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60's, 70's 80's Early History of 92.7, 103.9, 98.3, 95.9, 107.9

T

thebeach33445

Hey Guys:

After all of my research here is a timeline for the FM stations I mentioned in the subject.

92.7 History
March 10, 1960 WNWC MOR/Stds

1965 WNWC Added Country Night

April 1, 1968 WEXI Easy listening/MOR/STDS Night Top 40 Day

July 1, 1968 WEXI Added Progressive Rock 12mid-6am

Nov 6, 1970 WEXI Beautiful Music

Oct 1, 1972 WWMM Beautiful Music

1975 (Don't know the exact date) WWMM Jazz

1976 (Don't know the exact date) WWMM Beautiful Music/Jazz Overnights

Jan 1, 1978 WWMM Beuatiful Music Overnights

April 22, 1981 WTCO Country

Jan 24, 1983 WSEX AC

103.9 History
1960 to Sept 1, 1966 WELG Beautiful Music

June 8, 1967 WVFV MOR/Stds

Feb 1972 WVFV Progressive Rock (Would anybody know the exact date??)

1976 WVFV Mellow Rock or Easy Rock (Would anybody know the exact date??) RFB Co AQ 7-1-76

May 27, 1980 WCRM Contempoary Christian

April 10, 1989 WABT Rock AC the Rabbit

98.3 History
Jan 28, 1976 WCCQ Oldies

1978 (Would anybody know the exact date??) WCCQ AC

Feb 4, 1979 WCCQ Auto Beautiful Music

1984 (Would anybody know the exact date??) WCCQ Country

Next 95.9 and 107.9
If anybody can fill in the blanks or have any exact dates for me please go right ahead and add them..

Thanks Enjoy
T.J.
 
Hey Radioman:

Thanks for that info. I didn't know WNWC played Top 40 then. Was it auto or have live jocks? I have to see if I can find anything in billboard about that.

I have a correction:

April 1, 1968 WEXI Easy listening/MOR/STDS (Day) Top 40 (Night)
 
Hey Guys:

Here is some more:

95.9 History

Feb 12, 1961 WKKD-FM Simulcasted WKKD-AM

1966 (Would anybody know the exact date??) WKKD-FM simucasted AM day/ Beautiful Music Nights

1967 (Would anybody know the exact date?) WKKD-FM Beautiful Music

1983 (Would anybody know the exact date?) WKKD-FM AC K-LITE 96

1993 (Would anybody know the exact date?) WKKD-FM Oldies Pure Gold Kool 96

107.9 History On 107.9 history is incomplete. If anybody can fill in the blanks plesae go right ahead and add any info.

Sept 1, 1964 WMRO-FM _____________ Would anybody know the format of this station? Program was seprate fom 1280 WMRO.

_________1970 WAUR-FM _____________ Would anybody know the format of this station? The 1974 yearbook has the format listed as Jazz, Semi Classical, Contemp. The 1975 to 1981 yearbooks has the format listed as MOR. The 1982 and 1983 yearbook has the format listed as "Gold Rock".

__________1973 WAUR-FM MOR/AC

March 1, 1988 WYSY AC Y-107.9

If you guys have any input please add your info to the blanks.

Thanks and enjoy.
T.J.
 
t.j. said:
Hey Radioman:

Thanks for that info. I didn't know WNWC played Top 40 then. Was it auto or have live jocks? I have to see if I can find anything in billboard about that.

I have a correction:

April 1, 1968 WEXI Easy listening/MOR/STDS (Day) Top 40 (Night)
Click to expand...

They had live jocks on at night. In 1966 it was George Karl. In 1967 John Terry. I used to hang out at the studio occasionally. They were definitely live. I think it was 7PM to 11PM when I went there.
 
t.j. said:
Hey Guys:

Here is some more:

95.9 History

Feb 12, 1961 WKKD-FM Simulcasted WKKD-AM

1966 (Would anybody know the exact date??) WKKD-FM simucasted AM day/ Beautiful Music Nights

1967 (Would anybody know the exact date?) WKKD-FM Beautiful Music

1983 (Would anybody know the exact date?) WKKD-FM AC K-LITE 96

1993 (Would anybody know the exact date?) WKKD-FM Oldies Pure Gold Kool 96

107.9 History On 107.9 history is incomplete. If anybody can fill in the blanks plesae go right ahead and add any info.

Sept 1, 1964 WMRO-FM _____________ Would anybody know the format of this station? Program was seprate fom 1280 WMRO.

_________1970 WAUR-FM _____________ Would anybody know the format of this station? The 1974 yearbook has the format listed as Jazz, Semi Classical, Contemp. The 1975 to 1981 yearbooks has the format listed as MOR. The 1982 and 1983 yearbook has the format listed as "Gold Rock".

__________1973 WAUR-FM MOR/AC

March 1, 1988 WYSY AC Y-107.9

If you guys have any input please add your info to the blanks.

Thanks and enjoy.
T.J.
Click to expand...

As a kid I use to have an AM / aircraft band radio. It did not have the regular FM 88 -108! It use to pick up 107.9 as a all news station in the mid 1960's. We lived in Libertyville so I guess this was 107.9 in question.
 
I was stationed at the Great Lakes Navy Base from Jan 68 to Apr 69, and I remember WEXI as being perhaps the strongest signal on my little FM radio. It was automated, and the jingle said "Stereo Excitement Out of Sight, from Arlington Heights." I would describe it as very up tempo pop adult, not quite top 40 ... I suppose today we would call it Hot AC. One day in mid 68 they announced that they were selling off all their vinyl LPs as their programming was now all on tape. I went to the station and bought a bunch of LPs for 25 to 50 cents each. I still have one of them today, a Marilyn Maye album, with "WNWC" stamped on it. M Maye is pretty much forgotten today, but in that era, she was a very popular MoR act, and frequent guest on the Tonight show.
 
radioman148 said:
I can tell you that in 1966 & 67 WNWC played Top 40 at night & not during the day.
Click to expand...

I stand to be corrected, but I believe the top 40 got started around late '65 or early '66 with a Friday night show hosted by Ray Smithers. He's on this board, so perhaps he can set the record straight.
 
cyberdad said:
radioman148 said:
I can tell you that in 1966 & 67 WNWC played Top 40 at night & not during the day.
Click to expand...

I stand to be corrected, but I believe the top 40 got started around late '65 or early '66 with a Friday night show hosted by Ray Smithers. He's on this board, so perhaps he can set the record straight.
Click to expand...

I have a few WNWC chart lists from 1966 & 67. George Karl is listed as hosting the 7-11PM "Solid Rock Block". John Terry took over the show in 1967. That I can verify because I hung out at the station a few times while in high school. I was in a Rock band and we actually got John Terry to play our record several times. We used to come in and answer the phones--a great way to meet girls & get their phone numbers. ;D

I know Ray Smithers was definitely involved I just can't remember when his show was on, but I do know he voiced most of the station promos.
I do have a tape of Ray Smithers hosting a show in early 67.
 
Ray Smithers popped up on this board with the WYEN thread. I worked at WYEN for a little over a year (sales, but I also did some production/voiceovers). He wasn't there when I was, so I don't know him. Hopefully he'll get wind of this thread and fill in some of the blanks for 92.7.
 
cyberdad said:
Ray Smithers popped up on this board with the WYEN thread. I worked at WYEN for a little over a year (sales, but I also did some production/voiceovers). He wasn't there when I was, so I don't know him. Hopefully he'll get wind of this thread and fill in some of the blanks for 92.7.
Click to expand...

I'd love to hear Ray Smithers' memories of WNWC/WEXI.
 
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