Radio veteran Don Sainte-Johnn is out with a new memoir that looks back at one of the most influential periods in broadcast history. “San Francisco’s Last Top 40 Disc Jockey” is now available in eBook format through Amazon and Barnes & Noble, with a paperback edition scheduled for release on Wednesday (Dec. 31).

The book traces Sainte-Johnn’s decades-long career across major and secondary markets including Chicago, St. Louis, San Diego, Yuma, and San Francisco, where he spent more than 20 years on KFRC (610). Through personal stories and industry anecdotes, the memoir examines the discipline, responsibility, and cultural impact of Top 40 radio at a time when stations played a central role in shaping music tastes and community identity.

Sainte-Johnn offers an insider’s perspective on the personalities, promotions, and pressures that defined the format during its dominance, while also addressing broader themes such as race, mentorship, and adaptation as the industry evolved.

“Radio didn’t just shape my career,” Sainte-Johnn says. “It shaped my discipline, my sense of audience, and my understanding of responsibility. This book is about that relationship—between broadcaster and listener—when it mattered most.”

Beyond his on-air work, Sainte-Johnn later transitioned into education and consulting, teaching at City College of San Francisco, Ohlone College, Cosumnes River College, the College of San Mateo, and American River College. Author appearances and signings tied to the paperback release will be announced.