Jim Ladd, legendary Los Angeles DJ (and friend of Neil's) has passed away at age 75.

[blueschica]

Jim Ladd, a great LA DJ from the 60s and 70s on KMET and KLOS, has passed away suddenly from a heart attack. He was famous for doing "freeform" format, where he would play whatever struck him, as long as it was good.  Neil wrote about their friendship in "Traveling Music", and Ladd was one of the few media people that Neil trusted.  Neil did at least three interviews with him over the years.  RIP, Jim.  I enjoyed you on Sirius Deep Tracks.

 

(Links to obit and interviews with Neil, although they say Rush.  Ladd also finally learned how to pronounce Peart; they really were friends but apparently he didn't know that in the beginning, Neil was too nice to correct him.)

 

https://deadline.com/2023/12/jim-ladd-dead-dj-1235671961/

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODctr6co3gY  Part 1, 1980

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODctr6co3gY&t=401s     Part 2, 1980

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODctr6co3gY&t=678s. Part 3, 1980

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODctr6co3gY&t=986s. Part 4, 1980

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGu_TMx4VKM. 1981 (This is part 1 out of 4, getting too long to list, part 1 will take you to the rest)

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3oob2Py923Q   2-3-15. 

 

Edited December 19, 2023 by blueschica

[78jazz]

I saw this from John Densmore's FB feed. Ladd pulled some excellent interviews. I suspect I won't see his like again in my lifetime.

 

RIP.

[invisible airwave]

Hits me hard as a lifelong SoCal resident who grew up listening to him, Rita Wilde and Uncle Joe Benson on KLOS years before they joined the short lived 100.3 FM The Sound.  Taped a number of albums on 7th Day in the mid 90s.

RIP and say hi to Petty for us.

Edited December 19, 2023 by invisible airwave

[treeduck]

RIP

 

Any relation to Cheryl Ladd or Alan Ladd?

[blueschica]

13 minutes ago, treeduck said:

RIP

 

Any relation to Cheryl Ladd or Alan Ladd?

Not sure? I'll have to have my husband look on Ancestry, he likes that kind of research!

[custom55]

So Sad.  RIP

 

SiriusXM recently changed it's format by limiting the airtime of most if its DJ.

Edited December 19, 2023 by custom55

[custom55]