The late Don MacKinnon (Doug's Brother) was part of the original "New KIOA" lineup in 1957. He was to become one of the greatest Top 40 radio personalities of all time.
Don MacKinnon KIOA Late 50'sDon was born January 2, 1934 and raised in Yonkers, New York. He worked at KIOA Des Moines, KDEO San Diego CA, KROY Sacramento, CA, KABC Hollywood CA, KEWB Oakland CA, KLAC and KFWB Los Angeles CA. Don Imus has been quoted to have said that he was inspired to go into radio by listening to Don MacKinnon.
Don was killed in June of 1965 at the age of 32 when his car went over a cliff in Malibu, California.
No known KIOA airchecks of Don exist. Brother Doug has promised to help us present Don's story in much more detail. By the way, we also have a Doug MacKinnon profile on the site.
Don's grave and and the view from there.
Sep 07 07
Don in KEWB program schedule - May 1961.
Whole KEWB Program Schedule brochure -- PDF file (904k) Adobe reader required - free download.
Aircheck of Don MacKinnon at KEWB San Francisco July 4, 1961 Note how Don played around with the pronunciation of words. This is what got him fired from his first radio job at KWDM 1150 in Des Moines. From KWDM, he went to the "New KIOA."
The following two airchecks were obtained by DesMoinesBroadcasting.com from Don's daughter "Little Diane" through his brother, Doug. Diane is the little girl on the airchecks.
The Reel Radio Top 40 Repository site has portions of both of these airchecks posted, but these are longer, unedited versions.
Don MacKinnon KEWB, San Francisco - 1961.
Don MacKinnon KFWB, Los Angeles - 1965 just before he was killed in an automobile accident in Topanga Canyon.
Picture of Don at KOWH Omaha - between gigs at KIOA (he was at KIOA twice). KOWH has been called the birthplace of Top-40 radio. Actually it was at another Storz owned station in New Orleans, but KOWH played an important role in developing the format.
Don and the rest of the new KABC lineup date unknown.
Interview with Mr. K by Humorous Diane 45 RPM record cut by Don's 5 1/2 year old daughter, Diane. It was a humorous approach to an interview with Nikita Khrushchev during the Kennedy Years. This was actually a regional hit up and down the California Coast. Courtesy of Doug MacKinnon.
More Don MacKinnon airchecks are found at Reel Radio Top 40 Radio Repository
DesMoinesBroadcasting.com home page
Don
in KEWB program schedule - May 1961
