The Doctor of Music

Gary Van Zandt is the Doctor of Music.  Van Zandt was born in San Francisco, CA and grew up in Corcoran, CA  — a small, Central California farming town of about 7,500 located midway between Fresno (to the north), Bakersfield (to the south), Tulare/Highway 99 (to the east) and I-5 (to the west).  Corcoran –the self-proclaimed “Farming Capital of California” is now dubiously better-known as the home of Corcoran State Prison, whose notable residents have included Charles Manson, Phil Spector, Juan Corona and Sirhan Sirhan.

The Doctor in Corcoran, CA

Van Zandt attended Corcoran schools including Corcoran High School (~700 students).  At Corcoran High he was a member of the Chess and Spanish Clubs, was an editor and copywriter for the “Harvester” yearbook and was involved in student government.  He played on the varsity tennis team for four years and was a student manger and public address announcer for their football and basketball teams.  While living in Corcoran he held several small jobs, including a Fresno Bee newspaper route for several years — delivering newspapers every afternoon and very early Sunday mornings.  He was also a projectionist for several years at the Corcoran Theater  where he developed a love for the movies.

Van Zandt graduated from Corcoran HS and attended the College of Sequoias in Visalia, CA.  He was a student bus driver for two years, driving a Crown Transit 50 passenger bus 70 miles round trip every other week — even during the very foggy winter months.  He also drove their buses on special trips taking the football team or band to away football games (including Fresno City, Modesto, Consumes River, American River, Sacramento City, Delta, Chabot and Bakersfield Colleges) and band trips (Oakland Raiders football game halftime performances).  He tried-out for Sequoias’ tennis team but discovered that competing against the best of the best from the local area as the lowest-seeded player was above his abilities.  At Sequoias he met and became good friends with Randy Campbell — a four sport athletic star from Tulare Western HS who is still his closest and dearest friend.  Campbell has gone on to become a Division 1 college football (Pac-12) and women’s basketball official and was recently promoted to the NFL as a full-time Assistant Replay Official.

After graduating from Sequoias and not knowing what he wanted to do in life, Van Zandt next attend Cal State Fullerton majoring in Public Administration.   He worked in their women’s athletics office assisting the women’s Sports Information Director writing press releases and producing media guides.  He was the public address announcer for Fullerton’s women’s basketball, volleyball, men’s wrestling and men’s and women’s gymnastics squads.  He also worked at Disneyland “driving” the Jungle Cruise boat (The Leaky Tiki) while taking his “guests” on a 12 minute “guided tour of the jungles of the world” complete with restless savages, troublesome monkeys and an attacking hippo.  And yes — he gave the stupid spiel and jokes!

The Doctor at the Western Pacific Railroad (Portola) Museum

While at Fullerton Van Zandt also worked at KEZY-AM 1190 as a Promotions Assistant.  It was there that his love for radio was born.  He met Larry McKay — a well-known Southern California DJ who encouraged Van Zandt to get into broadcasting.  Gary went so far as to enroll at the Columbia School of Broadcasting but got cold feet at the prospect of having to move and get his start in rural, small town America (i.e. the Midwest or South) and soon abandoned the idea.

KEZY-AM 1190 Anaheim

Also whilst at Fullerton he started officiating — first intramural football and basketball and later high school basketball.   He now officiates five high school varsity sports:  basketball, football, boys lacrosse, volleyball and softball.

Van Zandt graduated from Fullerton and — still not knowing what to do in life he enrolled at USC — majoring in Public Relations and Sports Information.  While at USC he spent a summer abroad studying Spanish in Madrid, Spain and became (at that time) completely conversant.   After his semester abroad he flew back via Oakland, CA and that night attended a San Francisco Giants game at Candlestick Park.  The person in the seat next to him — Ron Carcich, was in the process of moving from Astoria, NY to California and Van Zandt and Carcich become good friends.  They still are todat.   At USC he worked in the women’s athletics office and again did public address announcing — this time for their men’s and women’s swimming, gymnastics, basketball and volleyball teams.

After graduating from USC Van Zandt — still not sure what to to do in life went to an employment agency who placed him as a secretary at Marsteller Advertising. At Marsteller he was promoted regularly, from Secretary to Account Coordinator to Assistant Account Executive and then Account Executive.  He worked on a variety of accounts including: Clarion Car Audio, Mission Foods, Alfa Romeo, The Port of LA, Flying Tigers, Farr Air Filters and Wienerschnitzel.  He also worked with the agency’s General Manager (Chuck Reynolds) on their new business pitches and played on and managed their coed LA Advertising Softball League team.  Whilst playing softball and managing Marsteller’s team Van Zandt became friends with Mike Meiches — the LA Advertising Softball League Commissioner and creator of the Diamond AD-Ventures and the Advertising Softball World Series.  Both are still friends.

The Doctor in LA’s Metro Subway Sunset & Vermont Station.

Van Zandt left Marsteller after accepting a job with Dancer, Fitzgerald, Sample in their Kansas City, MO office working on the Kansas City Regional Toyota Dealers Association account.  He covered an area extending from the Canadian Border (north) to Wichita (south) and from St. Louis (east) to Scottsbluff, NE (west).  Van Zandt loved working on Toyota but hated the Midwest (and his boss) so after a year he moved back to Southern California where he eventually accepted a position with Wells, Rich, Greene/LA as their Midas Western Regional Account Executive.  He developed and executed annual marketing budgets and plans including custom, multi-media, consumer events, sponsorships and promotions in partnerships with top local radio and TV stations.  His crowing accomplishment was “I Brake For Kids” — a multi-media Public Service Campaign with a consumer incentive encouraging drivers to get their brakes checked at Midas to ensure that kids returning to school in crosswalks would be safe.

He loved the job and was able to do a lot of traveling (1 million+ miles flying on Delta), handling the Midas dealer association advertising in a nine-state area bordered by Rock Springs, WY (east); Hilo, HI (west) and Fairbanks, AK (north).  He learned how to snow ski and was fortunate enough to be able to ski in every western state except Hawaii.  WRG eventually lost the account and Van Zandt spent the next few years at odd positions – none of which he liked very much:  As a temp AE at Krupp-Taylor USA on Household Finance (where he helped create HFC’s first TV campaign); at Conroy’s Flowers as Marketing Manager; Pacific Communications on Casio/Phone Mate, Ford and Yokohama Tires and at the Disneyland Hotel as freelance marketing manager.

The Doctor in Redondo Beach, CA

Van Zandt met his wife Lynn in January, 1994 after returning from a business trip to Anchorage.  They were married in February, 1996.  At about that same time he was hired by Doig, Elliott, Schur — a small, New York-based agency to handle their newly-acquired Mercedes-Benz Dealers of Southern California account.  His immediate supervisor (Jeff Schur) was a former South African Green Beret who demanded accuracy and precision.  Van Zandt loved the job but DES lost the account in May, 1999 after a terminal disagreement in business and personal philosophies between the two principals after the third principal died.  Shortly afterwards DES’ name was changed to Yellow Card and they lost the account soon after.  Van Zandt and Schur remain friends to this date.

Mercedes-Benz immediately hired Van Zandt to work for them directly as their one-man local agency.  For about a dozen years he oversaw the Mercedes-Benz Dealers of Southern California’s media Agency (Carat), creative Agency (Merkley + Partners), accountants (Berliner), lawyer (Jim Lewis)  and all aspects of their business.  He worked closely with and is still good friends with Peter Evans (Carat) and John Diaz and Arlene Orona (Merkley).  He developed and executed annual marketing budgets and plans including custom, multi-media, consumer events, sponsorships and promotions in partnerships with top local radio and TV stations including Pageant of the Masters, Wave Fest and Legends in Concert.  He also created:

• The Mercedes-Benz Cross Town Battle (an annual points competition between USC vs. UCLA with the winning school receiving a scholarship and perpetual trophy)
• “The Mercedes Star” – a special 16-page multi-channel consumer promotional piece featuring all 16 Mercedes-Benz vehicle classes
• The first-ever M-B Memorial Weekend Sales Event using a multi-platform approach to reach consumers, resulting in 22% increase in E-Class sales.  The position lasted until 2011 when Mercedes-Benz changed their local marketing program and eliminated all local dealer association marketing.

In 1998 Van Zandt was selected to be the Secretary and Treasurer for the California Basketball Official’s Association (CBOA) — a 501(c)4 educational, non-profit California corporation.  The CBOA is California’s largest official’s association with ~3,500 members, ~25 local “Units” and an annual operating budget of ~$400,000. Both positions were appointed annually and he was re-appointed  unanimously 20 times retaining the position for 20 years until resigning to move to Oregon.  At about the same time Van Zandt was also elected Secretary and appointed Treasurer of the CBOA’s South Bay Unit.  Van Zandt held those positions for about 20 years until leaving due to unnecessary political turmoil in the Unit created by their unqualified past and current Presidents.

The Doctor inside Studio #2 at American Radio Networks (KCLA-FM)

In 2012 Van Zandt realized his long-time dream of being a radio announcer.  Answering an ad in the Los Angeles Times for Radio Announcers and DJs, he “tried-out” for and was accepted to be an announcer for American Radio Networks (ARN) and their very local, very low power FM station KCLA.  He amusingly called KCLA “The dumpy little station in East Hollywood.”  Van Zandt created his own individualized, on-air personality — The Doctor of Music and using his creativity, imagination and independent, professional judgment he wrote, produced, recorded and/or broadcast weekly one-hour radio shows.  At first he played 60’s music but soon switched to contemporary Country music from the 80s, 90s and today.  For five years he took the Metro from Redondo Beach to East Hollywood every Friday afternoon to broadcast and record his show which he later posted online (http://www.thedoctorofmusic.com) as podcasts.  He also performed all of the other duties and tasks necessary of a radio announcer.  ARN unfortunately shut-down in 2018 due to financial mismanagement and neglect.

The Doctor in studio at KCLA-FM

In 2012 Van Zandt created U.S. Official’s Supplies —  building from the ground-up his own official’s equipment supplies business with annual sales of about $100,000. He’s responsible for all aspects of online and offline sales and marketing including its web site: http://www.usofficialssupplies.com.

In 2013 Van Zandt became the Marketing and Promotions Production Specialist for the Southern California Ford Dealers.  For five years he was their marketing production expert for all online and offline marketing and promotional production reviewing and approving all production bids and specifications and project budgets including all major, multi-day TV production shoots.

Also in 2013 Ken Wilson, longtime CIF/SS South Bay Area Liaison, official and educator passed away.  Van Zandt applied for and was appointed to the position.  Directly responsible to the CIF/Southern Section Commissioner of Athletics, he maintained a neutral position while representing the CIF/SS, 58 South Bay Area Principals and Athletic Directors, the ten leagues in the CIF/SS South Bay Area and the 13 South Bay area officials associations and their members.  He held that prestigious position for six years until resigning to move to Oregon.

The Doctor at the 2012 Stanley Cup Final at LA’s Staples Center

In 2018 Van Zandt was appointed Financial Administrator and then hired to be the Church Administrator at Seaside Church (Torrance, CA).  He was responsible for many administrative and financial tasks including all aspects of the weekly worship service.  He remained until moving to Oregon.

The Doctor officiating boys high school lacrosse at Beverly Hills HS

Also in 2018 Van Zandt created his own online Country radio station — Country USA which is an ongoing, work-in-progress. www.CountryUSA.online streams 24/7 via The Cloud, playing Contemporary Country Music from the 80s, 90s and today from rural West Linn, OR.  Country USA.Online also streams on iTunes and Tune-In Radio is currently playing the Best of the Doctor of Music’s past shows. Future expansion plans include adding live and recorded shows, interviews and news segments.  Van Zandt will also, for nominal fee, be adding independently-produced Country shows from independent talents from around the World.  Stay tuned for more!

The Doctor umpiring high school softball on the same field at Beverly Hills HS

Van Zandt and his wife Lynn — both Southern California natives, moved from Redondo Beach to Oregon in August, 2019 — first to Happy Valley (where they stayed seven months) and later to rural West Linn, OR. Van Zandt is again officiating high school sports (football, volleyball, basketball and softball) in the greater Portland, OR area, working on updating CountryUSA.online while rehabbing their 45 year old home. US Officials Supplies is now largely an online entity (www.usofficialssupplies.com).

A long-time hockey fan – first for the Oakland/California Seals/Golden Seals then for the LA Kings from 1977-2019, Van Zandt (who’s attended every Stanley Cup FinalS game ever played in Southern California — Kings and Ducks) now ventures to Seattle regularly to watch the NHL’s 32nd team — the Seattle Kraken at Climate Pledge Arena. When not able to go to Seattle he watches them online.