As freeform rock was growing in popularity, with Tom Donahue's KMPX in nearby San Francisco becoming a national trendsetter, KSJO dropped jazz, starting in the evening only at first with Mark Williams and Jim Hilsabeck.

After a few months Elrod and team brought in Bob Sobelman, a radio veteran, to GM the station and Larry Mitchell, a top L.A. program director, took over the helm.

Advertising Director Perry White (Hartline) partnered with Michael "Mother Deal" to make morning news fun for the 'rocker' audience.

Combined with strong marketing and a guerrilla street presence from promotions director Bob Jenkins and assistant Rodney Whitaker, KSJO dominated as 'The Bay Area's Home for Rock & Roll' for most of the 1980s.

Former KOME air personality, Gary T. joined for afternoon drive with overnights performed by Dave Numme from KZAP in Sacramento.

Several rock stars donated their time and merchandise to help raise funds, including Neil Young, Ronnie Montrose, Mark Andes of Heart, Neal Schon of Journey, Paul Kantner of Jefferson Airplane and Jimmie Vaughan of the Fabulous Thunderbirds.

KSJO rode a wave of popularity during the decade due primarily to the appeal of morning personalities Lamont and Tonelli.

By 1998, KSJO's signal was simulcast on three other separate stations (located near 92.3 on the dial) around the San Francisco Bay Area: 92.7 KXJO in Alameda/Oakland, 92.7 KMJO in Marina and 92.1 KFJO in Walnut Creek.

Lamont and Tonelli were signed away by KSAN-FM in late 2002, and KXJO was sold to a separate entity that same year, flipping to a CHR format.

An increasingly large local Hispanic population and the rise of Hip Hop helped to chip away at the heritage rock station.

[1] Radio veteran Dave Wohlman was named PD in 2004 and began the task of re-inventing the rock legend with a new staff, sound and direction.

KSJO's owner, iHeartMedia (then Clear Channel Communications), had instituted an ambitious initiative to introduce more Spanish-language programming into various markets across the country.

When the Walnut Creek simulcast station, KFJO, became KABL in 2004, many speculated that KSJO would soon drop rock for a Spanish-language format.

KVHS, a noncommercial radio station associated with Clayton Valley High School in Concord, California, continues to have an active rock format as of December 2020.)

The staff consisted of Joe Sib in the mornings, Jessie on middays, MegaTanner (formerly on KITS in San Francisco), and Teddy and Chris.

[3] On March 16, 2011, former Channel 92.3 hosts Teddy and Madden were invited back to give the station and its alternative rock format a proper send-off.

It also featured a conductor taking the "tickets" of country stars and announcing that the time of arrival would come the next day at 9:23 AM, interspersed between Nash FM instrumental jingles and bits of music from the artists "admitted."