[BC] Brad Soebel.

[Dana Puopolo]

I received the sad news that a good friend and great broadcast engineer passed
away yesterday. I haven't seen much of Brad since I moved back east 20 months
ago. Brad and I always went to NAB together. I didn't make it there either
last year or this one- and now I wish I had.

-D

It is with a great sense of loss that we report the passing of radio
personality Brad G. Sobel Thursday afternoon, April 19th 2007.  Known to his
listeners as Sandy Beach, Brad?s career spanned over 35 years including many
years in Barstow as Partner, Engineer, and Disc Jockey on KXXZ-FM.

Born May 30, 1952,  Brad?s career launched in 1966 when at the age of 13 he
began broadcasting from a pirate radio station assembled in his home in Los
Angeles.  In 1970 using the moniker Sandy Beach, Brad joined the staff of KDAY
and by 1977 Brad had achieved national fame as an on-the-air personality with
his show on KROQ.  His lifelong goal of owning his own station was achieved in
1992 when he entered into partnership and took creative control of station
KXXZ-FM (?The Burner?) in Barstow, CA.

In addition to his unique and versatile talents on the air, Brad was well
known and respected for his abilities as a broadcast engineer.  Following the
sale KXXZ, Brad focused on the engineering side of the business joining Regent
Broadcasting as national VP of engineering, followed by a short stint with
Clear Channel Communications. His rising disillusion with corporate
broadcasting led Brad to go fully independent, cumulating in the formation of
his own engineering firm, ?Brad Sobel & Associates.?  

Brad is survived by his parents, Dr. & Ms. Irwin Q. Sobel of Los Angeles; his
wife Gretchen and Daughter Venetia.