On August 6, Sterling Beeaff signed off for the last time to begin a much deserved retirement. For 25 years, Sterling has been a friend in the morning to thousands of KBACH listeners around the valley. All of us here wish Sterling the very best in this new chapter of life. If you'd like to send Sterling a message, click here.
Hear Sterling's sign-off:
Brian Smith will step in while KBACH conducts a search for your new morning host.
A message from Sterling ...
My radio career began in 1985 at KHEP FM in Phoenix when Torey Malatia hired me as a weekend announcer. Three months later I was doing the morning shift. I’ve wondered many times since then what he heard in me, but I am so very glad he was attuned to whatever it was. The people I’d listened to for years like Bob Christiansen, Tom Hurst, Steven Carlson, Lisa Genuit, Torey and others became colleagues and friends. I’d listened to every word they said, and played the game of trying to guess who the artists were I was listening to or figuring out what that piece of music was. Maybe that’s what Torey had heard.
Since then I’ve been honored to be a part of the wonderful staff you listen to on KBACH. Some of them, I’m proud to say, I hired, and the others? I wish I had.
In 1993 I spoke at a conference of the Arizona Music Teachers Association. They had asked that I address the loss of a second classical music radio station in the valley. (KONC at 101.5 went off the air in 1986. Classical KONC 106.3 went dark in 1993.) After I spoke I was asked what could be done to get classical music back on the radio, and my response was, be sure to embrace and support the public station, KBAQ, that was to go on the air that year, the station we all know now as KBACH.
One morning, 25 years ago, I went on the air at 89.5 KBAQ. The station had been on the air for three years and the community had indeed embraced and supported the effort. Happily, this time I leave the air but the music continues, and that’s thanks to your support. Nice job!
I’ve enjoyed sharing the mornings and the music with you. Thank you so much for making me a part of your life.
