Jury's Out But Due Back Monday
> I remember KB being a mess in the late 70s and early 80s.
> They weren't sure if they were supposed to be an A/C or a
> CHR, and then they put John Otto on at night.
KB was still competitive through about '82 and that's what I was refering to.
Chuck Lakefield was a good 'un, for sure. Nice guy, too. A mite "happy" on KB where he had to work in the shadows of Jack Armstrong, Shane, Banana Joe and Jim Quinn but good nonetheless, and he was strong on WGR and WBUF. What ever happened to Chuck? Last I heard he was back home in Wisconsin.
>
> Rock 102 was softer-sounding, with of course no personality
> (until they put Roger Christian in mornings),
Rock 102 put up some good numbers under the direction of Roger Christian who ran the best automation system in the country. They weren't as soft as you might think. I suspect they were heavily dayparted.
> WPhD was
> usually harder-rockin', stuck between AOR and CHR. The
> most-remembered aspect of PhD was the Superset Weekend,
> where they played the same three songs from Boston and
> Foreigner over and over. But it worked...they took a big
> chunk out of 97Rock, and contributed to its original demise.
>
Nobody took a bigger chunk out of 97 Rock that Taft Broadcasting when they pulled the plug in early '85. One of the best comebacks in radio was when Rich Products brought the format back in '89.
>
> Shouldn't discount the GR55 connection. Into the mid-80s it
> was a MUCH better programmed station than KB. A more
> consistent mix of music and talk, a balance of Oldies
> (remember Golden Joe Galuski in middays?) and Soft
> Contemporary, with Bauerle moving in at night.
WGR was at it's peak in the 70s and early 80s with Stan Roberts, Larry Anderson, Jerry Reo, Frank Benny, Shane, John Otto and Jim Scott and Tom Donahue doing all nights. Quite the line-up.
>
> As an aside, I think The Laker may be the most underrated
> broadcaster to come through these parts. IIRC, he was also involved
> on the the programming side during the 'GR period mentioned
> above (the late Larry Anderson, former 'GR PD, had come back
> as GM). While the same names get mentioned over and over on
> this forum, Chuck doesn't get any run at all...
>
The reason the same names get bandied about this board? Most of them are still active in the business and stayed here to work. As such, they're are fresh in posters' minds. People hear what they do and comment.
But if it's names you want, see how many of the following you can recall:
George Hamberger, Jerry Reo/Jim Bradley, Frank Benny, Shane, Jack Sheridan, Jack Mindy, Barney Love, Don Kobiela, Bob Mason, Jack Kelly/Sean Grabowski/John Sczepanek, Larry Vance.
Steve Mitchell, Tom Donahue, Dan Kelly, Tom Blender, Paul Oates, Tom Darro, Pat O'Riley, Bob Allen, Trevor Joe Lennon, Yola, Duane Donevant, Jim Santella, Jeff Lubik, Bobby Knight.
Dave Bacco, David Kahn, Joe Galuski, Mike Roszman, The Janitor, Garth Hemp, Bradley J. Kool, Tom Atkins, Jeff Huestis, Hal Martin, Dave Shafer, Tony Magoo, David R. Snow, Steve Kelly, Don Polec, Gary Byrd.
Nick Seneca, Rufus Coyote/Lee Poole, Jason Bojohn, Moontan Davis, Walt Nutzenbauer, Sal Paenessa, Fredie Patrick, Ken Kiedrowski, Roberta, Chet Kelley, Jon Summers, Tom Langmeyer, Dick Kemp.
Bob O'Brien, Scott Cleveland, Kelly Sinclair, Danny McBride, Johnny Williams, Ken Johnson, Paul Cannon, Bob MacRae, Tom Clay, Charley Seitz, Casey Piotrowski, Beverly, Larry White.
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There are likely dozens more that graced the airwaves. It doesn't mean that they are held in any less esteem than the guys who get frequent mentions on this board.
Feel free to add more, comment about the names you recognize and how they might have contributed to what you know and love about Buffalo radio.
