Final sign off: ‘Radio giant’ and KVVQ-FM founder, Ken Orchard, has died

Many people describe Ken Orchard as a “radio giant” who built an empire by bringing the Victor Valley its first FM radio station that played contemporary music 24 hours a day.

The 85-year-old man went “home to his savior” on Aug. 17 after battling heart disease and Parkinson’s in his later years, his family said.

“When he passed, my dad was residing with mom in an assisted living facility in Hemet,” Kelly Orchard told the Daily Press. “It has been such an honor to be his daughter. I truly miss him.”

Ken enjoyed a long life with many successes, twists and turns, and a broadcast career that spanned six decades. He never worked a day in his life because he loved radio as much as he loved his family, his daughter said.

KVVQ took the High Desert by storm as the Victorville-based station flooded nearly every home, office, school bus, and car with waves of popular music by singers such as Michael Jackson, Madonna, Whitney Houston, Prince and Billy Joel.

“It's hard to say goodbye to this amazing, strong, faith-filled giant,” Kelly said. “I love my dad with all my heart.”

A memorial service for Ken is scheduled at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 31 at Bible Baptist Church, 12626 First Avenue in Victorville.

From radio to real estate to radio

Born in Blunt, South Dakota, Ken married his high school sweetheart, Millie, at age 19 in 1957 in Van Nuys.

They spent their honeymoon traveling to Crescent City for his first job in radio.

After radio jobs in Georgia and Tennessee, the Orchards headed back to Los Angeles, where Ken took an engineering job with RKO General-owned KHJ radio and television in 1959.

Ken and Millie had four children, including Brad, Buck, Scott, and Kelly. Buck died in 1983 after suffering injuries from a car wreck and Brad died from a stroke in 2015, the family said.

The couple were 15-year members of Bible Baptist, where Ken also served as a deacon. They were married for 66 years.

Ken spent 21 years at KHJ while also becoming a real estate broker. His dream was to build, own and operate a radio station through money made in real estate investments.

KVVQ FM goes live

Ken applied for a construction permit to build his first FM station in Victorville. Once approved by the FCC, he left his KHJ job and sold his rental properties to fund construction and equipment.

In February 1980, the Orchard family packed up and moved from the San Fernando Valley to the radio-hungry High Desert.

KVVQ 103.1 FM went on the air in August 1980. The call letters stood for Victor Valley Q-mmunities.

One of the first visitors to KVVQ was Western legend Roy Rogers, who taped a promotional message about the new station. Joining Rogers in plugging the station via recorded messages were Elton John and Al Stewart.

Ken told the Daily Press that John, whose 1973 song “Roy Rogers,” which is featured on the “Yellow Brick Road Album,” didn’t know the Victor Valley by name until he learned it was the home of Rogers.

The 100-watt KVVQ transmitted its signal from high atop one of the High Desert’s highest peaks— Quartzite Mountain.

The radio station dominated the airways with a listening range from Lucerne Valley to the east, Little Rock to the west, Barstow to the north, and the Cajon Pass to the south.

KVVQ, “will play hit after hit,” said Ken, who explained that his family’s faith in God would prevent the station from playing songs with “double entendres” or “innuendoes.”

The station also broadcasted local news and promised to maintain good relations with local radio stations KCIN AM and KAVR FM.

With many of the Orchards behind the microphone, and the station participating or sponsoring many events in the High Desert, many listeners considered the family local celebrities.

A radio empire

Ken’s second station, KLLY 95.3 FM, was built in Bakersfield. It went on the air in January 1985. He called it “Kelly 95” after his daughter.

He sold the Bakersfield station in the late 80s to build KVVQ AM 910 licensed in unincorporated Hesperia, which would eventually become incorporated in 1988.

The battle to construct the transmission towers on 40 acres in Oak Hills in the late 80s was an expensive quest and involved a battle with San Bernardino County, Kelly said.

Orchard used the radio station’s platform to help the campaign for Hesperia's cityhood. After several years of hearings and testimony, environmental impact reports and fees, KVVQ-AM went on the air on Feb. 1, 1990. 

KVVQ AM became the station that aired High Desert Mavericks and Los Angeles Dodgers baseball games.

Ken later acquired KIQQ AM 1310 in Barstow.

Two more translators were built to boost the AM and FM signals up Interstate 15 and north of Barstow.

In 1991, local radio stations began experiencing financial difficulties when George Air Force Base was shuttered. By 1997, most of the advertising dollars had vanished and stations began closing.

Financial issues eventually forced the closure of KVVQ in 1997.

Jesus, family and radio

In 1999, Ken began a consulting firm, Orchard Media Services, with his daughter.

The company provided radio and TV stations with much-needed assistance with FCC compliance. Ken visited thousands of broadcast stations all over the country, conducting “mock" FCC inspections and offering services to help them maintain their license to broadcast, Kelly said.

“He loved consulting,” Kelly said. “He enjoyed meeting all radio and television professionals throughout the years. He finally retired in 2014 at age 77."

Ken loved to travel the country in a motorhome, something his family did when he was growing up.

In 1970, Ken purchased the first of many RVs and took his family across the U.S. on vacation. Ken and Millie also took many cruises and traveled to visit family and friends, his family said.

“My dad’s hobby was radio, he loved every aspect of it. He loved his family just as much,” Kelly said. “He loved Jesus and God more, and it was his unwavering faith that got him through some very tough trials in life.”

Ken is survived by his wife, children Scott and Kelly, and 11 grandchildren and more than 14 great-grandchildren.

Daily Press reporter Rene Ray De La Cruz may be reached at 760-951-6227 or RDeLaCruz@VVDailyPress.com. Follow him on Twitter @DP_ReneDeLaCruz

This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Radio giant’ and KVVQ-FM founder, Ken Orchard, has died