'KB was One of America's Two Great Stations. Which was the other?

[chas108]

Any radio junkie worthy of his Sennheiser HD-414's or Koss Pro4aa's can vividly recall every ounce of energy Armstrong put into howling "Your leeeeeeeaader" over the intro of the jingle that sounded like the bridge in Chicago's "Beginnings" or a Don Berns talk-up of the intro to the KB jingle that sounded like the Beatles' "Come Together." (These weren't the Pop Tops, these were the actual jingles.) Very often, they were as good or better than the songs that followed and they sound every bit as good today.

Agreed, THE best jingles EVER.

B94/Pittsburgh tried something similar in 1998...no they didn't round up a bunch of local players in Dallas and take them into Pams...but they created a package with Reelworld that used several cuts mimicking current hits of the day. The best one had "Today's Hit Music" sung Chumbawamba-style and when their imaging guy played them for me I immediately thought of the '71 KB package.

I think that's the ONLY time I can recall another station trying that. Yeah you'd have to update them every couple years tops but if you're a current-based format shouldn't you be doing that anyway?!

Jeff was definitely the type of PD who promoted from within...when it was appropriate to the sound he was creating.
I was only in Hartford for two months in 1967, btw. I worked in Providence from 1967-1970, after which I worked at WTRY until the big shakeup at KB in October when Armstrong and I were hired.

Was 'KB his first PD gig? If I read David Fill's site correctly, Jeff was hired for evenings and then promoted to PD...if true it amazes me that someone with so little experience created that kind of magic, I guess on sheer talent, instinct and guts.

Jim, even though most PD's hate it because it's too inside, I always enjoy it when jocks comment about something at the radio station. Joey Reynolds also did that when he was on KB and even though I didn't work in radio, somehow I knew what he was talking about.

Same here, I usually understood even at 14 what was going on...but like most things it comes down to execution.

Yesterday I filled in for the PM Drive guy. At one point the Production Director came into the studio and commented, "Nadine (receptionist, visible in lobby thru studio window)'s sad today. (PM Drive guy) dances for her and misses him today. It would really make her day if you'd dance for her."

Big difference between me and the PM Drive guy...about 100 lbs. or so difference - in his favor. He's a marathon runner, I'm not. It's a bit just begging to be shared on-air...but alas no one does that anymore, inside humor and all...so I just played air guitar Johnny Fever-style, made Nadine laugh and kept it to ourselves.

So instead I keyed the mic as the song was finishing - Miranda Lambert's "Only Prettier" with that gem of a lyric "I'll keep drinking, you'll keep getting skinnier", and said..."Miranda, you'd have to drink an entire distillery to make me look skinnier".

At least we get to have some fun...

Ok back to thread now. My apologies if I was, well, too inside.

 

[Mike Sheridan]

Chas I'm a firm believer in if you want the listeners to have fun listening to you then YOU need to be having fun! Nobody believes in creating the atmosphere anymore. Thanks for doing what you can in the confines of the format.

The guys at KB always sounded like they were having a non-stop party. That and music along with tje lure of techie toys were an irresistible attraction to me.

 

[chas108]

Chas I'm a firm believer in if you want the listeners to have fun listening to you then YOU need to be having fun! Nobody believes in creating the atmosphere anymore. Thanks for doing what you can in the confines of the format.

The guys at KB always sounded like they were having a non-stop party. That and music along with tje lure of techie toys were an irresistible attraction to me.

Thanks for the kind words Mike. That party atmosphere made me pursue the business in the first place. Listening back to old 'KB airchecks now, I'm always impressed with how well they executed the format - and had fun at the same time. Tight formats and fun don't have to be mutually exclusive. At least as long as the suits down the hall get it. Plus I agree with you about the lure of techie toys...that aspect has always been fascinating to me, and always will.

 

[cee]

as long as the suits down the hall get it.

And therein lies the main problem. When you're young and listening to the radio at home, you have no idea what's going on behind the scenes at your favorite radio station(s). Of course nowadays, more than ever before, there's the suits in the corporate suites in some distant city.

 

[Debaser]

Nonetheless, one of the major critiques we always got was not to be "too inside" with what we said because the average listener didn't care, understand or want to know. Good thing you guys are above average!

 

[Mike Sheridan]

Nonetheless, one of the major critiques we always got was not to be "too inside" with what we said because the average listener didn't care, understand or want to know. Good thing you guys are above average!

I know we got the same critique too, no inside stuff. Okay but I think a little is okay, maybe because it fed my interest.

Before Napster went commercial I was able to find some airchecks of WKBW from 1964. There are some real moments of brilliance there that you don't hear on the radio. Mind you it's loose by today's standards but Danny Neaverth comes out of the Beach Boy's Fun, Fun, Fun talking about daddy taking her T-Bird away and says he drives a Pontiac Tempest, then wants to know if it was okay to say that, he wants to know if there are any car commercials coming up and says he's always getting in trouble that way. A little bit inside. Then there is a funny bit where they play 3 copies of "I Saw Her Standing There" by the Beatles at the same time, Danny counts them off first 4 then 8 and finally 12 Beatles!! The air is full of Beatles he says at one point. A funny bit, these guys were kings. You had the feeling they could say or do anything they wanted (almost).

Joey came on and said he didn't like the Beatles because he thought they were getting too much attention. He also has this bit where he's going to sing along with Lesley Gore's record "You Don't Own Me". After a big build up about how hard he has been practicing for this moment the record starts and he is foiled because it's the French version, he only knows the English words. Silly, but silly fun. Joey also does a funny turn on a Command Hair Creme spot saying that he got kicked off the account for saying it was made in Grease. In the process he is actually doing the commercial. Again silly but very creative and that's what I always liked about these guys. They put some effort into what they were doing. You never wanted to turn off the radio because you were afraid you'd miss something.

That made WKBW great!

 

[chas108]

Nonetheless, one of the major critiques we always got was not to be "too inside" with what we said because the average listener didn't care, understand or want to know. Good thing you guys are above average!

I know we got the same critique too, no inside stuff. Okay but I think a little is okay, maybe because it fed my interest.

I've come to understand if you can make it relate to the listener, you have a better chance of getting away with it. (Although the PD's always going to offer that critique)

Our company wants personalities who are "great storytellers", and I look for ways to do just that even if it's :15 about the weekly email newsletter.

Sean Ross had a couple recent columns that got me thinking.

http://www.radio-info.com/newsletter/html/ror-10192010.html?utm_source=Subscribers&utm_campaign=b9b137ec76-ROR_10_21_2010&utm_medium=email

A lot of on-air work now sounds as if it could be voice-tracked - even if live - simply because the talent sounds divorced from the content instead of engaging it. In contrast, anyone can tell Danny Neaverth and Joey Reynolds were involved with the content in the above examples.

 

[Mike Sheridan]

I read that article and was quite relieved that someone else noticed something that I had been saying for a long time. There was a reason AT40 was popular, Casey talked about the music and the people who made it.

In my last on air job, sometimes I tracked and sometimes it was live. I found that when it was live I was actually doing my show on the phone talking and cutting up with the listeners that called. To my relief they seemed to like it and we both had some fun!

 

[John C]

Since we're hopelessly into another KB thread I ask a question that I don't know the answer to. Maybe it's obvious to some of you but...After Danny, which jock do you think was #2 in terms of length of time on the air at KB? Just curious.

 

[chas108]

Since we're hopelessly into another KB thread I ask a question that I don't know the answer to. Maybe it's obvious to some of you but...After Danny, which jock do you think was #2 in terms of length of time on the air at KB? Just curious.

Fred Klestine or Sandy Beach (two stints)?

 

[Mike Sheridan]

If news guys count Jim Fagan would probably be in the running. Fred or Sandy are probably right. One thing for sure Danny is way out in front, he was at KB a long time.

 

[chas108]

Stability is a mark of a great station in my book...Dan Ingram stayed at WABC almost 20 years...Harry Harrison and Ron Lundy also had a long tenure there. Also Rick Sklar was PD there for some 15 years.

 

[SirRoxalot]

Well, if you made it to WABC, were successful and well-paid, where else was there to go? It's not like you can move up from Market #1...

 

[chas108]

Well, if you made it to WABC, were successful and well-paid, where else was there to go? It's not like you can move up from Market #1...

True Sir, but you could always be fired...for myriad reasons. Or maybe your career goals meant your current station is a stepping stone, even if to go into TV or otherwise leave the business...or you become dissatisfied with your current job and move on...or any one of a bunch of things.

What got me thinking about it was the comparative turnover at WLS during the same time frame. Chicago was #2 in those days...and certainly a career destination like NYC. 'LS was still top dog during most of that period, just not the same continuity in talent as its NYC sister.

Anyway I suppose this could make a thread of its own. Stations with stable staffs vs. high turnover and their comparative long-term success. I assume there has to be evidence somewhere that Danny Neaverth's continued presence at 'KB helped it survive long after most AM Music stations had packed it in.

 

[JustPastBuffalo]

WABC was a legendary station, but it surprised me to learn that it wasn't the "highest paid shop in America" despite being market Number One, One, One, One. In conversations with two people, both of whom turned down offers at WABC, I was told that the AFTRA scale was very good indeed, but stations in LA, Chicago and Boston paid equal or more. Buffalo's esteemed Tom Shannon told me Rick Sklar offered him a weekend gig at WABC with a very healthy AFTRA scale salary. Options to make money doing commercials and fill-in made the opportunity even more attractive but he chose not to accept the job. Another jock (who will remain nameless because he thought people would never believe he was offered a gig at WABC) told me he was offered a summer relief overnight gig at WABC that would have reverted to part time. The position paid more than morning drive at some Buffalo stations, but not as much as he could make at WCFL Chicago (The Voice of Labor.) He thought 99X (RKO's WOR-FM which began as an AOR and later turned Top 40 as WXLO/99X) was a much better station than WABC but never got an offer from them, so he chose to go to Chicago. Luxury of luxuries to have such a choice.

 

[Mike Sheridan]

Does anyone here know the name Roby Younge? Roby worked at WQAM Miami and was very popular. Rick Sklar hired him at WABC but Roby was like a fish out of water, he just didn't fit the sound of WABC he knew his contract would not be renewed so one night while filling on a late night shift he started talking about the "Paul is dead" stuff and was shown the door.

Roby was never the same after that. He went back to Miami and worked around at a few stations. He died at an early age from too much drinking. So there is nowhere to go after #1.

 

[MsMusicRadio]

Well, if you made it to WABC, were successful and well-paid, where else was there to go? It's not like you can move up from Market #1...

Radio Luxembourg?

 

[cee]

Radio Luxembourg?

John Lennon's favorite station as a teenager. BBC never played the hits then.

 

[Debaser]

Does anyone here know the name Roby Younge? Roby worked at WQAM Miami and was very popular. Rick Sklar hired him at WABC but Roby was like a fish out of water, he just didn't fit the sound of WABC he knew his contract would not be renewed so one night while filling on a late night shift he started talking about the "Paul is dead" stuff and was shown the door.

Roby was never the same after that. He went back to Miami and worked around at a few stations. He died at an early age from too much drinking. So there is nowhere to go after #1.

I certainly remember the name. He was at 'ABC when I was first getting into radio and spent many a night in university dorm rooms listening to the powerhouse stations. I haven't thought about him since then, though.

 

[chas108]

Does anyone here know the name Roby Younge? Roby worked at WQAM Miami and was very popular. Rick Sklar hired him at WABC but Roby was like a fish out of water, he just didn't fit the sound of WABC he knew his contract would not be renewed so one night while filling on a late night shift he started talking about the "Paul is dead" stuff and was shown the door.

Roby was never the same after that. He went back to Miami and worked around at a few stations. He died at an early age from too much drinking. So there is nowhere to go after #1.

I certainly remember the name. He was at 'ABC when I was first getting into radio and spent many a night in university dorm rooms listening to the powerhouse stations. I haven't thought about him since then, though.

I'd never heard of Roby...but during my WWVA/Wheeling years (1989-92) I worked with a guy who'd done mid-days at WABC back in about 1961-62 or so. Farrell Smith was his name, don't know if he's still alive...I found it hard to believe until he produced a postcard where the entire airstaff is on Vespas side-by-side...there he was, beside Herb Oscar Anderson. I've seen that postcard on the Musicradio 77 site. I remember his claiming to have made $150K/year there...hard to imagine - especially in light of JimPastrick's post above. But that's what he claimed.

Also hard to imagine - in the opposite direction - I heard several years ago from someone with CC friends who would be in a position to know, that Z100 had a PD opening for only $100K...had to be 2003 or thereabouts.