San Francisco, CA 2007: Five years ago, Za tracked down the 977-foot Sutro Communications Tower, an architectural and engineering marvel. Thirty-three years ago, his dad counted on booming AM radio signals in order to catch SF broadcasts in his hometown 750 miles away.

Trent Ling always knew that he was very strange.  But, it wasn’t until his teenage years that he began broadcasting that fact to the world. Today, one of Trent’s early radio forays comes available on the website.

Near the end of Summer 1979, Trent felt it necessary to call KNBR DJ, CJ Bronson, in San Francisco in the middle of the night (2:17 AM) to let her know that she had listeners both near and far.  Quite surprisingly to Trent, CJ put Trent on the air briefly as she promoted some programming changes.

“For me, this call says so much despite its brevity and weirdness,” Trent shares 33 years later.  “First of all, the static is quite noticeable on the recording, and yes I would patiently and eagerly listen through such waves of noisy interference routinely.  Second, though I already know the answer, I still have to ask, ‘What was I thinking?’  Third, this clip sadly represents a bygone era of back when radio and imagination reigned and the age of video saturation and 2-second attention spans had not yet emerged.  Fourth through infinity, oh I could go on…”

Enjoy this rather unorthodox moment in the continuing stroll through Trent’s years!

Instructions:  To download on a Mac, control-click the message link below and select a download option.  To download on a PC, right-click the link below and select a download option.  To hear the message outright, simply click the link below and you will be redirected to a listening page.

Radio:  Trent, Age 14, Calls California DJ (c. August 31, 1979; 1:46)

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