It's been several years now since Jim Dabakis, one of Salt Lake City's most popular radio talk-show hosts, left KTKK (AM-630) to pursue business interests. I caught up with him last weekend at the Salt Lake International Airport, and he said he's spending about half his time in the Soviet Union and the other half in Salt Lake City with a new company, Easti. He is president of that company, which deals in art sales.
Dabakis wouldn't admit that he missed doing radio."After 13 years as a talk-show host, what more can you say?" was his only comment.
About once a month, Starley Bush, KTKK general manager, does allow Dabakis to be a guest host at the station.
Dabakis seems happy in his challenging new business, especially with the recent turnaround in events in the Soviet Union. He's also pleased about the prospects of his company's economic prosperity. He recently returned from a Russian art exhibit back east where his company sold $1.4 million worth of paintings.
- KBZN (FM-97.9) - "Musical Starstreams" on Sunday, Sept. 1, will feature Spheeris & Vodouris and their "Enchantment" album. Later in the day, the "Jazz Trax" program (7 p.m.-midnight) will have special guest Acoustic Alchemy. "Take Me to the Skies," by Richard Elliott (1989), will be spotlighted on the Archives Album segment.
- Here's the schedule for the "7 O'Clock CD" feature:
Monday, Sept. 2: "Voices in the Wind," by the Wind Machine.
Tuesday, Sept. 3: "A View From the Bridge," by Carol Nethen.
Wednesday, Sept. 4: "Nocturnal Playground," by Russ Freeman.
Thursday, Sept. 5: "Collection," by Dave Grusin.
Friday, Sept. 6: "Playing With Fire," by Sam Riney.
- KUER (FM-90.1) will air two specials from National Public Radio on "American Women in Jazz" next month.
Part 1 of "American Women in Jazz" will be broadcast Sunday, Sept. 1, at 6 p.m. The second installment will air Sunday, Sept. 8, also at 6 p.m.
The first part will feature vocalist Sheila Jordan, while Part 2 will highlight saxophonist Jane Ira Bloom. The two programs are based on the book "American Women in Jazz, 1900 to Present" written by the show's producer, Sally Placksin.
- NPR's "Weekend Edition" will air a special feature on New York's famed and financially troubled Apollo Theater, Sunday, Sept. 1, during the 9-11 a.m. show. The theater segment will be 17 minutes long.
- KSL (AM-1160) - Here are station programming highlights for the next week:
Saturday, Aug. 31:
7-10 a.m. - "The Greenhouse" goes on location to the Utah State University Botanical Gardens in Farmington. Guest co-hosts with Don Shafer will be Jerry Goodspeed and Shawn Olsen.
10-11 a.m. - "Car Radio" will discuss small-engine repair with guest Darwin Jolly.
11 a.m. - "Your House" will examine how to be successful in home canning with guest Georgia Lauritzen.
Sunday, Sept. 1:
10 a.m. - "Getaway" examines the splendors of southern Utah.
11 a.m. - Randy Thompson, food and nutrition expert, will explain on the "Health & Fitness" show how to start a healthful diet.
Monday, Sept. 1:
9 a.m.-noon - A special edition of "Greenhouse" on Labor Day.
6:30 p.m. - Former BYU quarterback Marc Wilson is the guest on "Sportscentral."
Tuesday, Sept. 2:
10 a.m. - A tailgate party on "The KSL Cooking Show."
11 a.m. - Part 1 of a three-part series on self-esteem: How teenagers can get a grip on their lives.
1 p.m. - The eight causes of stress.
2 p.m. - The author of "Karma, reincarnation and the spiritual path" on Bob Lee's show.
Wednesday, Sept. 3:
10 a.m. - Vision screening for preschoolers on "House Calls."
10:30 - Medical needs of the aging generation.
11 a.m. - Part 2: Self-esteem with Sandy Negley, the director of Expressive Therapy.
11:30 a.m. - T-bills and Terry Coxon on the "Dollars and Sense" show.
2 p.m. - "City Cops" show.
Thursday, Sept. 4:
11 a.m. - Self-esteem in the office with businessman Jerry Siener.
11:40 a.m. - Find out who is "Utah's Most Wanted" criminal.
Friday, Sept. 5:
10:30 a.m. - Politics, politicians and their pasts. Doug Wright visits with Dave Watson.
11 a.m. - Chris Hicks on KSL's "Movie Show."
- RADIO FREE HAWAII - According to the Associated Press, Honolulu radio station KDEO-FM is experimenting with a new type of format that allows listeners to choose every song that is played. This "people-powered format" is unlike most formats that rely on demographic surveys.
Listeners vote each week for the 10 songs they want to hear and also for the 10 songs they don't wan't to hear.