Geno Michellini, a well-recognized voice to Los Angeles rock followers because the afternoon DJ in the course of the ’80s and ’90s on KLOS, died March 2 at age 77. The loss of life was not extensively reported till Monday.

An official obituary written by mates David Forman and Frank Martin mentioned he “handed peacefully at residence of pure causes along with his beloved cat Bud Bud by his aspect.” Michellini’s loss of life follows by about 5 months that of fellow L.A./San Francisco DJ Dusty Road, with whom he was mentioned to be particularly shut, serving to take care of her earlier than her passing.

Michellini held down the afternoon spot on album-rock large KLOS from 1984-94. He additionally hosted a syndicated program referred to as “Energy Cuts” on the World Satellite tv for pc Community. “You possibly can’t actually imagine it’s occurring,” he was quoted as saying of his sudden ascent in a high market. “I went from being out of labor to the primary station in Southern California and a nationwide radio present all in the identical day.”

His signature phrase, “How Ya Doin’” — impressed by his good friend Joe Walsh) — was emblazoned in KLOS’ acquainted rainbow-surrounded bumper stickers. “Bang the Drum” was one other catchphrase, coming off his ritual taking part in of Todd Rundgren’s “Bang the Drum All Day” to start his program each Friday at 4.

A seven-minute comedy section referred to as “The 5 O’Clock Funnies” was a key a part of his program throughout drive time, and Tim Allen credited his first appearances on the present in early 1989 as giving him his huge break. After taking part in seven minutes of Allen’s standup for the primary time, “in 24 hours, the station acquired 500 calls,” the DJ mentioned.

Born right into a navy household as Theodore Eugene Dunmire, the long run Michellini first started broadcasting from the Philippines on Armed Forces Radio in the course of the Vietnam warfare. Work again within the states as a pop DJ on stations in Thousand Oaks and Stockton led to his actual calling, doing free-form rock radio on KSFM in Sacramento, KOME in San Jose (for six years) and, in 1982, KMEL in San Francisco, the place he additionally served as music director throughout a two-year stint. It was the KOME station programmer who satisfied Dunmire that he wanted a reputation with “extra pizzazz.”

After transferring to Los Angeles and KLOS in 1984, Michellini “survived half a dozen program administrators” over the next decade, as his official obituary places it, and didn’t at all times endure them gladly as company programming grew to become tighter and taking part in even one track exterior the playlist grew to become a no-no. “I’m not good at being informed to close the fuck up,” he mentioned. “I’m the type of person who for those who make recommendations, I’ll pay attention. However for those who inform me that I can’t do one thing and received’t inform me why, or I don’t agree with the the reason why, I’ll struggle you.”

In 1994, KLOS alarmed longtime listeners by first dropping Michellini after which, shortly afterward, Joe Benson and Bob Coburn. Some noticed it as heralding the tip of the age of the “mellow” FM rock DJ — a thought amplified on the time by KLOS program director Curelop, who informed the Los Angeles Instances of the firings: “I’ve nice respect for Joe, Gino and Bob, but when we’re going to current a extra up-tempo, extra present method, we want expertise that at the very least comes as much as the extent of the music by way of power.”

Following his KLOS departure, Michellini went on to have air slots on KFI (doing a Sunday morning discuss present), KCAL in Riverside, KLSX and, his obituary says, “a stint again at KLOS for a fraction of his outdated wage” from 1999 to 2003.

Michelllini’s obit writers say he “by no means recovered from Dusty’s loss of life” final October, “however within the final weeks of his life, he appeared to discover a measure of peace. He give up Fb and was planning a visit again to Tahiti when he died in his mattress Saturday, March 2nd at round 2 a.m., an outdated John Huston documentary in his laser disc participant and Bud Bud on the pillow subsequent to him.”

The obituary additional notes that Michellini was cremated and, per his needs, had his ashes scattered into the ocean from a coconut in Manhattan Seaside.