Back when KTSA played music (and stories of other SA stations in the 80s)

[sdh483]

I'm listening to an aircheck of KTSA 550 AM back in 85 just a few months before they changed to talk. I was kinda young to remember if this station was popular but I remember listening to it w/ my grandparents in their big Dodge van. It was a nice mix of 60s thru current (the 80s) AC music. Kinda reminds me of Magic when they just played 60s, 70s and 80s music? Was the format on KTSA still popular back then or did they flip it because music stations were pretty much going to FM? I don't recall too many memories of 80s radio in SA except for KTSA, KTFM, KISS KLLS and KSLR. Maybe some of you can share some info and remember when SA radio was probably more decent than now.

 

[jras20]

I dont remember when they played music, I do remember though when they first came on the air as talk. That was way before I knew much about airchecks etc. I remember back also when KSJL use to mix some hard r&b at night along with ktfm doing some really good mixes. I also remember back in the old Houston days when KRBE did the beat, over 5 hours of non-stop comercial free dance music and then there was kiss 98.5 & kiss again 103.3 playing dance music and house party 100.7. What happened to them days. Who will ever know, I gues its them big radio companies. Oh well.

 

[mrh1960]

SA radio was awesome in the mid / late 70's. 55 KTSA, KITY, KSAQ, KEEZ and KTFM were great stations. KTSA was powerful...we would listen to it in Houston when the signal was strong.

 

[Mediafrog+]

KTSA was powerful...we would listen to it in Houston when the signal was strong.

KTSA was a kick-butt Top 40 in the 60's, still fondly remembered. It was virtually a local in Austin, where lots of people had it as a car preset for an alternative to local KNOW. KONO was also Top 40, and had quite a few listeners in Austin as well, but 860 would disappear at night when it dropped power and switched to the directional signal.

 

[Smittian]

I grew up in the 70's west of Corpus Christi (Alice). Everyone listened to KTSA, despite being 120 miles from SA. Corpus was much closer, but their top 40 stations paled in comparison to 55-KTSA. We listened to 860 on occasion (daytime)., but as was noted earlier, KONO was gone by nightfall

 

[WCJ]

During the summers, early 50's to mid 60's, I would spend several weeks in Kerrville with relatives. KTSA, KONO, and later KBAT, would be the stations. Of course all three would dissappear at sunset and we were left with KLVI or KOMA. Haven't been back out there since the late 70's. Does KLVI still come in like it did back in 62-66, before CC screwed them up?I attended Texas A&I from 64-67 and agree with Smittian, KTSA was a much better station than either KRYS or KEYS. KOPY & KROB were also decent.

 

[rbrucecarter5]

I remember one afternoon in the 70's, in Lubbock, TX, I turned my radio with its internal ferrite bar antenna to mask the signal of KCRS 550 in Midland. To my surprise and delight - KTSA came in without a problem at all! I listened regularly after that. It was the only McLendon station that could make it to Lubbock, KLIF 1190 couldn't, KILT 610 was obscured by a closer 610 in Albuquerque. KCRS has a wierd pattern, you can still get 550 from San Antonio within 60 miles of Midland to the Southeast, and yet KSRS has a massive footprint to the Northwest.

 

[Bob E. Nelson]

KTSA was a kick-butt Top 40 in the 60's, still fondly remembered. It was virtually a local in Austin, where lots of people had it as a car preset for an alternative to local KNOW.

I may be mistaken (and those with access to such data can correct this), but I believe that for a substantial period of the 60's and 70's, KTSA had the highest total TSA cume in the state of Texas. Not share -- but 12+ listener count -- exceeding larger markets like Dallas and Houston.

 

[SpursKitten]

I remember when KTFM played albums... not just one or two songs off the albums but the entire album... ;D

 

[tunafish]

Have to agree about KTSA. Grew up in Austin and it was 1490 KNOW first, then KTSA. Only would try K-98 (KHFI) after sunset when we would lose KTSA in the northside. Also I believe KTSA was the first AM Stereo radio station in the country before going talk. I think KNOW followed with stereo a little bit later. Does anyone remember KLBJ AM being Top 40? I can't remember, but seems it was in the late 70's early 80's?And since since this threadis about SA radio, I have to say in the early 80's, KITY 93 was a great Top 40 rival to KTFM.

 

[Smittian]

KLBJ-AM's signal never made it as far south as Alice. However, I do remember a time in the early 70's when WOAI was top-40.