Help with KRBE History

[willdav713]

> At the same time, KRBE-AM 1070 was a
> classic rock station.

1984-87. Much better than the current KKRW 93.7 or the old KZFX 107.5 ever was.

> This was before 1070 simulcasted the FM audio.

Which they did a number of times as filler in between other formats. When the classic rock got the axe in 1987, 1070 was a FM simulcast for a year, before flipping to Z-Rock KKZR. KKZR was dropped in 1991 and 1070 became a simulcast again under the KRBE calls. In early 1993, a youth oriented religious/positive format had a brief life on 1070 as KCRR "Community Rebuild Radio." This lasted only three months, then folded, so 1070 was back to the simulcast. The next year the station was sold to Salem and flipped to brokered KENR, which ended the KRBE-FM relationship.

Actually KRBE was classic rock until 1987 then KRBE FM Top 40 from 1987-1992 before it flipped to Contemporary Christian (It was never Z Rock, Z Rock was on 106.9 Subsequena never owned 106.9 as far KCRR I don't remember that one but from 1992-1994 KENR was Contemporary Christian then back to KRBE FM music using the KENR calls for a year or two however then became an International format later KFCC 1370 started to simulcast (I think they sold the 1070 freq back to the FCC because of the simulcast and call letters on 1370) This lasted until August 2000 and became the 1070 The Word Salem aquired 1070 AM and 106.9 was sold to Cox Radio.

106.9 was KKHU "You 106.9" Talk/Oldies after the KFMK 97.9 flip 1991-1993, then KKZR Z-rock 1993-1994 I started listening to Z-Rock after KYOK 1590 ceased being a standalone Rap Station, then 106.9 The Word 1994-2000.

 

[ChuckTiller]

Okay, I need to clarify something here. There was never a station on 1370 in this area. The station you are referring to is 1270 KIOX, Bay City, which would later become KFCC. The FCC does not own stations. Somebody managed to get those call letters approved at the FCC. Somebody at the FCC was NOT paying attention.The guy who owned KENR as an International station, also owned 1270 KIOX and moved illegally to Houston. I guess he thought the FCC would not notice. They did. He found himself in a lot of trouble. The license was subsequently transferred to Salem Communications. It remained a brokered format until 2000, when 106.9 KKHT was sold for $80 million dollars and 5 Cox stations in other markets. In December 2004, it became KNTH and has remained in it's current format since that time.

 

[jd]

The guy who owned KENR as an International station, also owned 1270 KIOX and moved illegally to Houston. I guess he thought the FCC would not notice. They did. He found himself in a lot of trouble. The license was subsequently transferred to Salem Communications.

To add a few details, the guy, Don Werlinger, didn't own KENR. He may have given people that idea, though, when in fact what he did was to sell time to ethnic broadcasters on 1070. When Werlinger heard about the pending sale of the station from Susquehanna to Salem, he scrambled to find a replacement station so that he could honor existing contracts for airtime. That's when he decided to move 1270 toward Houston, as "KFCC." He claimed that the existing "tower" in Bay City wasn't available and applied for a nearby "replacement" tower. Actually there were two towers in Bay City, Werlinger failed to prove they wouldn't be available and he gave a fictitious location for the replacement tower. A staffer at the FCC told him any replacement tower could not be a new one, but Werlinger built a new one anyway and told the FCC it was already in existence. In fact, it took the FCC about a month to discover that the tower coordinates he furnished to them were false, and by that time Werlinger had built the facility along the Harris County line near Missouri City.

The FCC, acting on complaints from adjacent-channel KWHI 1280 in Brenham, ordered KFCC off the air from that location and directed Werlinger to move it back to Bay City. Werlinger appealed the decision, although he reluctantly admitted afterward that he had lied to the FCC. After years of legal back and forth the FCC eventually revoked the license for KFCC and deleted the call letters. They also deemed Don Werlinger unfit to hold a broadcast license.

 

[ChuckTiller]

You are absolutely right, JD. Thanks for the clarity.

 

[cowboybud]

Actually KRBE was classic rock until 1987 then KRBE FM Top 40 from 1987-1992 before it flipped to Contemporary Christian (It was never Z Rock, Z Rock was on 106.9

AM 1070 WAS Z-Rock from summer '88 till 1/1/91. Z-Rock was on 106.9 from '92-'94. Both stations had the KKZR call letters.

 

[Mediafrog+]

Gotta correct some things here:

Actually KRBE was classic rock until 1987 then KRBE FM Top 40 from 1987-1992 before it flipped to Contemporary Christian (It was never Z Rock, Z Rock was on 106.9

Z-Rock was indeed on 1070 from 1988 to 1991, its first incarnation here in Houston. It was also on 106.9 from 1992-1995. Both times the stations had the KKZR call.

from 1992-1994 KENR was Contemporary Christian then back to KRBE FM music using the KENR calls for a year or two

After the demise of Z-Rock on 1070 it went back to the KRBE call and FM simulcast. KCRR was on 1070 for three months early in 1993, then the station went back (again) to the KRBE call and FM simulcast. KENR (re)appeared in 1994 with a brokered time business model (I seem to recall it was 1995 for that flip, but the FCC database has a 4/1/94 date for the call change.)

106.9 was KKHU "You 106.9" Talk/Oldies after the KFMK 97.9 flip 1991-1993, then KKZR Z-rock 1993-1994 I started listening to Z-Rock after KYOK 1590 ceased being a standalone Rap Station, then 106.9 The Word 1994-2000.

KKHU lasted only six months, from March-September, 1992. Z-Rock was then on 106.9 until March, 1995, when the sale and flip to KKHT occurred.


UPDATE: CowboyBud posted while I was typing my reply...

 

[soundblast]

Yes KRNR swished from classical to top 40 around 196 dong a fake drake format as go 1041. Compared to the am top 40 stations at the time it sounded like a really good small market station with cheap jingles to ad to things. I use to listing just to see who was on the air as the turnover was more than I have even know a station to have. The commercials were small buinesses who most likely could not effort the big stations. The play list was filled with goo songs but note were big hits the am stations were playing so record service must have been bad,

Then around 1970 it was progressive rock for a while but I am not sure, The next thing I remember was it went automated top 40. Then around 71 or 72 it went live top 40 with much better jocks and jingles.
Things went on until they went AC for a while in the 80's. Then went back to top 40 as other threads indicated. For sure it was one of the first fm top 40 stations ever

 

[Henry McClurg]

I first remember KRBE-FM in the late 70s or early 80s when they and KRLY (on the lower end of the FM dial) were competing with Top 40 formats. (I call it Top 40. Technically, the radio industry may have already started to call it something else by then.) On the AM side, KILT was still rockin' and KNUZ was (or had already) switched to country.

Well, that's my vague memory of back then.

 

[bobbranson]

I never worked for KRBE, but when I started in radio in 1968, they were on Kirby Drive (near Alabama, I believe.) They were rock, and a couple of their jocks the guys told me they would often get paid with trade-outs instead of money. "Sorry, but this week you get a set of tires for pay."
Also, KLOL's call letter change (from KTRH-FM) was way before 1980. As memory serves, it was early in 1970.

 

[hrhwebmaster]

Also, KLOL's call letter change (from KTRH-FM) was way before 1980. As memory serves, it was early in 1970.

According to an article in the Summer Cougar on Thursday, July 30, 1970, by Amusements Writer Eric Gerber, Mother was due to expose herself on Saturday, August 1, at 12 Noon. 'Mother' was a reference to Mother Radio, the 'self-inflicted' nickname of KLOL-FM.

 

[ChuckTiller]

A reminder for everyone who wants to know about radio history, you need to visit's Bruce's site:

http://houstonradiohistory.blogspot.com

He does a great job of nailing down the broadcast history of our area, from the beginning of broadcasting in the largest city in the south. I discover something new just about every time I visit.

Go and learn

 

[haljam]

I worked at KRBE from June 1966 to January 1967. I was told the RBE in the call letters stood for Roland Baker Enterprises, the owner of the station. We ran newspaper ads that suggested the call letters stood for "your Key to Radio Broadcasting Excellence." We were classical when I signed up. We were classical when I left to go to KXYZ in January of '67. KRBE was still classical until sometime late in '67, I think. The station moved to the Kirby Drive studios, just off the Southwest Freeway (59 South), in October of '66. The name of the street had nothing to do with our call letters.

JR

 

[mrh1960]

I first remember KRBE-FM in the late 70s or early 80s when they and KRLY (on the lower end of the FM dial) were competing with Top 40 formats. (I call it Top 40. Technically, the radio industry may have already started to call it something else by then.) On the AM side, KILT was still rockin' and KNUZ was (or had already) switched to country.

Well, that's my vague memory of back then.

Had a family reunion a while back and all of us "50 somethings" who grew up in Houston in the 70's were reminiscing about 70's radio...and we collectively recall the radio dial at that time being KRLY 94, KIKK 96, 96 1/2 KAUM, 98FM KFMK, FM100, 101 KLOL, KLYX 102 and KRBE. AM dial was KILT (The BIG 610), KIKK 650, 79 KULF, 1070 KENR and 1230 KNUZ. We added 55 KTSA from SA since it came in loud and clear in NW Houston at the time.

 

[willdav713]

I first remember KRBE-FM in the late 70s or early 80s when they and KRLY (on the lower end of the FM dial) were competing with Top 40 formats. (I call it Top 40. Technically, the radio industry may have already started to call it something else by then.) On the AM side, KILT was still rockin' and KNUZ was (or had already) switched to country.

Well, that's my vague memory of back then.

Had a family reunion a while back and all of us "50 somethings" who grew up in Houston in the 70's were reminiscing about 70's radio...and we collectively recall the radio dial at that time being KRLY 94, KIKK 96, 96 1/2 KAUM, 98FM KFMK, FM100, 101 KLOL, KLYX 102 and KRBE. AM dial was KILT (The BIG 610), KIKK 650, 79 KULF, 1070 KENR and 1230 KNUZ. We added 55 KTSA from SA since it came in loud and clear in NW Houston at the time.

What about KYND 92.5, KQQK 106.5, and KPAC 98.5? They existed in the 70s. I think KODA existed too back then?

 

[rageradio]

I don't think KQQK was around in the 70s. Those calls didn't pop up until mid 86. When it was Estereo Laser cento seis punto cinco. They were playing top 40 hits and extended versions and their djs spoke 'spanglish'. Sunday nights they had a metal show called Quieremos Rock. Previous calls for 106.5 were KUFO and KXKX. IIRC

 

[mrh1960]

I first remember KRBE-FM in the late 70s or early 80s when they and KRLY (on the lower end of the FM dial) were competing with Top 40 formats. (I call it Top 40. Technically, the radio industry may have already started to call it something else by then.) On the AM side, KILT was still rockin' and KNUZ was (or had already) switched to country.

Well, that's my vague memory of back then.

Had a family reunion a while back and all of us "50 somethings" who grew up in Houston in the 70's were reminiscing about 70's radio...and we collectively recall the radio dial at that time being KRLY 94, KIKK 96, 96 1/2 KAUM, 98FM KFMK, FM100, 101 KLOL, KLYX 102 and KRBE. AM dial was KILT (The BIG 610), KIKK 650, 79 KULF, 1070 KENR and 1230 KNUZ. We added 55 KTSA from SA since it came in loud and clear in NW Houston at the time.

What about KYND 92.5, KQQK 106.5, and KPAC 98.5? They existed in the 70s. I think KODA existed too back then?

Yeah...there were lots of others but we were remembering what we listened to as teen agers at that time (rock, top 40 and country)......our parents were tuned into KYND, KODA and KQUE...and probably some others we knew nothing about..

 

[hrhwebmaster]

I first remember KRBE-FM in the late 70s or early 80s when they and KRLY (on the lower end of the FM dial) were competing with Top 40 formats. (I call it Top 40. Technically, the radio industry may have already started to call it something else by then.) On the AM side, KILT was still rockin' and KNUZ was (or had already) switched to country.

Well, that's my vague memory of back then.

Had a family reunion a while back and all of us "50 somethings" who grew up in Houston in the 70's were reminiscing about 70's radio...and we collectively recall the radio dial at that time being KRLY 94, KIKK 96, 96 1/2 KAUM, 98FM KFMK, FM100, 101 KLOL, KLYX 102 and KRBE. AM dial was KILT (The BIG 610), KIKK 650, 79 KULF, 1070 KENR and 1230 KNUZ. We added 55 KTSA from SA since it came in loud and clear in NW Houston at the time.

What about KYND 92.5, KQQK 106.5, and KPAC 98.5? They existed in the 70s. I think KODA existed too back then?

Yeah...there were lots of others but we were remembering what we listened to as teen agers at that time (rock, top 40 and country)......our parents were tuned into KYND, KODA and KQUE...and probably some others we knew nothing about..

I was going to say you guys needed to put some new tubes in your Zeniths if that's all you could pick up.

AQH Rtgs, Metro, M-S, 6-12, 12+, Oct/Nov ‘71. Frequency in parentheses for stations that have changed calls.

KAUM (96.5) .6
KCOH .4
KENR (1070) .5
KFRD (980, Rosenberg) .2
KFRD-FM (104.9) .2
KIKK 1.0
KIKK-FM .5
KILT 1.6
KLEF (94.5) .2
KLOL (101.1) .2
KLYX (102.1) .2
KNUZ (1230) .2
KODA (1010) .2
KODA-FM .3
KPRC .7
KQUE-FM (102.9) .5
KRBE - .3
KRLY .1
KTRH 1.3
KULF (790) 1.1
KXYZ 1.0
KYND (92.5) .6
KYOK (1590) .9

Not showing up were KILT-FM/KOST-FM (100.3), Galveston, Baytown, Texas City, Freeport or Conroe stations plus KUHF, KPFT and KTRU-FM

Only KODA and KFRD were simulcast operations

KAUM and KYND were tied for 9th, the only FMs in the Top 10

 

[thebeach33445]

Hey Guys:

I looked up the Houston history site but I still can find these questions that I am researching:

1. The exact date that KRBE 104.1 went to AC and the exact date KRBE went back to Top 40.

2. The exact date that KRBE 1070 went Classic Rock and the exact date that 1070 went Z-ROCK in 1988.

Can anybody help?

Thanks

T.J.

 

[lesj39]

I remember back in 1971 I visited KRBE. It was automated Hit Parade format that really sounded stale. Across the hall was KBNO and Johnny Goyen was on the air. Johnny is probably the kindest most professional person I ever met in the business.
Then one day in 1972 or 73, KRBE went live and played the same song over and over again for a solid 24 hours. The jocks played as if nothing was different. And so the era of KRBE being a powerhouse started.

 

[AndyWaldrop]

Then one day in 1972 or 73, KRBE went live and played the same song over and over again for a solid 24 hours. The jocks played as if nothing was different. And so the era of KRBE being a powerhouse started.

And that song was "Rock And Roll, Part 2," by Gary Glitter.