Thought of this when I learned the vocal group "The Brothers Four" were part owners of KSWB Seaside. Were there other owners we can add to this list:

KEX - Gene Autry.
KXL - Frank Sinatra & Danny Kaye.

Roger Carroll owned KWIP at one time.
I consider him a celebrity as he was a big time dj in LA and the voice of ABC-TV when I was a kid.

would the owner of kbzy at one time , dr don rose count?

Van Halen was (were) part owners of KXYQ/Q105

When did Roger Carroll own KWIP? What was the company name?

When did Dr. Don Rose own KBZY? What was the company name?

When did Van Halen own part of KXYQ? Was it Ronette Communications of Oregon, Inc.? That would have been in 1986-92.

You would have to ask Terry Travis or Eric Norberg as they were better informed than me, but when I was there in 1985-86, Roger was at least part if not full owner. My memory is not that good, so I don't remember the company name, but is was a thrill for me whenever he would show up in his rented Cadillac or Lincoln and give this young guy a tip or two on delivery.
He always treated me like a big shot and I loved it.
Every time he came to town he would join me on my show and make it MY show with ROGER CARROLL as a guest. He always made sure to make me sound good and yet he was INCREDIBLE! I felt so small next to him, skills wise. He was just great!
I smoked in those days, and he would join me for a smoke outside and tell me great stories of the great days at THE greatest station in LA, KMPC, with Wink and Gary and Roger. Of course I am a Dodger fan, he was an Angel fan so we had some great debates over that too!

"When did Dr. Don Rose own KBZY? What was the company name?"

Craig, it was in the early 80s while we were in McMinnville. I think it was right after Carl Fischer owned it, but I'm not sure.

Sinatra owned KXL????? When?? I KNEW that I loved that radio station!

Mfarnes...it wasn't Van Halen that owned Q105. It was their manager...Ed Leffler (sp?).

Frank Sinatra sold his interest in KXL as he was getting a divorce from Ava Gardner - I think around 1957. That's when Danny Kaye became Les Smith's partner.

You learn something cool, everyday!

Thank you, Tom!

Craig...did you see that Bob Flick, one of the original Brothers Four, just married Loni Anderson last week? Since she played the hottest thing that ever graced a radio station, even if it wasn't a real radio station....

Ya, Les Smith came out of his association with Sinatra with 12 % of the company and then became an executive VP in charge of operations for the new Majority owner , Danny Kaye and his wife, dba: Dena Pictures Incorporated, and the company eventually became known of course as Kaye-Smith as I vaguely remember this from my days at KJRB/790.

WKRP wasn't a real station? It could fool me at least some of the time.

Opps! Forgot about the other Sinatra. Nancy! Ok, this information comes from my forthcoming history on KXL, which has been on hold since January, while I proof read and add to Ron Kramer's book on the History of Oregon Broadcasting.

On June 7, 1957 and formerly announced to the media on December 23, 1957, Francis A. Sinatra (Frank Sinatra) & daughter, Nancy S. Sinatra; David D. Kaminsky (Danny Kaye) & wife, Sylvia F. Kaminsky; joined Lester M. Smith & wife, Virginia L. Smith as the new owners of Mount Rainier Radio & Television Broadcasting Corp., owners of KJR Seattle, KXL Portland & KNEW Spokane. The transaction was $2.5 Million.

On July 30, 1958 the licensee name changed to: Essex Productions, Inc. & Dena Pictures, Inc., a joint venture doing business as Seattle, Portland & Spokane Radio, Inc. "Essex" was Sinatra's company and "Dena" was Kaye's.

On September 24, 1963 licensee name changed to: Sinatra Radio & Dena Pictures, Inc. a joint venture doing business as Seattle, Portland & Spokane Radio, Inc. Sinatra was preparing to sell his percentage by separating "Essex" from the sale.

On October 14, 1964 Danny Kaye & Les Smith purchased Sinatra's shares in a reorganization for $700,000. License changed to: Alexander Broadcasting Co. & Dena Pictures, Inc., a joint venture doing business as Seattle, Portland & Spokane Radio, Inc.

Actually, the Van Halen band members did have some money invested in KXYQ. The late Ed Leffler (Van Halen manager at the time) had the majority of the ownership. KXYQ was strictly an investment for the band. They only came by the station once or twice during their ownership.

Rumor has it, when Ed Leffler passed away, his widow wanted to sell KXYQ. Sammy Hagar was having a cash flow problem because of an increase in aimony payments to an ex-wife, so he wanted to sell too. That is when KXYQ was sold to Trumper Communications.

Here's another celebrity owner, Victor Ives. As a kid, I grew up listening to Victor on KEX and watching Sinister Cinema. It was great working for Victor at KMJK (82-87).

I thought that Dr. Don Rose was only a part minority owner of KBZY during the early 80s. The primary owner during that time was a guy by the name of Burns Nugent. I don't remember the company name during that time. They owned the station just prior to James Opsitnic and Micheal Kern buying it.

Burns Nugent sounds like the main guy at KACI for years and years.

Burns Nugent bought KACI, a 1,000 watt daytimer on 1300 in The Dalles, in 1977 as Nugent Broadcasting. In 1984, he added KACI-FM, 3,000 watts at 97.7 mHz. He sold both in 1998 to Greg and Mylene Walden, owners of KIHR AM 1340 and KCGB-FM 105.5 in Hood River. They, in turn, sold all five to Bicoastal Media in 2007.

Thanks to everyone on this thread! I was able to track down every company. The hardest was KBZY because of the short time period.

----------------Celebrity Radio Station Owners of Oregon-----------------

KBZY - Dr. Don Rose - 1981-82 - Friendship Communications Co.

KEX - Gene Autry - 1962-84 - Golden West Broadcasters, Inc.

KKRZ(FM) - Gene Autry - 1983-84 - Golden West Broadcasters, Inc.

KMJK - Victor Ives - 1985-87 - 107 Limited.

KMJK-FM - Victor Ives - 1983-87 - 107 Limited.

KQFM(FM) - Gene Autry - 1978-84 - Golden West Broadcasters, Inc.

KSWB - The Brothers Four - 1968-72 - Seaside Broadcasting Corp.

KVIX - Victor Ives - 1987-88 - Loadstar Communications Group.

KWIP - Roger Carroll - 1980-91 - Firebird Communications, Inc.

KXL - Frank Sinatra, Nancy Sinatra & Danny Kaye - 1957-64 - Seattle, Portland & Spokane Radio, Inc.

KXL - Danny Kaye - 1964-81 - Seattle, Portland & Spokane Radio, Inc.

KXL-FM - Danny Kaye - 1965-81 - Seattle, Portland & Spokane Radio, Inc.

KYXQ - Van Halen - 1994-95 - KXYQ Broadcasting Co., Inc.

KXYQ-FM - Van Halen - 1992-94 - KXYQ Broadcasting Co., Inc.

KZRC - Van Halen - 1992-94 - KXYQ Broadcasting Co., Inc.

I don't know the name but a Playboy bunny owned KWIP and might still, if she hasn't sold it. Does that count? I believe she turned them spanish.

Retired Spokane anchorman Charles Rowe and his then wife, now retired KPTV anchorwoman Kim Singer owned a radio station in Lincoln City called K-Surf.

(Updated list) Semoochie: I couldn't connect her name to "Playboy" or bunny on the web.

---------------Celebrity Radio Station Owners of Oregon-----------------

KBZY - Dr. Don Rose - 1981-82 - Friendship Communications Co.

KCRF(FM) - Kim Singer - 1981-84 - Rainbow Broadcasting Corp.

KEX - Gene Autry - 1962-84 - Golden West Broadcasters, Inc.

KKRZ(FM) - Gene Autry - 1983-84 - Golden West Broadcasters, Inc.

KMJK - Victor Ives - 1985-87 - 107 Limited.

KMJK-FM - Victor Ives - 1983-87 - 107 Limited.

KQFM(FM) - Gene Autry - 1978-84 - Golden West Broadcasters, Inc.

KSWB - The Brothers Four - 1968-72 - Seaside Broadcasting Corp.

KVIX - Victor Ives - 1987-88 - Loadstar Communications Group.

KWIP - Roger Carroll - 1980-91 - Firebird Communications, Inc.

KXL - Frank Sinatra, Nancy Sinatra & Danny Kaye - 1957-64 - Seattle, Portland & Spokane Radio, Inc.

KXL - Danny Kaye - 1964-81 - Seattle, Portland & Spokane Radio, Inc.

KXL-FM - Danny Kaye - 1965-81 - Seattle, Portland & Spokane Radio, Inc.

KYXQ - Van Halen - 1994-95 - KXYQ Broadcasting Co., Inc.

KXYQ-FM - Van Halen - 1992-94 - KXYQ Broadcasting Co., Inc.

KZRC - Van Halen - 1992-94 - KXYQ Broadcasting Co., Inc.