Laurie Roberts Returns To KUFX in SF

Laurie Roberts, the popular South Bay DJ and program director who lost her job at 98.5 FM KUFX (KFOX) early in 2009, when Clear Channel pink-slipped some 1,800 employees throughout the company, is back - not only on "The Fox" (now owned by Entercom) but also on KPIG.

"Basically," she said told Ben Fong-Torres at sfgate.com with a laugh, "if there's a station named after an animal, I'm on it."

Even though she's working remotely, and KFOX has changed (it's now on both 98.5/San Jose and 102.1 FM KUZX San Francisco), the KFOX gig brings her full circle. She began in South Bay rock radio at the late, great KOME. She moved over to rival KSJO in 1985, along with Jang, who, as PD, tapped Roberts to be assistant PD. In 1995, KSJO's owners purchased KUFX, a classic rocker, and Roberts was a staple there until her unceremonious dismissal. New program director Larry Sharp brought her back. "I couldn't think of anybody who exemplifies classic rock more than Laurie," he said. "She was the perfect choice for our classic rock-classic jock lineup."

Roberts is upbeat about radio. At its best, she says, radio offers immediate connections between listeners and announcers. "You can't have that connection with XM or Pandora. With them, you can't pick up the phone and talk to a person you've had a relationship with for years."

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