Don Steele, born Donald S. Revert (April 1, 1936 - August 5, 1997), was one of the most popular disc jockeys in the United States, from the middle of the 1960s until his retirement for health reasons in May 1997. He was often promoted as "The Real Don Steele" to distinguish himself from another DJ with the same name. April 1 is the 91st day of the year (92nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 274 days remaining. ... 1936 was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... August 5 is the 217th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (218th in leap years), with 148 days remaining. ... 1997 is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... For other meanings of DJ, see DJ (disambiguation). ... This article provides extensive lists of events and significant personalities of the 1960s. ... This article is about the month of May. ... 1997 is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Born in Hollywood, California, Steele first became famous as a DJ on radio station KHJ-AM in Los Angeles, where he helped to promote the "ultrahip" top-40 Boss Radio format which began on May 3, 1965. He also appeared on TV in his own programs called Boss City and The Real Don Steele TV Show, a show which ran from 1965 to 1975 on KHJ-TV channel 9 in Los Angeles. When the popularity of AM radio gave way to FM stereo in the 1970s, Steele continued to remain a popular personality at the station. For the remaining years of his life he spent his broadcasting days at Los Angeles's KRTH-FM (K-Earth 101). ... State nickname: The Golden State Other U.S. States Capital Sacramento Largest city Los Angeles Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger Official languages English Area 410,000 km² (3rd)  - Land 404,298 km²  - Water 20,047 km² (4. ... KHJ Radio in Los Angeles, California was one of Americas most formidable Top 40 radio stations in the 1960s and 1970s as 93 KHJ. KHJ went on the air in 1922 with a frequency of 930 kHz. ... This article is about the largest city in California. ... Top 40 is both a record chart and a radio format based on frequent repetition of songs from a constantly-updated list of the forty best-selling singles. ... Boss Radio was the name chosen to promote two new radio programming formats which were both launched in May, 1965 on both KHJ-AM broadcasting from Los Angeles and on Swinging Radio England broadcasting from the motor vessel Laissez Faire anchored three and a half miles off the Frinton-on... May 3 is the 123rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (124th in leap years). ... 1965 was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1965 calendar). ... 1965 was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1965 calendar). ... 1975 was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1975 calendar). ... Mediumwave radio transmissions (sometimes called Medium frequency or MF) are those between the frequencies of 300 kHz and 3000 kHz. ... FM radio is a broadcast technology invented by Edwin Howard Armstrong that uses frequency modulation to provide high-fidelity broadcast radio sound. ... This article provides extensive lists of events and significant personalities of the 1970s. ... KRTH-FM originally began operations on August 11, 1941 as Los Angeless 1st FM station on 44. ...

He graduated from Hollywood High School, served in the Air Force and then studied at a local radio school before working at stations around L.A. He worked in Kennewick, Yakima and Spokane, Washington; Omaha, Nebraska; Portland, Oregon, and San Francisco before returning to Los Angeles to work at the All-New KHJ in April of 1965.

In the book "Los Angeles Radio People," Mr. Steele recalled the beginnings of Boss Radio in May, 1965: "We were standing literally at ground zero, then (his radio format) became a huge giant. It was like a mushroom cloud that went up -- heavy on the mushroom."

Mr. Steele was never one to analyze the evolution of rock radio. In a 1995 interview, he insisted, "Look, you take the Motown sound and the British Invasion and you throw in Elvis and Roy Orbison, and you have a music mix that's hard to beat at any time or any place."

"Robert W. Morgan was the first one hired for Boss Radio," KHJ program director Bill Drake said. "He recommended Steele. He flew down from San Francisco. I was a little leery because I had heard he was kind of a crazy man, but it turned out he was very dedicated to his work." His real name is Philip Yarbrough, but he is known by his on-air name, Bill Drake. ...

Mr. Steele stayed at KHJ until 1973, then moved on to KIQQ, KTNQ, KRLA, KODJ, KCBS and arrived at KRTH in July 1992. He made his acting debut in ABC-TV's Bewitched, had his own weekly TV dance-party show and appeared in such movies as Death Race 2000, Grand Theft Auto, and Eating Raoul. He starred as "Screamin' Steve Stevens" in Rock 'n' Roll High School, "Rockin' Ricky Rialto" in Gremlins, and in 1996, he played a driver in Tales from the Crypt Presents: Bordello of Blood. He recorded commercials, and at one time had a successful, nationally syndicated radio show. Bewitched was an American sitcom starring actress Elizabeth Montgomery, broadcast on ABC from 1964 to 1972. ... Death Race 2000 is an action and self-described cult film directed by Paul Bartel in 1975; it is rated R. The movie takes place in a dystopian view of American society in the year 2000. ... Grand Theft Auto is a 1977 movie made by director Ron Howard. ... Eating Raoul was a 1982 film comedy about a married couple living in Hollywood who eventually take to killing people for their money. ... Rock n Roll High School is a 1979 film produced by Roger Corman, directed by Allan Arkush, and featuring The Ramones. ... Gremlins (movie) - Wikipedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ...

"It must be a sad day for Tina Delgado," author-historian Don Barrett said of Mr. Steele's death. Delgado became part of Mr. Steele's afternoon mantra, "Tina Delgado is alive, alive!" Who she was is a mystery he took with him. Not even his wife knew.

"He never told me and I never asked," Shaune Steele said. "I felt if I had asked him that when we were dating, we never would have gotten married. He didn't like people to get too close. We had only a very small circle of intimate friends."

A poll seeking the top 10 disc jockeys in Los Angeles from 1957 to 1997 rated Steele second among the 232 personalities nominated. The ballot was printed by Barrett in his 1994 book, and results are published in the second volume of his book. Rick Dees said of Steele in Barrett's book, "Pure, raw energy and focus. And he still has it every day. That's amazing!.

Boyd R. Britton, who worked with Steele in the late 1970's at KTNQ said, "He educated me in star quality, in energy and focus. He epitomized energy on the air." Reflecting on Steele's habit of using very high headphone levels, Britton said, "Very early on he was extremely hearing damaged. It was very difficult for him to hear in a group. That made his natural speaking voice almost as loud as his on-air voice."

In 1993, from KRTH, Steele told the Los Angeles Times: I don't think I'm any different now. I've never stopped. I've never changed. I never did anything else. This is the music of my life."

Don Steele appeared in several movies as a DJ. These included "Death Race 2000" (1975), "Rock 'n' Roll High School" (1979), "Eating Raoul" (1982), and "Gremlins" (1984). On TV shows, Don Steele had appearances in a 1966 episode of "Bewitched" in which he played himself, and in an episode of "Here Come the Brides" in 1970. Death Race 2000 is an action and self-described cult film directed by Paul Bartel in 1975; it is rated R. The movie takes place in a dystopian view of American society in the year 2000. ... 1975 was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1975 calendar). ... Rock n Roll High School is a 1979 film produced by Roger Corman, directed by Allan Arkush, and featuring The Ramones. ... 1979 is a common year starting on Monday. ... Eating Raoul was a 1982 film comedy about a married couple living in Hollywood who eventually take to killing people for their money. ... 1982 is a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Gremlins is a 1984 movie directed by Joe Dante. ... 1984 is a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1966 was a common year starting on Saturday (link goes to calendar) // Events January January 1 - In a coup, Colonel Jean-Bédel Bokassa ousts president David Dacko and takes over the Central African Republic. ... Bewitched was an American sitcom starring actress Elizabeth Montgomery, broadcast on ABC from 1964 to 1972. ... Here Come the Brides was a television program that aired on the ABC television network from 1968 to 1970. ... 1970 was a common year starting on Thursday. ...

He received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1995, located at Hollywood Boulevard and La Brea Avenue.

External sources

• The Real Don Steele audio collection of air checks
• IMDB listing for Don Steele