KJUL fans singing again

Thursday, Nov. 10, 2005 | 7:17 a.m.

KJUL fans were elated Tuesday when it was announced that their favorite format of adult standards music would be back, only at a different station.

Brothers Scott and Kurt Gentry, owners of 104.7-FM, acquired the KJUL call letters.

Judging by callers to the Sun following the announcement, there were only two major concerns -- one is that many can't pick up the station; the other is that announcer Scott O'Neil hasn't been hired.

The station owners said that a new tower will be built and boosters will be placed at locations around the valley to increase the signal's power, but it may take a year.

Until then, the station will be heard by only 75 percent to 80 percent of the potential audience in the valley.

O'Neil continues to work part time for Beasley Broadcast Group (former owners of KJUL), hosting a Saturday morning show on Star 102.7 while he finds another job in radio.

He said when 104.3 ended KJUL's run in early October he called Scott Gentry, among other station owners, and urged them to adopt the format.

And when he learned that they were actually making the transition, he called and left a message congratulating him and asking to speak to them about work.

"I'm still waiting for a return phone call," O'Neil said. "But I'm delighted for the listeners -- they won in this."

He hoped he would continue to be part of the team.

"I was upset and disappointed that Scott Gentry didn't return my call," O'Neil said. "But I wish them luck. I think it's great that they got the call letters, and if I can work with them, that would be wonderful."

O'Neil says some fans somehow were under the impression he had something to do with Beasley changing formats.

"I don't want any of the KJUL audience to think for some reason I helped take KJUL off the air," he said. "It's my favorite format. I've been in that format since 1976 when I started at KMPC in Los Angeles."

Gentry said one reason he didn't speak to O'Neil after the decision was made to make the switch was that he is still a Beasley employee.

"Everything we did was clandestine," he said.

Gentry says he would be happy to talk to O'Neil, but there may not be a place for him at the station.

"It's my intention to go on the air in the mornings," said Scott, who spent many years as an announcer after starting in the business in 1971.

Jerry Fink can be reached at 259-4058 or jerry@lasvegassun.com.