104.3 History to 1965.

[thebeach33445]

Hey Guys:

I know this question goes way back. I was wondering would anybody know the format history of 104.3 before it became Beautiful Music KBIG in 1965?

I do know the past calls where KPLA, KBIQ and KXTZ.

Thanks

T.J.

 

[Garrett]

Hey Guys:

I know this question goes way back. I was wondering would anybody know the format history of 104.3 before it became Beautiful Music KBIG in 1965?

I do know the past calls where KPLA, KBIQ and KXTZ.

Thanks

T.J.

According to Wikipedia, not sure of the accuracy, it was a simulcast of the AM station and thus Big Band.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KBIG-FM

 

[michael hagerty]

Hey Guys:

I know this question goes way back. I was wondering would anybody know the format history of 104.3 before it became Beautiful Music KBIG in 1965?

I do know the past calls where KPLA, KBIQ and KXTZ.

Thanks

T.J.

T.J.

Billboard had a station by format listing in the February 13, 1965 issue. It shows KBIG-FM as being jazz: http://books.google.com/books?id=mSgEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA52&dq=KBIG-FM&lr=&as_pt=MAGAZINES&ei=OrSoS9ONC4iCNpn6_LwH&cd=9#v=onepage&q=KBIG-FM&f=false

By the way, Billboard shows KBIG-FM (with those calls) as early as March, 1964. KBIQ gets a quick mention in May, 1962, without reference to format...no mention at all of KPLA, which does show up in a list of FM stations in 1958.

The KXTZ calls were short-lived in the early 70s. They called the AM K-Big and the FM "Ecstacy". Around '74 or '75, the FM returned to KBIG, and the AM became KBRT..."Big" and "Bright" was how they promoted it.

Also, a couple of good historical pieces about KBIG-AM. One, written by the "Commercial Manager" for KBIG-AM in 1953: http://books.google.com/books?id=bA0EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA39&dq=KBIG&as_pt=MAGAZINES&ei=Q7KoS-aQB4KUMuie-KYH&cd=1#v=onepage&q=KBIG&f=false

And, this one's fascinating...from 1960, saying that KBIG had gone pop after mixing classical, country and rock & roll...and had hired east coast legend Joe Niagra to do mornings: http://books.google.com/books?id=oB0EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA8&dq=KBIG&as_pt=MAGAZINES&ei=Q7KoS-aQB4KUMuie-KYH&cd=2#v=onepage&q=KBIG&f=false

 

[jonbruce]

I listened to Joe Niagra on KBIG 740 when he did the morning show there. The format was at the time what was called "chicken rock".........top 40 tunes minus the "hard" ones. At the time "Raindrops" by Dee Clark was considered too hard for KBIG. Hard to believe but true.

 

[SuperRadioFan]

I listened to Joe Niagra on KBIG 740 when he did the morning show there. The format was at the time what was called "chicken rock".........top 40 tunes minus the "hard" ones. At the time "Raindrops" by Dee Clark was considered too hard for KBIG. Hard to believe but true.

Wow, thanks for the info about The Rockin' Bird, Joe Niagra. He went to KBIG in 1960 and 1961 (when "Raindrops" was a hit). Just a coincidence that except for the "W" and the "K", the other three call letters where the same though not in the same order

 

[Lopaka]

I dimly recall sometime before 1965 it tried for a 5 letter call, KGOLD, but the FCC did not approve.

 

[jonbruce]

The LA TIMES radio guy Don Page did a story on K-GOLD at the time. The calls were changed to KGOL, but KPOL petitioned against it and prevailed. Stations could do that in those days. So they changed the calls to KGLD, but still called it K-GOLD. The KGOL calls landed at 1270 in Palm Desert later when it was Beautiful music, prior to changing to KGUY as a country station, then to KNWZ as news talk. It is now KFUT with some Spanish talk, Sports and Mexican oldies.

 

[Lopaka]

That is an interesting correction, thank you.