KWSS! Come on people! KWSS!!! Doesn't anyone but me believe this was one of the great stations of all time? A 1,000 watt pea-shooter (the former KFAT...) coming off a mountain 8,000 feet above average terrain in San Jose, we owned Santa Cruz, Salinas, Monterrey, owned them! Double digits! I have one framed set of numbers where we beat KGO! This station was a monster! A go--rilla! Get out your air checks, if you don't have any, I'll loan you some. "The New Music Test".. "The Money Machine" ... Barry Beck, Kelly & Kline ... awesome! Come one! KWSS! Let's get with it. It's a forgotten classic. Mike Preston P.D. the best I ever worked for. Dave Van Stone hired me. Steve Taylor did afternoons before Barry Beck, I did mid days and was #1 five books 18-34. Tom Gilliam did early evenings when I started, this was one great station. Michael Jackson to Bruce Springsteen, we played it all. JAMS jingles (the weather jingle and bed is the best I ever used!) Healdsburg had a station with the same jingle package (forgot the call letters!! Oh God, the memories going...) was it KREO? Anyway they were terrific too! Too good to be forgotten! We must keep these call letters and operations alive. They are part of history! Maybe I'll launch the "Legend Operations of Radio". ... -John-
-
Get involved.
We want your input!
Apply for Membership and join the conversations about everything related to broadcasting.
After we receive your registration, a moderator will review it. After your registration is approved, you will be permitted to post.
If you use a disposable or false email address, your registration will be rejected.
After your membership is approved, please take a minute to tell us a little bit about yourself.
https://www.radiodiscussions.com/forums/introduce-yourself.1088/
Thanks in advance and have fun!
RadioDiscussions Administrators
KWSS!
- Thread starter John Mack Flanagan
- Start date
I was still up in the Marysville/Yuba City area when KWSS was in it's glory. I do remember hearing you on Monster FM Ninety Seven Three. I could get the SF FM stations when it was foggy up there in the valley. Whenever the fog (we're talking the thick tooley fog) rolled in, I'd tune in the SF stations. Then one evening I heard John Mack Flanagan on Ninety Seven Three, Monster FM. It was a thrill.
I look forward to other peoples input about KWSS. Maybe it will show up on Wikipedia???
I look forward to other peoples input about KWSS. Maybe it will show up on Wikipedia???
John, I was lucky enough to bum a copy of the KWSS jingle package from one of your esteemed co-workers, many years back (the cassette floats around my aircheck box, somwhere)! K&K were always the highlight of my drive to high school. At lunch I loved hearing that voice from my impressionable youth, listening to KFRC; YOURS. I agree, Mr. Preston did a great job w/94.5.
Whatever happened to "Spanky B" on overnights? His catch phrase seemed to be "What the hell..."- The custom music edits (most of them adding an intro for you brilliant jock-folk to talk-up) were priceless & influenced quite a few of my own
The call letters KWSS is also now a low power station in Scottsdale at 106.7 FM playing AAA and can be located at www.kwss1067.com. It also has a live stream on it, too.
I'm 30 and I grew up listening to KWSS. I grew up in Gilroy, so other than KDON, and KGO, nothing came in. Here are a few of the things I remember about KWSS
1.) Introduction of "choose it or loose it" music. If enough people choose to "lose it" the song was taken out of rotation (or at least that was the plan, I dunno if it actually made a difference or now)
2.) Kelly and Kline... man they were great, here are few things I remember about them
a.) Stereo joke... one side would be a clean joke, the other side a dirty joke
b.) Those Christmas Wish promotions around the holidays, Very moving, and very generous!!
c.) One valentines days a couple got married on the air!
3.) I loved the huge inflatable stereo they would sometimes use for remote broadcasts (at the Garlic festival in Gilroy for example)
4.) the friday/saturday night "Party mix" I still remember the voiceover saying "It's the Party mix LIIIVE from the new access club in Cupertino" (side note, anybody know where this club was?
Also the mixes they played, seemed to be just purchased by the station, because as a child I would record them. Sometimes late at night, I would search the AM dial looking for interesting stations from far away (skip). One times looking for a station, I found music (upto date top 40 music, which was supprising, cause usually all you would hear when going through the AM dial is a bunch of music in other languages, and talk) The music was an AM co broadcast of an FM station in San Diego (I forgot the call letters/names) and the mix they were playing was the SAME mix KWSS had on the night before! So this made me assume they purchased the mix from a mix company? Anybody shed light on this for me.
Also I think KWSS was actually broadcast from Gilroy for the early part of the station, right after KFAT went away. I could be wrong. I remember their name was on an office building sign, in an office near Wayland/first street in Gilroy.
KWSS was only 1,000 watts??? Are you sure? It sure seemed a lot stronger to me!!
1.) Introduction of "choose it or loose it" music. If enough people choose to "lose it" the song was taken out of rotation (or at least that was the plan, I dunno if it actually made a difference or now)
2.) Kelly and Kline... man they were great, here are few things I remember about them
a.) Stereo joke... one side would be a clean joke, the other side a dirty joke
b.) Those Christmas Wish promotions around the holidays, Very moving, and very generous!!
c.) One valentines days a couple got married on the air!
3.) I loved the huge inflatable stereo they would sometimes use for remote broadcasts (at the Garlic festival in Gilroy for example)
4.) the friday/saturday night "Party mix" I still remember the voiceover saying "It's the Party mix LIIIVE from the new access club in Cupertino" (side note, anybody know where this club was?
Also the mixes they played, seemed to be just purchased by the station, because as a child I would record them. Sometimes late at night, I would search the AM dial looking for interesting stations from far away (skip). One times looking for a station, I found music (upto date top 40 music, which was supprising, cause usually all you would hear when going through the AM dial is a bunch of music in other languages, and talk) The music was an AM co broadcast of an FM station in San Diego (I forgot the call letters/names) and the mix they were playing was the SAME mix KWSS had on the night before! So this made me assume they purchased the mix from a mix company? Anybody shed light on this for me.
Also I think KWSS was actually broadcast from Gilroy for the early part of the station, right after KFAT went away. I could be wrong. I remember their name was on an office building sign, in an office near Wayland/first street in Gilroy.
KWSS was only 1,000 watts??? Are you sure? It sure seemed a lot stronger to me!!
No memories of KWSS from me since I've never heard the station live, but I did had a few airchecks from around 1990-91 of Kid Squid and Dr. Dave Lewis. IIRC The one of Dr. Dave had a bit where a caller congratulated him on the birth of his child and Dr. Dave quipped that the baby had his eyes, only they weren't bloodshot like his. Also, he made mention of the Grammy awards where M.C. Hammer beating out Vanilla Ice. I assume that this had been made just before the format change since they were playing songs like The Divinyls "I've Touch Myself", Warrant's "I've Saw Red" (the number one song on KWSS's Top 8 at 8" that night). and Londonbeat's "I've Been Thinking About You" as currents.
BnRinBayArea, could I posibally get a copy of the KWSS jingles ( if you can find it)? I'd love to hear them. Didn't KWSS use cuts from JAM's Fresh Kiss and Outstanding?
Robyn
BnRinBayArea, could I posibally get a copy of the KWSS jingles ( if you can find it)? I'd love to hear them. Didn't KWSS use cuts from JAM's Fresh Kiss and Outstanding?
Robyn
RobynWattsV2.0 said:
Robyn, what do you think about a swap of some of your airchecks? Give me a day or so to troll thru my box o'stuff. As for the package name... John Mac? Can you help??
I managed to miss KWSS for the most part. I was not a huge KFAT listener, but I liked to tune in occasionally, so I wasn't happy when it left the air. So I guess I greeted KWSS with a bad attitude. And in San Francisco, the 94.5 signal was a bit spotty. Had I known John Mack Flanagan was on the station, I would have made it a point to tune in. My loss, I guess. I thoroughly enjoyed Kelly and Kline later on X-100.
My memories of being on KWSS
I was the morning newsman on Kelly & Kline's show on KWSS from late 1984 to July of 1986, when I left San Jose for Chicago. I was on the air with them the day they called Mother Teresa in Calcutta...and she answered the phone! Incredible!
I was hired by PD Dave Van Stone, who was there through out my entire 18 month tenure at KWSS. Our general manager was Palmer Pyle, who played some pro football in his younger days...and, was the brother of a darn good NFL lineman named Mike Pyle. The late Dayton Phillips was sales manager. The late Shirley Sanchez was the receptionist. When I was on KWSS, the station was located at the El Paseo de Saratoga shopping center. I believe there was a nightclub in that same complex where K&K used to spin records on Saturday nights.
However, as newsman, I was very rarely actually on the air from El Paseo. This was back in the day when news people had to be in the city of license (Gilroy), so I had a studio there - first, the Old Gilroy Hotel...then, from a small professional building not too far away. K&K and I didn't talk to each other on the air...so much as we all talked to the transmitter up on that mountaintop. Every now and then a plane would fly across the line of sight...
Boy, did the garlic smell good in Gilroy!
Others who I remember from KWSS include (of course) the legendary John Mack Flanagan...PM drive jock Craig Hunt, who, as I recall, came in from Minneapolis...jock Steve Taylor, an excellent DJ and fine gentleman...Tammy Nelson and Mary Liz Cortese on traffic/news...Tom Gilligan on evenings...a not-yet 21 year old Linda "Energy" on nights...and, the erstwhile Tom Gomez on overnights. I remember Spanky B, as well - is he still in radio in the Santa Rosa area? Kathi Rae, a San Jose State classmate of mine, was a parttime jock. Another parttimer..."Jeff Michaels." Robin Kipps was our music director. I believe Kim Borden was in the traffic/continuity department (director?). AE's include Kevin O'Brien, Gordon Pirie, Mark Durkin and George Moody. Our engineer's name was - I think - "Jim." Jim Duncan?
I have fond memories of being young, single and on a hot radio station. And, I am eternally grateful to Dave Van Stone for hiring me...and, Kelly and Kline for allowing me to be a part of their program. I may have an aircheck (possibly of my last day) packed away somewhere.
By the way...whatever happened to El Paseo? Is it still there?
Steve Scott, News Anchor
WCBS Newsradio 880
New York, NY
KWSS 1984 - 1986
I was the morning newsman on Kelly & Kline's show on KWSS from late 1984 to July of 1986, when I left San Jose for Chicago. I was on the air with them the day they called Mother Teresa in Calcutta...and she answered the phone! Incredible!
I was hired by PD Dave Van Stone, who was there through out my entire 18 month tenure at KWSS. Our general manager was Palmer Pyle, who played some pro football in his younger days...and, was the brother of a darn good NFL lineman named Mike Pyle. The late Dayton Phillips was sales manager. The late Shirley Sanchez was the receptionist. When I was on KWSS, the station was located at the El Paseo de Saratoga shopping center. I believe there was a nightclub in that same complex where K&K used to spin records on Saturday nights.
However, as newsman, I was very rarely actually on the air from El Paseo. This was back in the day when news people had to be in the city of license (Gilroy), so I had a studio there - first, the Old Gilroy Hotel...then, from a small professional building not too far away. K&K and I didn't talk to each other on the air...so much as we all talked to the transmitter up on that mountaintop. Every now and then a plane would fly across the line of sight...
Boy, did the garlic smell good in Gilroy!
Others who I remember from KWSS include (of course) the legendary John Mack Flanagan...PM drive jock Craig Hunt, who, as I recall, came in from Minneapolis...jock Steve Taylor, an excellent DJ and fine gentleman...Tammy Nelson and Mary Liz Cortese on traffic/news...Tom Gilligan on evenings...a not-yet 21 year old Linda "Energy" on nights...and, the erstwhile Tom Gomez on overnights. I remember Spanky B, as well - is he still in radio in the Santa Rosa area? Kathi Rae, a San Jose State classmate of mine, was a parttime jock. Another parttimer..."Jeff Michaels." Robin Kipps was our music director. I believe Kim Borden was in the traffic/continuity department (director?). AE's include Kevin O'Brien, Gordon Pirie, Mark Durkin and George Moody. Our engineer's name was - I think - "Jim." Jim Duncan?
I have fond memories of being young, single and on a hot radio station. And, I am eternally grateful to Dave Van Stone for hiring me...and, Kelly and Kline for allowing me to be a part of their program. I may have an aircheck (possibly of my last day) packed away somewhere.
By the way...whatever happened to El Paseo? Is it still there?
Steve Scott, News Anchor
WCBS Newsradio 880
New York, NY
KWSS 1984 - 1986
Steve, that was a pretty complete history of KWSS. Jim Duncan was Chief Engineer and one of the greatest humans on the planet. Jim took the right and left channel, monoed them, added processing on each channel so the station was awesome! Once a disc jockey at a club in Campbell came in to cut a spot, and asked me "Why is KWSS the only good station to listen to?" He said a man had come into his place and he owned some kind of souped-up sports car (Ferreri?) anyway he had like a $15,000 sound system and he told this kid, "KWSS is the only station on the dial I'll listen to." When I started at the station, a bunch of friends (Denni Terresi, John from Seaside, Brian Rhea) tood me out for lunch and Denni said, "You've been on some great stations, but this one is the best!" I am so proud of it. It happened after 4 1/2 years at CBS-FM and 3 1/2 years on the graveyard. I swear on a stack of Bibles, I honestly thought I was dying when I left CBS. I really did. So, you can see why I have such love for this place. There were people who hated the fact I wasn't at KFRC, but the game zone had crippled KFRC, and KWSS was smokin'. Santa Cruz, Salinas, and Monterrey were a gas! Plus I loved Pacific Grove and Aptos. I always wanted to live in Felton, Ben Lomand or Boulder Creek, so don't get me started on those days 1984 (September) to 1989 (March) I left for KIOI, tired of the 58 mile each way commute and "Choose it of Lose it" (we blew up records on the air...NOT my idea of great broadcasting...) KIOI was THE biggest mistake of my career. Terry McGovern, Rick Shaw, Sue Hall, Turi Ryder, Albert Lord production (from KFRC glory days...) and we could not rate. It was sooo sad. -John-
D
doublecashkgb
Guest
With all due respect to John, I disagree. KWSS was a period piece CHR of the 80's.
Lots of those around in every market, utterly forgettable & generic. This takes nothing
away from JMF's great work on the station. But KWSS was not a classic CHR.
Lots of those around in every market, utterly forgettable & generic. This takes nothing
away from JMF's great work on the station. But KWSS was not a classic CHR.
Far be it for me to argue with my "public" (HA HA) but KWSS was Bobby Poe nominated: Station of the Year; Afternoon Jock (Barry Beck); PD of the Year (Mike Preston) so KWSS had something happening! Miami Sound Machine, Richard Marx, all the MOR staple of today was "Out of the Box" then. Nothing was happening on the dial 1985-89. We billed some big $$. So, I'm a KWSS fan. Guess some beliefs can't be changed. I know when I hear the KWSS "Money Machine" I'm rivited. That was real radio! -John-
H
hitliner
Guest
At X-100, we gained several former KWSSers...besides K&K, we had a general manager (Jim Smith) few AE, part time jocks, K&K's new person Shelby Lynn, almost a music director and (unfortuantely) a promotions director. X-100 was on at the same time as the end of KWSS and we would often run into each other...especially odd since we both had giant promo radios!! (Our was bigger, of course 
It certainly was a fine station.
PS - JMF, you worked with Albert Lord? Hmmm. Loved Brian Reah. He was one of the best people to work with at KFRC. And let's not forget the best radio engineer ever..Phil Lerza!!
It certainly was a fine station. PS - JMF, you worked with Albert Lord? Hmmm. Loved Brian Reah. He was one of the best people to work with at KFRC. And let's not forget the best radio engineer ever..Phil Lerza!!
JMF! WOW! How the heck are you! Michele Allen here - former KWSS Promo Gal......I remember that Money Machine and the Blow Up Radio TOO!..... found a site with a couple of KWSS aircheck on it.... It's also got what I think is the first year's christmas photo....
http://www.bayarearadio.org/audio/kwss/index.shtml
I'm sure I can find some other airchecks..... I should look around I know I have bumperstickers and banners somewhere around here packed away......
One of the things that I found special about KWSS, John, was the family feel..... I have never found that since, still in the broadcasting biz some 20 years later....... good to see you - have to check your new Beatles show out on KFRC...... drop me a note sometime.......
http://www.bayarearadio.org/audio/kwss/index.shtml
I'm sure I can find some other airchecks..... I should look around I know I have bumperstickers and banners somewhere around here packed away......
One of the things that I found special about KWSS, John, was the family feel..... I have never found that since, still in the broadcasting biz some 20 years later....... good to see you - have to check your new Beatles show out on KFRC...... drop me a note sometime.......
J
jimmythebassett
Guest
Dave Van Stone PD, Robin Silva MD, K&K, Chuck Geiger, Craig Hunt, Tom Gilligan, Brad Chambers, Tom Gomez, station voice was the same guy who did TBS, one of the first stations with sweepers and the AIRPOWER jingle package. Great audio and product.
J
jimmythebassett
Guest
Ask Steve Scott, Saturday mornings from 6a-11a he had to do hourly news from Gilroy studio. Jim Duncan once made a marti mast out of an extenstion rode from a pole cleaner. Western Cities had no money.
And had a power booster in Los Gatos in someones backyard in a mail bax on a garbage can. That Marti Mast did the job - tho! ...... hmmmm - Steve Taylor - used to do traffic for him - I may have something somewhere..... where is he....prod at kbay?
...... hmmmm - Steve Taylor - used to do traffic for him - I may have something somewhere..... where is he....prod at kbay?you know - even when we had $$$$ that was Dunc's way of doing things.... we carried remote equip in ammo boxes - why? because they were indestructible - oh - and yea inexpensive.....too ;D
- Status