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Shawn Phillips Save KEXL Concert

G

grantchester

I realize this is ancient history to most of y'all...
but does anybody remember the 'Save KEXL' concert at Olmos Park?
Doubleday, in their wisdom, had decided to simulcast KITE-AM on 104.5 6a-6p, despite the fact that KEXL was one of the most popular stations in San Antonio.
Upwards of 250 thousand people gathered in the park for a free concert by Shawn Phillips. The station was brought back to 24 hours, but a couple of years later sold to Lotus to become KVAR- traditional Mexican. (it's now KZEP).
BTW- Shawn is going to be at SXSW this year, and will do a show at Cactus Cafe.
 
I don't remember the concert, but I do remember the night that KEXL signed off forever. The DJ was actually crying on the air towards the end of the broadcast. Eventhough I was only in middle school, KEXL was my favorite station. I used to always have it on while doing my homework at night, listening to The Stendeck(sp) Report, Sam Kendrick and all of that great music. But I think Sam Kendrick came on during middays? Most of my classmates didn't understand why I listened to KEXL and not to KTSA, as most teenyboppers at that time did. Looking back, I don't know why either, but when my dad gave me my first real FM stereo, I tuned around the dial and that was the station that it got stuck on. Not because the radio broke, because that was the only FM station worth listening to.
 
I was there and recall they had about 10,000 people in attendance. Wasn't sure it it was held in 73 or 74 so I googled it and ran across this awesome KEXL tribute page here:

http://www.penningtontechnicalarts.com/KEXL/index.php

The Save KEXL Concert was held in 1974

Anyway, I had a feeling someone was going to start this thread and I'm glad you did.
With out this thread, I wouldn't have ran across the KEXL tribute page! So, a big
THANKS!
 
You're welcome, Gab. And I think your attendance recall is probably closer to the actual count.
I had a chance to chat with Shawn during his recent Texas tour. He's singing and playing better than ever.
Like you, I loved KEXL, but the station I loved was the early incarnation, with Tim Berry, Nick St. John, Don White, Johnny Solo and Keith Williamson. The station, after 1973, was just one tragedy after another.
When Lee Abrams installed the last format in summer of '76, every other song was a top-40 hit. When he added "Afternoon Delight", that was just about it for me.
The final weeks, after the fate was sealed, were an amazing return to the free-form passion that had made the original station great. To have KVAR turn into such a waste of electricity just added insult to injury.
Mr. Pennington's KEXL site, with Nick St. John's recollection, is wonderful.
g
 
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