Listeners of KCBX and NPR are mourning the passing of longtime president and general manager.
Frank Lanzone, who led the station for more than 45 years died September 10 after a brief illness. He was 77.
Lanzone announced his retirement in February 2026. After stepping down, he continued to serve as vice president of KCBX and as executive director of the Live Oak Music Festival, an event he helped launch in 1989.
“For the past 46 years, no one was more dedicated to the station, people and the community than Frank,” said KCBX President and General Manager Chris McBride. “We are grateful for his decades of leadership, mentorship and friendship. We will miss him tremendously.”
Lanzone first came to KCBX as general manager in April 1980, when the station operated from Chorro Street in downtown San Luis Obispo. In 1985, the station moved to its current location on Vachell Lane. Over the past four and a half decades, Frank secured the station’s finances, built operations and expanded the station’s reach to encompass three Central Coast counties. He increased goals and met the station’s funding needs through pledge drives as well as community and fundraising events, such as the KCBX Central Coast Wine Classic and Live Oak Music Festival. He oversaw the installation of five translators to serve Cambria, Cayucos, Avila Beach, Shell Beach, Santa Ynez, and Santa Barbara. Lanzone also grew the station significantly by establishing the KCBX Newsroom in 2014.
“Mr. Lanzone’s passing is a huge hit- we all know that so many wonderful times and informative programs happened because of Frank’s tireless dedication to the quality of KCBX and to the KCBX community,” said SLO County Board of Supervisors’ said Dawn Ortiz Legg on social media. “Thank you, Frank, you are already missed but forever respected and loved.”
KCBX will be celebrating both Lanzone and long-time station Operations Manager Hank Hadley, who passed away on August 30, during the upcoming second annual Central Coast Sessions event at The Rock in San Luis Obispo on November 7. Additional details will be announced soon.
