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96 KISS WZKS

M

MoCho

Guest
96 Kiss was Born with Van Halen's "Jump" in 1984.
Morning man Jim Zippo,
then Matthews & Morris took over Mornings,
middays PD, Tony Cox,
Afternoons, Billy Dee,
Evenings, Chuck Jeffries,
overnites, Danny Wright

owner/GM Ron Kempff, (Sorry to say I read somewhere he passed away recently)
Great station, rated #1 out of 3 Top 40 stations at the time it flipped formats and let the staff go in 1985
 
> 96 Kiss was Born with Van Halen's "Jump" in 1984.
> Morning man Jim Zippo,
> then Matthews & Morris took over Mornings,
> middays PD, Tony Cox,
> Afternoons, Billy Dee,
> Evenings, Chuck Jeffries,
> overnites, Danny Wright
>
> owner/GM Ron Kempff, (Sorry to say I read somewhere he
> passed away recently)
> Great station, rated #1 out of 3 Top 40 stations at the time
> it flipped formats and let the staff go in 1985
>

If it was #1 out of the three CHRs, why did it flip? I also remember a Jim Zippo from a satellited CHR service back in the late 80s. Same guy? <P ID="signature">______________
"...and the countdown continues until the neanderthals that govern college football do something about their pathetic postseason."--Tim Brando, Sporting News Radio</P>
 
> > 96 Kiss was Born with Van Halen's "Jump" in 1984.
> > Morning man Jim Zippo,
> > then Matthews & Morris took over Mornings,
> > middays PD, Tony Cox,
> > Afternoons, Billy Dee,
> > Evenings, Chuck Jeffries,
> > overnites, Danny Wright
> >
> > owner/GM Ron Kempff, (Sorry to say I read somewhere he
> > passed away recently)
> > Great station, rated #1 out of 3 Top 40 stations at the
> time
> > it flipped formats and let the staff go in 1985
> >
>
> If it was #1 out of the three CHRs, why did it flip? I also
> remember a Jim Zippo from a satellited CHR service back in
> the late 80s. Same guy?
>
yep. same Zippo. they flipped 'cause the #1 was mostly in teens/young adults and they wanted more adults with the older format (didn't work, or last long)
 
Interesting how the more things change, the more they stay the same...

Prior to it actually debuting (and kickin' off with Jump)
96.3 played "Hit the Road Jack" for over a week. Actually,
I think it was two. 96 Kiss was the most awesome launch
and most exciting station to be involved with I can
remember. The mid-80's were indeed a special time for
radio. Only Y-107 can come close (and maybe beat) the
energy put into 96 Kiss. And the day Billy Dee left the
building was one of the days I will never forget. Nobody
really thought it could or would be over like that. And
to flip to the worst format on the planet. To this
day, I wonder if the energy of 96 Kiss could have
been maintained into the year 2006. It was that
impressive, tight and everywhere. Just a few
weeks ago, I heard from a friend who said he could still hear
the fun and thrill of Billy Dee screaming "96 --
Kiss" on the air. Made the hair on your back stand up.

I will admit the Pointer Sisters were overplayed in
my opinion. Other than that, near perfection.

An a little known trivia fact...none other than Phil
Valentine was the last person on the air at 96 Kiss
when it went off at midnight playing "Still the One"
by Orleans.

Truthfully, that kind of station (Kiss) is exactly why so
many of us are disappointed by Venus-FM. It's not
about dogging someone, it's about raising the bar.

A toast to 96 Kiss.




<P ID="edit"><FONT class="small">Edited by tibbs on 01/10/06 03:50 PM.</FONT></P>
 
Any airchecks of 96 Kiss I can get ahold of? I used to have a bunch of mid 80's Y-107 and Kix 104 air checks, but nothing of 96 Kiss-- because it was gone quickly.

I agree Tibbs, the mid 80's were a special time for radio in the Nash. It's basically why I got into this business. As I type I still have my KDF round logo taped to my Mac screen and a Y-107 bumper sticker in a collage just above me. Great stations, great energy and always professional sounding.



> Interesting how the more things change, the more they stay
> the same...
>
> Prior to it actually debuting (and kickin' off with Jump)
> 96.3 played "Hit the Road Jack" for over a week. Actually,
> I think it was two. 96 Kiss was the most awesome launch
> and most exciting station to be involved with I can
> remember. The mid-80's were indeed a special time for
> radio. Only Y-107 can come close (and maybe beat) the
> energy put into 96 Kiss. And the day Billy Dee left the
> building was one of the days I will never forget. Nobody
> really thought it could or would be over like that. And
> to flip to the worst format on the planet. To this
> day, I wonder if the energy of 96 Kiss could have
> been maintained into the year 2006. It was that
> impressive, tight and everywhere. Just a few
> weeks ago, I heard from a friend who said he could still
> hear
> the fun and thrill of Billy Dee screaming "96 --
> Kiss" on the air. Made the hair on your back stand up.
>
> I will admit the Pointer Sisters were overplayed in
> my opinion. Other than that, near perfection.
>
> An a little known trivia fact...none other than Phil
> Valentine was the last person on the air at 96 Kiss
> when it went off at midnight playing "Still the One"
> by Orleans.
>
> Truthfully, that kind of station (Kiss) is exactly why so
> many of us are disappointed by Venus-FM. It's not
> about dogging someone, it's about raising the bar.
>
> A toast to 96 Kiss.
>
 
I would love to hear all of those.

Who was the voice guy on 96 KISS? Seems like I remember hearing he had passed away some time ago. Romer? Romer? Anyone?


> Any airchecks of 96 Kiss I can get ahold of? I used to have
> a bunch of mid 80's Y-107 and Kix 104 air checks, but
> nothing of 96 Kiss-- because it was gone quickly.
>
> I agree Tibbs, the mid 80's were a special time for radio in
> the Nash. It's basically why I got into this business. As I
> type I still have my KDF round logo taped to my Mac screen
> and a Y-107 bumper sticker in a collage just above me. Great
> stations, great energy and always professional sounding.
 
> I would love to hear all of those.
>
> Who was the voice guy on 96 KISS? Seems like I remember
> hearing he had passed away some time ago. Romer? Romer?
> Anyone?
>
>
> > Any airchecks of 96 Kiss I can get ahold of? I used to
> have
> > a bunch of mid 80's Y-107 and Kix 104 air checks, but
> > nothing of 96 Kiss-- because it was gone quickly.
> >
> > I agree Tibbs, the mid 80's were a special time for radio
> in
> > the Nash. It's basically why I got into this business. As
> I
> > type I still have my KDF round logo taped to my Mac screen
>
> > and a Y-107 bumper sticker in a collage just above me.
> Great

I remember the whole on air staff going on vacation right after the flip (as a gimmick) and all the talk breaks were done over the phone like they were on some tropical island. Zippo used to hang at a bar I worked at. Who was the morning girl that was his side kick. I believe she was from the ville but moved on with Zip?

Nock
> > stations, great energy and always professional sounding.
>
 
> > I would love to hear all of those.
> >
> > Who was the voice guy on 96 KISS? Seems like I remember
> > hearing he had passed away some time ago. Romer? Romer?
> > Anyone?
> >
> >
> > > Any airchecks of 96 Kiss I can get ahold of? I used to
> > have
> > > a bunch of mid 80's Y-107 and Kix 104 air checks, but
> > > nothing of 96 Kiss-- because it was gone quickly.
> > >
> > > I agree Tibbs, the mid 80's were a special time for
> radio
> > in
> > > the Nash. It's basically why I got into this business.
> As
> > I
> > > type I still have my KDF round logo taped to my Mac
> screen
> >
> > > and a Y-107 bumper sticker in a collage just above me.
> > Great
>
> I remember the whole on air staff going on vacation right
> after the flip (as a gimmick) and all the talk breaks were
> done over the phone like they were on some tropical island.
> Zippo used to hang at a bar I worked at. Who was the
> morning girl that was his side kick. I believe she was from
> the ville but moved on with Zip?
>
> Nock
> > > stations, great energy and always professional sounding.
>
> >
>

The morning co host was Debie Summers. I don't think she follow him when he was supposed to go to Boston but ended up at kiss in Dallas. John Kelly (who was the main voice guy in the beginning joined Zippo in Dallas shortly after he left here. They played John's leaggal ID just before the weather until the end of the format.
 
> > > I would love to hear all of those.
> > >
> > > Who was the voice guy on 96 KISS? Seems like I remember
>
> > > hearing he had passed away some time ago. Romer? Romer?
>
> > > Anyone?
> > >
> > >
> > > > Any airchecks of 96 Kiss I can get ahold of? I used to
>
> > > have
> > > > a bunch of mid 80's Y-107 and Kix 104 air checks, but
> > > > nothing of 96 Kiss-- because it was gone quickly.
> > > >
> > > > I agree Tibbs, the mid 80's were a special time for
> > radio
> > > in
> > > > the Nash. It's basically why I got into this business.
>
> > As
> > > I
> > > > type I still have my KDF round logo taped to my Mac
> > screen
> > >
> > > > and a Y-107 bumper sticker in a collage just above me.
>
> > > Great
> >
> > I remember the whole on air staff going on vacation right
> > after the flip (as a gimmick) and all the talk breaks were
>
> > done over the phone like they were on some tropical
> island.
> > Zippo used to hang at a bar I worked at. Who was the
> > morning girl that was his side kick. I believe she was
> from
> > the ville but moved on with Zip?
> >
> > Nock
> > > > stations, great energy and always professional
> sounding.
> >
> > >
> >
>
> The morning co host was Debie Summers. I don't think she
> follow him when he was supposed to go to Boston but ended up
> at kiss in Dallas. John Kelly (who was the main voice guy
> in the beginning joined Zippo in Dallas shortly after he
> left here. They played John's leaggal ID just before the
> weather until the end of the format.


You may mean Julie. She was there for most of the time. With Trey Matthews and Morris
>
 
96 KISS WZKS talent

great talent yes,
Trey went to Dallas for a bit then Mobile, AL
Tony Cox still rocks in Vegas
Billy Dee was in Louiville or Atlanta last I heard on air
Chuck Jeffreys went to st louis and is now in San Fran somewhere on air
Danny Wright went to Chicago and is now on TV somewhere
 
Re: 96 KISS Zippo looking again?

> Tony Cox still rocks in Vegas

Which of course, is where Zippo was, at KQOL, until the end of April when a new GM came in to the cluster and decided he wanted to shake things up "just because."

So the legend was out... anyone know if he's landed? He and his wife were looking for a family-friendly city to raise their kids in... Hey local PDs! Now here's a guy that would be a local contender on most formats!
 
Re: 96 KISS Zippo looking again?

> So the legend was out... anyone know if he's landed? He and
> his wife were looking for a family-friendly city to raise
> their kids in... Hey local PDs! Now here's a guy that would
> be a local contender on most formats!
>

He landed in Idaho, working for Clear Channel at KPKY-FM.
 
> Any airchecks of 96 Kiss I can get ahold of? I used to have
> a bunch of mid 80's Y-107 and Kix 104 air checks, but
> nothing of 96 Kiss-- because it was gone quickly.
>

I have a 60 min. tape of Tony Cox doing nights from around July, 1984 that a friend that I've used to work with gave to me. Let me know if your interested and I'll send you some e-mail off-forum. I've sent a copy to Steve West at Airchexx.com and hopefully it will be on that site soon. Loved the heavy reverb the 96-Kiss used as well as the JAM "Music Now" jingles.


> I agree Tibbs, the mid 80's were a special time for radio in
> the Nash. It's basically why I got into this business. As I
> type I still have my KDF round logo taped to my Mac screen
> and a Y-107 bumper sticker in a collage just above me. Great
> stations, great energy and always professional sounding.
>

I know! I'd prefer the 1980's-early 90's Nashville radio dial than the 2006 version. :>(

Robyn<P ID="signature">______________
"They say you better listen to the voice of reason. But they don't give you any choice 'cause they think it's treason." Elvis Costello "Radio Radio"</P>
 
> I know! I'd prefer the 1980's-early 90's Nashville radio
> dial than the 2006 version. :>(

All I'd want to bring over to today is 96 KISS.

Well, 96 KISS and Y107.

Just 96 KISS, Y107, and KDF the Rock station.

Make that 96 KISS, Y107, KDF the Rock station, 95.5 from its AC days, and the whole AM band just like it was then.

Except I'd leave 102.9 as a local Shelbyville station and 105.1 on the ABC oldies format.

But that's all...
 
Billy Dee was a jerk, and hopefully he isn't able to find a job in radio at this point! When I was 14 years old and won a contest on 96 KISS, he belittled and berated me because I didn't do the taping of me winning that he was going to play on the air to his satisfaction. He was very insulting and mean. How low is it for an adult that isn't your parent to talk down to a 14 year old kid?! Dealing with typical insecure adolescent issues at that age, I never told my parents. I noticed in 1986 or so, he had moved briefly to WDJX 99.7 in Louisville, but he apparently didn't stay long. I wouldn't doubt that he popped his smart mouth off to the wrong person and got the boot.
 
John Kelly was the first afternoon jock at 96 KISS. He introduced the format change. Tony Cox was 7P to midnight. Cox was the previous Larry Martino in the Morning (96 KOS), succeeded by Zippo. Eventually Zippo and Kelly went to CHR KTKS 106.1 Dallas.
 
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