A fond farewell from ‘Lueth in the Booth”

I was never more terrified than the day I first cracked the mic and spoke to a few dozen people listening to KUCV-FM Radio in Lincoln, Nebraska. That moment changed my life.

At the time, I was wrapping up graduate school, and the path of opera singer and professor was starting to feel… less like a calling and more like a plan I wasn’t sure I wanted. Then I said “hello” on the radio, and off I went on an adventure I never saw coming.

And now, a new adventure begins. One without microphones and playlists. One with trains, planes, and automobiles… with more time for making friends around the world, gardening, golfing, eating, and drinking.

I’ll be retiring on June 30. It’s time.

Classical California is complete, my last big radio dream. It took over eight years, a lot of teamwork, a fair share of angst, and plenty of joy to bring it to life. Now it’s in the hands of talented colleagues who are ready to take it further, to make everyday life more harmonious for even more people who love this music. I love that.

Back in 1986, I got talked into radio. (Thank you, Jerry.) I’d been told “you sound like a DJ” since my voice changed. I decided to give it. Shot, and it paid off.

In 1989, I made it to San Francisco, jumping from market 296 to number 4 (back then), landing in morning drive no less. (Thank you, Victor, Bruce, and Len.)

In 1994, when KKHI-FM was sold, I found myself in a CBS FM news experiment as a midday anchor. KPIX-FM briefly became the #1 station in San Francisco. (Thank you… O.J.)

And yet, I didn’t love news radio. I love music. All kinds of it.

So, in 1997, just in time, classical radio called me back, this time with the support to treat it like a mainstream format. (Thank you, Chuck, Valerie, Suzy, and Larry.) I returned to mornings, Dianne to middays, Rik, and eventually Hoyt for afternoons. We kept the format fun and relaxed, with friendly DJs and regular features like movie music, Mystery in History, and Mozart in the Morning.” Two years later, KDFC was the #1 rated music station in San Francisco. Classical music. Number one. I figured that might be the peak, but I wasn’t even 40 yet.

(Rik, Dianne, and me, ca. 1998) | (John, Betsy, Hoyt, and Dusti, ca. 2004)

Then came a detour in 2004. With a hand still on the tiller of KDFC-FM, I was overseeing programming at “The Bear,” a country station that we ultimately turned into a ‘70s/’80s station called MAX-FM. Not exactly a runaway success, but a great ride with terrific people. (Thank you, Val, Jay, and Joel.)

Eventually, I found my way back to where it all began – classical music and public radio. Maybe not as glamorous, but absolutely meaningful.

In 2011, the University of Southern California gave new life to KDFC-FM as a nonprofit and invited me to serve as president. (Thank you, Brenda.) Alongside KUSC-FM in Los Angeles, we built something special, an audience that doesn’t just listen, but roots for you. They even send money to keep it going. Imagine that.

Along the way: a Bay Area Radio Hall of Fame induction (still blushing), KUSC-FM becoming the #1 public radio station in the country in 2014, KDFC-FM moving to the San Francisco Arts District (Thank you, David.), and a simple but powerful idea: that KUSC-FM and KDFC-FM could come together as one. In 2026, that idea became reality. Classical California.

Now, as someone once said, “It is enough.” (Thank you, Mendelssohn.) I’ve thanked many people along the way, but a few more deserve special mention. Dianne and Rik, who were there throughout the entire KDFC-FM journey from 1997 to now. And to everyone else:

• …who encouraged me to take risks and think creatively

• …who challenged me and made me better

• …who listened and made the work worthwhile

• …who supported the stations and trusted what we were building

• …who I call family, because in a life like this, that matters most

• …and my parents, who supported my decision out of business school and into music

Who does that? They said, “You love music. You’ll figure it out.” I guess they were right. Signing off with tremendous gratitude, Bill Lueth. (The new Mayor of Leisuretown)