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Buffalo Whatever Happened To: Ken Johnson (WWOL, WYRK)

BuffaloDialTwister

BuffaloDialTwister

Ken Johnson was a powerhouse PD in country music during his tenue at WYRK from 1982 to 1997. Prior to 106.5, he was at WWOL AM/FM from 1974 to 1982. He would leave 'YRK for WXTU in Philadelphia, a tenue in the City of Brotherly Love that will last until 2000.

What happened to Ken after 2000? Where is Ken today?
 
I don't know where he's living these days, but he pops up on Aaron Kannowski's Top 40 Music On CD forum where he posts about availability of country tracks on CD and digital sites.
 
I know where he isn’t. He isn’t in the BHOF and he should be. There are hundreds of people in this HOF who should not be, including myself.

Ken Johnson took a country western station in Buffalo circa 1984, and turned it into to the country powerhouse it is now, WYRK.

I was working full time, on-air at WYRK in 1986 under PD Ken Johnson. At that time, the station was in the top ten. By 1988 or so, it hit a 7 share, and I remember the celebration at GM Kitty Bocock’s house.

From there, it climbed to mammoth, and has stayed there.

Ken was not just a PD, he was a machine, sometimes working 24/7 to make sure WYRK was perfect. He promoted being out in the community big time. Appearances, MC, Jamborees, Melody Fair, Remotes, and huge on air promotions, including giving away a huge house in Hamburg.

His air staff was everywhere. The on air attention to detail was extraordinary. It was Ken’s station. He turned it from a country western stereotypical radio station, to a newer country station. The 80’s and 90’s are the biggest decades in the history of country music, and Ken steered that ship.

His attention to audio quality, flow, structure, imaging, and music was something I have not seen since

Not sure where is is now ( last I heard, he was programming “Willie’s Roadhouse” on Sirius) but I know he should be…in the BHOF
 
I emailed Ken earlier today to let him know about this thread.
 
Thanks to John G. for alerting me to this thread. Appreciate those that remembered me and your nice comments. Many of my fondest radio memories were created in WNY.

Buffalo Dial Twister has accuratedly recounted most of my resume. To add another line, my first radio job was part-time weekends & vacation fill-in at my Lockport, NY hometown station WUSJ (now WLVL) At that time the music format was a 50/50 mix of oldies and current songs from the easy listening chart. Very similar to what GR-55 in Buffalo was doing in that era. [In an interesting twist of fate, the WUSJ call letters now belong to a country radio station in Mississippi]

Country music was always my #1 musical preference. My dream radio job was to spin country 45's at my favorite radio station WWOL. That was Buffalo's leading country station in the 1960's & 70's [AM 1120 & FM 104.1] In August 1974 WWOL PD David R. Snow hired me for weekends. A month later I became the full-time overnight host and over time moved to evenings and then mid-days. I also became the music director. GM Ron Rice elevated me to PD in 1980 the same year the WWOL studios relocated from the Hotel Lafayette to the brand new Buffalo Hilton Hotel.

In early 1982 the demise of WWOL was imminent, scheduled to be replaced by a satellite top 40 format. I persuaded WYRK GM Al Fetch to hire me to be their first PD and to take their year-old automated country format "live." I began in May 1982 and our live programing started in June. Through a lot of hard work our excellent team grew the audience for country music ultimately becoming Buffalo's #1 radio station. As Buddy Shula accurately recalled, he and the rest of our excellent staff significantly contributed to our massive success.

At the end of 1997 I left Buffalo to become PD at WXTU in Philadephia. I departed there at the end of 1999.

Next stop was Washington, DC for the launch of XM Satellite Radio in 2001. I programmed the "Open Road" channel for truck drivers. It was a combination of highway & weather info, country music and trucking industry related talk programing. I also consulted two channels that programmed older/classic country music, "Hank's Place" and "America." That all came to an end with the Sirius takeover (it was not a "merger") and by early 2009 most of the XM staff including myself were laid off.

I worked outside the radio industry for a few more years and then retired.

I am grateful to everyone that ever extended a helping hand to me. And I'm very proud of those I worked with like Buddy who went on to their own very successful careers.

Thanks for remembering me.
 
Very pleased to see a "like" on my previous post from my old friend Nick Seneca. To give credit where credit is due, Nick played a significant role in launching my country radio career.

In August 1974 when I was working at WUSJ in Lockport I made my yearly visit to the Erie County Fair. At the WWOL trailer I met Nick Seneca who was doing a remote broadcast. Nick was one of my favorite WWOL personalities. I admired his warm and friendly approach - how he talked "to" listeners and did not announce "at" them. Very one-on-one. His delivery was warm & concise and he often included info about the songs & singers that I appreciated. He turned out to be the same nice, friendly guy in person that I had envisioned on the radio.

We had a great conversation about radio and country music and he endured my endless questions about WWOL. Looking back God Bless him for his patience!

I told him how much I hoped that I would one day work at WWOL. He said he would try to set up an interview with PD David R. Snow for me. True to his word within a few days that interview happened and I was hired for a part-time weekend shift. I cannot put into words how thrilled I was to finally get to play the music that I loved by my favorite singers on the radio!

Nick was the catalyst that put my career into motion. I will always be grateful to him for the kindness and patience that he showed to a young kid from Lockport that truly loved country music.

Thanks Nick. I am forever grateful to you for your helping hand and the significant role that you played in my career!
 
Ken Johnson said:
Very pleased to see a "like" on my previous post from my old friend Nick Seneca. To give credit where credit is due, Nick played a significant role in launching my country radio career.
Click to expand...
Great story! Good to get to know you via RadioDiscussions.
 
Thanks David.

I've visited this forum from time-to-time in the past although I've never joined to comment until now.

You have my deepest respect. Moderating a discussion board like this is a thankless job. You do a great job keeping posts on a civil track. Also providing a reality check when less than true statements are made.

Soldier on.
 
Ken Johnson said:
Thanks David.

I've visited this forum from time-to-time in the past although I've never joined to comment until now.

You have my deepest respect. Moderating a discussion board like this is a thankless job. You do a great job keeping posts on a civil track. Also providing a reality check when less than true statements are made.
Click to expand...
I´d like to take credit for more of the moderation, but that is why I chose to transfer the site to Lanz when the previous owner passed away.
 
Ken Johnson said:
Very pleased to see a "like" on my previous post from my old friend Nick Seneca. To give credit where credit is due, Nick played a significant role in launching my country radio career.

In August 1974 when I was working at WUSJ in Lockport I made my yearly visit to the Erie County Fair. At the WWOL trailer I met Nick Seneca who was doing a remote broadcast. Nick was one of my favorite WWOL personalities. I admired his warm and friendly approach - how he talked "to" listeners and did not announce "at" them. Very one-on-one. His delivery was warm & concise and he often included info about the songs & singers that I appreciated. He turned out to be the same nice, friendly guy in person that I had envisioned on the radio.

We had a great conversation about radio and country music and he endured my endless questions about WWOL. Looking back God Bless him for his patience!

I told him how much I hoped that I would one day work at WWOL. He said he would try to set up an interview with PD David R. Snow for me. True to his word within a few days that interview happened and I was hired for a part-time weekend shift. I cannot put into words how thrilled I was to finally get to play the music that I loved by my favorite singers on the radio!

Nick was the catalyst that put my career into motion. I will always be grateful to him for the kindness and patience that he showed to a young kid from Lockport that truly loved country music.

Thanks Nick. I am forever grateful to you for your helping hand and the significant role that you played in my career!
Click to expand...

Oh wow! What an accolade! Thank you for your kind words, Ken!

Yes, I remember that conversation at the Erie County Fair. When you approached me, I already knew who you were because I'd heard you on WUSJ using your real name. I remember that even as a relative radio newbie, you had a genuine and natural delivery on-air.

I'm very grateful for your memory of my role in your professional life. I watched you from the sidelines and cheered you on! So impressed by your accomplishments.

For the record, I'm still doing radio and lovin' it! No plans to retire just yet. I've got a great gig as Production Director at Connoisseur Media in Palm Springs, Calif.

We're years overdue for a catch-up convo. I have an old email address for you. Or you can drop me a line at NickOnTheAir at gmail.com .

Thanks again, partner!

Nick
 
Ken it was great working with you at WWOL.Good to see what you did all those years.I was thinking when I saw you on here.I now own WLVL in Lockport (WUSJ) .Thought it would a blast to get you on the air to share all the history of (WUSJ)If you have the time and would like to return where it all started for you.Call Bill Yuhnke 716-867-1700
 
I've always enjoyed polka music. I grew up listening to Stan 'Stas' Jasinski on WWOL (and later WMMJ) My family always tuned in to Stan's weekday Polka Behive shows, Saturday Polka Party & the Sunday Polish American Program. In the 70's Bob Mycek's Polka Jamboree on WWOL every Sunday was also essential listening.

When my Dad bought an FM receiver in the late 60's Dan Lesniak's Polka Ballroom on WADV was added to our weekend polka listening. I recall hearing Happy Harry's polka shows on WBLK and WNIA and Walt Jaworski's show. Just a few of the many programs that featured polka music on WNY radio in that era. In the early 60's WGR-TV had the Pic-A-Polka TV show on Sunday's featuring Frank Wojnarowski with Joe Macielag's orchestra. So along with country music my Polish-American family also enjoyed a regular dose of polkas.

I was hired at WWOL in 1974 to be a country DJ. But late that year WWOL General Manager Bob Mycek left the station to move to Atlanta to join a family business. Bob was looking for someone to host the polka show and I raised my hand. My familiarity & love of polka music and my ethnic heritage (all four of my Grandparents were Polish immigrants) provided winning qualifications. I did not speak Polish but I knew the music and could pronounce the Polish names & titles fairly accurately.

Since you asked, I have many favorite polka singers & bands. My earliest memories include spinning 78 RPM records from parent's collection at home. Lil' Wally and the Connecticut Twins ranked among my early favorites.

Every year a highlight of our Erie County Fair visit was a trip to the Iroquois Beer tent where Big Steve (Krzeminski) and his band The Bellares performed. They were always big local favorites and mine too. Steve later hosted his own excellent polka radio program that still continues today with Ron Dombrowski.

I always preferred the "Chicago" style of polkas. Lil' Wally was an early purveyor of that sound. My favorite vocalist was "The Golden Voice" Marion Lush. One of the best voices in the genre who recorded so many classic songs that still sound great today. Also loved Eddie Blazonczyk & his Versatones and Lil' Richard. Had the chance to meet all four gentlemen. They were first class guys and leaders in their genre.

While doing the program I became acquainted with members of the Buffalo polka bands. Invited them on the show whenever they released new albums. The Dynatones (featuring the inimitable Dave 'Scrubby' Seweryniak), The Modernaires, G-Notes, Wanda & Stephanie, Happy Richie & The Royalaires and the Pole Cats [Ray Barsukiewicz' great band that gave me the honor of providing liner notes for their album and including my photo on the back cover] were played regularly.

After a few months hosting the show I changed the name to 'Polka Country' playing off the fact that WWOL was primarily a country music station.
Through Don Ruda at Ruda's Record Shop I met Tony Rozek who became my volunteer polka advisor on the show. Tony supplied vintage recordings from his immense collection to play on the program and provided great suggestions of tracks that we should play. Tony was an encyclopdia of polka music and a great guy to hang out with. He went on to later host his own polka show.

By 1977 WWOL management realized that a full of day of ethnic programming on Sundays [Italian, Jewish, Polish Polka, German & Greek Shows) were not conducive to ratings success. Those shows chased away most regular country music fans and the audience turnover from show-to-show was not ratings-friendly. By that time, the financial gain from those shows had become incremental. That's why in 1977 all of the shows were cancelled and WWOL-AM began programming country music 7 days a week. Most of those ethnic shows found new homes on other WNY radio stations.

I totally enjoyed my time hosting the polka show and it definitely boosted my stock value in the eyes of my Polish relatives.
 
I've worked in restaurants, radio and IT. I've had good bosses, OK bosses, a couple of bad bosses (nice people but just not cut out for the job) and two great bosses. Ken Johnson was one of them. He had to put me in my place a couple of time but man, he knew how to run a radio station (WWOL)! Thank you Ken!
Mark Swarts
 
Mark:

Thank you for your very kind & generous comments. I'm most flattered that I impressed you in such a memorable way. I recall working with you too like it was yesterday. Cannot believe that it was so many years ago! Where has the time gone?

You were clearly one of our most talented performers in every way and we were lucky to have you on our staff. Hope that life has treated you well in all of the years since we worked together.

I've sent you a conversation via this site so please check for that.

Many thanks Mark!

Ken
 
Ken Johnson said:
I've always enjoyed polka music. I grew up listening to Stan 'Stas' Jasinski on WWOL (and later WMMJ) My family always tuned in to Stan's weekday Polka Behive shows, Saturday Polka Party & the Sunday Polish American Program. In the 70's Bob Mycek's Polka Jamboree on WWOL every Sunday was also essential listening.

When my Dad bought an FM receiver in the late 60's Dan Lesniak's Polka Ballroom on WADV was added to our weekend polka listening. I recall hearing Happy Harry's polka shows on WBLK and WNIA and Walt Jaworski's show. Just a few of the many programs that featured polka music on WNY radio in that era. In the early 60's WGR-TV had the Pic-A-Polka TV show on Sunday's featuring Frank Wojnarowski with Joe Macielag's orchestra. So along with country music my Polish-American family also enjoyed a regular dose of polkas.

I was hired at WWOL in 1974 to be a country DJ. But late that year WWOL General Manager Bob Mycek left the station to move to Atlanta to join a family business. Bob was looking for someone to host the polka show and I raised my hand. My familiarity & love of polka music and my ethnic heritage (all four of my Grandparents were Polish immigrants) provided winning qualifications. I did not speak Polish but I knew the music and could pronounce the Polish names & titles fairly accurately.

Since you asked, I have many favorite polka singers & bands. My earliest memories include spinning 78 RPM records from parent's collection at home. Lil' Wally and the Connecticut Twins ranked among my early favorites.

Every year a highlight of our Erie County Fair visit was a trip to the Iroquois Beer tent where Big Steve (Krzeminski) and his band The Bellares performed. They were always big local favorites and mine too. Steve later hosted his own excellent polka radio program that still continues today with Ron Dombrowski.

I always preferred the "Chicago" style of polkas. Lil' Wally was an early purveyor of that sound. My favorite vocalist was "The Golden Voice" Marion Lush. One of the best voices in the genre who recorded so many classic songs that still sound great today. Also loved Eddie Blazonczyk & his Versatones and Lil' Richard. Had the chance to meet all four gentlemen. They were first class guys and leaders in their genre.

While doing the program I became acquainted with members of the Buffalo polka bands. Invited them on the show whenever they released new albums. The Dynatones (featuring the inimitable Dave 'Scrubby' Seweryniak), The Modernaires, G-Notes, Wanda & Stephanie, Happy Richie & The Royalaires and the Pole Cats [Ray Barsukiewicz' great band that gave me the honor of providing liner notes for their album and including my photo on the back cover] were played regularly.

After a few months hosting the show I changed the name to 'Polka Country' playing off the fact that WWOL was primarily a country music station.
Through Don Ruda at Ruda's Record Shop I met Tony Rozek who became my volunteer polka advisor on the show. Tony supplied vintage recordings from his immense collection to play on the program and provided great suggestions of tracks that we should play. Tony was an encyclopdia of polka music and a great guy to hang out with. He went on to later host his own polka show.

By 1977 WWOL management realized that a full of day of ethnic programming on Sundays [Italian, Jewish, Polish Polka, German & Greek Shows) were not conducive to ratings success. Those shows chased away most regular country music fans and the audience turnover from show-to-show was not ratings-friendly. By that time, the financial gain from those shows had become incremental. That's why in 1977 all of the shows were cancelled and WWOL-AM began programming country music 7 days a week. Most of those ethnic shows found new homes on other WNY radio stations.

I totally enjoyed my time hosting the polka show and it definitely boosted my stock value in the eyes of my Polish relatives.
Click to expand...
Ken, I'm working on my second book on Buffalo Radio... this one focused on the 70s-2000s. Can you share your email, I have a few more questions. Marty Biniasz - See my website at www.BuffaloBroadcasting.org
 
To add a little color to this post... here is when WYRK took off after Ken's arrival... an impressive 4.6 to 7.5 jump from Spring to Fall 1982.
WYRK wasn't able to land a #1 12+ finish until Winter 1991, but from that point forward it was #1 in 30 of the 40 following surveys.
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