZ DJ Helen Borgers. Ken Borgers, who had also been let go by the station in 2000, was until recently a staff announcer at KCRW.

It should also be noted that this reporter programmed a short-lived www.cruisinmusic.net on Wagner's site. After a few months, the plug was pulled because of a constantly crashing underpowered computer and the general nuisance factor of running an Internet radio station interfering with trying to hack out a living as a writer.

Follow @LongBeachPost on Twitter for latest updates and breaking news.

Share this Story:

Add a Comment:

blog comments powered by DISQUS back to top

Archived Comments (8)

A Non

When Gary first started , I liked the mix of blues he brought forth.
Toward the end, however, he sounded more like "Soul Train" than Blues.
I quit listening to KLON/KKJZ altogether because of that until I stumbled onto Nick's version of blues. I became a listener and supporter again!

I hope that Gary sticks to the BLUES this time...BTW, we DO still love the "Wag-Man Blues Coolers" on a hot summer day!

Best wishes, Wag! We're hoping for the best.

Steve

On further memory pull, this is Wagman's third bite at the blues apple, having been replaced sometime in the 90s by Norman Davis out of Boise - anyone remember him? and later by accomplished musician Doug MacLeod, who was too busy with his touring schedule to keep a DJ role alive.
So the blues musical chairs at KLON/KKJZ continue.

Sander

The Blues show has always been very popular and, unfortunately, some past DJs began to imagine that they were responsible for its success, and not the other way 'round. I hope Gary doesn't make this mistake again.

While I'm sure that Gary's energy and enthusiasm for the job will be infectious, I truly wish that the station would have the vision to either bring back Pearl or MacLeod (both talented Blues musicians AND on-air personalities), or perhaps tap other local Blues talent for the job.

Chris

Dave, Kathy, and I helped him move from the valley to Long Beach. If I remember correctly, he was leaving a girlfriend and we were trying to get out of there before she came home from work. We laughed our butts off all day.

Welcome Back, Gary. I for one, missed your blues very much while you were gone. Welcome Back.

Glenn

During his previous stint at KLON, the "The Wagman" had many opportunities to win me over as a listener. Ultimately, he disappointed nearly every time. I found him to be terribly lacking in the blues knowledge Dept, he was clearly & painfully ill-prepared for almost every on-air interview I ever heard him conduct and I found his on-air banter to be unnecessary and oftentimes offensive. And while I agree with many of Sander's comments - especially when it comes to the station's vision & bringing back someone with talent, it remains to be seen as to whether Wagman's infectious enthusiasm will sustain the show or be the death of it altogether. I, for one, will not be listening.

lollipop

I fell off my stoop when I heard his voice saturday. I had an automatic visual of his red shorts !
Long live the feeling that take back in time did to me ! It brought a smile to my face and a glimmer in my eye or was that a tear.

BikiniMan

Well give this guy a break, a little fun and a REAL RADIO Voice sounds pretty good with the Blues and everyone knows the Music Biz is not a perfect script.

Marty

The Wagman was the Sat & Sun blues DJ when I moved from So. Cal to Oregon in 1999, and I was on a string of Blues Festivals that reached 11 and ended there. The festival had gone from 2 days to 3 days, the slot from 3 hours to 5 hours each day, and the pledge drive champion was the Blues Show which in one hour raked in over $20,000 one time. I suspected that what is revealed here was the reason for his departure, and I was right.

I am back to listening on the internet at home or on my iPhone. I will probably be going to the festival this year as well. Contributions to the station are on a 'wait and see'.

The Long Beach Post - News, Life, Business, Sports