Helen Borgers Hit By ‘A Bolt from the Blue’

Steve Propes

Last year, the voice of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Vin Scully, retired from a 67-year broadcasting career. There was a tremendous amount of public attention given to this feat. After all, in the highly insecure occupation as an on-air radio or TV broadcaster, a year or two behind the microphone is considered about average.

As an example of other high profile partings, the KLOS morning crew of Mark & Brian lasted for 35 years, 1987 to August 2012. Their send-off broadcast was promoted as a radio milestone, which it was.

Certainly, it would be assumed the end of a nearly-40 year career in the L.A. market would be similarly celebrated.

Not so. The recent termination of an historic 38-year broadcasting career was not noted at all, save for the removal of any trace of Helen Borgers from the KKJZ website and her on-air absence. A cursory check of the site shows the current on-air staff is entirely male.

As Borgers noted on her Facebook page, “As of July 1, 2017, no longer on air at KKJZ. After 38 years. It was such a bolt from the blue!”

She ended the post with an optimistic note. “I think, in the long run, it will be better to be able to play the music I choose as we used to on KLON.”

That latter comment raised some questions. A source close to the situation disclosed her playlist was handed down by station management, hardly the policy during her on-air KLON days, which began in October, 1979, when her brother, program director Ken Borgers, had her fill in for a jazz host who had taken ill.

At that time, KLON was an arm of the Long Beach Unified School District and broadcast a wide variety of educational programming, news, public affairs and music ranging from Bernie Pearl’s blues program to a Sunday morning polka show.

Founded on January 3, 1950, at 88.1 FM, during a time that AM radio was king, KLON trundled on with its eclectic style until acquired in a sea of controversy by the CSULB Foundation in 1981. At the same time, CSULB’s student-run low-power station KSUL went off the air. At the time, campus media connected the two events, similar low power stations were being phased out for other reasons.

At its inception as a jazz station, DJs played “straight ahead” jazz to counter the more commercial sound of the competition, KKGO. Borgers broadened her KLON career as weekend host, switching over to the role of fulltime DJ, holding down both morning and afternoon drive and music director, except for a short stint with Eurojazz in Holland in the mid 1990s.

With a new university administration came the decision that KKJZ was too expensive to maintain and the building was needed for other purposes. Proposals to run the station were submitted to interested parties and several responded, including a group involving former KLON Program Director Ken Borgers and Blues Festival Producer Ken Poston.

In April 2007, Mt. Wilson FM Broadcasters, owner of the commercial FM, KKGO, took over operation of KKJZ on a five year contract. KKJZ on-air personalities were interviewed by the new operator. Helen Borgers was one of several retained.

There were drastic changes to KKJZ operations during the intervening decade. The widely respected Long Beach Blues Festival was cancelled in 2010. In December 2014, the operators of KKJZ announced the station would move to Westwood, a good 30 miles away from its city of license, Long Beach. That meant since the early days of radio, Long Beach would have no broadcast radio stations, making it by far the biggest U.S. city with no such operation.

That was a turning point for staff and the on-air sound. According to several sources close to the subject, a small studio was built at the foundation’s building from which Borgers and other locals did their shifts. This involved voice-tracking, in which musical cuts are introduced, then added at the Westwood studio, common in commercial broadcasting, making the presentation more professional. In contrast to the KLON days, the playlist was supplied by management as Borgers noted in her comments.

KKJZ Station Manager and General Counsel Stephanie Levine emailed, “We recently laid off Helen Borgers and another announcer for budgetary reasons. Unfortunately, financial circumstances require us to make difficult decisions like these. However, we are committed to keeping KJazz on the air long-term. We greatly value both individuals and wish them continued success.”

Though laid off from KKJZ, Borgers is hardly out of the jazz broadcast game. She will join her brother Ken Borgers and former KLON concert guy Ken Poston, who runs KSDS, the San Diego counterpart to KKJZ. Other than the longer commute, Borgers hopes to share her love of jazz with a whole new broadcast audience as well as her current on-line set of jazz fans.

steve@beachcomber.news

Editor’s Note: Steve Propes was a KLON DJ from 1981 through 1989 and for a short period in 1993.

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Comments

Wow! That's terrible. I was wondering where Helen was, did a search and found this. No more donations from me.

Yes, Brad was an intelligent music lover who did an excellent job for KKJZ. Shame.

I noticed the difference right away. So much for diversity in more ways than one! Look forward to following both Helen and Brad, as they always put together brilliant and thoughtful music playlists. Please keep us posted.

Helen Borges - 38 years. The Hallmark of loyalty, enthusiasm, and commitment to her craft. She should be nominated to the Radio Hall of Fame if there is such an entity. Some sort of function should take place to honor her. If so, I would donate the band. Thank goodness I have her voice recorded on Live at Catalinas.

Helen had become my absolute favorite of all the kkjz djs. I miss her warm joyful voice and her humble respect for the art. And she is the most talented interviewer of jazz musicians I have ever heard. She's a genius at that.

I miss Helen! I've been a station listener since the 80s and always found her to be knowledgeable and upbeat. The "budget" layoff was ridiculous; I know their DJs aren't paid all that much and she was a jazz institution. Shame on the station management. Loyalty, when the quality remains high must be rewarded!

I came back from vacation to realize I couldn't find Helen any longer. In a way, it's not a surprise because of the reaction of Stephanie Levine when I wrote in 2016 complaining about the programming. I said that they should inform listeners that they were trying to be The Wave. In her reply, she pretty much said I was being disrespectful because I complained about hearing the Doobey Brothers and other pop songs. I need to stop my donations to this station. Some of my favorite times listening in the past was during pledge drives when Helen and Chuck NIles would be together.

I know this is 3 months later Stef but your comment about "The Wave" was exactly what I was thinking about the direction they were going.

Are they insane? Helen was such a great part of the station. No matter what frame of mind anyone was in, all they had to do was tune in to Helen, and she would put a big smile on your face. She was much more than a DJ; she was a jazz historian, a friendly and cheerful voice. I will also miss Brad; he was a major part of the station. What makes this so much of a slap in the face for we listeners, is not just the loss of such great hosts, but the fact that in their cutbacks they chose to keep Bubba Jackson. Bubba is so fake and foolish. He uses unsavory remarks which he seems to think are cool, such as "feeling good all under," On top of that, he can't even pronounce the names of many of the artists whose music he plays. Finally, as mentioned above, it does seem, sometimes, as though they are trying to become “The Wave.” I often told people that they would never hear Kenny G on KKJZ, but Bubba Jackson proved me wrong when he did just that.

So, Helen and Brad will be sorely missed, but if those in charge at KKJZ continue the way they're going, then KKJZ will become a station which most Jazz fans won't miss; when it's gone.

It's been a long, sad decline. It's no longer recognizable as the station that once boasted Chuck Niles, a true jazz guy and a host whose personality connected so strongly with listeners. Now we have more generic names with a stack of "greatest hits" cds playing a very tight list of accessible jazz (some of it good) and constantly fundraising and promoting events (trips to Europe, Beverly Hills concerts) that are so far removed from what real jazz was, and is, as to be unrecognizable. At least three djs have music careers outside of the station which they constantly promote on their shows. I'm sure a corporate executive somewhere thinks that's some kind of synchronicity or branding brilliance, but it strikes me as distasteful. The fact that the station was once so wonderful makes its current state particularly sad.

As a longtime listener and frequent financial contributor I've pledged and supported KKJZ primarily because of Helen Borgers, a musical soul sister whose tastes and instincts (and playlist) closely mirror mine. There's still good music on KKJZ, but if it lasts, it will be without my future support. To lose Helen and on purpose? What a travesty.

I have listened to the Long Beach Jazz stations as they have evolved since the '50's !!! I am so
upset that they let Helen Borgers go!!! What a huge mistake!!! She has been the Queen of
KKJZ for 38 years!!! Whoever made this decision did not listen to her or understand what she
was all about! What a gem of a person, so knowledgeable, so well respected by everyone in
the business!!! My longtime support will now be with KSDS. Hope to keep Helen's
upbeat spirit and wonderful laugh in my life!!!

Helen Borgers on my radio and streaming for many years!!! Goodbye KKJZ!!!

I had been wondering for a couple of months where Helen was. I had searched the net a couple of times and found no mention of her leaving KKJZ, 88.1. I finally sent an email to the stationand was told she was laid off due to budget concerns. I was shocked. As the above comments state, she is a jazz institution and very knowledgeable and enthusiastic about the music. I really miss her. I had also commented to the station about the music they had begun to play that is not jazz. I didn't receive any answer at all. I also will probably stop contributing.

It's been sad to watch (listen to) the slow decline of a once great radio station over the last few years. Helen Borgers was a bona fide institution. Firing her was the last straw.

Ms. Levine fires two hosts who actually know about jazz. Kept Bubba Jackson, who enough has been said about in an earlier post and Paul James, who sounds like he's reading off a crib sheet. And badly at that.

As well a Sunday fundraiser @ the local musicians "Santa Ana " for Helen's upcoming heart surgery.

Helen, you're awesome!! Listening to you & "Bebop Charlie" over the years has been the highlight of Jazz entertainment for me and a true lesson in jazz history. I've been supporting this station in its transitions over the decades from KBCA in the early 70's to KKGO to KLON to KKJZ, but no more. KJazz have sadly forgotten their roots & the wonderful DJ's, like you who've made them great. In an effort to sound more commercially mainstream, they've lost their way and forgotten their base listeners & supporters. Well, now they've lost me too! Our company radio dial will be re-tuning, along with our generous donations. We'll all be listening for you Helen, on KSDS...STRAIGHT AHEAD... and wish you all the very best!! Something tells me you'll have the last laugh. So, just remember, "he who laughs last, laughs best"...touché!!!!

Agreed with all of the above. Helen was the voice and soul of KKJZ and her firing is incomprehensible. She is a Southern California institutation.

The new format is terrible unless you like smooth jazz, old Doobie Brothers songs and Steve Tyrell endlessly talking about himself in his grizzly voice. I will not be supporting this station any longer with donations and like the others will be turning to KSDS for some real jazz.

Yes it is a sad for JAZZ lovers and the demise of my listing to this radio station. I remember years ago listing to the station when it was KLON then continued listening when the change over took place. As for Helen and her 30 plus years working at the station, just goes to show everyone that the NEW GENERATION of ASSHOLES RUNNING business have NO RESPECT or REGARD for the KNOWLEDGE older staff have and treat them like DIRT. That's OK as these ASSHOLES one day will reach that age when their time is up, and I'll bet they NEVER will have spent 30 plus years like Helen did at their jobs.

My station list in my cars all have 88.1 erased from the dial and I urge everyone else reading this thread do the same. Let's put KKJZ 88.1 to their grave.

Helen has always been a gem! (Brad too.) KKJZ has lost me after 30 years, and they're doomed. KSDS is like the old Chuck Niles days- outstanding.

But none of that is important now. They broke Helen's heart when they fired her, and now she's desperately fighting for her life.

If you possibly can, send her some help. Even $10 will make a huge difference. If you can't help financially, please hold her in your thoughts and prayers.
https://www.youcaring.com/helenborgers-954525

I've been listening to the station in its different forms since I move to California in 1964. Chuck Niles was my favorite then. Helen and Ken followed in his voice. I agree with some of the previous posts about the programing. It is nothing like the old days. There are other sources like Music Choice on FIOS that puts them to shame. I wish all of the best to Helen and Ken and I know they will keep the good straight ahead sounds of real jazz and great infectious laughter on the air somewhere.

I did not know Helen personally but news of her passing brings me great sadness. I listened to her on KJAZZ for many years, even while living in Abu Dhabi. Sometimes I would stay up late and catch her afternoon show. Made me feel like I was back home in LA. Now after several years I am back home in LA and Helen is no longer here. The station, indeed the world, is not the same.

I just moved back to California and turned on the Jazz station I used to work for only to find out that my friend and favorite person/soul/DJ/Shakespeare-lover not only has passed away only a few days ago, but was let go from the job months before her surgery. For those of you who never had the pleasure of knowing her personally, she was every bit as enthusiastic and caring as you could imagine from just the sound of her voice. I grew up listening to KJazz and Helen’s segments played a huge part of my jazz education.. eventually I had the privilege to work in the same building as Helen, Brad, Jose.. these legends and Helen was just the kindest person... RIP Helen!!!!!! My heart broke today and I hope you know how much you are truly missed.

Yes I had been wondering when she left the broadcast and they said nothing, and only heard of Helens passing afterwards. I suppose I shall lay to rest my listening to kjazz as I already had done so, because its boringly monotonous now, except I do listen to the blues show which I am bummed to say is also very repetitive in its limited style and yet there is a lot of great new and old blues and jazz out there but you wont hear it on KJAZZ. The shows now also have there incessant talk and advertisements now, which was the reason I USED to listen, I do not like listening to adds and promotions rather than music. The other thing that bothered me for years after the first great jazz leader/DJ of the KJAZZ station (dont remember his name) died the only one who gave him respect and homage was Helen. She was what true blues, jazz, love of music, and kindness to her people was all about. She is greatly missed and WHO could replace her?...Although the wagman is kind of fun...Il continue to listen o him sat. and sundays
but KJAZ cant have a dime from me.

It's already years since Helen's passing. I still miss her and the quality of jazz that was presented in the past on this station, of course first on KLON and then on KJZZ before Helen's passing. And then all this become a station for "Soft Jazz" (what a horrible word for a horrible kind of jazz! - grrrr!!!) and Elevator Jazz. And here we went into the dungeons. Now, 4 years later at least we hear the same old. Again and again though.
With hosts that are producing and representing a very mediocre form of jazz and can't even pronounce correctly his own French surname. Didn't his parents tell him?! I'm terrified that next we'll be listening to and being hosted by Kenny G, David Sanborn and the likes.

Who is this person, who are these people who program this station with every day the same kind of jazz?!?!?! It's a disgrace and a shame.

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