Hugh Kaine ‘27
The Alumni Adventures column will focus on a different graduate in every issue, telling their story and diving into their careers after their time at St. Andrew’s.
Kevin Klein, Class of 1998, remembers DJing at a St. Andrew’s dance where he played Weezer, and “no one had even heard of that band yet.” Today, as a morning talk show host at Los Angeles’ biggest radio station, KROQ, Klein not only hangs out backstage with Weezer, but has also interviewed the biggest names in music, including Coldplay’s Chris Martin, Bono from U2, Dave Grohl from Nirvana and the Foo Fighters, and Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
In addition to his comedic and entertaining morning talk show, he has had an incredibly diverse career. From securing a job at MTV just nine months after graduating from Syracuse in 2002, to creating a wine company that he pitched on Shark Tank, he has had a wide range of experiences in several lines of work.
Mr. Klein has been able to have such a successful career due to his motivation to show up and stand out, even as an upper school student, driving hours on the weekends to any radio station that would hire him. He would work for little to no pay and make the most out of any opportunity that he could find. This kind of determination is what has allowed him to become so successful, and now, as he says, “there’s no barrier to entry.” The current capabilities of technology allow young people to find and seize opportunities now more than ever, and Mr. Klein strongly advises any child to chase their passion and go all in.
When Mr. Klein began studying at St. Andrew’s, he involved himself in the plays, hosting talent shows, and making announcements to work on performance. He made extra efforts to work at as many radio stations as possible and to go above and beyond as an intern, building a network of connections and communication skills that proved to be beneficial for him later in life. He went on to attend Syracuse University with a degree in Communication and Media Studies.
Nine months after graduating in 2002 he was hired as a writer for MTV Networks in New York City and wrote for famous media personality Howard Stern. He later moved out to Los Angeles when he was hired by Playboy to host their new radio station.
He was also a radio host for CBS and SiriusXM while in LA, leading up to his job at KROQ radio station. His morning segment, the Klein/Ally Show, features interviews with many celebrities and calls from listeners filled with comedic bits.
Despite all of his success, with the rise of technology and streaming services, he has run into obstacles with the loss of popularity in live radio. Klein combatted this by co-creating PIE Wine with his best friend, making great investments of time and money and ultimately reaching success. This all just goes to show that Mr. Klein’s advice in regards to taking advantage of new technology and chasing a dream should be heeded by the student body. We can all learn from his story, following our passions with determination and definite action.