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Those who have no memory of life before the digital age cannot truly comprehend how exciting and important radio once was. Armed with charisma, great voices and a sincere passion for the music, disc jockeys were key figures in the biz, making and breaking the hits.
What a thrill it was, having your ears glued to the dial, waiting not only for your favorite current songs to be aired, but there was also the pleasant surprise of being introduced to brand new artists. Prior to a tightening of rules and regulations, radio was open-minded, diversified and a whole lot of fun.
Disc jockeys were the ultimate hipsters and formed a close bond with their audiences. Don Sainte-Johnn’s memoir, San Francisco’s Last Top 40 Disc Jockey [Another One Bites The Dust] (Conquihalla Publishing), embraces the highs, lows and everything in between at a time when the industry thrived on catchy songs and innovation.
Born Wilbur Johnson, the future Don Sainte-Johnn grew up in the cotton fields of Perdue Hill, Alabama. He fell in love with radio and music as a youngster, and longed for the day when he could pursue his dream of becoming a disc jockey.
Possessing smarts and determination, Sainte-Johnn graduated from high school early and relocated to Los Angeles, where he attended engineering school amid the tri-pronged social, cultural and political revolution of the ’60s. Yet, even in liberal California, the ugliness and ignorance of racism frequently reared its head. Sainte-Johnn recounts such incidents, but continued to plug on with his eye on the prize.
Stints in Yuma, Arizona, San Diego, Sacramento, St. Louis and Chicago eventually led Sainte-Johnn to his plum gig at KFRC in San Francisco. Sainte-Johnn joined the Bay Area’s No. 1 AM station in 1974 and stayed on for the next two decades.
Aside from sharing the behind the scenes mechanics of the broadcasting world in fluid precision, San Francisco’s Last Top 40 Disc Jockey contains plenty of personal stories to produce smiles and laughs. Sainte-Johnn additionally sprinkles the book with references to cool songs, movies and TV shows.
Sainte-Johnn’s legendary career as a disc jockey ended 30 or so years ago, but by no means has he remained idle. Educator at the College of San Mateo, consultant and writer are further activities that pad his resume.
Authored in a friendly, positive and conversational tone, San Francisco’s Last Top 40 Disc Jockey (Another One Bites The Dust) captures Sainte-Johnn’s commitment and knowledge of his craft in vivid detail. Here’s a book impossible not to read in a single sitting!
- Don Sainte-Johnn – ‘San Francisco’s Last Top 40 Disc Jockey [Another One Bites the Dust]’ (2026) - April 16, 2026
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