Remembering ‘Uncle Joe’ Benson
• We’ve lost another Rock radio legend — “Uncle Joe” Benson, probably best known for his three decades of service at 95.5 KLOS/Los Angeles, died Tuesday, Feb. 24 from Parkinson’s Disease, Parkinson’s Dementia and complications of a fall. The news was shared in an Uncle Joe’s Garage Facebook post.
After starting his nearly 60-year radio career in 1968 “in a double wide trailer next to a cornfield in Illinois,” Benson worked at radio stations in several Wisconsin markets, Milwaukee and Cleveland, ultimately arriving in Los Angeles in 1980, where he joined KLOS. Over the next 30 years, over several stints, Benson’s signature deep, friendly voice would become synonymous with his popular Sunday night show, The 7th Day (where he played an album in its entirety), and Local Licks.
Benson went on to work at crosstown KLSX, followed by mornings at former Classic Rock KCBS-FM (Arrow 93.1) from 1997 to 2005 and the late KSWD (100.3 The Sound)/Los Angeles from 2013 until it signed off in 2017. Benson also hosted several nationally syndicated Rock shows, Off The Record from 1998 until 2025 and Ultimate Classic Rock from 2018 until 2024.
In his not-so-spare time, Benson also wrote several volumes of Uncle Joe’s Record Guide. A longtime racing enthusiast, Benson served as the track announcer at California Speedway for more than 20 years.
Benson is survived by his wife Jan, and two children, Jay and Jeremy. His brain is being donated to the Brain Donor Project to further the research of neurological disorders. In lieu of flowers, Benson’s family wishes for donations to the Brain Donor Project or the Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.
> KLOS has posted a nice tribute to Benson on its Facebook page.
