KOIT-AM

Gazing upon the cityscape, did you ever consider the soundtrack of San Francisco? KOIT-AM, at 1260 on your dial, has been a significant part of that soundtrack for decades. KOIT-AM wasn’t always the smooth voice you hear today. It started its life in 1926 as KYA, a scrappy upstart broadcasting from the Clift Hotel with a mere 500 watts. The station changed hands numerous times, its call letters shifting like the sands of time. In the mid-1950s, KYA embraced rock and roll, becoming the Bay Area’s top 40 station. Legends like Bill Drake honed their skills at KYA, shaping the sound of an era. The station’s influence rippled through the music scene, boosting the careers of DJs like Johnny Holliday and Tom Donahue. KYA even had its own basketball team, the KYA Oneders, featuring future NBA star Rick Barry. The station’s rock and roll reign eventually faded, but its spirit lived on. Bonneville International purchased KYA in 1983, transforming it into KOIT-AM. It became the simulcast partner of KOIT-FM, broadcasting adult contemporary music. In 2007, KOIT-AM embarked on a new chapter, becoming KSFB, a Catholic radio station. From rock and roll to easy listening to religious programming, KOIT-AM, under its various call signs, has echoed the changing times and tastes of San Francisco. Its journey reflects the city’s own evolution, a constant hum beneath the Golden Gate’s grandeur.