Does anyone remember "Smooth Jazz 99.5, WOAZ Lowell-Boston?
Today WCRB is on that frequency.
Today WCRB is on that frequency.
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Bygone Stations/Formats/DJs/Etc
- Thread starter LetsShakeOnIt
- Start date
Smooth jazz ... a musical fad I was so glad to see die.
At some point they were what was called "Easy Listening" at the time, under the calls WSSH-FM ("wish.") Their studios were in Woburn. They also owned 1510 which went through a number of callsign/format changes, including WSSH (same format as the FM, don't know if it was simulcast), WKKU (Country) and WNRB (Religious) among others.
And the DJ I think of when I think of that station is Jordsn Rich.
Back when people had to keep paper diaries for the ratings, somehow I got on their list 3X in one year. Specifically, I had a diary every other month for 6 months. My neighbor used to work for Greater Media (his car was decked out for WMJX). I asked him one time how the smooth jazz was doing on WCDJ. I didn't mention I listened all the time at work. He said "we can't figure it out...it's up one month, then down the next"
1510 was actually WSSH twice, all during the years while 99.5 was WSSH-FM.
The first time 1510 was WSSH was 1987-1989, that was running a national “Easy Listening” satellite feed, while the FM on 99.5 was live and local.
Then in 1989, 1510 became WKKU country for about a year, running a national country satellite feed.
1510 became “Easy Listening” WSSH again from 1990-1995, this time simulcasting the FM if I remember correctly. In 1995 1510 became religious WNRB.
Correct; he was the AM drive host.
Smooth jazz was first on 96.9, right after WJIB signed off there. I think the new call signs were WCDJ.
Then there was the country era at 96.9.
Smooth jazz returned to 96.9 at WSJZ, and then, in 1999, 96.9 was flipped to "96-9 FM Talk, WTKK". That format lasted a good 13 years till Greater Media put on that frequency the schlock that lives on to this day and that I could do without.
Back in the 50s and 60s, the old WHIL-AM would air racing results from either Suffolk Downs or Rockingham Park.
Every neighborhood had a corner bookie, and the old street number was based on a formula using race results.
The street number was a big deal - the old Record-American newspaper used to print editions labeled 7 Races and Payoff.
The street number on this day was 7 4 4
Even ill fated WTAO-TV got involved and many bars bought converters to watch the races which were beamed from East Boston to Woburn.
Every neighborhood had a corner bookie, and the old street number was based on a formula using race results.
The street number was a big deal - the old Record-American newspaper used to print editions labeled 7 Races and Payoff.
The street number on this day was 7 4 4
Even ill fated WTAO-TV got involved and many bars bought converters to watch the races which were beamed from East Boston to Woburn.
Jordan was also on the morning team at WRKO as a sidekick to Charlie Van Dyke... this would have been around 1980, I think he also ended up at WBZ.
WSMW channel 27 also carried racing from Suffolk Downs in the early '70s. The host was Mike Norton, about whom I know nothing else.
The WHIL results shows continued into the '70s and were hosted by the track announcers.
My grandmother lived with us and she would listen to the race results followed by the rosary
On Wednesday nights, WHDH aired the Mission Church and Tom Yawkey moved the start time to 8:30 PM for night games to avoid a conflict. That was Boston 70 years ago......
Jordan on Charlie's 'RKO morning show was the "meteorologist", as I recall. It was only many years later that "meteorologist" is not necessarily an indication that the person referred to was board-certified. I believe Jordan, besides being an affable and funny sidekick to Charlie, was the guy who merely delivered the weather forecast.
Jordan still does weekend featurettes on WBZ.
WRKO's "Now Radio" lineup in March 1967, right out of the starting gate:
Al Gates, 6-10 am
John Rode, 9 till noon
Joel Cash, noon till 3
JJ Jeffrey, 3-6 pm
Arnie Ginsburg, 6-9 pm (never actually on the air; they just played music)
Chuck Knapp, 9 till midnight
No host, midnight till 6 am
Al Gates, 6-10 am
John Rode, 9 till noon
Joel Cash, noon till 3
JJ Jeffrey, 3-6 pm
Arnie Ginsburg, 6-9 pm (never actually on the air; they just played music)
Chuck Knapp, 9 till midnight
No host, midnight till 6 am
Arnie Ginsburg WAS very briefly live on the air on WRKO. I remember I followed him over from WMEX, and heard him DJ’ing in his unique style on WRKO and announcing the songs. Must’ve been for only maybe a week or two at the most.
When I no longer heard him, I called WRKO and asked why. They couldn’t tell me.
Is it even legal to say "Arnie Ginsburg" without inserting "Woo Woo" between his first and last name?
For a while, WRKO played a song/jingle announcing itself, which went (IIRC) "It's the new WRKO, in Boston town / It's the new WRKO, puttin' all the rest down / WRKO's the station for the Now Generation / Now at six-eight-oh / WRKO!"
I remember Ed Miller of the Channel 7 afternoon movie fame filling in between the end of WNAC and the start of WRKO at night. I think there was a delay for the FCC to approve the call letter change. Ed tried his best, but he only had one jingle (the WRKO song mentioned above). I seem to remember that they were signing off at midnight during the change, rebuilding the studios for the new format. And as for why Woo Woo was only on briefly, didn't WMEX file suit, saying Arnie had a non-compete clause in his contract with them? I also remember that WRKO had a strike against them (I forget which union) not long after the format started. I forget the details, but they played non-stop music for a while.
I believe Woo Woo was also at WBZ for a time during the early 70s, doing a Saturday night oldies show.