BEST SC STATIONS OF ALL TIME

[pmgrnvl]

The ones that come to my mind, as someone who moved to the Upstate in 1980: WQOK (it was near EOL, but it was a legend of sorts), the old WFBC AM (one of the last full-service stations) and WAVF in Charleston (as an occasional visitor, always enjoyed it - very un-corporate sounding).

As for 99.9 KISS FM from Asheville, mentioned by another poster, in the GT/Patrick/Dawn/Brother Bill days that was one heck of a station. It really powered on. The first song I ever heard them play was Wham's "Jitterbug," a truly awful song. But as they became more pop-rock, we got such treats as Marillion (Kayleigh). It was like good Top 40 with rock mixed in and the junk taken out. Great signal, sorta muddy sound, but very listenable.

Others I liked or give kudos to for one reason or another: 93.3 The Breeze (jazz-new age-eclectic, or as a buddy called it, diarrhea rock; programmed that way because owner Don Trapp wanted something he would like to listen to) -- I liked that station so much I put up an antenna in Columbia so I could receive it... WTLT Easley, aka Lite 104, for playing MOR that wasn't boring (the same could be said at times of WSCQ in Columbia)... 103X, the new rock/alt rock station that had a short but important life... and those Miller "Bad Dog" stations seemingly scattered all over the sticks south of Columbia, always good for crank-it-up rock on a road trip; I'd listen to those and wonder why they had such a fresh rock sound, even though it was classic rock. Maybe they had more than 101 songs to play?

 

[CrazeeCarroll1]

WOW!!! How did I let this topic slip by!!! There was so many awesome stations that I am sure I will leave a few out, but here it goes... Power 98 (WBPR) They had one of the best sounds you would hear on the radio. Awesome processing, music pitched right, and jocks that made the station sound alive. It was so good I remember Wave 104 pitching their music up also, but never had the same sound that Power had. Q107 was one of those stations that also was a good listen. Living in the NE part of Kershaw County I could pick it up most anytime and after Hugo went through Q107 would leave us. Another one was WBBQ when they were top 40, but would have a lot of the on the scene moble reports... Music was good and the jocks were top notch. WKSF from 1987 to 1987. Kiss had one of the most in your face attitudes for a top 40 that none of the other stations could touch it in the upstate. The audio was balls to the wall and it matched the attitude the station had I remember they had some sort of raft event that had took place in 85 yet we were in a drought, but traffic was still backed up going to where they were having it at if I remember correct. Z100 in Charlotte was one of those stations that had a big sound to it with lot of great personality. Once the processing was changed and cart machines were lined up correct I knew that change was on the way and sure enough The Fox was born...

 

[carolinadad]

BUBBA 107.5 Charleston WBUB from 1990-1998

 

[vchimpanzee]

Joy 92 from 1982 (Myrtle Beach), WGFG from 1986 (100.1 Florence), and whatever was on 99.7 in Hilton Head/Savannah in 1994.

Oh, yeah, and WLOW when it was still on 106.9.

 

[RobynWattsV2.0]

Joy 92 from 1982 (Myrtle Beach), WGFG from 1986 (100.1 Florence), and whatever was on 99.7 in Hilton Head/Savannah in 1994.

Oh, yeah, and WLOW when it was still on 106.9.

I believe that WLOW was on 99.7 for a short time in 1994 before moving back to 106.9. 99.7 then tried Contemporary Christian and Talk before it became "The Breeze".

IMHO, 99.7 WHTK should have never dropped CHR for Country in 1993 since WZAT had flipped to Album Rock, leaving the Beaufort/Hilton Head/Savannah market without a CHR of any kind for almost 5 years, but that's for another topic.

Robyn

 

[Ssummers]

...and whatever was on 99.7 in Hilton Head/Savannah in 1994.

So 99.7 dropped the WHTK calls for WLOW back then or did it simulcast? I don't know how it sounded in 94, but we sure as hell had a blast building it and debuting WHTK in 88. Ralph Wimmer was the PD and morning drive, Steve Stevens middays, I was MD and PM Drive, Jay Michaels(formerly C103) did nights and Keli Reynolds was overnights. Do you remember if Sherry Mims was still on HTK in 94? She used to do news on WJMX(103X...another one of SC's best) around 86.

 

[thatwasradio]

I remember WHTK was THE SH_T back in '88 and '89! I loved that station, loved the jingles, I even applied there in '88 but ended up getting the gig at Hot 94 in Charleston while waiting for Power 98 to sign on in Myrtle Beach.

 

[freqdev]

so what have we learned?

 

[RobynWattsV2.0]

...and whatever was on 99.7 in Hilton Head/Savannah in 1994.

So 99.7 dropped the WHTK calls for WLOW back then or did it simulcast? I don't know how it sounded in 94, but we sure as hell had a blast building it and debuting WHTK in 88. Ralph Wimmer was the PD and morning drive, Steve Stevens middays, I was MD and PM Drive, Jay Michaels(formerly C103) did nights and Keli Reynolds was overnights. Do you remember if Sherry Mims was still on HTK in 94? She used to do news on WJMX(103X...another one of SC's best) around 86.

Scott, from what I remember is that WHTK dropped CHR for Country as K-99 in January, 1993. I believe they were involved with an LMA at the time with one of the Hilton Head stations (I want to say WFXH/WHHR). I do remember that the studios and offices that were on US 278 were vacated by early 93 when I've stopped by (I was working in Hilton Head at a non-radio job at the time). The format lasted close to 6-8 months before it flipped to a simulcast with WLOW. WLOW moved over to the 99.7 frequency for a short time before going back over to 106.9 and 99.7 had been cursed with a hodgepodge of formats throughout the remainder of the 90s and into the early part of the 2000s before becoming a Charleston station.

I do know that Sherry was long gone by the end of the CHR era of WHTK.

Robyn

 

[RobynWattsV2.0]

so what have we learned?

That chocolate ice cream is much better that vanilla and that chocolate and strawberry ice cream milkshakes are the best!!! ;D

Robyn

 

[Ssummers]

I remember WHTK was THE SH_T back in '88 and '89! I loved that station, loved the jingles, I even applied there in '88 but ended up getting the gig at Hot 94 in Charleston while waiting for Power 98 to sign on in Myrtle Beach.

That's very kind of you, Ric, thank you...I'll pass the compliments onto Ralph. He's in Atlanta basically doing voicework and some part time on-air work at one of the country stations....oh, yeah, and playing golf...LOTS of golf.

 

[freqdev]

That chocolate ice cream is much better that vanilla and that chocolate and strawberry ice cream milkshakes are the best!!! ;D

Robyn
[/quote]

ahh, the neopolitan milkshake. nice play.

 

[electroboy73]

WANS/Greenville-Spartanburg, "107 WANS" (mid/late 1980's) 

WBBO/Greenville-Spartanburg, "Power 93" (around 1990-91)

WKQB/Charleston, "Q107" (best of the best) (mid/late 1980's)  ;D

WNOK/Columbia, 104.7 (best in the 1980's...but, still not bad today)

 

[upstate29651]

That's very kind of you, Ric, thank you...I'll pass the compliments onto Ralph. He's in Atlanta basically doing voicework and some part time on-air work at one of the country stations....oh, yeah, and playing golf...LOTS of golf.

...and lest we forget, he's still the voice of the "Wild Wing Cafe".

G

 

[Ssummers]

That's very kind of you, Ric, thank you...I'll pass the compliments onto Ralph. He's in Atlanta basically doing voicework and some part time on-air work at one of the country stations....oh, yeah, and playing golf...LOTS of golf.

...and lest we forget, he's still the voice of the "Wild Wing Cafe".

G

Indeed he is, old chum...indeed he is.

 

[JohnQuincy]

What about WTMA in Charleston duing their Top 40 days -- early 60s through late 70s? Check out www.WTMAMemories.com for the evidence.