I've been trying to dig up information on previous formats for KLUC and haven't had much luck. I know they were a rock-based top 40 for awhile, and they had a brief stint of disco, but have they been some variation of contemporary hits since they went on the air? I know that top 40 was just emerging at that time, but I haven't found much information on KLUC's format until the '70s. I'd love some knowledge on this issue.
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KLUC Original years
- Thread starter theradioexpert
- Start date
George Thomas has a great site devoted to LV radio history that includes a page about KLUC. But it's down for now. It's in the process of changing web hosting companies.
I remember reading on GTs site that KLUC can trace it's roots to KRBO-AM that signed on in 1956. When Jack Daniels (Floyd Thackery) passed away I remember that the obit said he started his career in the 1950s at "top 40 station KRBO/Las Vegas". So that would mean that KLUC has been some variation of Top 40 from the start.
I can tell you for a fact that KLUC was never full time disco. They might have had a short lived disco show at night. I also remember they featured "disco starsets" where they played 3 or 4 disco songs in a row. They also had starsets for various non-disco acts such as Kansas, Styx, Foreigner, etc. KLUC was mostly rock based throughout the disco craze.
The one and only full time disco station in Las Vegas was AM1230 KLAV. They were called Disco 1-2-3. They flipped to disco in late 1978 at the peak of the fad. By 1980 disco was dead and they evolved to a very urban leaning CHR. In the early 80s KLAV played all the urban cossovers that KLUC wouldn't touch such as "Double Dutch Bus" and "She's A Bad Mama Jama". They even dabbled in the earliest hip hop such as "Planet Rock".
In that era (when there weren't very many signals) KLUC had like a 12 share and KLAV had around a 6 which wasn't bad for an AM Top 40 in the early 80s. Legendary top 40 1460 KENO was dying out around this time and would soon flip to oldies and AC, later using the old Transtar satellite feed.
I remember reading on GTs site that KLUC can trace it's roots to KRBO-AM that signed on in 1956. When Jack Daniels (Floyd Thackery) passed away I remember that the obit said he started his career in the 1950s at "top 40 station KRBO/Las Vegas". So that would mean that KLUC has been some variation of Top 40 from the start.
I can tell you for a fact that KLUC was never full time disco. They might have had a short lived disco show at night. I also remember they featured "disco starsets" where they played 3 or 4 disco songs in a row. They also had starsets for various non-disco acts such as Kansas, Styx, Foreigner, etc. KLUC was mostly rock based throughout the disco craze.
The one and only full time disco station in Las Vegas was AM1230 KLAV. They were called Disco 1-2-3. They flipped to disco in late 1978 at the peak of the fad. By 1980 disco was dead and they evolved to a very urban leaning CHR. In the early 80s KLAV played all the urban cossovers that KLUC wouldn't touch such as "Double Dutch Bus" and "She's A Bad Mama Jama". They even dabbled in the earliest hip hop such as "Planet Rock".
In that era (when there weren't very many signals) KLUC had like a 12 share and KLAV had around a 6 which wasn't bad for an AM Top 40 in the early 80s. Legendary top 40 1460 KENO was dying out around this time and would soon flip to oldies and AC, later using the old Transtar satellite feed.
Thanks for the history lesson, Jay! I'll be looking forward to taking a look at that site.
So what year did KRBO AM change their call sign to KLUC?
Mike was indeed Steve's father, their studios were on Industrial Road in the Industrial Arts Building with "transmitter on the grounds of the fabulous Frontier Hotel." I filled in for Murray Westgate doing news with Dave Anthony when Murray ran for public office, just recently Murray called and he's alive and well. Lots of great memories were at the West Hacienda studios.
Len E. Mitchell was MD at one time, Keith Stewart was also a former MD - I still remember the jingle "Keith... Stewart... reaching out...touching you... KLUC."
I am working on getting the Las Vegas Radio History website back online, I have all the content and comments backed up, just have to find some time to put it all back together!
-George Thomas
PS - One of the KLUC jocks during the 1970's was Penrod Rightout
Len E. Mitchell was MD at one time, Keith Stewart was also a former MD - I still remember the jingle "Keith... Stewart... reaching out...touching you... KLUC."
I am working on getting the Las Vegas Radio History website back online, I have all the content and comments backed up, just have to find some time to put it all back together!
-George Thomas
PS - One of the KLUC jocks during the 1970's was Penrod Rightout
Stowed away I have several KLUC-FM playlists from circa 1972-74 that I'd be happy to share
for the website George ---- I just need to hunt them down in storage ---- I remember KLUC
playing Stevie Wonder's "Superwoman" which is still one of my favorite songs of all-time
Quite the eclectic FM it was in its day - also Dialogue by Chicago, remember that one?
for the website George ---- I just need to hunt them down in storage ---- I remember KLUC
playing Stevie Wonder's "Superwoman" which is still one of my favorite songs of all-time
Quite the eclectic FM it was in its day - also Dialogue by Chicago, remember that one?
DavidG said:
I remember listening to KLUC during that era, the AM signed off at sundown and the FM rocked at night - remember Bill Robbins "Spirit In The Night?" and those classic legal IDs voiced by Rod Serling. I remember Dialogue by Chicago - Look forward to seeing those playlists!
D
Dave Wilmont
Guest
Vegas Radio KLUC - KLAV 1980
HI,
I worked with Dave Anthony at KENO in '72-'74 when he was Hired at KRIZ/Phoenix in late '74.... I Did PM-Drive on KENO while working weekends at KRAM (Country) until I too was hired at KRIZ in Oct. 1974. Again working with Dave and doing all-nights. After doing 12M-6A at KRIZ, I took a 6-10pm gig at KTKT/Tucson (another Lotus station), in 1976... It was consulted by John Rook, I hated it because I'ld been at the Legendary KRIZ, and understood "Programming to the 'Mass-Appeal' Audience. So I Returned to KRIZ for a BRIEF stay until Jay Stone (Jeff Colson - RIP) hired me to do his Assistant Ops Manager and 6-10pm as "DrDave". We went on to Magic-91 (KMJC San Diego) in 1977, returning to KUPD until Late '79 when KUPD-FM changed to a 'Hard-Rock' Format.
I moved back to Vegas to Program KLAV (Disco 1-2-3), and pulled a 7.8 / 7.2 / 6.8 in the ARB; the best ratings that KLAV ever had!!! I moved it to more of "Dance-Rock" and used "CC McCartney" since KLUC had a 'Dr. Dave' on the air. I later left Broadcasting as my first child was born and had a VERY Successful Video/TV repair business for about 15-years and did weekends on KLUC when Dave Anthony was programming, stayed for a while and Bill Richards wanted me to do PM-Drive, but due to my business I had to reject the offer. I was tapped on the shoulder to Consult a competing FM station, so I called in 'sick'; I thought it to be the 'Right thing to do' in the event I got the gig.... I didn't.
I now work at a local Video Production Facility here in Vegas and do occasional V/O's...
Dave Wilmont AKA: CC McCartney and DrDave // [email protected]
HI,
I worked with Dave Anthony at KENO in '72-'74 when he was Hired at KRIZ/Phoenix in late '74.... I Did PM-Drive on KENO while working weekends at KRAM (Country) until I too was hired at KRIZ in Oct. 1974. Again working with Dave and doing all-nights. After doing 12M-6A at KRIZ, I took a 6-10pm gig at KTKT/Tucson (another Lotus station), in 1976... It was consulted by John Rook, I hated it because I'ld been at the Legendary KRIZ, and understood "Programming to the 'Mass-Appeal' Audience. So I Returned to KRIZ for a BRIEF stay until Jay Stone (Jeff Colson - RIP) hired me to do his Assistant Ops Manager and 6-10pm as "DrDave". We went on to Magic-91 (KMJC San Diego) in 1977, returning to KUPD until Late '79 when KUPD-FM changed to a 'Hard-Rock' Format.
I moved back to Vegas to Program KLAV (Disco 1-2-3), and pulled a 7.8 / 7.2 / 6.8 in the ARB; the best ratings that KLAV ever had!!! I moved it to more of "Dance-Rock" and used "CC McCartney" since KLUC had a 'Dr. Dave' on the air. I later left Broadcasting as my first child was born and had a VERY Successful Video/TV repair business for about 15-years and did weekends on KLUC when Dave Anthony was programming, stayed for a while and Bill Richards wanted me to do PM-Drive, but due to my business I had to reject the offer. I was tapped on the shoulder to Consult a competing FM station, so I called in 'sick'; I thought it to be the 'Right thing to do' in the event I got the gig.... I didn't.
I now work at a local Video Production Facility here in Vegas and do occasional V/O's...
Dave Wilmont AKA: CC McCartney and DrDave // [email protected]
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