Which Radio Stations Shaped your Taste in Music?

[fordranger797]

It may also be interesting to add some information about the years you were listening as well.

I’ll start. Growing up in Seattle, I always listened to 102.5 KZOK for classic rock. I think this station had a significant influence on me from around 1995 to 2015 or so, as my parents listened to it all of the time (which led me to do the same). Unfortunately, this station began drop their focus on 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s rock sometime around 2016/2017 to focus more heavily on the 90’s. I still am a regular listener, but it hasn’t been the same. Other honourable Seattle mentions include KBSG 97.3 (which doesn’t exist), KIXI 880 (which barely exists), and KMTT 103.7 (which doesn’t exist).

Beyond Seattle, I also listened to CISL 650 in Vancouver B.C. for their mixture of 60’s and 70’s hits (another station that is gone), and CHBM 97.3 in Toronto for classic hits. CHMB is still around and features a great playlist of 80’s tracks.

 

[gr8oldies]

Easy one for me, CKLW, starting in 1967 when it played at the pool.

 

[fordranger797]

I wasn’t around when the big 8 was in its prime, but it always stuck me at one of the most legendary radio stations. I was lucky enough to listen to CKWW 580 on occasions, which has helped carry on the legacy.

 

[KeithE4]

In the early/mid 1960s in Bloomington IN, it was WIFE Indianapolis and WAKY Louisville during the day, and the usual blowtorches (WLS, WCFL, CKLW, WABC) at night.

In 1968, WNAP was born, and that influenced my taste in music more than any radio station before or since.

 

[gr8oldies]

I wasn’t around when the big 8 was in its prime, but it always stuck me at one of the most legendary radio stations. I was lucky enough to listen to CKWW 580 on occasions, which has helped carry on the legacy.

There is also Charlie O'Brien's big8radio.com

 

[landtuna]

KTKT, KYA, KEWB, WOR-FM, KRIZ, KOPA, KOOL-FM, KSLX-FM, KAZG,

 

[gr8oldies]

I can give you a more detailed explanation. Living in north central Indiana as a child, we had WOWO, Fort Wayne on most of the time. Despite its news/personality/weather/farm focus, they played top 40 (except for the Little Red Barn). I'm talking the Beatles, Beach Boys, Doors, Jefferson Airplane.....some of which made my grandma cringe. When we moved to Ohio, we were still in WOWO's strong coverage area, day and night, but at the pool and park in my new town (at age 10), a station called Fun Radio 8 CKLW was playing. This station was from Windsor, serving Detroit as well. My town was around 175 miles from Detroit, and most residents had no connection to Detroit. Not to mention my town couldn't be whiter if it tried. Nonetheless, I glommed on to the Motown and R&B CKLW, (The Big 8 as of July 1967), as well as the rock.
Other influences, WMEE Fort Wayne, WLS, WABC, WLAC. We didn't have access to an AOR/progressive station, so we knew about the good albums by word of mouth. Later in high school I listened to WLBC-FM. Muncie, Indiana with Drake-Chenault's "Solid Gold", and that filled me in on some of the earlier 60s I had missed.

 

[exdjted]

Growing up in the Bootheel of Missouri in the '70s as the son of a broadcaster, the stations that had the most influence on me were WHBQ, WDIA and WMPS in Memphis; along with WLS, WABC and WWL on the AM band. I made the switch to FM when WMC FM 100 switched to Top 40 and WEGR Rock 103 flipped to AOR in 1978.

 

[davideduardo]

Early on, in Cleveland, OH, I began listening to Alan Freed on WJW: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Freed That was around 1951-52-

I moved on to Pete ¨Mad Daddy" Myers, also on WJW and then on WHK along with Specs Howard and the team at WERE.

I then expanded to classical WCLV and beautiful music WDBN and MOR with "Big" Wilson in the morning.

My first radio job at age 13 got me into jazz and R&B at WJMO and WCUY. That takes me to 1959.

Second radio job, in 1964, an internship at Grupo Radio Centro in Mexico City, got me into a variety of Spanish language genres including tropical, Top 40, ranchera and standards/nostalgia at XERC, XEQR, XEJP, XEAI and XEBS. My favorites were XEAI with tropical and XERC with Top 40 in both English and Spanish.

That covers me from about age 7 to 18. At age 18, I had my own station, HCRM in Quito, Ecuador, which was Top 40 and modeled to some extent after WQAM in Miami.

 

[CTListener]

Growing up in the Bootheel of Missouri in the '70s as the son of a broadcaster, the stations that had the most influence on me were WHBQ, WDIA and WMPS in Memphis; along with WLS, WABC and WWL on the AM band. I made the switch to FM when WMC FM 100 switched to Top 40 and WEGR Rock 103 flipped to AOR in 1978.

I spent late 1977 through early 1981 in Arkansas and still recall what entertaining Top 40 stations WHBQ and WMPS were. Of the two, I preferred WMPS, and was stunned to hear it flip to country music in 1978. Was this flip done simultaneously to WMC-FM's and WEGR's flips? I was out of range of those stations' signals.

As for my taste-forming stations, those would be WBZ and WRKO Boston, followed by WBCN Boston and little WCAS Cambridge (with its eclectic folk/folk-rock/Celtic/blues/etc. format). I came to appreciate country music in college, through WSEN Syracuse and WCOP Boston, and classical only recently through WNCH Norwich, VT, and other stations on the Vermont Public Radio classical network, as well as WMNR Monroe, CT, which had a translator near my longtime hometown of Meriden.

 

[exdjted]

I spent late 1977 through early 1981 in Arkansas and still recall what entertaining Top 40 stations WHBQ and WMPS were. Of the two, I preferred WMPS, and was stunned to hear it flip to country music in 1978. Was this flip done simultaneously to WMC-FM's and WEGR's flips? I was out of range of those stations' signals.

As for my taste-forming stations, those would be WBZ and WRKO Boston, followed by WBCN Boston and little WCAS Cambridge (with its eclectic folk/folk-rock/Celtic/blues/etc. format). I came to appreciate country music in college, through WSEN Syracuse and WCOP Boston, and classical only recently through WNCH Norwich, VT, and other stations on the Vermont Public Radio classical network, as well as WMNR Monroe, CT, which had a translator near my longtime hometown of Meriden.

WMC FM gradually morphed from Rock to Top 40 over time in the mid-70s. I think the decision to change WMPS to Country came about when Rick Dees was fired and wound up at WHBQ in morning drive. WHBQ had a great lineup in the late 70s, with Rick Dees, Walt Jackson and Bob Landry among others.

I don't remember the exact flip of WEGR to Rock, but I think it may have been in response to WMC going Top 40 from their Rock roots.

 

[CTListener]

WMC FM gradually morphed from Rock to Top 40 over time in the mid-70s. I think the decision to change WMPS to Country came about when Rick Dees was fired and wound up at WHBQ in morning drive. WHBQ had a great lineup in the late 70s, with Rick Dees, Walt Jackson and Bob Landry among others.

I don't remember the exact flip of WEGR to Rock, but I think it may have been in response to WMC going Top 40 from their Rock roots.

I thought Landry (the Buffoon of the Mid-South) was on WMPS. Did he work for both, like Dees?

 

[exdjted]

I thought Landry (the Buffoon of the Mid-South) was on WMPS. Did he work for both, like Dees?

He did. I think he went to WHBQ in 1976 or 77. I listened to him every afternoon to see if he and the Tookie Bird would give a shout-out to my hometown.

 

[CTListener]

He did. I think he went to WHBQ in 1976 or 77. I listened to him every afternoon to see if he and the Tookie Bird would give a shout-out to my hometown.

Must have been late '77 or early '78, because I definitely recall hearing him on 680 on my very first full day in Arkansas, in November 1977.

 

[Battenkill50]

In Louisiana - 1963-1966 - WNOE and WTIX (Top 40), New Orleans
In Florida - 1966-1971 - WTAI - 1560 - Melbourne, WORJ - Mount Dora 107.7 (Progressive rock)
In Central Europe - 1972-1974 - Radio Luxembourg, BBC Radio 1

KTW - Melbourne FL

 

[kwthom]

Time period - 1976 through 1982 or so...southern Arizona

KTKT-AM, KWFM, briefly, when KRQQ-FM started, KIKX*

Then, there was a brief country-western music phase, so KCUB-AM, KNDE, and briefly KIKX*, before they crashed-and-burned and lost their license due to stupidity.**


* Yes, station had both formats - transitioned in '77.

** A better, yet brief, description of that episode is here: https://www.oldradio.com/archives/stations/tus/tusradio.htm#Tucson Radio

 

[seatownmedia]

Seattle for me beyond doubt. Grew up with the 70’s version of KJR and KING, with a little KOL at times. KING and KJR battled, but their approach was different. KJR was more jock driven with big personalities, while KING was “More Music”. The first top40 fm’s started mid decade and eventually forced KING and KJR to make changes. But it really wasn’t until the early 80’s that top40 really successfully moved to FM, with KUBE and KPLZ battling it out.

Memorable jocks in the 70’s…KJR: Charlie Brown, Tracy Mitchell, Mark Jeffries, Gary Lockwood, Lan Roberts, Coby McCloud, Burl Barer (sp?). On KING: Dan Foley, Andy Barber, Rick Donovan, Gary Lockwood, Phil Harper, Bruce Murdock. I had the fortune to work with some of these gentlemen for which I will always be thankful.

 

[SomeRadioGuy]

"Hartford's heart of gold, Big D 103"

and its also one of the biggest reasons i wanted to get into radio

 

[landtuna]

Time period - 1976 through 1982 or so...southern Arizona

KTKT-AM, KWFM, briefly, when KRQQ-FM started, KIKX*

KTKT in the late 50's and two time periods in the 60's and 70's.

KRQQ was an unmitigated disaster for me. Was so looking forward to a Top-40 FM in Tucson but they just blew big chunks!

 

[Kelly A]

I was new to the business, like 17 years old, and got my first on-air commercial gig at a country station. Whereas I appreciated the management taking a chance on some kid, that experience further solidified my dislike for country music.
The PD thought I was doing great, but wanted to make sure when the station was in music, that I reached out to listeners via the CB radio located in the control room. Of course, there was no way in Hell I was going to comply, so whenever he walked down the hall near the control room, I'd hold the CB mic up to my mouth like I was having a conversation. God forbid I work on what I was going to say next on the air.