Roger Christian; Disc Jockey, Songwriter

Roger Christian, a popular local disc jockey during the 1960s and 1970s who co-wrote songs with the Beach Boys and Jan & Dean, has died at his Tarzana home. He was 57.

Christian co-wrote several pop hits, including “The Little Old Lady (From Pasadena)” for Jan & Dean and “Don’t Worry Baby” and “Little Deuce Coupe” for the Beach Boys.

Christian died July 11 of complications of kidney and liver failure, said his ex-wife, Joanne Christian of Canoga Park.

Born in Buffalo, N.Y., Christian got his break in radio in the mid-1950s after saving a radio executive’s wife from drowning in a New York lake while working as a lifeguard. In 1959, he came to California where he worked for a radio station in San Bernardino before going to oldies station KRLA-AM and to KFWB-AM, then a Top-40 station. Christian, who had a great knowledge of music trivia, later was a disc jockey for then-Top-40 station KHJ-AM, now-defunct KBLA-AM and KIQQ-FM.

He also worked a few years as an announcer for Armed Forced Radio before leaving the radio business in the mid-1970s. Christian continued to write songs, in addition to short stories and a book.

In addition to his ex-wife, he is survived by his sons, Mark Christian of Chatsworth and Roger Christian Jr. of West Hollywood; daughters, Kimberly Addrisi of Canoga Park and Tamara Christian of West Los Angeles; mother, Beatrice Lloyd of Newbury Park; brother, Ronald Christian of Ventura; a half-brother; a half-sister, and a granddaughter.

A memorial service is planned for 11 a.m. today at the Foursquare Church of Chatsworth at 10210 Canoga Ave.

Pierce Brothers Meyer-Mitchell Mortuary in Van Nuys handled the arrangements.