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Buffalo Favorite Buffalo Radio Stations in the 70’s

B

BuffaloRadioFan

As a kid growing up in the 70’s, there was so many memorable radio stations and DJ’s in Buffalo. I would like to know everybody’s favorites, so here are mine to kick it off.

1. WKBW 1520 - In the early 70’s, there wasn’t a better station in Buffalo. A who’s who’s of all-time talent - Dan Nevearth, Sandy Beach, Jackson Armstrong, Don Berns, Shane and many more including an all-time great PD Jeff Kaye. Add in iconic news guys like Henry Brach, John Zack, Jim Fagan plus Bills play by play from 72-78 with Al Meltzer, Ed Rutkowski and Rick Azar and it was truly a golden era.

2. WGR 550 - If the song at one end of the dial wasn’t your thing, then GR was a pretty solid substitute. Leaned more AC and oldies but a solid stable of DJ’s - Stan Roberts, Larry Anderson, Frank Benny and Shane plus another great PD with Larry Anderson. The High/Low game was a staple to keep you tuned in dreaming of the fortune you might win. Plus, Sabres play by play when they really were good…

3. WBEN 930 - Definitely skewed towards the older folks with the MOR playlist but you always knew you had some real pro’s behind the mic. Clint Beuhlman in the morning and Stan Barron Free Form Sports giving the scores and results from Buffalo Raceway. Priceless. Plus, they would end up getting Jeff Kaye after he left KB. Van Miller calling the Braves games from 70-78 and then back with the Bills starting in 79.

Honorable mention - CKLW 800 - The signal was spotty depending where you were in WNY (after all it came from Windsor, ON)…. But holy crap - that Drake format, jingles and heavy rotation hits was magic. The Big 8 had a big booming sound which included lots of pop/rock but with lots of classic R&B mixed in too - Motown, Philly Soul - what are now classics…. Their 20/20 News was so unique with the writing and delivery. Paying for news tips. Tons of airchecks all over the web of CKLW during this period.

Honorable mention - Q-FM 97, WPHD-FM, CHUM-FM and Q-107 - Album rock when DJ’s had more of a say in what they played.

Lots and lots of 9 volt batteries consumed in those days!
 
SirRoxalot said:
I'm guessing that you're an SXM/Streaming fan these days. Rock 102 was running FRED (F'ing Ridiculous Electronic Device) back in those days. Roger Christian was starting his decades-long run helping to stock that thing.
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Actually I really liked the FRED days of Rock 102 since back in those days my source of music was recording songs off the radio onto cassette (or occasionally a Wollensak reel to reel machine though it was mono). Roger was solid in the morning on the way to school. Rock 102 was musically fairly predictable and most importantly didn't talk over the intros. And you guessed it, my primary source of music these days is mostly streaming, though not from SXM due to the audio quality. Qobuz is much better. My radio listening is pretty much relegated to signals I am responsible for maintaining.
 
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IMO, Rock 102 from 77-82 was at its peak. Huge signal with lots of Canadian listeners since top 40 wasn’t allowed on FM during that time. Also was the beginning of the demise for KB with its better fidelity, fewer commercials and more music. Seem to recall hearing songs that weren’t played as much elsewhere.
 
My first commercial radio job in 1977 was in Corry, PA. Yet, many in Corry were listening to Rock 102 or WGR. Sandy Beach, from 1974-1976, became PD of WJET 1400 in Erie, PA before going back to WKBW as PD. Barney Luv (Tom Barney) and Mark Phillips came to JET from Buffalo during Sandy's time there. Would love to hear some airchecks of Sandy from his brief time in Erie,

I enjoyed listening to Chuck Lakefield and Jon Summers on KB, Bill Lacy, Kevin O'Connell and Jack Mindy on WBEN.
 
John Gallagher said:
My first commercial radio job in 1977 was in Corry, PA. Yet, many in Corry were listening to Rock 102 or WGR. Sandy Beach, from 1974-1976, became PD of WJET 1400 in Erie, PA before going back to WKBW as PD. Barney Luv (Tom Barney) and Mark Phillips came to JET from Buffalo during Sandy's time there. Would love to hear some airchecks of Sandy from his brief time in Erie,

I enjoyed listening to Chuck Lakefield and Jon Summers on KB, Bill Lacy, Kevin O'Connell and Jack Mindy on WBEN.
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Those are some great names. I had heard of Sandy Beach at JET for a short time but wasn’t aware of the others. They were definitely punching above their weight class for that time! The Laker and Jon Summers were favorites of mine as well. Jack Mindy was a great drive time announcer for BEN. Loved the Weatherfacts forecast jingles.
 
BuffaloRadioFan said:
Those are some great names. I had heard of Sandy Beach at JET for a short time but wasn’t aware of the others. They were definitely punching above their weight class for that time! The Laker and Jon Summers were favorites of mine as well. Jack Mindy was a great drive time announcer for BEN. Loved the Weatherfacts forecast jingles.
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Jack Mindy got his start in Erie, PA at WLEU 1450AM. I believe his airname was Robin Scott.
 
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