A Look at Tinseltown Broadcasting
Listening to Las Vegas radio since 1963 and being employed in broadcasting since 1971, I have accumulated quite a bit of information on the relatively brief broadcast history of this once dusty town in the desert. There have been many colorful individuals who have worked behind and on the microphones.
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Jeff Colson, The Hullabalooer!
Posted on May 20th, 2009 3 comments
Sharla and Jeff Colson and his Hullabaloo Horn ca. 1966
Jeff Colson started in radio right here in Las Vegas doing nights at KENO-AM 1460 in 1963. On KENO he rode the popularity of the TV show “Hullabalo” in 1965-1966 and adopted his own “Hullabaloo Horn” as his trademark. As a kid I would listen to Jeff and Coffee Jim Dandy, Don Adams, Scott Morgan, Harry Miller and more of the “KENO Good Guys” which evolved into the “Boss Jocks” of the later 60s.
That horn accompanied every time-check on his shift as one of the original “KENO Good Guys.” As his career progressed he was Jay Stone on KRUX, KRIZ, and KUPD in Phoenix and built a legendary reputation in the business.
Jeff returned home and worked at KMZQ when the station signed on in 1983, he also put in time at then-oldies KUDA 107.5, and Doug Shane at Broadcast Associates hired him to image “Hit Kickin’ Country Y-93″ when they acquired 93.1 FM under a Sales Marketing Agreement around 1994.
Many thanks to Sharla Maule-DiVarmo for sharing this classic photo taken before a concert in Las Vegas. Stay tuned for more on the great “Top 40″ wars in Vegas radio: KENO battled it out with KRAM in the 50s and 60s.
Bumper Morgan has a collection of Jeff Colson aka Jay Stone’s work on his site.
3 responses to “Jeff Colson, The Hullabalooer!”
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David Colson February 25th, 2010 at 21:10
Does anybody know that Jeff had two sons he never mentioned. Me, “David” and another son Jeff Colson. It’s funny how everyone sees this great guy when no a lot of people really know what kind of person he was before he died. I recently got in touch with his wife Debbies kids, (my sisters). Anyways, thought you might like to know.
Kind Regards,
David Colson -
Hello, David. I was a friend of your Dad’s beginning in 1964, when both of us were teenagers. I lived in L.A., but when my folks went to Vegas, as they frequently did, I brought L.A. radio airchecks to Jeff and we hung out together. I have several airchecks I recorded of him on KENO, in case you’re interested in hearing them. In adulthood we lost contact with one another; then we hooked up again via the Internet in 2000. We exchanged a few e-mail messages, then once again we lost contact. I heard only recently about his passing, and was shocked. I’m very sorry for your loss. Do let me know if you want copies of the airchecks I have of him. You can reach me through the “contact” form on my company’s Web site at http://www.editpros.com. Best regards, Jeff March
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Barbara Reynolds June 28th, 2010 at 06:39
I knew Jeff from 1963 until 1985. We were very close friends. How old are you and your brother? I never knew about you. Sometimes it’s like you don’t know someone at all, no matter how long they were part of your life. Please e-mail me at:
Mindakat9@gmail.com. I’d really like to talk to you.Barbara
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