Two DJs return to L.A. radio

Radio stars Jonathon Brandmeier and Scott Shannon are returning to Southland airwaves this month.

Chicago institution Brandmeier takes over the morning show at classic rocker KCBS-FM (93.1) -- “Arrow 93 -- on April 19. Until 1997, Brandmeier spent 14 years at classic rock and talk station “The Loop,” WLUP-AM and FM, topping the Second City ratings with interviews, frenetic humor, song parodies and prank phone calls. He was last heard in L.A. on talker KLSX-FM (97.1), hosting middays from 1998 to 2000.

“With his experience, he’s a perfect fit for the format. But we expect him to transcend the format,” said Kevin Weatherly, senior vice president of programming for KCBS parent Infinity Radio, who said he’s been trying to entice Brandmeier for a year and a half.

Brandmeier takes over the 5:30 to 10 a.m. shift now held by “Uncle” Joe Benson, who moves to 2 to 6 p.m., pushing Chris Taylor to 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. Dave Martinez moves to part-time, Weatherly said.

Shannon, who during nearly two decades in New York became one of the country’s most influential programmers, started April 1 at Tijuana-based XSURF-AM (540). At “Oldies 540” he’s a consultant and DJ, heard weekdays from 3 to 8 p.m. and weekends noon to 8 p.m.

He’s still program director and morning show cohost at New York City adult-contemporary station WPLJ-FM. He went there after two years in Los Angeles as program director and DJ on the short-lived modern-rock station “Pirate Radio” KQLZ-FM (100.3). Before that he pioneered the “morning zoo” format in Tampa and took it to even greater notoriety at New York’s “Z100,” WHTZ-FM, starting in 1983.