Hal Abrams at work at The Rock radio station at 97.3 and 107.9 on your radio dial as they used to say. Photo submitted
Hal Abrams left Colorado at seventeen headed for Hollywood to become a “Rock Star,” but quickly pivoted from music school to the rest of his life in radio broadcasting.
“I got bogged down in musical theory, so I walked across the street to a broadcasting studio and landed a six-month internship at the station that brought Jay Thomas to Los Angeles.” In 1986, Thomas relocated to LAs’ KPWR “Power 106”, where he hosted the station’s top-rated morning show until 1993 and is now in the Radio Hall of Fame. Hal continued, “He was the new morning drive guy and quickly the #1 show in LA. I was 18 years old earning a big paycheck and living the life. Five years later I wanted to get my son out of the LA scene.”
When asked to do afternoons in Kauai, Hal began his radio-nomad years working at seventeen different stations around the United States. “When I was in Virginia the SPCA was one of the station’s major sponsors. I did my show sitting in a doghouse for two weeks.” It was a fund raiser for the animal nonprofit group. Hal continued, “I decided I wanted to do something positive to raise funds for animals, so I returned to the West Coast and created “Animal Radio.” Petco became the sponsor of a 20-market tour benefitting Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab Utah.
Meanwhile I had met Judy (Francis) while working for a Q-105 in Oxnard. Hal joked, “She was caller number five, and I was the booby prize.” About six months into touring “Animal Radio,” I asked her to quit her job and join me. After two years it was time to come back to California — always my home away from home. We lived in our RV in Shandon until Judy got tired of going to town in the big RV for groceries and laundry.” They found a place in Morro Bay where they created a home-studio to produce and broadcast “Animal Radio” and at the same time Hal worked on establishing the community radio concept that gave us Estero Bay Community Radio.
In my opinion, Hal finally achieved “Rock Star” status when 97.3 The Rock, began broadcasting in Morro Bay, Los Osos and Cayucos April 8, 2014. Today he continues to be the lead voice among his band of 80 volunteers – all vocal musicians or aficionados, storytellers, community advocates, broadcasting technicians and industry promoters. However, he is also quick to say Estero Bay Community Radio is and has always been a team effort. He might have been the pitchman back in 2011 but once established “…everyone brings their own talents, and I’ve learned how to delegate.”
For the record Estero Bay Community Radio 97.3 The Rock is a 501(c)(3) non-profit started by Hal Abrams in December 2011, licensed in March 2014 and hitting the air in April 2014. In 2014, the radio station expanded operations in Paso Robles, Atascadero and Templeton at KZSR-LP 107.9 FM and is online at EsteroBayRadio.org. The signal was originally licensed to the City of Morro Bay for emergency broadcasting, then purchased by the nonprofit for $1 with the agreement to continue to be the area’s emergency broadcast station.
This is a milestone year for Hal Abrams and Judy Francis. They will celebrate their 30th anniversary playing tourists in Kauai and after twenty-five years producing “Animal Radio,” they said goodbye to their colleagues and listeners on January 17. Hal and Judy had hosted industry notables to answer questions from call-in listeners about their pets. The popular program was syndicated on 130 AM-FM station and XM Satellite Radio and recognized as the most-listened-to pet-talk show.
Hal explained, “It was profitable and we loved producing the program, but we questioned if it was the best use of our time and efforts.”
Hal quickly filled his extra time. “When our antenna blew down (November 2023) it had a silver lining. It changed everything for the better. People were so supportive with direct donations. Local media — like Dave Congalton, KCBX, KSBY, Estero Bay New — all were trying to help our little radio station get back on the air. We were able to build a much stronger market presents. I wanted our antenna up on Black Hill where the City’s signal is, but it just didn’t work out. [Morro Bay Police] Chief Amy Watkins stepped up and offered space at the police station. It turned out to be the best option after all.”
Volunteers had also been working on needed maintenance and upgrades of the 14-year-old equipment, emergency messaging, and a new generator that can tolerate area outages. Hal said, “Next the upgrades will be for the Paso Robles station.
Two years ago, they also changed their fundraising strategy. “We used to create concerts in the parks and at the Community Center,” Hal explained, “but we discovered our most consistent source funding for our annual operations budget are our donation package ticket sales and partnering with Cameron Wilson quarterly at the Bay Theater. Everyone loves to see a great movie on the big screen and our team has fun with the movies we have chosen. We did a costume contests for ‘The Big Lebowski.’ When I was a kid the ‘midnight movie’ intrigued me so we have sponsored “Rocky Horror Picture Show” and ‘Tommy.’”
Their next movie presentation is “Cheech & Chong” on April 20 (see page 14). They will offer a silent auction before the movie. And if you’re waiting for their next annual give-away package, the winning ticket will be drawn in July. Jon Elliott, one of the on-air talents, has offered Mike’s Barber Shop to headquarter ticket sales.
Estero Bay Community Radio’s Board of Directors includes Drew Ross, president, who retired as program manager from KOTR and according to Hal “is my right-hand man” even though Drew splits time between Morro Bay and Oregon; DeadAir Dave is our personality and spokesperson; Frank Hayes is manager of SLO’s Fremont Theater; and Eric Riddiough is with Cal Trans.”
Hal also wanted to give a big shout-out to Sheryl (The Camillion) Wells “who is always smiling.” She handles promotions and onsite radio remotes.
Hal summed up Estero Bay Community Radio, “Everyone is a volunteer in this operation. Many have been with us from the beginning. Why do we do it? Radio gives us purpose — we find our creativity. Just ask Abe Perlstein, Dr. Robert, Carole Truesdale or Lisa Ellman to name a few of the talents that have been there.”
For the entire 97.3/107.9 The Rock on-air talent list and schedule check out www.esterobayradio.org.
