KRIZ CHANNEL 123, 1959-69

[ironbear]

Courtesy of a 70's roomy who was a utility/all night jock at KRIZ during Buzz Bennett's reign,

Is this the same Buzz Bennett who broadcast on WMCA New York around 1969?

Yes. Bennett had a successful and innovative run as a consultant in the 70's. This was not without some controversy, however. He also ran Fred magazine, which was a fairly edgy take on the business for its time. He even made it on Time Magazine's radar: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,909044,00.html

KRIZ and upstart KUPD got into a market battle which led to super short rotations, big contests, and a turntable/tape 'speed war'. :

KRIZ under Bennett spawned other programming talent, like music director Steve Casey, who was a big part of the early MTV.

 

[radioguy39nj]

No doubt Wolfman Jack blasted into Phoenix at night...Which one was Wolfman on?

XERF 1570 Ciudad Acuna--early on. XERB 1090 Rosarito Beach--later on.

I think I read somewhere that KOMA in Oklahoma City was easily receivable at night in Phoenix. True?

Was a good nighttime signal into Tucson. I can currently pick up KOKC 1520 in PHX at night, so...

I have a CD "The Legendary Wolfman Jack - Howlin' On The Air", which contains actual XERB airchecks from 1968-70. Whether it was on XERF or XERB, the Wolfman howled in Phoenix every night!

Of cousrse, you still had KOMA, now KOKC. Seems like the border blasters and KOMA could practically drown out locals KRIZ and KRUX at night, given those stations weak nighttime signals. That gave Phoenix top 40 listeners lots of choices, especially at night.

 

[radioguy39nj]

Ditto for KOMA and KFI in Tucson. Can't place "The Mighty 690", though. Who were they?

X(E)TRA, Tijuana BC (now XEWW).

http://blog.sdradio.net/3225/flashback-friday-the-mighty-690/

A better copy of the aircheck here: http://airchexx.com/2011/02/26/michael-boss-xetra-the-mighty-690-tijuana-mexico-august-1982/

Like the XEAK Mighty 690 survey from 11/7/58. Another border blaster that showed up in Phoenix at night, back when it was a sleepy desert town. Great stuff!