R.I.P.: Radio Personality/ Manager Earl McDaniel

Earl McDaniel

Earl McDaniel, the longtime charismatic general manager of KSSK 590 AM/92.3 FM, died Wednesday in Arizona.

He was 85, according to staradvertiser.com.

McDaniel, hired by former KGMB-TV and KGMB-AM 590 owner Cec Heftel, is credited with initiating the idea for a $1 million giveaway that cemented the success of the Michael W. Perry and Larry Price morning team following the death of J. Akuhead Pupule in 1983.

McDaniel was a KGMB sports anchor in Dan Diego in the mid-1960s before his broadcast management career in Hawaii began.

McDaniel also was a popular radio personality in Los Angeles, known as Earl "The Pearl" McDaniel. His resume included work at AM radio music stations across the Los Angeles radio dial like KFVD/KPOP from 1953 to 1958; KDAY from 1958 to 1961; and KFWB from 1961 to 1963.