Ricardo ‘El Mandril’ Sanchez: King of L.A. morning radio

Ricardo “El Mandril” Sanchez, center, at the microphone at KLAX-FM (97.9) La Raza in Los Angeles. “I like him a lot. I’ve been around a lot of famous radio or TV folks, and some are more genuine than others,” Mayor Eric Garcetti says. “He’s as real as they get.” (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Sept. 26, 2013 3:56 PM PT

In June, the 47-year-old Mexican immigrant became L.A.’s top-rated local morning radio host.

Ricardo “El Mandril” Sanchez. “Radio is always going to be there,” says Sanchez’s manager, Fernando Schiantarelli. “As long as there is poverty, hard work and loneliness, radio will be there.” (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Ricardo “El Mandril” Sanchez at the microphone. During one episode of Matthew Perry¿s now-canceled NBC show ¿Go On,¿ Perry¿s radio host despairs over El Mandril¿s top spot in the ratings. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Ricardo “El Mandril” Sanchez talks to listeners like they are old friends, rattling off jokes that may seem like Morse code to more Americanized Latinos. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Ricardo “El Mandril” Sanchez broke into radio at the bottom: as a janitor. Then he became an ad salesman, and when an announcer didn’t show up to record a commercial, Sanchez filled in. Soon, he became a radio host, gaining a measure of fame at a station in Tijuana. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Ricardo “El Mandril” Sanchez, right, has supplanted Spanish-language radio celebrity Eddie “Piolin” Sotelo in some markets. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

When Ricardo “El Mandril” Sanchez’s contract with KLAX runs out at the end of the year, he is expected to attract a line of suitors with money to throw at Los Angeles radio’s top dog (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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Ricardo ‘El Mandril’ Sanchez: King of L.A. morning radio

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