Three Great Old-School KCBS Voices: Barbara Taylor, Bob Melrose, and Rebecca Corral

SATURDAY NOSTALGIA

I REMEMBER Barbara Taylor's city hall reporting like it was yesterday.

I recall her dry, but lucid accounts from everything from Mayor Agnos to the Board of Supervisors. Evem when there was no news, just the mundane stuff, Taylor made it interesting.

On KCBS too, Bob Melrose, was the BEST. When news broke, no matter where or when, "Mel" was on the scene.

And we're talking no notes, very little time to prepare and just a moments notice, Melrose was always top-notch and chock full of info and concise news under the most difficult of circumstances, Melrose was usually solid and it showed on his reports.

Streetside reporing is almost an art. It can be a major challenge too. You never know where you're going and you have to get it out immediately otherwise you'll sound foolish. Melrose made it sound easy.

And Barbara Taylor's city hall reports were appointment radio.

The old KCBS was very special.

*MIDDAY FLAIR GONNO: I miss old-school broadcasts --particularly Rebecca Corral.

She came across a little too stodgy for me at first, but then gradually I gravitated to her edgy style of announcing and keeping it to the basics. You appreciate it even more when you can't hear it as much and have to rely on someone who just doesn't sound right.

Rebecca Corral is one of a kind.

NOTE: Barbara Taylor passed in 2020.

Both Bob Melrose and Rebecca Corral are alive; he is retired in Martinez and Ms. Corral is living in Alameda and taking care of her elderly parents.