690 WAPE - The 70s

[John FL]

A few days ago, a New York City radio blog mentioned Jay Thomas’s first 99X (98.7 WXLO) first show was 39 years ago today – 9/20/76. Jay had made a big name for himself prior to that from the early 70s on the mighty 690 WAPE. I heard Jay on 99X and I thought he was high-energy to say the least and very entertaining.

You don’t land a gig in the Big Apple unless you have the talent chops. But then Jay’s WAPE airchecks probably helped clinched the deal because WAPE was big market sounding. It got me thinking about the outstanding radio that existed in Jacksonville.

Many of you may be familiar with the WAPE tribute site. I thought it appropriate to include that here. http://www.party-animalz.com/WAPE-690-TRIBUTE-SITE.html

Over the years, I got to hear a good number of WAPE airchecks from the past, especially the 70s. From the very first time, I was extremely impressed. If the city location was omitted, the average big radio fan and maybe talent too would think they were hearing a broadcast from a Top 10 market. It was really something awesome.

In that tribute site, the jingles I heard around the mid 70s, maybe it was like 1976 were the same as I heard on WABC in NYC. It was that drum-roll and quick station brand shout out. In fact, 99X did the same thing as WABC in the same market! I think WABC often used PAM (I think it was called that) jingles. WAPE used a lot of jingles in which I was familiar.

Earlier in the 70’s, WAPE had a jingle where voices sang “The best music WAPE.” WABC did exactly the same thing and it was used to segue from one song to another. I’d love to know who was the PD back then in the 1970’s. This person did a helluva job. The music on WAPE was virtually the same as I experienced when I lived in NYC metro.

Unfortunately, I don’t recognize WAPE voices unless they ID themselves. “Shake Your Grove Thing” was given a Miami twist in that tribute site and it was hilarious. Today, even that would not be P.C. and many get offended at the drop of a hat. To me, talent pulled that off and quite well too.

There’s tremendous Top 40 heritage in Jacksonville. But all that popularity, energy and fun never translated into a long term retro Top 40 station. In markets where there was dominant AM music station like a WAPE, the FM nostalgia station would sometimes pay tribute to that greatness. Maybe there was an occasional throwback jingle when a real classic played or perhaps a “legends” weekend where the jocks of the past would get a gig looking back and having fun on the air bantering with listeners. I could be wrong but I don’t believe Jacksonville ever did anything like that.

That’s always been mind-boggling to me. I realize this has been discussed to death but it’s like there is a rule in place that says “Thou shall not have a fun radio station to listen to.” I have no idea how much the jocks made on WAPE in the 70s but it wouldn’t be NYC salary. And that’s just it. Quality is quality. Nobody back then said Jax is a small market and so there’s no point sounding big market and bigger than life. The talent gave it their all. You can just hear that incredible energy that spelled wanting to win big time.

Today, that fire seems to have burned out.

If anyone has additional info about the jocks, the management and the music selection, please share. I think the readers would find that interesting. Jacksonville has a lot to be proud. This was a really great radio town.

 

[jmtillery]

A few days ago, a New York City radio blog mentioned Jay Thomas’s first 99X (98.7 WXLO) first show was 39 years ago today – 9/20/76. Jay had made a big name for himself prior to that from the early 70s on the mighty 690 WAPE. I heard Jay on 99X and I thought he was high-energy to say the least and very entertaining.

You don’t land a gig in the Big Apple unless you have the talent chops. But then Jay’s WAPE airchecks probably helped clinched the deal because WAPE was big market sounding. It got me thinking about the outstanding radio that existed in Jacksonville.

Many of you may be familiar with the WAPE tribute site. I thought it appropriate to include that here. http://www.party-animalz.com/WAPE-690-TRIBUTE-SITE.html

Over the years, I got to hear a good number of WAPE airchecks from the past, especially the 70s. From the very first time, I was extremely impressed. If the city location was omitted, the average big radio fan and maybe talent too would think they were hearing a broadcast from a Top 10 market. It was really something awesome.

In that tribute site, the jingles I heard around the mid 70s, maybe it was like 1976 were the same as I heard on WABC in NYC. It was that drum-roll and quick station brand shout out. In fact, 99X did the same thing as WABC in the same market! I think WABC often used PAM (I think it was called that) jingles. WAPE used a lot of jingles in which I was familiar.

Earlier in the 70’s, WAPE had a jingle where voices sang “The best music WAPE.” WABC did exactly the same thing and it was used to segue from one song to another. I’d love to know who was the PD back then in the 1970’s. This person did a helluva job. The music on WAPE was virtually the same as I experienced when I lived in NYC metro.

Unfortunately, I don’t recognize WAPE voices unless they ID themselves. “Shake Your Grove Thing” was given a Miami twist in that tribute site and it was hilarious. Today, even that would not be P.C. and many get offended at the drop of a hat. To me, talent pulled that off and quite well too.

There’s tremendous Top 40 heritage in Jacksonville. But all that popularity, energy and fun never translated into a long term retro Top 40 station. In markets where there was dominant AM music station like a WAPE, the FM nostalgia station would sometimes pay tribute to that greatness. Maybe there was an occasional throwback jingle when a real classic played or perhaps a “legends” weekend where the jocks of the past would get a gig looking back and having fun on the air bantering with listeners. I could be wrong but I don’t believe Jacksonville ever did anything like that.

That’s always been mind-boggling to me. I realize this has been discussed to death but it’s like there is a rule in place that says “Thou shall not have a fun radio station to listen to.” I have no idea how much the jocks made on WAPE in the 70s but it wouldn’t be NYC salary. And that’s just it. Quality is quality. Nobody back then said Jax is a small market and so there’s no point sounding big market and bigger than life. The talent gave it their all. You can just hear that incredible energy that spelled wanting to win big time.

Today, that fire seems to have burned out.

If anyone has additional info about the jocks, the management and the music selection, please share. I think the readers would find that interesting. Jacksonville has a lot to be proud. This was a really great radio town.

Contact me using my email at [email protected]. I may have a contact for you (former PD) who can fill you in on the WAPE glory days.

 

[gr8oldies]

Ted Richards was another WAPE alumni that did well...he moved from WAPE to CKLW in the 70s.

 

[John FL]

Ted Richards was another WAPE alumni that did well...he moved from WAPE to CKLW in the 70s.

In my A-Z music post, I mentioned CKLW as a station I found in the 70s quite by accident one winter night. Years later I learned that was DXing. For all I know, I probably did listen to Ted Richards. My recall isn’t what it used to be. Still, it's hard to forget The Greaseman and his success. I listened to a bunch of audio of him yesterday. I particularly enjoyed this one:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6PRBvfAVhY

No doubt lots has changed here but I admit to knowing nothing about radio production. There’s probably lots that goes on behind the scenes in radio of which listeners have little clue.

In response to Mark Tillery’s previous post, I appreciate your contact offer. However, it’s a little awkward for me to contact someone and ask specific questions about radio from 40 years ago. I can probably find many answers via internet searches. IMO, there’s not much value in that if I’m the only one benefiting from that info.

There’s a good number of radio people in Jacksonville and elsewhere who do read these boards and were a part of the WAPE of the past. If they choose to participate, many readers even beyond Jax can gain insight into the Top 40 heritage and radio excellence that was once Jacksonville. Their recollections and insight are far more valuable than what typical internet searches could reveal.

Speaking of questions and answers, I remain clueless as to why this market never harnessed all that energy and fun and took that to the next level for adult listeners who grew up listening to WAPE. There's 70s, 80s and 90s stations that are incorporating personality & fun into the programming reflecting the reduced amount of talent participation listeners seek but it's all still there.

 

[John FL]

You missed 96.9 Cool FM WKQL. One of my favorite oldies stations ever. As with all good things, Cox Radio changed it to classic rock as The Eagle over a decade ago.

You’re absolutely right. I’ve talked about Cool 96.9 quite often. I edited out comments in my last post referring to that station because it’s not where the format is today and I didn’t want to appear to be redundant getting into that subject once again.

Cox corporate management killed what most have concurred was a station that had incredible bones/potential to evolve over time to what we know today as Greatest Hits. It’s a shame that never happened. I heard many former oldies stations in my lifetime and Cool 96.9 was among the very best, especially when it was under PD Pat Garrett’s leadership.I'll never understand why he was never given the opportunity to shine in an updated version of Cool anywhere in our market.

As I look back at the music heard on the old WAPE of the 1970s, for example, I see variety and also diversity in the various artists featured. I have no idea how the music selection process went but it’s clear they were a lot more right than wrong decisions. A great signal doesn’t guarantee recognition and celebration 4-5 decades after the fact. A lot has been written about the Mighty 690 WAPE for a long time and we continue today.

 

[John Gallagher]

The ARSA Surveys site has a number of WAPE surveys pictured from the late 1960s to 1972. In 1972, the lineup was:
Jack McCoy 6 a.m. - 9 a.m.
Larry Dixon 9 a.m. - 12 Noon
Rick Adams 12 Noon - 4 p.m.
Teddy "Bear" Richards 4 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Jay Thomas 8 p.m. - 12 Mid

I think Jack McCoy later left and Jay Thomas moved to mornings.