Derek began his radio career at KSRT in Tracy. He then worked at KFIV and KTRB in Modesto, CA and at KJOY in Stockton, CA. Derek worked full time in radio from 1969 to 1974 while also attending college. He worked 22 years for Valley Mountain Regional Center in Modesto as a Program Manager and then 17 years at Modesto Junior College (MJC) where he was the Dean for Special Programs and the Dean of Counseling and Student Services.
Derek retired from full time work at MJC in 2010 but still works as a licensed clinical therapist providing mental health services to students through the MJC Health Services Office. He is a founding member of the Modesto Radio Museum and administers the Modesto Radio Museum’s Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages. He is also a contributing author to the Modesto Radio Museum Website. In 2019 Derek received a MAMA Lifetime Achievement Award as one of the KFIV 1360 Classic DJs.
Here are airchecks from Derek’s radio days:
KFIV (1969) – Derek on The Rockin’ 136, K5 shortly after he started working at the station. Some of the voices you will hear on this aircheck, although briefly because they have been scoped, are Roy Williams doing a Stacy’s commercial and Tony “The Tiger” Townsend (Flores) doing the commercial talking about “fishing gear, bathing suits…” and B&B Service.
KTRB (1974) – From Derek’s last show in November of that year. Some commercials have been left in this aircheck so that listeners will be able to hear the voices of Cal Purviance doing Hub Tire Service, Pete Pappas doing Golden Key Mobile Home Sales, Bob Lang doing Valley Sporting Goods and Lon Simmons doing a Save Mart spot.
KFIV (1984) – After retiring from full time work in radio Derek continued to work part time for many years hosting Solid Gold Saturday Night in 1984. Bob Barkley did the nationally syndicated show from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM and then handed it off to Derek who continued hosting the program locally until midnight. Towards the end of this aircheck you’ll hear Gary Owens doing a promo for Soundtrack of the Sixties on KFIV.
Read more about Derek Waring here at the Modesto Radio Museum
KFIV and KTRB Personality, Derek Waring
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