Don Murray entered the radio broadcasting industry more than 4 decades ago while in High School in Sacramento, California in the 1960’s. Since that time, he has been an Operations Director, Program Director, Music Director and Production Manager for many radio stations around the country. Markets include: Medford, Oregon; St, Louis, Missouri, and in the California markets of Sacramento, Yuba City/Marysville, Redding, Monterey/Salinas, San Bernardino/Riverside, and Orange County. He also spent many years in Los Angeles, at such major radio stations as KFXM, KIQQ-FM 100, KNOB-FM,K-Hits-FM, and it’s sister station KRLA-AM where he even worked with such legendary air personalities such as Charlie Tuna, “The Real” Don Steele, Art Laboe, Johnny Hayes, the late Emperor Bob Hudson, and “Wolfman Jack”.
In 1985 was one of the founding programmers and air personalities of Internet Satellite Radio Network, the first Contemporary Christian Radio Network, based at Southern California’s KYMS-FM in Orange County, California, where he was also program/music director and morning air personality.
Don spent over 5 years at Westwood One Radio Network, where he hosted a nationally syndicated satellite delivered morning show on the Hot Adult Contemporary music format. Having moved to the Monterey Bay Area in 1994, was active as an on the air personality at Magic 63-AM and KWAV-FM. In 2001 he became group Operations Manager and Program Director for People’s Radio, Inc. of Monterey/Salinas, and re-introduced the legendary Bay Area call letters “KYA” on a 25,000 watt AM station which covered most of northern and central California, where Don plugged in his 5,000+ title “oldies” record library.
In 1995, Don opened his business “The Voice Shop” with long time partner Steve Davis with a full digital broadcast quality, audio voice-over and production studio, originally based in Monterey/Salinas and now in Reno/Sparks, Nevada where Don and his family moved in 2003. Their joint venture’s website is www.spotvoice.com
Since moving to the Reno area, he spent more than 3 years as Assistant Program Director and morning Air Personality on “Smooth Jazz 92.1 KJZS-FM”. Since that time, The Voice Shop has continued to grow, and now serves radio, television stations, advertising agencies and Cable Companies all over the United States. He also records, edits and masters conference calls via telephone, which are converted into training messages. Don is also an audio technician with sound mixing, audio editing, recording production and multi-media projects.
Don is also an active amateur or “ham” radio operator, involved in the volunteer work of emergency communications with the national organization “American Radio Relay League”, (www.arrl.org) where he recently assisted with creation of a new advanced emergency communications course, and serves on the League’s national Public Relations Committee. Don holds the positions of Nevada’s Section Emergency Coordinator, Public Information Coordinator, and holds an appointment from the Governor’s office as State R.A.C.E.S.(Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service) Officer for the State of Nevada.
Since 2010, Don can once again be heard around the Monterey Bay area on Z-97.9FM ( www.Z979FM.com ), playing the “greatest hits of the 60’s and 70’s” from 6 – 10AM weekdays. This is the music Don knows and loves, and is truly honored to be able to present HIS favorite music again on California’s Central Coast.
If that is not enough of a hobby, Don and his wife Judy spend time with local car clubs and DJing shows with his “
THE OLDIES CHANNEL” DJ service (see mobile DJ section of this site). Don & Judy own a very pristine, classic 1970 Plymouth Road Runner, which they show all season long. Don also enjoys baseball (an avid SF Giants fan since childhood), Community Theater drama, playing drums and is currently writing a book on his lengthy broadcast career. Don and Judy have one adult son, Andrew who is currently in college and studying to be a firefighter.
