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Station Pick: WROQ (WCKN)-Greenville-Spartanburg

R

RobynWattsV2.0

Since Carroll hasn't done one of these station picks for a few weeks, I'd thought I would give it a shot (Besides it give me a chance to ask some questions about 101.1 before the WCKN era)

I remember listening to WCKN after they've signed on in 1982 as "Rock 101" while I was living in Abbeville. At that time they were more of a Rock-leaning CHR playing hits by Loverboy, A Flock Of Seagulls and others. But some reason or another, they've fell off my radar screen so I've missed out on the "Hot Hits" format they've adopted from 1984 to 85.

When I've listened again, it was late 1986 and by that time they had adopted the "Power 101" moniker and was more Rhythmic-leaning by that time. Looking back, I'm assuming they went in that direction since there wasn't a FM Urban outlet in GSP at the time (Z-104 WLWZ wouldn't sign on until 1987). I've should have known that by the time I've "rediscovered" WCKN, they would changed the format on me. The last time that I would listened to them was over Halloween Weekend, 1987. I would have learned later on the following Monday (November 2nd), they've flip to Classic Rock.

Since I've brought up WCKN, what was the previous call letters and format? Wasn't it WAIM-FM by the time of the WCKN flip?

Enough of me jawjacking, let's hear some of your memories of both WCKN and WROQ.

Robyn
 
Hey Robyn...I hope you're doing well...

Yep, I believe 101.1 was WAIM at some point and that may have been their first calls. I believe it was sister to then WAIM-TV 40--which in itself had a long and storied history. Back to the WCKN calls...I remember in the early 80s some TV spots that referenced the meaning of the WCKN calls-- "We're Cookin'" and there were "flames" flying from the WCKN logo.

Eric
 
Yes, 101.1 was originally part of the storied WAIM empire, but the calls were WCAC. I don't know what the format was previous to WCKN, but WCAC was a sister station to WAIM-TV40 and WAIM-AM1230. I guess WCAC was a 3k, which is why I never heard it. It would seem WCAC was spun off about the same time big TV40 was. Of course, WAIM1230 still chugs along in Anderson. BTW, 107.3, WJMS was originally WANS-FM....
 
Hey Robyn thanks for picking the station pick up... It is a good one also... You are right about CKN or Cookin' as I remember it being called... In late 84 early 85 they went to the hot hits format where they played the same 10 songs over and over... When they first started out there were no re-currents to speak of and they had a countdown that went over and over... By this time Kiss FM was kicking some serious ass and was giving CKN all kinds of grief calling them "Chicken" for the CKN calls and just plain out had a much better play list then CKN had not to mention a heck of a lot better audio... During their top 40 days they seemed to have as much audio problems as WIGL had in Columbia... As we move forward a little towards the end of 85 into 86 CKN's play list started to expand and was much better day parted then it was at fist... Scott S worked at CKN so I am sure he has a lot of stories he could share with us... By the time we moved to 87 WANS was really getting its act together and by that time Kiss FM was being watered down and all the good guys had pretty much left the station... In Nov of 87 Right before thanks giving CKN started telling listeners to listen that they were going to give them what what they wanted and if memory serves me right on Dec 1st 1987 rock 101 was re born with a more true AOR format with a few currents thrown in, but for the most part it was as classic rock as they came... We move forward to 1990 when WROQ changed calls and formats to gorilla radio... With WROQ up for grabs in 1991 those calls came to the GSP market even though Adams Communications who purchased Kool 95.1 in Charlotte tried to get those calls back to the QC, but it was to late thus the 95QQ would become WAQQ... To this very day those ROQ calls have been home to the up states Classic Rock Leader... CC1
 
Yes! I remember when 1230 and 101.1 were simulcast. They would always ID as "WAIM/WCAC Anderson". The 2 radio stations along with WAIM-TV 40 were once owned by WAIM Radio and The Anderson Independent-Mail thus the WAIM calls. I never really understood why the FM had the WCAC call. Thanks to everyone for the look back at upstate stations of the past.
 
eacalhoun1 said:
Hey Robyn...I hope you're doing well...

Yep, I believe 101.1 was WAIM at some point and that may have been their first calls. I believe it was sister to then WAIM-TV 40--which in itself had a long and storied history. Back to the WCKN calls...I remember in the early 80s some TV spots that referenced the meaning of the WCKN calls-- "We're Cookin'" and there were "flames" flying from the WCKN logo.

Eric
Click to expand...

Eric, was that the same TV spot that had a scene where a radio was being crushed by a compactor? If so, I remember that ad as well.

I think they also used the syndicated "Talking Mouth" spot that Chuck Blore had developed at one point. Either that one or the one that featured a woman model talking about the station. That spot was used in Columbia for WNOK at about that time.

Thanks for the answers. Feel free to send me mail off list at robyntw 2 4 7 ( at ) yahoo dot com (take out the spaces between) and we'll play catch-up.

Best,
Robyn
 
CrazeeCarroll1 said:
Hey Robyn thanks for picking the station pick up... It is a good one also... You are right about CKN or Cookin' as I remember it being called... In late 84 early 85 they went to the hot hits format where they played the same 10 songs over and over... When they first started out there were no re-currents to speak of and they had a countdown that went over and over... By this time Kiss FM was kicking some serious ass and was giving CKN all kinds of grief calling them "Chicken" for the CKN calls and just plain out had a much better play list then CKN had not to mention a heck of a lot better audio... During their top 40 days they seemed to have as much audio problems as WIGL had in Columbia... As we move forward a little towards the end of 85 into 86 CKN's play list started to expand and was much better day parted then it was at fist... Scott S worked at CKN so I am sure he has a lot of stories he could share with us... By the time we moved to 87 WANS was really getting its act together and by that time Kiss FM was being watered down and all the good guys had pretty much left the station... In Nov of 87 Right before thanks giving CKN started telling listeners to listen that they were going to give them what what they wanted and if memory serves me right on Dec 1st 1987 rock 101 was re born with a more true AOR format with a few currents thrown in, but for the most part it was as classic rock as they came... We move forward to 1990 when WROQ changed calls and formats to gorilla radio... With WROQ up for grabs in 1991 those calls came to the GSP market even though Adams Communications who purchased Kool 95.1 in Charlotte tried to get those calls back to the QC, but it was to late thus the 95QQ would become WAQQ... To this very day those ROQ calls have been home to the up states Classic Rock Leader... CC1
Click to expand...

Yep, those were the days. I remember WCKN's signal problems during the 80s, which was a factor on why I've stop listening to them until the end. Do you happen to remember if they had dropped the Rock 101 name during the "Hot Hits" era?

Thanks for the clarification on the end of WCKN's CHR format.

Robyn
 
Robyn I don't think they used Rock in their name during their CHR days... That did not come back until they switched back to CR... I know near the end they were more CHURban than CHR, but it was not to the extent like C-103 was in Columbia... I just know that they had a lot of tech issues and that was what I really did not like about them... They would be here today and then gone tomorrow and then back on so it was kinda tough going for them... When they were doing Rock 40/AOR part one I don't remember them having so many issues... CC1
 
Wow...where to start...I began working with WCKN just at the Classic Rock change over. I was there the morning that it changed.

Nate Norris and Dyana Daniels took it into the new format.

I worked there for 13 years after that and since the date that Dyana and Nate did the change it's been either Classic or Mainstream Rock.

After Nate and Dyana came Mike Benson...Then Mike and Dana...Then Mike and Scooter with me as the producer for all the above.

The call letter change came when the WROQ calls became available and then General Manager Charlie Cohn snapped them up for the station.

To the best of my knowledge the station still gets confused calls "I used to listen to you guys when you were in Charlotte"

The station moved from Old Williamston Road to Pleasantburg Drive not long after the call letter change and that was a huge help to the stations fortunes. We were in the center of the market for programming, sales and promotions and it made working there a lot easier.

WROQ's best success came as a Mainstream Rock station before it was bought by Barnstable. AMFM gave us the resources and the freedom to do what was necessary and the last couple of books were #1 12+.

Barnstable did the station no favors as "room was made for the Planet". It eventually came back in the 25-54 demo, but has never recovered to it's levels from 1999-2001.

Program Directors:

Tommy Smith: (funny guy)...To this date not sure what happened to him...He kinda just disappeared.

Lee Rogers: Real human...hired me for the AM WAIM-AM...eventually got out of the business, but huge pipes and a good guy.

Ken Carson: The most sucessful of the Program Directors for this station. He took the station into the top 5 25-54 with #1 finishes a couple of times

Mike Allen: (Interim)...That's me...Took what Ken was doing and continued with it. Had some real sucess and led to my current gig.

KC Carson: The Barnstable era led to problems with all aspects of the station though KC kept up the good fight.

That's the skimmer version of what I remember...It was a good place with great jocks.

Bill Walker: He passed away a few years ago...Driest funniest guy I ever met...Looked like Rosie Greer, but so funny.

Craig Allen: Great on the air, but had real audience stage fright...My roomate for a while...I think he's flying planes now.

Dyana Daniels: You can still hear her as the host of the midday show on NPR Radio here in South Carolina.

KC Carson: She recently did a stint as the Morning Drive jock at The Buzzard in Greenville...Not sure if she's still there, but a great jock that has the love of the market to this date.

There were others, but the rock era of this radio station was a great time to live through.

Mike Allen
Operations Director
WYBB & WCOO
 
Great overview of all the jocks Mike and BTW Welcome... When I was in College back in the late 80's into the early 90's CKN then ROQ was one of the best sounding Rock stations there was... As for Barnstable it was like they put you guys as bridesmaid which I think really hurt you guys... I am glad to see that ROQ has come around though... Up here in Northern IL all we have is an active rocker and a CRTRR station with about a 250 song music library which has led me and my wife to satellite radio or MP3 for the both of us... You guys had one of the best show on Sunday nights if I remember correct was called Fresh Air and From Atlanta to Charlotte... Those were must hear shows and gave a lot of exposure to a lot of bands... CC1
 
If my memory serves me correctly, WCAC stood for Clemson Agricultural College. The station aired Clemson University extension shows (and commercial fare) prior to the debut of non-com WEPR. WAIM television was a CBS affilliate.
 
RobynWattsV2.0 said:
Eric, was that the same TV spot that had a scene where a radio was being crushed by a compactor? If so, I remember that ad as well.
Click to expand...

I believe the TV spot you are referring to was for WKSF-FM 99.9. The famous Timex watch pitchman, John Cameron Swayze, was shown crushing a boombox with a compactor while saying: 99.9 Kiss-FM, Takes a knockin' and keeps on rockin'. I always loved this spot.
 
I remember working there in 82-83. It was still WAIM when I first arrived in July 82, but they changed it to WCKN later that Fall.
 
On the air staff topic, they had some great jocks in the early years. Rick Woodell, Gary Jackson, Steve Chris, and Brother Bill were there for awhile. This was at the end of the WAIM period, and into the CKN era.
 
I moved into Anderson in the spring of 1988 and definitely remember most of those later people there and remember when WCKN CHANGED ITS CALL SIGN TO wroq AND IT REALLY FIT THEM WELL. One of the biggest tragedies was when WANS got sold and became WWMM before it became WJMZ and moved from Clemson Boulevard to Greenvilee. It was one kicking CHR and WROQ really kicked butt witht the classic rock format.
It was some really good radio then and Greenville radio as well as Columbia radio has not been the same since several of the large conglomarates have bought up these great radio stations of the past.
 
CrazeeCarroll1 said:
Scott S worked at CKN so I am sure he has a lot of stories he could share with us...
Click to expand...

Hi Carroll,

I worked there in '85-86 after leaving KZQ and before going to WJMX for my first attempt at mornings. I do have a lot of stories...some good, some bad. When I was there, Bob Nations was the GM. Gary Jackson was the PD and was about to leave for North Carolina when he hired me. After he left, Jim Wilson became the PD. Nate was there, so was Bill Walker (great guy. I didn't know he had passed until I read this thread), Lois Gates and Dyana Daniels. I knew Steve Criss and KC Carson (great jocks) because they periodically still did some airwork for WCKN as I recall.
 
Thanks everyone for the info. I've added some of the info to Wiki's entry for WROQ.

Just one quick question: Wasn't WROQ and WTPT both under Clear Channel's ownership when Barnstable acquired them? I know that previously WTPT and WESC were both under Benchmark from 1995 onward, but didn't know if both stations went to Capstar and AMFM.

Thanks again,
Robyn
 
Hey Robyn,

AMFM owned WMYI, WSSL, WROQ and La Brava in Greenville...Clear Channel owned WESC-AM and FM and WTPT.

When the merger came down Clear Channel decided to keep the two country stations and spin the two rock stations to Barnstable.

So WROQ was owned by CC, but only for days or weeks until the spin to Barnstable. In fact the Barnstable people were in the AMFM building in the weeks leading up to the merger.

Mike Allen
Operations Manager
WYBB & WCOO
 
I cannot get "quote-maker" to work so I will manually try to achieve the same effect. This is a part of one of Robyn's posts:

"Eric, was that the same TV spot that had a scene where a radio was being crushed by a compactor? If so, I remember that ad as well.

I think they also used the syndicated "Talking Mouth" spot that Chuck Blore had developed at one point. Either that one or the one that featured a woman model talking about the station. That spot was used in Columbia for WNOK at about that time."

Robyn...I don't remember the compactor. Doesn't mean it was not in the same TV ad, but just that my aged brain is foggy. The "flaming" WCKN logo is all that sticks out. As far as the "talking mouth" spot, was that the spot I saw on a number of TV stations in different markets with a good-looking girl who would begin talking in her normal voice and having a dialogue with an off-camera male voice? The camera would then zoom to her mouth where she would lip-sync snippets of songs played on the advertised station. The camera would then zoom back out and the dialogue with the male would resume with the guy saying: "You have an incredible voice!"; then female would say, "(station name/calls) is an incredible radio station". Of course, she was using a soft, sexy voice. I know WBCY had TV ads like this, and it seems that some were even specific to John Boy and Billy -- which was well before their WRFX and "The Big Show" days.

Eric
 
eacalhoun1 said:
I think they also used the syndicated "Talking Mouth" spot that Chuck Blore had developed at one point. Either that one or the one that featured a woman model talking about the station. That spot was used in Columbia for WNOK at about that time.[/i]"

Robyn...I don't remember the compactor. Doesn't mean it was not in the same TV ad, but just that my aged brain is foggy. The "flaming" WCKN logo is all that sticks out. As far as the "talking mouth" spot, was that the spot I saw on a number of TV stations in different markets with a good-looking girl who would begin talking in her normal voice and having a dialogue with an off-camera male voice? The camera would then zoom to her mouth where she would lip-sync snippets of songs played on the advertised station. The camera would then zoom back out and the dialogue with the male would resume with the guy saying: "You have an incredible voice!"; then female would say, "(station name/calls) is an incredible radio station". Of course, she was using a soft, sexy voice. I know WBCY had TV ads like this, and it seems that some were even specific to John Boy and Billy -- which was well before their WRFX and "The Big Show" days.

Eric
Click to expand...



Although I'm unsure exactly which stations other than WNOK used the "talking mouth" spots, I know that WNOK used that ad campaign starting in September 1983 when we changed the logo and went from 105 to 104.7. The spots starred an actress named Deborah Shelton. I remember old ladies calling us up and bitching us out because they were convinced that the "girl in the commercial"(Shelton) was hypnotizing them and they demanded that we cease airing the spots immediately....so we doubled the ad buy. lol.

As far a WCKN, let me mull a few stories over. I've got a few that are pretty good...including where WCKN got the idea for their bumper stickers they used starting in 1985-86. Also, there's the story of the "CKN Comet" which was supposed to coincide with the return of Halley's Comet in 1986. I can't make this stuff up.

Ain't radio grand?
 
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