This week the humble blog comes full circle, as it again spotlights WHOT/1330 (now WGFT) in Youngstown. In this aircheck from 1971, energetic afternoon personality Michael C. Richards keeps the music coming, with headlines provided by newsman Al DeJulio. To avoid any legal hassles, the editor has cut most of the music from this unscoped aircheck. The commercials and newscasts are intact.
At the time of this recording, Richards had recently departed rival WNIO/1540. He was just the latest in a string of personalities and reporters who left WNIO for 1330 in the early 70's, thereby shortcircuiting 1540's attempts to dethrone WHOT as the market's leading music station. Richards would later work at WFAH/1310 and WDJQ/92.5 in Alliance.
As the station i.d's indicate, WHOT was frequently simulcast on its sister station, WRED/101.1. This practice would continue into the mid-70's, when WRED took on the 'HOT call letters before switching to WSRD. WSRD's popular AOR format was broadcast until 1984, when 1330's longrunning Top 40 format migrated to FM and dispatched "The Wizard" from the Mahoning Valley's airwaves. WHOT is now owned by Cumulus Broadcasting. WGFT is owned by Bernard Group.
Mike returned to WNIO in 1980 for a while when we switched over to live country. He left after a while and Boots Bell came on board and joined me and Gary Z. Even with K105 blazing, WNIO was able to make money with the country format at that time. In 1988 we put WNCD / CD106 on the air and Mike Richards returned for a while as part of the original air staff on The Wolf.
ReplyDeleteMike returned to WNIO in 1980 for a while when we switched over to live country. He left after a while and Boots Bell came on board and joined me and Gary Z. Even with K105 blazing, WNIO was able to make money with the country format at that time. In 1988 we put WNCD / CD106 on the air and Mike Richards returned for a while as part of the original air staff on The Wolf.
ReplyDeleteReading over the "return to the Hot Spot", it mentioned that Michael C Richards worked for WFAH 1310, and that is incorrect. Michael actually worked for WMGZ Z96 FM in Hermitage Pa.
ReplyDelete