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"The Breeze" network

R

RobynWattsV2.0

I'm in the process of researching info on history of "The Breeze" network for a possible Wikipedia entry. While I was stumbling around online, I've found this (from www.beachshag.com):

"The Fall 1994 advent of The Breeze (WWBZ) as the flagship station of the Beach, Boogie and Blues Network out of Charleston marked the beginning of a new era. Woody and Leo Windham sit at the helm of the morning show in partnership with owner Frank Baker. Their sister station, WHBZ, signed on the air in mid-June from Port Royal, pumping the Beach, Boogie and Blues from Wilmington, NC to Jacksonville, Florida. (The Breeze Network eventually encompassed four stations: Charleston & Columbia, SC, Port Royal/Hilton Head/Brunswick, GA and one in Wilmington, NC. The network lost three of the stations in 1998 & 1999. The Breeze went off the air in September, 2000)."

Does anyone remember what was the station in Wilmington? I thought it might have been what is now 94.9 The Surf, but I'm not sure. Also, any other info on the network would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Robyn
 
I happen to know The Surf, despite its current format, was never part of that network. I think 106.7 The Penguin was the Breeze station in Wilmington.
 
Let's remember that there was another "Breeze" network in the late 80s/early 90s, that was a combination of what might today be called Smooth Jazz, Soft Rock and New Age music, 24/7.

And it had a Carolinas affiliate, 93.3 WBBO-AM-FM Forest City NC. With it's 100,000 watt signal, it covered an area from Charlotte to Asheville to Greenville-Spartanberg. I believe WBBO carried the network programming 24/7.

In fact, there were two similar networks at the time, The Breeze and The Wave which was modeled after KTWV, Los Angeles, a forerunner in the format that has now dropped most of the New Age and Soft Rock songs for a mix of Contemporary Jazz and AC/Urban AC vocals. Apparently there weren't enough subscribers for two New Age formats, let alone one, and both formats disappeared.

I still have a casette or two of WBBO still around someplace and I still enjoy listening now and then.

Sorry it's not "The Breeze" that you're asking about.





Gregg
[email protected]
 
AHHHHH Yes the beach boogie and blues network... Great idea, but not that much support... I know a lot of die hard fans were very disappointed when they went bye bye... Me and a gentleman who owned Ripete Records in little Elliot SC always talked about what went wrong with the breeze network... I think if they had used some of the ideas that WRDX in NC used the breeze might have lasted a little longer... Near the end what killed off the breeze IMO was all of the weird stuff that was being played... At the time Swing was becoming being rediscovered with shaggers the breeze was pounding out hard core blues music that nobody wanted to hear... they were trying to be different, but shaggers like their Carolina Girls, Ms Grace, Brenda, Collin' Out and the such and not all of the weird stuff that was being played on The Breeze Radio Network... That was one of their downfalls... CC1
 
CrazeeCarroll1 said:
Me and a gentleman who owned Ripete Records in little Elliot SC always talked about what went wrong with the breeze network...
Click to expand...

You talking about Pete Smolen? LOVED Ripete Records!! Loved that warehouse where all the music was. Is is still around? How's Pete?
 
Talking about Ryan Carter!!! I loved going over there when I was doing my little sound business... I don't know if Ripete is still around or not it has been six years since I have been in there... I have all kinds of beach compilations from Ripete so if I get home sick I just toss one in the ole' CD Player and I am set... I have not loaded all of those beach CD's on my HD yet... Once I do that should put me over the ten thousand song mark for music enjoyment on the PC... I would love to go see if the warehouse is still there I know they were looking to expand, but I don't know if that took place... I never met the gentleman you mention of, but Ryan, Mike and the gang always helped me and "Tubby" Huggins out when it came to doing private parties and such... Once we got things rolling word of mouth really took over for us, and we were pretty much booked up each weekend... Had I not moved to IL I would still be cranking out the tunes with The Good Time Music Machine... CC1
 
You are right it was 106.7 at Carolina Beach on the Breeze network. Unfortunatley they never had any signal and did not even serve Wilmington.
 
CrazeeCarroll1 said:
Talking about Ryan Carter!!! I loved going over there when I was doing my little sound business... I don't know if Ripete is still around or not it has been six years since I have been in there... I have all kinds of beach compilations from Ripete so if I get home sick I just toss one in the ole' CD Player and I am set... I have not loaded all of those beach CD's on my HD yet... Once I do that should put me over the ten thousand song mark for music enjoyment on the PC... I would love to go see if the warehouse is still there I know they were looking to expand, but I don't know if that took place... I never met the gentleman you mention of, but Ryan, Mike and the gang always helped me and "Tubby" Huggins out when it came to doing private parties and such... Once we got things rolling word of mouth really took over for us, and we were pretty much booked up each weekend... Had I not moved to IL I would still be cranking out the tunes with The Good Time Music Machine... CC1
Click to expand...

Pete owns (or at least used to own the Sounds Familiar chain) and I think he had something to do with RiPete Records. It may be that your guy was his partner, I mean the name is RiPete Records. It would make sense. Nothing beats that warehouse for ambience, man. How about all the Beach Music Anthologies that RiPete put out? The first beach music album I ever bought was the first beach music anthology...and I only bought it because Woody wrote his endorsement on the back. And, as you and any self respecting beach music fan (and any Midlands radio fan) knows, Woody was DA MAN!!!
 
Scott I have all three beach anthologies... I paid $100 dollars for the first one because the proceeds went to help a co worker of mine at PUB who was very sick and could not afford some of the treatments that insurance did not cover... The other two I got for free from Ripete and they all three have some good music on them... My biggest shock came when Ripete released a tribute CD to Fat Harold and his beach club... I got an advance release CD and to my surprise there was a special thanks to me on it... I had no clue that a little ole' jock from little ole' Camden would get a mention on a CD, but I did... I am glad that I can say I had a little part in keeping beach music alive in SC whether by playing it on the radio or playing it at many wedding receptions... CC1
 
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