SANTA MONICA, CALIF. — He enjoyed two lengthy stints at Album-Oriented Rock station KLOS-FM in Los Angeles, a decade at formal crosstown rival KMET-FM, and for the last 11 years has been the host of a daily program on SiriusXM‘s “Deep Tracks” channel. In 2022, he was the inspiration for Tom Petty’s studio album The Last DJ.
Now, rock and roll radio fans are paying tribute to Jim Ladd, who has died of a heart attack.
According to SiriusXM, Ladd died on Sunday. Special tributes to Ladd can be heard on “Deep Tracks,” which recently relocated to Channel 308 from a space in the 20s.
Ladd was a friend to many in the industry. On May 6, 2005, at a Hollywood Walk of Fame induction ceremony attended by RBR+TVBR Editor-in-Chief Adam R Jacobson in his role as Radio & Records‘ “Classic Rock Guy,” Ladd attracted the likes of Benmont Tench — a founding member of Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers and longtime friends James “JY” Young and Tommy Shaw of STYX.
Rock & Roll Hall of Famer and Doors drummer John Densmore remembered Ladd in a touching post on social media.
“‘The Last DJ’ has crossed the tracks,” Densmore wrote. “There wasn’t a more soulful spinner of music. The songs he played were running through his blood, he cared so much for rock n’ roll. Irreplaceable… a very sad day, which can only be handled by carrying his spirit forward.”
Fred Jacobs, the longtime rock programmer who today runs Jacobs Media, told RBR+TVBR, “There goes ‘the last DJ.’ He was one of a kind, truly an amazing talent and a good soul. I was fortunate to say I wasn’t just a fan, but I knew him.”
FREEFORM UNTIL THE FINAL NOTE
For generations of rock radio listeners in Southern California, and many across the radio industry, Jim Ladd was famous for being a “freeform” disc jockey, eschewing tight programming and music scheduling.
He first developed as a radio host at KNAC-FM 105.5 in Long Beach, Calif., in 1969, during its progressive rock era. In 1971, he joined the staff of ABC Radio’s KLOS-FM. But, he exited in 1974, moving to KMET-FM at a time when tighter programming at ABC’s rock stations was not in Ladd’s interest.
Ladd would stay at KMET until 1984, and returned for its final two months as a rocker before becoming KTWV “The Wave” in February 1987. After stints at KMPC-FM 101.9 and KLSX-FM 97.1 in Los Angeles, Ladd returned to KLOS in 1997. In 2011, he departed broadcast radio for good, taking the SiriusXM role.
While at KLOS, Ladd invited Jacobson in mid-2005 to sit-in on his late-night Headsets program, which aired from 10pm-2am. There was no playlist, only ideas.
It was the first time in Ladd’s career he allowed someone to not only observe him carry out his craft but also participate in the creation of a music set. The studio was darkened, illuminated only by lamps over his workstation.
Speaking to Jacobson, Ladd said, “People think what I do has a lack of structure. But it’s the exact opposite. Every set of music has a story told through it,
told through the lyrics.”
