R.I.P.: Former KFRC Personality John Mack Flanagan

John Mack Flanagan

John Mack Flanagan, one of the top names in top-40 radio at KFRC, “the Big 610,” in the 1970s, died Saturday of congestive heart failure.

Flanagan died in his sleep at home in Daly City, with his wife of 53 years, Joann Flanagan, by his side.

He was 71, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

“John was one of those people you worked with and you admired,” said Bobby Ocean, who was on the air at KFRC in 1973 when Flanagan joined the station. “You wouldn’t get to KFRC unless you were really good, and John fit in right away. He had presence, this ability to be on the air with such presence that you could feel him as well as hear him.”

Flanagan spent nearly 40 years in top-40 radio. He started his career when he was in high school only to be interrupted when he was drafted into the Army during the Vietnam War. He carried a tape recorder and interviewed his fellow foot soldiers on dangerous search-and-destroy missions, for later broadcast back home.

“He is remembered as one of those quintessential top-40 personalities with a booming voice,” said Chronicle “Radio Waves” columnist Ben Fong-Torres. “As I got to know him it turned out his heart was as big as his voice.”

Flanagan was on the air at KFRC from 1973 to 1979. His show followed the famed Dr. Don Rose, who did morning drive. Rose was hyper with gags and wake-up calls. The voice that followed him was deep and smooth while still energetic enough for AM.

Flanagan would introduce a song, like “Lyin’ Eyes” by the Eagles, by saying, “She lives in a fine mansion on top of the hill. She’s got everything money can buy. The only thing she is missing is true love,” and make it sound like he was issuing heartfelt advice, not just selling a song.

“It wasn’t what he said, it was how he said it,” Ocean said. “The guy on the radio can become your invisible friend and John turned that up some.”


Johnnie Mack Flanagan was born Nov. 15, 1946, in Concordia, Kansas, and in the summer of 1964, after his junior year, Flanagan was hired as an on-air host by KRSY, a local country-western station. That was the end of his interest in school, and by graduation he was working full time.

On the air, his full name was rhythmic and a better handle than most made-up radio names.

Today, KFRC is known as KEAR 610 AM and airs a Christian format.