After a break for the holidays, your editor is refreshed and ready to begin another year of fun with airchecks. In observance of the start of 2011, NEO Airchecks this time features a partially-scoped aircheck of Jerry Vincent on WHOT/1330 in Youngstown. Vincent counts down the Top 10 songs of 1970 in this recording from January 1, 1971 --forty years ago this week. NEO Airchecks wishes to thank Jerry Coleman of Salem, Ohio for this latest aircheck.
Jerry Vincent was a personality on several northeast Ohio radio stations during the 1970's and 80's, including Akron's WHLO/640 and much later, WDJQ/92.5 in Alliance. After a lengthy stint at WDJQ, he left the radio business and became a minister. At last check he was a pastor in the Canton area.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Saturday, December 18, 2010
That Underground Sound
This week NEO Airchecks strays from its usual focus of Top 40 formatted stations of the AM persuasion in favor of a station that was, in many ways, the antithesis of mainstream radio of its era. We're talking about Cleveland's WNCR/99.5, whose progressive/free-form rock format can be heard in this 1972 aircheck contributed by Bob Papa. The announcer's identity is unknown to this blog's editor.
In a move that was typical of such FM stations, WNCR ignored the usual bells and whistles of radio and allowed the music to be the star. A listen to the aircheck reveals no jingles or other programming elements. As a result, a Noxzema spot heard early on in the recording sticks out like a sore thumb.
The station began life as WGAR-FM in 1952, simulcasting sister station WGAR/1220 until July 1970. The call letters were changed to WNCR and the progressive rock format was launched at that time. By September, conflicts between management and the on-air staff prompted a walk out, which included program director Jerry Dean. The format would last until January 1973, replaced first by country as WKSW. The format wheel was spun again in 1975 and the switch was made to beautiful music before country returned to 99.5 in 1980. The format has been in place there ever since. The calls were changed to WGAR-FM in 1984.
WGAR-FM was sold to Jacor Communications in 1997 as part of the company's purchase of Nationwide Communications and its stations. Clear Channel bought the station in 1999, along with several other Cleveland propeties.
In a move that was typical of such FM stations, WNCR ignored the usual bells and whistles of radio and allowed the music to be the star. A listen to the aircheck reveals no jingles or other programming elements. As a result, a Noxzema spot heard early on in the recording sticks out like a sore thumb.
The station began life as WGAR-FM in 1952, simulcasting sister station WGAR/1220 until July 1970. The call letters were changed to WNCR and the progressive rock format was launched at that time. By September, conflicts between management and the on-air staff prompted a walk out, which included program director Jerry Dean. The format would last until January 1973, replaced first by country as WKSW. The format wheel was spun again in 1975 and the switch was made to beautiful music before country returned to 99.5 in 1980. The format has been in place there ever since. The calls were changed to WGAR-FM in 1984.
WGAR-FM was sold to Jacor Communications in 1997 as part of the company's purchase of Nationwide Communications and its stations. Clear Channel bought the station in 1999, along with several other Cleveland propeties.
Friday, December 10, 2010
A Voice is Silenced
Until now, this blog hasn't had an opportunity to mark the passing of a personality or reporter with ties to northeast Ohio. Unfortunately that changed this week, when a source notified us of the death of Mark Dailey. The Youngstown native, best-known as a reporter and anchor for Toronto, Canada's CityTV, lost his latest battle with cancer Monday. Mark Dailey was 57.
Prior to his days in television, Dailey first made noise in 1971 at Youngstown's WHOT/1330. It was there he worked alongside WHOT newsmen including Al DeJulio and Ed Richards, developing a voice and style of reporting that would make him a brand name in the business for more than thirty years. [Editor's note: We have since learned that Mark began his radio career at nearby WNIO/1540 in 1969.] He would soon move across the Canadian border to CKLW and CHUM before taking his place at CityTV in 1979.
Posted below is a portion of a tribute produced and broadcast by CityTV earlier this week.
Prior to his days in television, Dailey first made noise in 1971 at Youngstown's WHOT/1330. It was there he worked alongside WHOT newsmen including Al DeJulio and Ed Richards, developing a voice and style of reporting that would make him a brand name in the business for more than thirty years. [Editor's note: We have since learned that Mark began his radio career at nearby WNIO/1540 in 1969.] He would soon move across the Canadian border to CKLW and CHUM before taking his place at CityTV in 1979.
Posted below is a portion of a tribute produced and broadcast by CityTV earlier this week.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Rockin' The Steel City
This week's feature concerns a Youngstown area station making its first appearance on NEO Airchecks; WNIO/1540. In this two-part aircheck from 1972, Ron Leader is at the controls during morning drive. In keeping with the upbeat Top 40 presentation of the era, Leader makes frequent use of audio drops and gags that provide a sharp contrast to his previous appearance on this blog via WFMJ/1390. While WFMJ was a tightly-programmed rocker, WNIO here sounds as through the PD was giving personalities far more creative control.
At the time of this recording, Ron Leader had recently split from the aforementioned 1390. As previously mentioned here, he's spent most of his lengthy career in the Youngstown-Warren market. His resume reads like a virtual who's who of northeast Ohio radio, including on-air stints at WHOT/Youngstown, WINW/Canton, WCUE/Akron and WHHH/WRRO/Warren.
As for WNIO, it first took to the Mahoning Valley's airwaves in 1963. By the late 60's it had become a prominent Top 40 station in the region, battling with WHOT/1330 for the lion's share of listeners. Due to its daytimer status, WNIO was unable to knock WHOT from its perch and switched to a country format circa 1974. The successful format would remain in place well into the 1980's, when the migration of listeners to FM and new country powerhouse WQXK/105.1 would force another change. Formats came and went until the mid-90's, when a nostalgia format featuring former WHOT jocks Johnny Kay and Dick Thompson brought the stations renewed life and ratings. The format and call letters moved to 1390 in 1999 during a multi-station move by owner Clear Channel. 1540 has sported the call letters WRTK ever since, a reminder of 1390's news/talk format of that period.
WRTK/1540 is now owned by WhipLash Radio LLC, a company led by Chris Lash of Waynesville, Ohio. Along with co-owned WANR/1570 of Warren, WRTK was recently moved into WNIO's longtime studios located off Webb Road in Mineral Ridge. In another example of how things in the radio world can come full circle, WRTK now airs a classic country format not unlike the one that was heard there for many years.
At the time of this recording, Ron Leader had recently split from the aforementioned 1390. As previously mentioned here, he's spent most of his lengthy career in the Youngstown-Warren market. His resume reads like a virtual who's who of northeast Ohio radio, including on-air stints at WHOT/Youngstown, WINW/Canton, WCUE/Akron and WHHH/WRRO/Warren.
As for WNIO, it first took to the Mahoning Valley's airwaves in 1963. By the late 60's it had become a prominent Top 40 station in the region, battling with WHOT/1330 for the lion's share of listeners. Due to its daytimer status, WNIO was unable to knock WHOT from its perch and switched to a country format circa 1974. The successful format would remain in place well into the 1980's, when the migration of listeners to FM and new country powerhouse WQXK/105.1 would force another change. Formats came and went until the mid-90's, when a nostalgia format featuring former WHOT jocks Johnny Kay and Dick Thompson brought the stations renewed life and ratings. The format and call letters moved to 1390 in 1999 during a multi-station move by owner Clear Channel. 1540 has sported the call letters WRTK ever since, a reminder of 1390's news/talk format of that period.
WRTK/1540 is now owned by WhipLash Radio LLC, a company led by Chris Lash of Waynesville, Ohio. Along with co-owned WANR/1570 of Warren, WRTK was recently moved into WNIO's longtime studios located off Webb Road in Mineral Ridge. In another example of how things in the radio world can come full circle, WRTK now airs a classic country format not unlike the one that was heard there for many years.
Friday, November 26, 2010
Black Friday Bargain
In its own way, NEO Airchecks observes the biggest shopping day of the year. No, we don't subject ourselves to the maddening crowds at area shopping malls or big box stores. Instead, we present to you a twin spin of airchecks from two great stations of a bygone era. No discounts needed here, because we (along with help from contributor Bob Papa) bring them to you for the best price of all -- free.
First up is a brief aircheck of WDMT/107.9 (now WENZ) in Cleveland. Morning personality Carol Ford is heard handing off the baton to midday jock Freddie James on a fine summer's day in 1983. Ford spent a little more than four years at WDMT before departing for WRKS in New York City in 1984. Her career prior to Cleveland involved stops at KYA in San Francisco and WOWO Ft. Wayne, Indiana. Ford has been heard most recently on XM/Sirius satellite radio.
Freddie James had already been with WDMT for five years at the time of this aircheck. He would remain on board in various timeslots through 1989, by which time its calls had been changed to WPHR (Top 40 "Power 108", which would be succeeded in 1992 by modern rocker WENZ "The End" before the station returned to its urban roots seven years later with the current branding of "Z-107.9"). In 1992 James established his own DJ business, which continues to this day. James resumed his on-air presence in 2007, handling weekend duties at WQMX/94.9 in Akron.
WENZ is now owned by Radio One, along with sister stations WERE/1490 and WJMO/1300. A more complete history of the station can be found here.
Also featured this week is an aircheck of WIXY/1260 in Cleveland. Morning man Mike Reineri spins the hits in this 1973 recording, which begins with a portion of a local newscast presented by Bob Engle. Listen for the self-described Dynamic Dago's less-then-excited reaction to the sports highlights near the end of the aircheck.
Reineri had a long run at WIXY, manning morning drive from 1967 to 1975. From there, he moved to Miami, Florida's WIOD and much later, WAXY. Reikneri's final stop was at WJNA in West Palm Beach in 1999. Following a brief illness, he passed away in 2003.
At the time of this recording, WIXY was still among the highest-rated Top 40 stations in the region. It had outlasted Cleveland's more powerful KYW/WKYC/1100 during its attempt to unseat WIXY from its throne during the 1960's and early 1970's. After a change in ownership in 1975, the format and callsign was dropped the following year in favor of Adult Contemporary as WMGC. The AC format lasted only three years before an unsuccessful switch to talk (WBBG) segued into a big band format, followed by a simulcast of then-sister station WMJI/105.7 and later, religious programming and gospel music (WRDZ and WMIH, respectively). The station now sports the calls of WMMK, a reflection of its Disney/ABC Radio ownership, as well as the pre-teen-focused Disney Radio format.
First up is a brief aircheck of WDMT/107.9 (now WENZ) in Cleveland. Morning personality Carol Ford is heard handing off the baton to midday jock Freddie James on a fine summer's day in 1983. Ford spent a little more than four years at WDMT before departing for WRKS in New York City in 1984. Her career prior to Cleveland involved stops at KYA in San Francisco and WOWO Ft. Wayne, Indiana. Ford has been heard most recently on XM/Sirius satellite radio.
Freddie James had already been with WDMT for five years at the time of this aircheck. He would remain on board in various timeslots through 1989, by which time its calls had been changed to WPHR (Top 40 "Power 108", which would be succeeded in 1992 by modern rocker WENZ "The End" before the station returned to its urban roots seven years later with the current branding of "Z-107.9"). In 1992 James established his own DJ business, which continues to this day. James resumed his on-air presence in 2007, handling weekend duties at WQMX/94.9 in Akron.
WENZ is now owned by Radio One, along with sister stations WERE/1490 and WJMO/1300. A more complete history of the station can be found here.
Also featured this week is an aircheck of WIXY/1260 in Cleveland. Morning man Mike Reineri spins the hits in this 1973 recording, which begins with a portion of a local newscast presented by Bob Engle. Listen for the self-described Dynamic Dago's less-then-excited reaction to the sports highlights near the end of the aircheck.
Reineri had a long run at WIXY, manning morning drive from 1967 to 1975. From there, he moved to Miami, Florida's WIOD and much later, WAXY. Reikneri's final stop was at WJNA in West Palm Beach in 1999. Following a brief illness, he passed away in 2003.
At the time of this recording, WIXY was still among the highest-rated Top 40 stations in the region. It had outlasted Cleveland's more powerful KYW/WKYC/1100 during its attempt to unseat WIXY from its throne during the 1960's and early 1970's. After a change in ownership in 1975, the format and callsign was dropped the following year in favor of Adult Contemporary as WMGC. The AC format lasted only three years before an unsuccessful switch to talk (WBBG) segued into a big band format, followed by a simulcast of then-sister station WMJI/105.7 and later, religious programming and gospel music (WRDZ and WMIH, respectively). The station now sports the calls of WMMK, a reflection of its Disney/ABC Radio ownership, as well as the pre-teen-focused Disney Radio format.
Friday, November 19, 2010
You've Got a Friend in Canton
Listeners will recall that the title of today's post was a slogan used on-air by Canton's WHBC/1480, especially during its full-service/oldies format that dominated the market for many years. One of the personalities who helped make that success possible was Tom Jarrett. He's heard here in a scoped aircheck from 2003. While it's missing most of the jingles, news and many other programming elements, the aircheck does give one a feel for the format's laid back presentation that was a holdover from another era.
(Tom Jarrett, circa 2002. Photo courtesy of WHBC/Archive.org.) Even when he arrived at WHBC, Tom Jarrett was no stranger to the Akron and Canton radio markets. He spent time on-air at WHLO/640 during its transition from a news/talk format to AC in the early 1980's, then moved across town to WSLR/1350 during its days as a country station. Jarrett initially signed on in Canton at WHBC/94.1 when its dropped its beautiful music format in favor of oldies in 1990, but moved across the hall to 1480 shortly therafter. He would hold down middays there until 2007, when WHBC switched to news/talk. He was moved into a producer's role for midday talk host Ron Ponder and also hosted a Sunday version of the old staple, "Tradio". When the recession prompted many broadcast outlets to trim their staffs last year, Jarrett was among those who lost their jobs.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Cleveland Rocks. Soft Rock, That Is...
This week NEO Airchecks visit a familiar place; Cleveland. Thanks to our friend Bob Papa, we can present an aircheck of Fig Newton on WWWE/1100 (now WTAM), better known to listeners as "3WE". In this recording, Newton is heard making sarcastic comments about some of the music that was part of the station's AC format. Dave Smith presents the local headlines, while a complete CBS radio newscast provides a window on the world as is was on the afternoon of February 10, 1983.
By this time, Newton was already a veteran of the biz, having spent time at Cleveland's WGAR/1220 during its last days as a Top 40 outlet. Earlier still, he held down a gig at WOIO/1060 in Canton. Personal issues drove him out of the industry in 1988, and to the best of our knowledge, hasn't cracked a mic since.
WWWE had already been through several changes in ownership and format over the course of the previous decade, and would continue its schizophrenic ways until 1997. That's when Jacor Communications purchased the station and sister WLTF/106.5 (now WMVX) from Secret Communications. The WWWE calls had already been changed to 1100's historic WTAM callsign, which had been dropped forty years earlier. Clear Channel purchased WTAM in 1999, along with sister stations WMVX, WMJI, WMMS, WAKS and WGAR.
By this time, Newton was already a veteran of the biz, having spent time at Cleveland's WGAR/1220 during its last days as a Top 40 outlet. Earlier still, he held down a gig at WOIO/1060 in Canton. Personal issues drove him out of the industry in 1988, and to the best of our knowledge, hasn't cracked a mic since.
WWWE had already been through several changes in ownership and format over the course of the previous decade, and would continue its schizophrenic ways until 1997. That's when Jacor Communications purchased the station and sister WLTF/106.5 (now WMVX) from Secret Communications. The WWWE calls had already been changed to 1100's historic WTAM callsign, which had been dropped forty years earlier. Clear Channel purchased WTAM in 1999, along with sister stations WMVX, WMJI, WMMS, WAKS and WGAR.
Saturday, November 13, 2010
You're Talking, We're Listening
It occured to this blog's editor that while music formats have been a major part of the radio landscape for decades, they certainly haven't had exclusive use of the airwaves. With that in mind, we present this unscoped multi-part aircheck of WKBN/570 in Youngstown from Black Friday 1999. (Given that the big shopping day is just around the corner, this entry is rather appropriate.) In this recording, longtime midday talk show host Dan Ryan discusses George W. Bush the presidential candidate and corrects a confused caller questioning the ethics of a certain member of the Valley's business community. During commercial breaks, afternoon host Ron Verb is also heard on location at a local restaurant.
Then, as now, WKBN was the juggernaut in local news/talk, having taken the crown from crosstown rival WBBW/1240 several years earlier. Ryan was a big reason for the change, having departed his longtime radio home WBBW for WKBN in 1984. He is often credited with establishing talk radio in Youngstown with his "Open Mic" program in the 1960's. Critics had expressed doubts that such a program would have an audience in a market like Y-town, but Ryan, along with other pioneers of the format, proved them wrong.
Ryan passed away in 2003.
Then, as now, WKBN was the juggernaut in local news/talk, having taken the crown from crosstown rival WBBW/1240 several years earlier. Ryan was a big reason for the change, having departed his longtime radio home WBBW for WKBN in 1984. He is often credited with establishing talk radio in Youngstown with his "Open Mic" program in the 1960's. Critics had expressed doubts that such a program would have an audience in a market like Y-town, but Ryan, along with other pioneers of the format, proved them wrong.
Ryan passed away in 2003.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
...And the Beat Goes On in '67
This week the way back machine takes us to 1967, the year of the Summer of Love, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band and increasingly divided public opinions concerning the war in Vietnam. The comparatively quiet and middle-of-the-road setting of Ashtabula is the scene for NEO Airchecks' next feature, which is a brief aircheck of WREO/970 provided to us courtesy of Jeff Goodridge of Masury, Ohio.
Following the closing moments of a newscast from the Mutual Broadcasting System, an unidentified personality presents some of the top songs of '67. An educated guess places this broadcast somewhere in December of that year. As always, any help in identifying the jock is more than welcome.
WREO started its broadcast life as WICA in 1937, joined by FM sister WICA/103.5 circa 1950. The latter station eventually moved to its current dial position of 97.1. 970's call letters were changed to current calls WFUN in 1978. 97.1 has maintained the WREO callsign ever since, now sporting an AC format. WFUN has been through several format changes since its Top 40 day; Oldies, news/talk and its current sports talk lineup as "ESPN 970" are among those that have been heard on the "Monster On the Lake".
Both stations were owned by Richard D. and David C. Rowley since their inception, and were sold in 2000 to Clear Channel. CC sold the stations, along with WZOO, WYBL and WFXJ, to Media One Group in 2007.
Another aircheck submitted to us by Jeff Goodridge is one of WHLO/640 in Akron, again apparently dating from December 1967. Don Steele (not to be confused with the personality of the same name that was heard for many years on KHJ in Los Angeles) can be heard spinning the stacks of wax amid authentic static on "Hello Radio". Note the syndicated Jim Stagg feature and the ad for Akron institution Polsky's. A brief search for more information about Steele has proved fruitless.
WHLO's Top 40 format would continue well into the 1970's, before being dropped in favor of a news/talk format known as "News/Talk 64". An M.O.R format followed, succeeded by Christian music during ownership by Mortensen Broadcasting. The firm sold WHLo to Clear Channel in 2001, and has carried a news/talk format ever since.
Many ex-WHLO personalities are still in the business; Ron Verb, who started as a teenaged jock during the Top 40 format's last days remained on board with the news/talk format, before moving to WHBC in Canton and later to WKBN in Youngstown. He continues to hold court during afternoon drive on 570. Nick Anthony, also a personality during the news/talk era after a previous gig at WBBW in Youngstown, is now an executive with Rubber City Radio-owned WAKR/1590, WONE/97.5 and WQMX/94.9 in Akron. He can occasionaly be heard filling in on WAKR.
Following the closing moments of a newscast from the Mutual Broadcasting System, an unidentified personality presents some of the top songs of '67. An educated guess places this broadcast somewhere in December of that year. As always, any help in identifying the jock is more than welcome.
WREO started its broadcast life as WICA in 1937, joined by FM sister WICA/103.5 circa 1950. The latter station eventually moved to its current dial position of 97.1. 970's call letters were changed to current calls WFUN in 1978. 97.1 has maintained the WREO callsign ever since, now sporting an AC format. WFUN has been through several format changes since its Top 40 day; Oldies, news/talk and its current sports talk lineup as "ESPN 970" are among those that have been heard on the "Monster On the Lake".
Both stations were owned by Richard D. and David C. Rowley since their inception, and were sold in 2000 to Clear Channel. CC sold the stations, along with WZOO, WYBL and WFXJ, to Media One Group in 2007.
Another aircheck submitted to us by Jeff Goodridge is one of WHLO/640 in Akron, again apparently dating from December 1967. Don Steele (not to be confused with the personality of the same name that was heard for many years on KHJ in Los Angeles) can be heard spinning the stacks of wax amid authentic static on "Hello Radio". Note the syndicated Jim Stagg feature and the ad for Akron institution Polsky's. A brief search for more information about Steele has proved fruitless.
WHLO's Top 40 format would continue well into the 1970's, before being dropped in favor of a news/talk format known as "News/Talk 64". An M.O.R format followed, succeeded by Christian music during ownership by Mortensen Broadcasting. The firm sold WHLo to Clear Channel in 2001, and has carried a news/talk format ever since.
Many ex-WHLO personalities are still in the business; Ron Verb, who started as a teenaged jock during the Top 40 format's last days remained on board with the news/talk format, before moving to WHBC in Canton and later to WKBN in Youngstown. He continues to hold court during afternoon drive on 570. Nick Anthony, also a personality during the news/talk era after a previous gig at WBBW in Youngstown, is now an executive with Rubber City Radio-owned WAKR/1590, WONE/97.5 and WQMX/94.9 in Akron. He can occasionaly be heard filling in on WAKR.
Saturday, November 6, 2010
A Triple Shot From the 80's and 90's
Previous entries on NEO Airchecks have focused on the period often thought of as Top 40 radio's golden era, the 1960's and 70's. This time around, we fast forward to the Reagan era with a submission from Bob Papa. Featured below is Nancy Alden on WKDD/96.5 in Akron, long before the station moved to its current dial position of 98.1. Nancy spins the hits while sitting in for Tom Sullivan.
According to Nancy's blog, she started at WKDD when it was known as "Mellow Rock 96". She hosted evenings until 1986 before a brief gig at WNCX/98.5 in Cleveland. Alden has been at WDOK/102.1 in Cleveland since 1987.
For our second item, Bob Papa brings us an aircheck of WONE/97.5 from 1985. Here, Mike Michelli and Rose Gabriel yuck it up during a less-than-perfect, but entertaining afternoon newscast. This broadcast occured less then a year after WONE launched its classic rock format, which succeeded a long-running beautiful music format on the station that had been known as WAEZ.
As part of this year's 25th anniversary of WONE, Michelli explained the entire story of how he wound up in the Rubber City. A portion of Tim Daugherty's interview with Machelli can be heard here. At last check, Michelli was handling morning duties at WRKR/107.7 in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Rose Gabriel has long since left broadcasting to become a doctor.
For our third and final installment of this week's entry, we move forward to 1995. At this time, John Schoger can be heard jocking on WZOO/102.5 in Ashtabula. This aircheck was made when founder John A. Bulmer still owned the outlet. Bulmer had built WZOO from the ground up in 1988. It took to the airwaves the following year. WZOO is one of several stations that's now part of Media One Group's Ashtabula cluster.
According to Nancy's blog, she started at WKDD when it was known as "Mellow Rock 96". She hosted evenings until 1986 before a brief gig at WNCX/98.5 in Cleveland. Alden has been at WDOK/102.1 in Cleveland since 1987.
For our second item, Bob Papa brings us an aircheck of WONE/97.5 from 1985. Here, Mike Michelli and Rose Gabriel yuck it up during a less-than-perfect, but entertaining afternoon newscast. This broadcast occured less then a year after WONE launched its classic rock format, which succeeded a long-running beautiful music format on the station that had been known as WAEZ.
As part of this year's 25th anniversary of WONE, Michelli explained the entire story of how he wound up in the Rubber City. A portion of Tim Daugherty's interview with Machelli can be heard here. At last check, Michelli was handling morning duties at WRKR/107.7 in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Rose Gabriel has long since left broadcasting to become a doctor.
For our third and final installment of this week's entry, we move forward to 1995. At this time, John Schoger can be heard jocking on WZOO/102.5 in Ashtabula. This aircheck was made when founder John A. Bulmer still owned the outlet. Bulmer had built WZOO from the ground up in 1988. It took to the airwaves the following year. WZOO is one of several stations that's now part of Media One Group's Ashtabula cluster.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
The Hot Spot On Your Dial
If it seems that an inordinate amount of time has been spent on this blog highlighting stations from the Youngstown area, you're right. For whatever reason, most of the submissions to NEO Airchecks have concerned the market's two Top 40 rivals of the 1970's, WHOT/1330 and WFMJ/1390. Your editor has enjoyed these airchecks, as it's been fun and educational to hear the personalities and formatics of the era. That having been said, don't feel as though we're shutting out other areas of the region. Again, any airchecks of northeast Ohio stations from the past or present are welcome here. Be sure to e-mail ideas or sources to neoairchecks@mail.com.
With that in mind, our friend Jerry Coleman brings us another of his high-quality WHOT recordings. This time we travel back to January 1, 1970. Allen Scott is spinning the top 100 tunes of 1969 on this first day of the New Year. Art Jordan, the future news director at WFMJ-TV, provides the headlines.
Allen Scott left WHOT not long after this broadcast. Taking over his slot was K.C. Martin, who came from WHLO/640 in Akron. According to our source, Martin died in an accident several years ago. Your editor has no confirmation of this, but would appreciate any assistance from our readers. As for Scott, longtime WHOT program director Dick Thompson has said that the onetime evening jock eventually became a priest.
With that in mind, our friend Jerry Coleman brings us another of his high-quality WHOT recordings. This time we travel back to January 1, 1970. Allen Scott is spinning the top 100 tunes of 1969 on this first day of the New Year. Art Jordan, the future news director at WFMJ-TV, provides the headlines.
Allen Scott left WHOT not long after this broadcast. Taking over his slot was K.C. Martin, who came from WHLO/640 in Akron. According to our source, Martin died in an accident several years ago. Your editor has no confirmation of this, but would appreciate any assistance from our readers. As for Scott, longtime WHOT program director Dick Thompson has said that the onetime evening jock eventually became a priest.
Monday, October 25, 2010
Rock, Easy Listening and Who Was That, Anyway?
Most of the features presented on NEO Airchecks have thus far focused on the highly energetic, upbeat sounds of some of the region's Top 40 stations of the past. While this week's entry continues that trend, it is in fact a two-fer. The first minute of the recording is a portion of an overnight show hosted by Big Barry on WHLQ/106.9 in Canton (now WRQK) somewhere in late 1971. Our newest contributor Jerry Coleman briefly explains the aircheck's origins:
"A friend and I visited him one evening...He was very good and I had hoped he would make it down to Youngstown and sign on with WFMJ, but it never happened."
This recording dates from shortly after the station was purchased by Susquehanna Radio Corporation, which changed the previous call letters from WNYN to WHLQ, the latter callsign a reflection of the company's ownership of Akron's WHLO/640.
Since this aircheck is from slightly before your editor's time in the business, NEO Airchecks would like to know more about Big Barry. Who was he, and where else did he pop up on the dial? Any background information from our more senior readers would be greatly appreciated. Feel free to drop us a line or two at neoairchecks@mail.com
The remainder of the recording is a portion of a "Twilight Melodies" program aired during December 1971 on WBBW/1240 in Youngstown. If the WHLQ aircheck is a good example of the youth-oriented sound of Top 40 radio of the era, then WBBW is on the opposite end of the programming spectrum. In short, this was one of the area stations that parents likely listened to more often than not. The full-service/easy listening format of the period is represented here with primarily instrumental music and a relaxed announcing style by the host, who doesn't say his name here. Any help identifying the personality would be appreciated by the editor. [Editor's note: Since this entry's original posting, we've been informed that the announcer is Stan Vitek, an evening personality who was with WBBW from 1971 until 1989. From there, he moved to WQXK/105.1. He remained with the country giant until 2009.]
WBBW was, for many years, the primary competitor for crosstown juggernaut WKBN. What WBBW had going for it in those days was a stable of talented hosts, such as Dan Ryan, Nick Anthony and Dick James, all of whom are mentioned in the aircheck. It would continue to be a thorn in WKBN's side well into the 1980's, when Ryan was lured over to his rival to host a long-running midday talk show. By then, WBBW had transitioned to a news/talk format that stayed in place until the early 90's.
Jerry Coleman again provides the story behind the aircheck:
".. I just happened to hear that You Only Live Twice by Nancy Sinatra was coming up so I punched the buttons on the Ampex to get this short but interesting clip. WBBW was thought of has an "old fogy" station because of the slow music they played... You will note the reference to the James Bond movie Diamonds Are Forever which came out in '71. "
"A friend and I visited him one evening...He was very good and I had hoped he would make it down to Youngstown and sign on with WFMJ, but it never happened."
This recording dates from shortly after the station was purchased by Susquehanna Radio Corporation, which changed the previous call letters from WNYN to WHLQ, the latter callsign a reflection of the company's ownership of Akron's WHLO/640.
Since this aircheck is from slightly before your editor's time in the business, NEO Airchecks would like to know more about Big Barry. Who was he, and where else did he pop up on the dial? Any background information from our more senior readers would be greatly appreciated. Feel free to drop us a line or two at neoairchecks@mail.com
The remainder of the recording is a portion of a "Twilight Melodies" program aired during December 1971 on WBBW/1240 in Youngstown. If the WHLQ aircheck is a good example of the youth-oriented sound of Top 40 radio of the era, then WBBW is on the opposite end of the programming spectrum. In short, this was one of the area stations that parents likely listened to more often than not. The full-service/easy listening format of the period is represented here with primarily instrumental music and a relaxed announcing style by the host, who doesn't say his name here. Any help identifying the personality would be appreciated by the editor. [Editor's note: Since this entry's original posting, we've been informed that the announcer is Stan Vitek, an evening personality who was with WBBW from 1971 until 1989. From there, he moved to WQXK/105.1. He remained with the country giant until 2009.]
WBBW was, for many years, the primary competitor for crosstown juggernaut WKBN. What WBBW had going for it in those days was a stable of talented hosts, such as Dan Ryan, Nick Anthony and Dick James, all of whom are mentioned in the aircheck. It would continue to be a thorn in WKBN's side well into the 1980's, when Ryan was lured over to his rival to host a long-running midday talk show. By then, WBBW had transitioned to a news/talk format that stayed in place until the early 90's.
Jerry Coleman again provides the story behind the aircheck:
".. I just happened to hear that You Only Live Twice by Nancy Sinatra was coming up so I punched the buttons on the Ampex to get this short but interesting clip. WBBW was thought of has an "old fogy" station because of the slow music they played... You will note the reference to the James Bond movie Diamonds Are Forever which came out in '71. "
Friday, October 22, 2010
Happy New Year
Just in case you're wondering, NEO Airchecks didn't open its 2011 calendar two months ahead of schedule. However, the title for this post is appropriate for the latest submission to the blog. Jerry Coleman has contributed an aircheck from a station that should be familiar to regular readers; WFMJ/1390 in Youngstown. In this recording, personalities Ted Alexander and Steve Michaels co-host 1390's New Year's Eve program on December 31, 1971. Afternoon man Ron Davidson also makes a brief appearance as the show begins a countdown of the Top 20 songs of '71. Listen for the fun Ted and company have with a certain song from Tony Orlando and Dawn.
Perhaps it's just me, but it seems that an extraordinary amount of airchecking was going on in Youngstown during the waning days of 1971 and the first week of the new year. As regular readers know, a Ron Leader recording from a few days after this broadcast was the first posted on the blog. My personal collection also includes a WHOT aircheck from December 28, 1971.
-Geoff Mears
Perhaps it's just me, but it seems that an extraordinary amount of airchecking was going on in Youngstown during the waning days of 1971 and the first week of the new year. As regular readers know, a Ron Leader recording from a few days after this broadcast was the first posted on the blog. My personal collection also includes a WHOT aircheck from December 28, 1971.
-Geoff Mears
Friday, October 15, 2010
BeatleMania and Cleveland
For the first time since the creation of this blog, we're featuring a station from the great city of Cleveland. KYW/1100 (now WTAM) is highlighted in this Jim Stagg aircheck from 1964. This recording was brough to our attention by "Stevations", who recently posted a link to it on Radio-Info.com's Cleveland board.
Jim Stagg (a.k.a Jimmy Staggs) had a high-profile career in the radio business, with KYW being just one of several stops along the way. He's probably best-remembered for his later stint at Chicago's WCFL, where he provided firsthand accounts of The Beatles's U.S. tours in 1965 and '66. The influence of BeatleMania can be clearly heard in this aircheck.
A detailed biography of Stagg can be found here.
Jim Stagg (a.k.a Jimmy Staggs) had a high-profile career in the radio business, with KYW being just one of several stops along the way. He's probably best-remembered for his later stint at Chicago's WCFL, where he provided firsthand accounts of The Beatles's U.S. tours in 1965 and '66. The influence of BeatleMania can be clearly heard in this aircheck.
A detailed biography of Stagg can be found here.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
When the Music Stops, That's News
Just to prove that we're not a one-trick pony (and to provide some continuity), we're featuring a sometimes-overlooked member of the stations of yore: the newscaster. Amid the often bigger-than-life personalities that frequented radio stations of the past, it was probably easy to take the news anchor for granted. Most radio stations of that era had a news department, due to regulations that have long since fallen by the wayside.
WHOT's newsmen had a reputation for being among the best in the Mahoning Valley, often scooping more-established stations in the area. In this aircheck from June 3, 1965, WHOT anchor Ed Reddinger (sp?) reports on a riot at Geneva-On-The-Lake. This event was mentioned in modern-day comments included in the previous Jolly Rodger aircheck. This recording is another provided to us courtesy of Edward Woodward.
To provide some context, here's a link to a contemporary Time Magazine story mentioning the riot.
WHOT's newsmen had a reputation for being among the best in the Mahoning Valley, often scooping more-established stations in the area. In this aircheck from June 3, 1965, WHOT anchor Ed Reddinger (sp?) reports on a riot at Geneva-On-The-Lake. This event was mentioned in modern-day comments included in the previous Jolly Rodger aircheck. This recording is another provided to us courtesy of Edward Woodward.
To provide some context, here's a link to a contemporary Time Magazine story mentioning the riot.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Correction and a History Lesson
After publishing the previous update, it occured to yours truly that the post wasn't entirely accurate. Jolly Rodger's aircheck appears to be from June 1964, not '65. The newscast mentioning Soviet Premier Nikita Khruschev expected meeting with the then-United Nations Secretary General should have been a giveaway. Khruschev was removed from office in October 1964. Robert Kennedy's trip to Warsaw, Poland also took place in June 1964. As a former history major, I'm a little bummed out that I allowed such an error to slip through the cracks. Heh.
The previous post has been edited to reflect the necessary corrections. The aircheck's visual component will be changed ASAP.
The previous post has been edited to reflect the necessary corrections. The aircheck's visual component will be changed ASAP.
Youngstown Airwaves: Part 1
For the blog's latest installment, we remain in Youngstown, but move across town from WFMJ to its onetime rival, WHOT 1330. Jolly Rodger (a.k.a. Rodger Skinner) is featured in this aircheck from June of 1964. While WHOT would successfully move its Top 40 format to FM in the 1980's, this recording dates from a period when 1330 was the undisputed king of the market.
Skinner came to WHOT after previous stints at WBLF and WPIC in Pennsylvania. At 1330 he was a part-time on-air personality, a position he held until midway through 1966, when he was fired for playing Bob Dylan's "Rainy Day Women #12 and #35" for four hours straight, sans commercials and news. Skinner then briefly held down mornings at WEEP in Pittsburgh as "Johnny Breit" before moving on to evening gigs at WIRK in West Palm Beach, Florida and WQAM in Miami in 1968. He used the on-air name John Paul Roberts in the latter stop. According to a message posted by Skinner on 440int.com, he retired in 2000 after selling his low-power television stations and other businesses in Florida.
Special thanks to Ed Woodward of Williamsburg, Virginia for contributing this aircheck, which includes some recent comments interjected by Skinner himself near its conclusion. Additional material from this period of WHOT, including news coverage of the riot at Geneva-On-The-Lake mentioned by Skinner, will be featured in future posts.
Editor's note: Jolly Rodger should not be confused with another Youngstown area radio veteran who used a similar name. "Jolly Roger" (a.k.a. Roger Luscombe) was the longtime program director of WSOM/600 and WSOM/105.1, the latter now known as country powerhouse WQXK/"K-105". After coming out of retirement, he became Johnny Kay's successor at WSOM/600 in 2007. Luscombe's position was one of several that later fell victim to budget cuts implemented by the stations' current owner, Cumulus Broadcasting.
Skinner came to WHOT after previous stints at WBLF and WPIC in Pennsylvania. At 1330 he was a part-time on-air personality, a position he held until midway through 1966, when he was fired for playing Bob Dylan's "Rainy Day Women #12 and #35" for four hours straight, sans commercials and news. Skinner then briefly held down mornings at WEEP in Pittsburgh as "Johnny Breit" before moving on to evening gigs at WIRK in West Palm Beach, Florida and WQAM in Miami in 1968. He used the on-air name John Paul Roberts in the latter stop. According to a message posted by Skinner on 440int.com, he retired in 2000 after selling his low-power television stations and other businesses in Florida.
Special thanks to Ed Woodward of Williamsburg, Virginia for contributing this aircheck, which includes some recent comments interjected by Skinner himself near its conclusion. Additional material from this period of WHOT, including news coverage of the riot at Geneva-On-The-Lake mentioned by Skinner, will be featured in future posts.
Editor's note: Jolly Rodger should not be confused with another Youngstown area radio veteran who used a similar name. "Jolly Roger" (a.k.a. Roger Luscombe) was the longtime program director of WSOM/600 and WSOM/105.1, the latter now known as country powerhouse WQXK/"K-105". After coming out of retirement, he became Johnny Kay's successor at WSOM/600 in 2007. Luscombe's position was one of several that later fell victim to budget cuts implemented by the stations' current owner, Cumulus Broadcasting.
Saturday, October 2, 2010
Contributions
No, we're not seeking money. Leave your checkbook alone. Just in case there is any doubt, this venture is purely for entertainment purposes.
As your editor-in-chief, I've already explained that this blog is seeking airchecks to help highlight the work of past and present on-air personalities and other people connected to the radio scene in northeast Ohio. If you have recordings you believe are of interest, be sure to drop me a line at neoairchecks@mail.com.
I can't thank you enough for the response I've already received concerning this blog. It appears that this humble enterprise is generating some leads for future posts. I'm looking forward to connecting with you.
-Geoff Mears
As your editor-in-chief, I've already explained that this blog is seeking airchecks to help highlight the work of past and present on-air personalities and other people connected to the radio scene in northeast Ohio. If you have recordings you believe are of interest, be sure to drop me a line at neoairchecks@mail.com.
I can't thank you enough for the response I've already received concerning this blog. It appears that this humble enterprise is generating some leads for future posts. I'm looking forward to connecting with you.
-Geoff Mears
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
The Sounds of '72
As promised, NEO Airchecks presents the first in what will hopefully be a series of airchecks of great stations from across the region. Featured is a recording of Ron Leader on WFMJ 1390 (now WNIO). This aircheck is from the evening of January 3, 1972. According to what this blog's editor has been told, WFMJ had only recently switched to Top 40 at the time of this recording. The move was an apparent bid to unseat WHOT from its perch as the market's most popular music station.
Ron Leader's time at WFMJ was short. Within a matter of months, he left 1390 and took over mornings at WNIO (then located at it original dial position of 1540). Leader had previously worked at WNIO prior to his time at 1390. He initially came to Youngstown after several years of on-air gigs in Toledo, Detroit and Ohio. Outside of a brief stop in West Virginia during the mid 70's, Leader spent the majority of his career in Youngstown. He's probably best known for his long stint at Warren's WRRO/1440 (now WHKZ) during its oldies format of the 1980's.
Ron Leader's time at WFMJ was short. Within a matter of months, he left 1390 and took over mornings at WNIO (then located at it original dial position of 1540). Leader had previously worked at WNIO prior to his time at 1390. He initially came to Youngstown after several years of on-air gigs in Toledo, Detroit and Ohio. Outside of a brief stop in West Virginia during the mid 70's, Leader spent the majority of his career in Youngstown. He's probably best known for his long stint at Warren's WRRO/1440 (now WHKZ) during its oldies format of the 1980's.
Saturday, September 25, 2010
An Introduction
Greetings, and welcome to Northeast Ohio Airchecks. NEO Airchecks, as it will be informally known, is a blog dedicated to preserving the broadcast history of northeast Ohio. This will be accomplished primarily through the contribution and posting of recordings of radio stations from Youngstown, Warren, Akron, Canton and surrounding areas.
This repository won't be limited to a single format or period of interest; If it happened after Marconi and prior to today, we'd love to hear it! Background stories about the airchecks and personalities presented here will also be welcome. If you have an aircheck you'd like to contribute, feel free to shoot an e-mail our way and we'll place it here for the enjoyment of radio enthusiasts everywhere. We'll give you credit for your contribution, naturally. To get the ball rolling, our first featured aircheck will be posted in the near future.
Thanks for reading and check back with NEO Airchecks in the future for updates.
This repository won't be limited to a single format or period of interest; If it happened after Marconi and prior to today, we'd love to hear it! Background stories about the airchecks and personalities presented here will also be welcome. If you have an aircheck you'd like to contribute, feel free to shoot an e-mail our way and we'll place it here for the enjoyment of radio enthusiasts everywhere. We'll give you credit for your contribution, naturally. To get the ball rolling, our first featured aircheck will be posted in the near future.
Thanks for reading and check back with NEO Airchecks in the future for updates.
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