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Intersting stuff on KVI-FM

Yes, I remember The Sherwood Inn in the late '70s and it DID have a radio station in it. Just couldn't remember which one (I was 12.)

But these days, I think it's actually kinda cooler now than these yuppie mega-complex buildings they put stations in these days! (Sorry Fisher Plaza...) More interesting stories to tell.....
 
Thanks, Rich, for the lead on this thread. Fascinating to read...I remember when KVI-FM assumed control of KETO @ the Sherwood and one evening some of us from KING went up there and hung out for awhile. Initially it didn't feel like competition, but I could tell handwriting was CLEARLY on the wall that AM music stations were on the verge of a downward spiral.

FRANKly, I always thought their first PD was quite a tool ... wasn't sure how he got that coveted FM/CHR PD gig!!? I approached him with a whole "business plan" for news aspects (taking best of what KVI-AM newsroom had to offer but keeping it all contemporary) and he turned around and hired Bill Rice (first as a jock, then as news) which was at least palatable because I like Bill a lot. Better than taking a plan and implementing it as "his own" idea. Come to think of it...not sure if the evolution of the PD-Ship to Jeff King was a step up or down? Anyway, I wound up getting news gig @ KYYX instead and that was more fun. I do remember a handful of music edits to keep the sanitization intact (one I remember most was Chuck E's in Love..."Oh {clip} I think he's even combed his hair". Gutsy move when Rickie Lee Jones lives within listening area in Tacoma, no less!!!
 
Bongwater said:
The Sherwood Inn in the late '70s and it DID have a radio station in it. Just couldn't remember which one...
Click to expand...

'twas the ol' KETO-FM * started at the Sherwood's hotel lobby in 1974,
later sold to Golden West Broadcasters and became KVI-FM in late '76

they moved the studios to the Plaza 600 Bldg in late '78
 
Thanks for sharing that as well. I wasn't even a teen yet the first time I tuned into 101.5 "the FM KVI" when it was on air, thought it was strange because my parents often listened to KVI AM. I can tell you it was the FIRST FM top-40 station I ever listened to. And LBB, KYYX was a close second. I'm the generation that KJR, KTAC, KING couldn't keep, not that I didn't like them. I listened to those AM's but decided FM had better sound and a cleaner signal even back in those days on a mono radio... It wasn't too much longer when I found out about KISW, KZOK and hard rock. Then, new wave, then oh well..they're all oldies now. Those are some interesting stories regarding the FM KVI. Would have never known at my age then.
 
I was program director of KVI-AM in the late 70's...then became the National Program Director of parent company Golden West Broadcasters. I remember the Sherwood Inn incantation of "The fm KVI" (note the lower case "fm")...that was the way the logo presented it in those days. Frank Colburn was the "idiosyncratic" PD in those early days. A good guy, with good intentions...just a bit inexperienced at that time. Frank was hired by KVI-FM's first general manager, Todd Bitts (also a very good guy, who's passion for radio is missed).
The station moved to the Plaza 600 bldg downtown Seattle sometime in 78 or 79. When I was national PD I actually hired Jeff King (found him in West Texas...Lubbock I think...for PD in that era. Golden West was primarily an AM company (KMPC, LA; KSFO, SF; KEX, Portland and KVI-AM. In the late 70's they moved into FM's, but never really realized big gains. Always kind of boutique FM stations. My job in those days...besides re-formatting ledgendary KMPC (Robert W. Morgan, Wink Martindale, Gary Owens, etc) was to try to keep the giant AM's alive, in the world of exploding FM growth. It was a great job. A lot of travel and red-carpet treatment (Golden West wsas kind of a "country club" company in those days...I mean it was "The Singing Cowboy"). Kind of the end of "the Golden Era". I left Golden West in 1981, as the company was starting to cave-in with the "Keep the Music AM's alive" philosophy. I joined the Marriott family as a rookie General Manager to launch a new music FM in Seattle...93.3, called "The New 93"...and later added the call letters: KUBE. I was there as GM for 13 years...then put an equity group together in '95 and bought the station, in a company I founded, called "New Centry Media". What great memories.
 
Great to read the 'official' story of those days, Michael. And I still owe you for one of the biggest six-hour rushes of my career: a sudden all-night board shift on KVI in its glory days. It was a snowy Sunday night into Monday morning in late '78 when all the other weekend help couldn't make it in. I even got a 'nice job' from Hardwick when he relieved me!
 
MichaelOShea said:
I was program director of KVI-AM in the late 70's...then became the National Program Director of parent company Golden West Broadcasters. I remember the Sherwood Inn incantation of "The fm KVI" (note the lower case "fm")...that was the way the logo presented it in those days. Frank Colburn was the "idiosyncratic" PD in those early days. A good guy, with good intentions...just a bit inexperienced at that time. Frank was hired by KVI-FM's first general manager, Todd Bitts (also a very good guy, who's passion for radio is missed).
The station moved to the Plaza 600 bldg downtown Seattle sometime in 78 or 79. When I was national PD I actually hired Jeff King (found him in West Texas...Lubbock I think...for PD in that era. Golden West was primarily an AM company (KMPC, LA; KSFO, SF; KEX, Portland and KVI-AM. In the late 70's they moved into FM's, but never really realized big gains. Always kind of boutique FM stations. My job in those days...besides re-formatting ledgendary KMPC (Robert W. Morgan, Wink Martindale, Gary Owens, etc) was to try to keep the giant AM's alive, in the world of exploding FM growth. It was a great job. A lot of travel and red-carpet treatment (Golden West wsas kind of a "country club" company in those days...I mean it was "The Singing Cowboy"). Kind of the end of "the Golden Era". I left Golden West in 1981, as the company was starting to cave-in with the "Keep the Music AM's alive" philosophy. I joined the Marriott family as a rookie General Manager to launch a new music FM in Seattle...93.3, called "The New 93"...and later added the call letters: KUBE. I was there as GM for 13 years...then put an equity group together in '95 and bought the station, in a company I founded, called "New Centry Media". What great memories.
Click to expand...

I remember KBLE-FM, pre-KUBE in 1979-80. A real snooze. Lots of Southern Gospel, some country, a Hawaiian music show, B/EZ. Never really paid much attention until in mid-March - almost within days of it's actual sign on, people began talking about something called the "New 93 FM". I thought they were out of their minds until I actually heard what was suddenly then playing on 93.3 MHz. And I was hooked for nearly a year and a half....then again in 1988-1989.

When KUBE did it's "New Music Revolution" alternative experiment in 1994, that was the third time and probably the last I can remember when I was a nearly-devoted KUBE listener.

I kinda miss the old KUBE "Every time you turn us on, you hear a song" I'm not particularly fond of what they are playing now. But KUBE in it's (REAL) old school days was a model and gem on the Seattle radio dial. And launched a LOT of careers from Charlie & Ty to Chet Buchanan and Rusty "Hollywood" Humphries.....

Yours truly voiced a few commercial spots that aired on KUBE in 1990 (just before it's "Rhythmic" incarnation.) That station had the most magnificent sound processing I have ever heard to this day of ANY FM station and to hear my voice on that was an honor itself (even though the same spots also ran on a few others - KNUA anyone?, KUBE always sounded the BEST!)
 
Interesting thread and history. KUBE and KVI-FM, then KPLZ, then STAR have quite a past. I picked up in jr high in the last days of Jeff King and the arrival of Kent and Alan. The Charlie and Ty against Kent and Alan battles may have been the last of the real CHR morning wars in Seattle. KUBE vs KPLZ vs KNBQ vs KHIT. Four CHR's playing the exact same play lists. Gary Bryan (KNBQ) and Andy somebody (KHIT) disappeared quickly in the morning battles leaving KUBE and KPLZ as I recall. I thought KUBE was the deal through the 80's, but by 1990 KPLZ was on top. I remember an article in the paper when they hit a 10 share or something like it. Remember when stations got double digit shares 12+? I left for college and by the time I got back in 1994/1995 KUBE was rhythmic, KPLZ was STAR and I was listening to the END. Charlie and Ty disappeared onto the 70's station and then were gone. Great memories. For the last 12-15 years KUBE has remained pretty solid in owning 18-34 and KPLZ has stayed true to owning women 25-54. Says something about these signals. The T-Man is a solid 18-34 morning show and Kent and Alan remain as the last show from the CHR days in Seattle with a faithful core of female listeners. I feel true CHR really disappeared as a format by 1996 splintered apart by Mainstream Top 40, Adult Top 40, Alternative and Rhythmic Top 40. Wonder if the old KUBE with the big morning show and hot hits or the old KPLZ with the big morning show and hot hits would even survive. Too much fragmentation. Ah memories as I lumber toward 40. Kinda cool that Micheal O'Shea was a part of the legacy of KUBE and KPLZ, thanks for the history.

On the sales side, I would venture to say that KUBE and KPLZ both bill more today than they did in 1990 when they were on top of the world with a ten share. When I first got into sales a 5,000,000 dollar year would be HUGE. Today that would be a disaster.
 
djdan said:
Interesting thread and history. KUBE and KVI-FM, then KPLZ, then STAR have quite a past. I picked up in jr high in the last days of Jeff King and the arrival of Kent and Alan. The Charlie and Ty against Kent and Alan battles may have been the last of the real CHR morning wars in Seattle. KUBE vs KPLZ vs KNBQ vs KHIT. Four CHR's playing the exact same play lists. Gary Bryan (KNBQ) and Andy somebody (KHIT) disappeared quickly in the morning battles leaving KUBE and KPLZ as I recall. I thought KUBE was the deal through the 80's, but by 1990 KPLZ was on top. I remember an article in the paper when they hit a 10 share or something like it. Remember when stations got double digit shares 12+? I left for college and by the time I got back in 1994/1995 KUBE was rhythmic, KPLZ was STAR and I was listening to the END. Charlie and Ty disappeared onto the 70's station and then were gone. Great memories. For the last 12-15 years KUBE has remained pretty solid in owning 18-34 and KPLZ has stayed true to owning women 25-54. Says something about these signals. The T-Man is a solid 18-34 morning show and Kent and Alan remain as the last show from the CHR days in Seattle with a faithful core of female listeners. I feel true CHR really disappeared as a format by 1996 splintered apart by Mainstream Top 40, Adult Top 40, Alternative and Rhythmic Top 40. Wonder if the old KUBE with the big morning show and hot hits or the old KPLZ with the big morning show and hot hits would even survive. Too much fragmentation. Ah memories as I lumber toward 40. Kinda cool that Micheal O'Shea was a part of the legacy of KUBE and KPLZ, thanks for the history.

On the sales side, I would venture to say that KUBE and KPLZ both bill more today than they did in 1990 when they were on top of the world with a ten share. When I first got into sales a 5,000,000 dollar year would be HUGE. Today that would be a disaster.
Click to expand...

You can pretty much thank Guy Zapoleon for the contemporary music splintering in the 90s. Though it would have been likely done by someone else, Nationwide Communications and Guy had the stones to execute the format in Houston. Ran like wildfire after that.

The billing thing is kind of amusing. Yes, five mil was good coin then. But then again, Rick Astley, Chicago, Bette Midler and George Harrison had some of the most-played songs in Top 40 in that timeframe as well.

You know the artist who had the number three song of 1989, according to Billboard's "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop" in 1989? Al Jarreau.

Times change.
 
Great stuff. This thread reads like a replay of my Seattle radio experience.

One historical note...the first FM top40 in Seattle was not "The FM KVI" or KYYX, it was KOL-FM, which simulcasted their top 40 AM during some hours and ran an automated Top40 service during other hours. This would have been the early 70's, after the "underground" years. I believe this lasted up to 1975 when KOL-FM became beautiful music KEUT-FM, then eventually KMPS-FM.
 
I'm remembering KOL-FM was running tape automation 24 hours. KOL-AM was live 6a-6p, then simulcasted with the FM at night. This was just after we cleaned house and fired all the FM jocks and the AM jocks and I think the lineup on the AM included Jim Bach, maybe Sandy Hamilton, and for some reason Jack Bolton comes to mind. We did those cute little vignettes, maybe from Chuck Blore?

When the staff got canned, they all got Kawasaki bikes as a going-away present. I'll bet Clear Channel can't match that.

Later, after Manning Slater bought the stations, the same automation system was used for the Schulke beautiful music format on KEUT, which was a copy of KEWT in Sacramento, and KOL-AM, as KMPS, became a copy of KRAK in Sacramento. Ron Norwood came in from Spokane to program KMPS.

Unfortunately, I was the engineer who had to move a few walls around for the automation just before the KOL staffs exited. Then one day, several big blue racks arrived from Schafer, with tape decks and Carousels. Today of course we do it all on a $500 computer.
 
Bill Wolfenbarger said:
We did those cute little vignettes, maybe from Chuck Blore?
Click to expand...

Those were indeed Blore. Great stuff like putting a dog to sleep leading into "Me & You and a Dog Named Boo" ... or a guy seeing his wife in his friend's vacation slides into "Bad Blood [Sedaka]". Blore even still plays those occasionally when he's on a panel. Bob Hamilton (founder, New RadioStar) was his partner in crime on those things.
 
Bongwater said:
KUBE in it's (REAL) old school days was a model and gem on the Seattle radio dial. And launched a LOT of careers from Charlie & Ty to Chet Buchanan and Rusty "Hollywood" Humphries.....
Click to expand...

I would have disputed that KUBE launched Chet's career...I worked with him at KNBQ in 1985-86, and he was an amazingly talented part timer then, so I would maintain that it was "The Q" that was his launch. But to be fair, before I posted this, I asked him today what HE thought his launchpad was and he said this:

"I was at KRKO in Everett before KNBQ. Truth of the matter is, Z100 in Portland was the real launch. I had a 16 share (67 in teens!!) when I was barely 18!!"

Elsewhere in this thread was the mention of the 4-way CHR fight between 93.3 KUBE, 97.3 KNBQ. 101.5 KPLZ and 106.9 KHIT. Probably the biggest war ever in US Top 40 radio. I had joined KNBQ in 1984 after 6 years on-air in my hometown of Minneapolis, and really loved the Northwest, although the start was a little shaky. Here's the tale:

Even though I grew up in Minnesota, I'd spend 4 years in San Jose, California as a teen ('72-'76) while my father worked at some of the tech firms in Silicon Valley. Great radio - KFRC, KLIV, KYA and the emerging progressive rock formats on FM. It was at KYA that in 1976, I got a summertime job answering request lines for Gary Bryan, who was using "Jumbo Jack" Bryan on the air at the time. After leaving California and returning to Minnesota, I stayed in touch with Gary. Fast forward to 1984. Ready for something new to advance my career, I was ready to leave WLOL after 4 years. Gary suggested I send a tape to KNBQ and its PD Sean Lynch. I did that and soon was talking to the OM (Don Hoffman) about a job, which I eventually accepted. I don't recall ever speaking to Sean, but figured that the OM did the hiring, and I'd be managed by Sean day to day. I quit, packed up, and drove all the way to Washington State. I found a great place in Gig Harbor right away and called Gary to say "thanks...I'm here".

Gary informed me that he had been trying to reach me through people back in Minnesota. Sean had been fired.

Uh-oh.

Well, it all worked out. Don was a great OM, I heard a lot of great old-school stories (old school in '84, that is) from GM Jack Bankson, Ric Hansen was both morning man and the new PD and we had a lot of fun over the next couple of years before I left for Milwaukee and new adventures in album rock radio in 1987. I always thought Ric was an Iron Man for being able to do the morning show, be the PD all day, and then make the drive to Olympia to do the 6pm Washington State Lottery numbers...then go home.

I'm still in touch with Gary - one of the greatest guys ever in our biz. When I went to the R&R convention in '03, he invited me to KRTH for the morning show and I got to hang out in the studio for his last couple of hours...what a thrill. He even introduced me on the air and let me say: "Hello Boss Angeles".

I'd love to know what the people I worked with on-air are doing now (I'll ask about others in sales, etc in another post - you know - one thought per break). While I was there, I worked with Ric Hansen, Chet Rogers, RP McMurphy & Mark, Tim Edwards, Jeff Randall, Sandy Louie, Joel Block, Remy Cole, Von Williams, Slim, Vic Orlando

Jay Philpott
KNBQ, 1984-1987
currently St. Louis at Bonneville's WARH (106-5 The Arch)
 
Hey, Jay ... LOVE your collection on ReelRadio. Some great NW rock. I think we BARELY missed each other at KNBQ....

Anyway some of the folks:
Ric Hansen: Owns/Runs "Radio Parties" -- a mobile dance effort that leverages a station brand and Ric's mobile DJ's & gear. They do a revenue share.
Chet Rogers: Still in Seattle...haven't talked to him in about five years, but I think he still has an ad agency here (small one)
RP McMurphy: Someone posted recently but I forget where he is. The "& Mark" is probably Mark Pierce, whom someone posted here was having health issues. That is unconfirmed.
Joel Block: Did long-time career as KIRO traffic reporter...when I saw him (about 16 years ago) his goal was to BE the next major Seattle traffic reporter and I think he wanted a chopper license. He certainly landed the traffic role .. has been off air in the market for a few years.
Slim: In Arizona and not very interested in the business unless it were to stop being so rule-driven and became a "playground" again. We were in touch when Mike Phillips passed away. She was married to Ron Erak (probably at KUBE when you were at KNBQ) for awhile.
Vic Orlando: Creative Dir for Clear Channel/Seattle. Cranks out some exceptional work!
 
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