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NWFLRadio10yrs
Guest
Hello:
I've been coming and visiting the board for a couple years now, but I haven't posted much. I have to say this board is great and many of you bring back so many memories about radio. I grew up in Panama City and lived there from 1985 - 1996, but my parents lived there for many years after that. I currently live in Pensacola and I still keep up with radio in PC. I would like to share some of my favorite Panama City memories and what I remember about the stations and how they have changed over the years.
94.5 (now the Fox) - This station by far has seen the most format changes that I can remember. I remember this station was "T-94" when I moved to Panama City. Around 1986 or early 1987, they dropped the "T" and just simply called themselves "FM 94" and they played mild top 40, but they weren't nearly as hard as WPFM. They were a good station. Around the summer of 1987 I believe, I called them to request a song one night and the DJ answered "WJST", and told me they now played country. I hated that. They kept the country format for a while, and I remember seeing their billboards around town. It had WJST wooden, almost like a fence, and there was a cowboy with a rope sitting on the T. Anyway, they remained country until 1989 when they switched calls to WWZR and they became a hard rock station and indentified themselves as "Z-Rock". They were only Z-Rock for a matter of months before changing the calls back to WJST, and they switched to a southern gospel format after that. They were southern gospel for about a year before reurning back to country. For a while they called themselves "B 94.5". It was probably 1992 or early 1993 when they switched again. This time they called themselves "Beach 94.5" and their calls were "WPBH". They were now an oldies format. They kept the "Beach 94.5" name for a most of the 90's, but in the mid 90's they evolved out of the oldies format and moved to a more AC format. Around 1997, they returned to oldies. In the late 90's, the oldies format and the calls were moved to 99.3. Eventually, 94.5 became more of an alternative station when they became "Pirate Radio" and BC and Bubba returned to Panama City radio. In the early 2000's, they became the Fox (what they are now).
95.9 - When I first moved to Panama City, 95.9 was "WVBM", a hip hop station. Around 1987, the station was sold and the new calls were "WRBA" and they called themselves "Bay 96". They were an easy listening station at first, but evolved into more of an AC and Hot AC station to compete with Sunny 98.5. In 1994, they decided to drop the identity and format, and became known as "Arrow 95.9", and they have been that ever since.
96.9 - This station boosted their signal from Dothan in 1989 so that we could hear them in PC. They were known as "Q97" . I remember every weekenight they did the "Night Flight" from 10pm to midnight, and that was 2 hours of rewuests and dedications. In late 1989, they changed and became "WDJR", a modern rock station. Eventually, they referred to themself as "The Monster". Right before they switched to country in 1992, they became "Garth radio" for about a week where they played Garth Brooks all the time.
103.5 - 103.5 originally signed on in 1989 as "WBKL - Cool 103.5" playng oldies. Zippo in the morning was a favorite among listeners. In early 1991, they decided to do something I had never heard of. They kept the olodies format during the day, but on Friday and Saturday nights they played techno music and broadcasted from Spinnaker. There was just something about hearing the liners "You're listening to the dance party live from Spinnaker on Cool 103". In October of 1991, they dropped the "Cool" name and format, and became "WDRK - Rock 103", and they remained that until 1998, when 107.9 and 103.5 switched frequencies. The station was now "Mix 103" and for a while they simulcasted with "Mix 103.1" in Fort Walton Beach. They eventually became a light rock station before becoming "Max Country 103" in 2001. 3 years later, they resurrected "Kat Country" on 103.5 and changed the calls to WAKT, what they are now.
105.1 - I remember Cat Country debuted on this frequency in late 1992. Eventually, they changed their identity from "Cat Country 105" to "Kat Country 105". They remained country until 2001 and then became a jazz station. One of the most notable DJ's on this station was Robert Michael Greene, who was tragically killed in a car accident in 2000.
105.9 - I remember when this station was "Love FM". They played slow songs. In 1987, they changed their calls and format, and became "WILN - Island 106", but they were more of a Hot AC station. On Januray 1,1990, Island 106 switched to a Top 40 format to compete with WPFM. Their liners used to say "Taking you into the 90's, we are Island 106". Norm Tanner did mornings at that time and did a good job. Island 106 changed a lot over their years and eventually became more a dance station.
107.9 - By far, my favorite station in the Panama City area in the 80's....WPFM "The Great 108". In the 80's, I used to call the station and request songs all the time. I won my very first album from Kent Bailey when I was the 8th caller to get through at 234-0000 (or double o double o as they used to say). Preston Young used to do the morning show with then Channel 7 (and later 13) weatherman Captain Norm Miller. Since I liked to stay up late at night (when I didn't have school), The "Midnight Watch" with Little John was what I listened to. He would do the Rag Time News every hour, which was the best of the worst news in the world. At 3:10 every morning, he would do "Little John's Lunch" where he would tell you what he had for lunch that morning. He would play some organ music and say "Yes my friends, it's time to gather around the radio for the segment you have all been waiting for....it's time now for "Little John's Lunch". Then you would hear him wripping through a bag and he would tell you what was in it. I still have a segment on tape that I found recently when Little John said "This looks interesting. This morning we are having "Breast Salad". Get your mind out of the gutter would ya? I'm talking about salad with strips of chicken breast in there". He would then play the organ music again to say what he had to drink in his "Earth Girls are Easy" thermos, and a lot of the times it was sun tea sent to him from "two fat ladies in Wewa that live in a un-heated, un-air conditioned trailer". He would conclude the segment with "Join us once again, same BAT-time, same BAT-channel. as we once again dive into that brown paper bag because you (like me) still refuse to use that darn Dukes Of Hazzard lunch box. See if we cut the mustard or spread the mayonaise...we'll be looking for you happy face 3:10 tomorrow morning for the continuing saga of "Little John's Lunch".I always used to love seeing what he had for lunch (Looking back, I don't know why though).
WPFM changed in the 90's, first becoming "Rock 108" then they even went to playing AC for a while before becoming " WLHR - Hot 107.9". I was glad to hear they once again returned to WPFM in 2004.
Those are just some of memories of Panama City radio.
I've been coming and visiting the board for a couple years now, but I haven't posted much. I have to say this board is great and many of you bring back so many memories about radio. I grew up in Panama City and lived there from 1985 - 1996, but my parents lived there for many years after that. I currently live in Pensacola and I still keep up with radio in PC. I would like to share some of my favorite Panama City memories and what I remember about the stations and how they have changed over the years.
94.5 (now the Fox) - This station by far has seen the most format changes that I can remember. I remember this station was "T-94" when I moved to Panama City. Around 1986 or early 1987, they dropped the "T" and just simply called themselves "FM 94" and they played mild top 40, but they weren't nearly as hard as WPFM. They were a good station. Around the summer of 1987 I believe, I called them to request a song one night and the DJ answered "WJST", and told me they now played country. I hated that. They kept the country format for a while, and I remember seeing their billboards around town. It had WJST wooden, almost like a fence, and there was a cowboy with a rope sitting on the T. Anyway, they remained country until 1989 when they switched calls to WWZR and they became a hard rock station and indentified themselves as "Z-Rock". They were only Z-Rock for a matter of months before changing the calls back to WJST, and they switched to a southern gospel format after that. They were southern gospel for about a year before reurning back to country. For a while they called themselves "B 94.5". It was probably 1992 or early 1993 when they switched again. This time they called themselves "Beach 94.5" and their calls were "WPBH". They were now an oldies format. They kept the "Beach 94.5" name for a most of the 90's, but in the mid 90's they evolved out of the oldies format and moved to a more AC format. Around 1997, they returned to oldies. In the late 90's, the oldies format and the calls were moved to 99.3. Eventually, 94.5 became more of an alternative station when they became "Pirate Radio" and BC and Bubba returned to Panama City radio. In the early 2000's, they became the Fox (what they are now).
95.9 - When I first moved to Panama City, 95.9 was "WVBM", a hip hop station. Around 1987, the station was sold and the new calls were "WRBA" and they called themselves "Bay 96". They were an easy listening station at first, but evolved into more of an AC and Hot AC station to compete with Sunny 98.5. In 1994, they decided to drop the identity and format, and became known as "Arrow 95.9", and they have been that ever since.
96.9 - This station boosted their signal from Dothan in 1989 so that we could hear them in PC. They were known as "Q97" . I remember every weekenight they did the "Night Flight" from 10pm to midnight, and that was 2 hours of rewuests and dedications. In late 1989, they changed and became "WDJR", a modern rock station. Eventually, they referred to themself as "The Monster". Right before they switched to country in 1992, they became "Garth radio" for about a week where they played Garth Brooks all the time.
103.5 - 103.5 originally signed on in 1989 as "WBKL - Cool 103.5" playng oldies. Zippo in the morning was a favorite among listeners. In early 1991, they decided to do something I had never heard of. They kept the olodies format during the day, but on Friday and Saturday nights they played techno music and broadcasted from Spinnaker. There was just something about hearing the liners "You're listening to the dance party live from Spinnaker on Cool 103". In October of 1991, they dropped the "Cool" name and format, and became "WDRK - Rock 103", and they remained that until 1998, when 107.9 and 103.5 switched frequencies. The station was now "Mix 103" and for a while they simulcasted with "Mix 103.1" in Fort Walton Beach. They eventually became a light rock station before becoming "Max Country 103" in 2001. 3 years later, they resurrected "Kat Country" on 103.5 and changed the calls to WAKT, what they are now.
105.1 - I remember Cat Country debuted on this frequency in late 1992. Eventually, they changed their identity from "Cat Country 105" to "Kat Country 105". They remained country until 2001 and then became a jazz station. One of the most notable DJ's on this station was Robert Michael Greene, who was tragically killed in a car accident in 2000.
105.9 - I remember when this station was "Love FM". They played slow songs. In 1987, they changed their calls and format, and became "WILN - Island 106", but they were more of a Hot AC station. On Januray 1,1990, Island 106 switched to a Top 40 format to compete with WPFM. Their liners used to say "Taking you into the 90's, we are Island 106". Norm Tanner did mornings at that time and did a good job. Island 106 changed a lot over their years and eventually became more a dance station.
107.9 - By far, my favorite station in the Panama City area in the 80's....WPFM "The Great 108". In the 80's, I used to call the station and request songs all the time. I won my very first album from Kent Bailey when I was the 8th caller to get through at 234-0000 (or double o double o as they used to say). Preston Young used to do the morning show with then Channel 7 (and later 13) weatherman Captain Norm Miller. Since I liked to stay up late at night (when I didn't have school), The "Midnight Watch" with Little John was what I listened to. He would do the Rag Time News every hour, which was the best of the worst news in the world. At 3:10 every morning, he would do "Little John's Lunch" where he would tell you what he had for lunch that morning. He would play some organ music and say "Yes my friends, it's time to gather around the radio for the segment you have all been waiting for....it's time now for "Little John's Lunch". Then you would hear him wripping through a bag and he would tell you what was in it. I still have a segment on tape that I found recently when Little John said "This looks interesting. This morning we are having "Breast Salad". Get your mind out of the gutter would ya? I'm talking about salad with strips of chicken breast in there". He would then play the organ music again to say what he had to drink in his "Earth Girls are Easy" thermos, and a lot of the times it was sun tea sent to him from "two fat ladies in Wewa that live in a un-heated, un-air conditioned trailer". He would conclude the segment with "Join us once again, same BAT-time, same BAT-channel. as we once again dive into that brown paper bag because you (like me) still refuse to use that darn Dukes Of Hazzard lunch box. See if we cut the mustard or spread the mayonaise...we'll be looking for you happy face 3:10 tomorrow morning for the continuing saga of "Little John's Lunch".I always used to love seeing what he had for lunch (Looking back, I don't know why though).
WPFM changed in the 90's, first becoming "Rock 108" then they even went to playing AC for a while before becoming " WLHR - Hot 107.9". I was glad to hear they once again returned to WPFM in 2004.
Those are just some of memories of Panama City radio.
