 A wealth of experience is often a good
thing, in David Diamond's case it's a tremendous resource
he can call upon to embellish his lectures and bring real
life experiences to communication students at Black Hills
State University. Students wanting to know how top
radio jocks sounded in the 60s can check out a web site
known as reelradio
and listen to Diamond on KFRC in San Francisco as he
counts down the top 12 hits on Dec. 31, 1968.
Writing students can find Diamond's work in several
novels including the Slade western series written under
the pen name Link Pennington or Claudia Davison in the
novel Unholy Ghost.
And just to make sure he has covered all the bases,
students in the BH professor's television production
class can learn from his experiences as a talk show host
on KBTV, Denver, Colo., and with Kaiser Broadcasting in
Los Angeles.
There isn't much that Diamond hasn't done in the
communication's business and for the past 18 years he's
shared that experience with the next generation of
would-be journalists, announcers, and writers.
His interest in the communications business began as a
child listening to the radio at home in Howard, S.D.
Summer evenings were spent tuning in local and regional
stations to hear different formats and styles. Yet, it
was a course in college that really sparked his interest
and got him on the air for the next 24 years.
“It was a lark. I was late signing up for classes
and many were filled when I saw a sign advertising a
radio and T.V. class,” Diamond said. “I was
able to get on the air right away. I also worked
part-time at a local radio station in Hattiesburg,
Miss.”
After graduating from University of Southern
Mississippi in 1959, Diamond began his career at KFOR in
Lincoln, Neb., moved on to KOIL in Omaha, and then on to
several other mid-west cities before hitting the big time
at KFRC in San Francisco in 1968.
There was a lot of competition for top spots in radio
during the 60s, and 70s. You were only as good as your
ratings, he said.
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In 1965 with his career
rising, he moved to Los Angeles to work for KHJ Boss
Radio as a `Boss Jock.' It was very successful moniker
that followed him to KFRC in San Francisco. “I
had a gimmick,” said Diamond about his early
success. “I called my show the Diamond mine
(sometimes referred to as the Diamond mind). It was a
theater of the mind sort of thing. I would take my
listeners down to the 13th level of the mine.
Through alliterations and word visuals I would interview
people and develop my show. It was similar to the old
Jack Benny shows where he would visit his vault with all
the sound effects and trappings. People could picture in
their mind what was happening.”
By 1982 the pace of late night radio became wearing.
Diamond was ready for a change.
“I was only going to get out for a year,” he
said. “I was burned out. I took a job in Iowa (Buena
Vista College) and stayed there six years.”
The collegial lifestyle had its appeal as he spent the
next eight years at Morningside College, Sioux City,
Iowa, as chairman of the communications department. He
then joined the faculty at BHSU in 1995 where he
continues to teach and write.
Looking back at those radio days, Diamond said,
“Getting a job in L.A. was real satisfying. If you
got in those markets you made it.”
His association with people in the music world such as
Janis Joplan, Jim Morrison, and the music group `The
Doors' added to the excitement of the time. He was also
responsible for publishing the song “Incense and
Peppermints” recorded by the group known as the
Strawberry Alarm Clock. It hit the top of charts in
November of 1967.
For communications students in Diamond's classes it's
like finding a gem of real-world experience to call upon.
By taking them down to the 13th level of the
Diamond mine he has taken them to a new level with
improved prospects for the future. For the students it's
like finding a diamond in the rough.
“I like teaching and having students do
well,” he said. “I have placed them in radio,
television, public relations and advertising.”
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