10 Questions with ... Coe Lewis

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

• 1985-1986: KSON/San Diego
• 1986-1993: KGB/San Diego
• 1993-1994: KCLX/San Diego
• 1995: KUPR/San Diego
• 1996 -present: KGB/San Diego

1) What was your first job in radio?

Board Op at KSON AM/FM 1985.

2) Was there a defining moment which led to your radio career when you realized this is what I want to do for a living?

When I moved to San Diego, I worked as an Office Mgr for a law firm and hated it. I would listen to the crossover between Sue Delany and John Leslie and they sounded like they had THE greatest jobs in the world. I told the girl I worked with that I would work at KGB one day, mind you I knew NOTHING about radio. I am sure she thought I was insane, but I just knew I wanted to work at KGB more than anything in the world. With two sisters 7 and 9 years older than me, I was literally raised on rock and because I love rock, I taught myself a lot about it just for fun.

3) How long have you worked at KGB and what makes this station so unique?

I have worked at KGB for 30 of the 34 years I have been on the air. What I love about KGB is that I work at a station with some of the greatest radio personalities and PD's ever over the years and a station that introduced 3 pioneering radio concepts that are now copied worldwide. The KGB Skyshow, fireworks choreographed to music and now copied by every city and every major event around the world. The KGB Chicken, now the San Diego Chicken. The greatest mascot in sports history that helped usher in its own cottage industry. And finally, the Homegrown Album (with a later supporting radio show). This was the first collection of local music released as an album over several years with a record of charting on the Billboard Charts. And not to mention the power KGB had over the recording industry in helping break some of the biggest bands in the world. Yes, KGB is legendary and it is an amazing feeling to say I work there. I am incredibly honored and blessed.

4) You were co-host with Bob Buchmann for years as part of The Bob and Coe Show in mornings and briefly in afternoons. What were some of the best highlights of The Bob and Coe Show?

I love Bob so much. We bonded instantly and we will be friends for life. I knew he would be a great partner when he said "The listener comes first." That is my mantra. The listener is the most important thing...period. We had a lot of fun in the studio and on location and the thing I loved about our working relationship was that people "felt" how much we liked each other on air. We balanced each other well and we both have a completely whack sense of humor. I miss him very much but I know he is going to kick ass where he is.

5) How has the transition from working with Bob to doing the solo Coe Lewis show worked out so far?

Well I worked solo my whole career except for 9 years. I miss working with a partner but I really enjoy immersing myself into the music and sharing a mutual passion for music with the listener that afternoons allow. And I missed running my own board!!! It didn't take long to ramp up, just like riding a bike.

Coe Lewis Day in San Diego was October 11th, 2019!!!

6) Now let's talk about the show overall. If you were to describe what you do in the afternoon show to someone who's never listened...what would you say?

When I crack the mic, I am setting up the afternoon for a listener. I would like to think that when someone listened to my show, that person loved the music and felt..."wow this is a nice, relatable person who seems to love music and seems to know an awful lot about the artists she plays". I would be thrilled if the person thought they felt like they were listening to a great friend of theirs that brings an upbeat feel to the day. KGB rocks and has always rocked...so if you tune in for the first time...you are going to think "this is my kind of station".

7) Do you do any special benchmark features in the afternoon and if so, what are they?

We had benchmarks on the Bob & Coe Show but now it's just rock...straight up.

8) Is there anyone else on the show with you and if so, who are they and what are their roles?

How lucky am I to have Tommy Sablan who was with our Bob & Coe Show? Yes, he is the only producer in the Radio Hall Of Fame and the man works non-stop. I literally mean NON-STOP!!! And what I love about having him on the show is he is a lifelong fan of KGB...having grown up in San Diego. He LOVES KGB.

9) Beyond the daily afternoon show, how active are you with Social Media and beyond including podcasting?

I am active but Tommy is a social media addict. He is always posting, sharing etc. But I am FB mostly because I just don't have the strength for everything else ;o)

10) Finally, what do you like to do for fun and relaxation when you're not in "radio" mode?

Honestly, I don't have much down time. I am co-founder of an anti-poaching foundation in Zambia called Nsefu Wildlife Conservation Foundation- www.NSEFU.org. We are fighting the extinction of elephants etc. in Africa and we run a 10 person Wildlife Ranger Team, a school serving 200+ children, a women's sewing program and a beekeeping/biofencing team that all work in tandem to bring about conservation by introducing economic opportunities along with educating the local community about the importance of their wildlife. I am very proud to say that we have reduced poaching in the Nsefu Sector nearly 70% and we have achieved that in 4 ½ years!