Effective period / Period of releases: 1958

Not to be confused with Chester Smith.

Born 29 March 1930, at Durant, Okla. Family moved to migrant camp in Tranquility, Calif., in 1935.

Began performing at KMJ Radio (Fresno, Calif.) at age 9. At age 12, family moved to Modesto, Calif., where he performed regularly at KTRB Radio. Later performed on KFRE-TV (Fresno, Calif.) and KCRA-TV (Sacramento, Calif.) in 1957. Disc jockey on KTRB (Modesto, Calif.) in 1959. Launched KLOC Radio (920 AM) in Ceres/Modesto, Calif., in 1963, which led to his subsequent ownership of several television stations in the western United States. Through his TV stations, he became a founder of the Univision network. Chester Smith died on August 8, 2008, at the age of 78.