Presents
Mike Shannon's
DALLAS-FORT
WORTH
FM STATION
HISTORY
(Some fringe
and rimshot stations are shown depending upon signal strength and location)
UPDATED
FEBRUARY, 2006
NEW!
Deaths are now identified with a
icon; clicking it will take you to the "Death Roll" page for more information
NEW! The
term "Notables" has replaced "Notable Personalities" so that any station
employee, regardless of duties, can be included.
The undisputed
king of FM radio in the 1970s and 1980s was KVIL, who took the marketing
expertise of
KLIF owner
Gordon McLendon and applied it to an adult contemporary format. Many
former KLIF listeners
who had
outgrown that station and migrated to the growing FM band found that KVIL
served their tastes
well, and
a continuous flow of contests kept listeners tuning in. Pictured
above from an August, 1976
edition
of "Staff Meeting" are (L-R) Andy McCollum, Ben Laurie, Michael Selden,
Bill Mercer and Theatre Three
owner Jac
Adler. Suzie Humphries is seated on the floor, and Ron Chapman is
in the right foreground.
Photo credit:
Dallas Morning News
A BRIEF HISTORY
OF FM RADIO IN DALLAS-FORT WORTH...
The first
FM station in the state of Texas belonged to the Belo Corporation, who
officially signed on "KERA" during the 1946 State Fair of Texas in Dallas.
(The KERA call letters were later used by the local PBS affiliate.)
Before 1946, FM radio was off to an austere start. Developed in 1935,
frequency modulation (FM) was in experimental stages throughout the late
1930s and early 1940s. Sponsored by RCA, the idea was soon looked
upon as a possible detriment to AM and forthcoming television...and RCA
dropped its backing by 1938. General Electric, not part of RCA at
the time, purchased a license from FM's inventor, Edwin Armstrong, and
began manufacturing and selling FM units the same year. On January
1, 1941, the FCC set standards for FM broadcasting, placing the FM dial
between 42-50 mc (mHz.) By the end of 1941, the US entered World
War II and the manufacturing of radios for the public stopped. 350,000
FM units are already in consumers' hands at this point. At the end
of the war, FM radio production resumed, but pressure was put on the FCC
by future TV broadcasters to rethink its FM dial placement (as the 42-50
mc range was reserved for Channel 1...which was never used anyway) and
the FCC gave in by assigning 88-108 mc to FM instead on 8/14/1947.
All old FM units are obsolete at that point!
After a slow
start and little interest in the band during the 1940s and 50s, the FCC
approved stereophonic broadcasting for FM stations in 1961 (although experiments
were often conducted by AM-FM combos who would broadcast one channel on
AM and the other channel on FM...listeners at home could tune an AM and
an FM radio to the appropriate frequencies and hear stereo! In 1955,
WBAP was the first station to attempt this, and later, some GM-Delco car
radios were outfitted with the ability to hear AM in one speaker and FM
in the other for such occasions.) Stereo broadcasting opened up the
dial for a new purpose: to offer static-free, stereophonic music
comparable in quality to what one could get from phonograph records...and
a far cry from the substandard quality that AM offered. Many do-it-yourselfers
built their own hi-fi systems at home, or spent exorbitant amounts of money
purchasing stereo equipment from hi-fi retailers. Car manufacturers
responded as well by adding FM radios as an option beginning in 1963.
Local FM stations such as WBAP, KIXL, KCPA, KBOX and WFAA broadcasted "beautiful
music" in stereo with little announcer or commercial interruption, and
catered mainly to the older listener.
By the end
of the 1960s, underground radio found a home on FM...bringing together
both ends of the age spectrum on one dial. Underground featured what
AM couldn't or wouldn't play...long album cuts, songs that didn't make
the Top 40, music with drug or counter-culture themes, etc. KFAD,
featuring a young Jon Dillon, signed on in 1969 with an underground format,
followed by KNUS. Soon, Top 40 found its way to FM, with KAFM, KFWD,
KVIL, and a reformatted KNUS paving the way. By 1978, FM was firmly
entrenched as the band of choice, leaving a host of AM stations to fend
for limited listenership. FM's sleepy elevator music gave way to
country, album rock, progressive country/rock, Spanish and adult contemporary
formats.
The 1980s
featured even more splicing of formats, with contemporary hits (CHR) dominating
the band in one form or another. The 1990s brought the Telecommunications
Act, which put most of the local FM stations in the hands of Infinity (CBS/Viacom,)
Clear Channel (Chancellor/AMFM,) ABC and Susquehanna corporations, and
each have since honed their stations' formats to not conflict with their
other co-owned stations (to not compete within their own group for ratings.)
Looming in the distance today are HD/digital radio and satellite radio,
both of which are still in their early stages, and time will tell whether
either will challenge the future of the FM band.
Thanks to the
Schenectady (NY) Radio Club for some of the early FM background information!
STATIONS:
88.1

KNTU,
Denton/McKinney. Station established 11/3/1969 in Denton (city of license
change to McKinney on 7/1/2000 allowed other rimshot stations to move into
DFW market and to not leave McKinney without a station of its own.)
Format: Top 40/Big Band/Rock/Classical (block programming, 1969-?,) Rock
(1970s-1981,) Classical Jazz (1981,) Jazz (1981-present; also Spanish,
Classical and Variety as part of its weekend lineup of block programming.)
Calls originally issued to a decommissioned Coast Guard cutter. Originally
located at 88.5. Program: "La Onda Tejana." Notables:
Russ
Campbell, Mark Lambert, Dave Garland, Sam Sauls, Dr. Ted Colson (faculty
administrator who spearheaded KNTU radio project in 1969,) Ray Whitworth
aka Ray Kennedy (longtime DFW traffic reporter and producer; currently
broadcasting in Malakoff, TX,) Andy Waldrop (currently with Traffic.com
in Houston,) Bill Waldrop, Dave Barnett (currently with ESPN,) Tom Kassada
aka Thomas Hayden-Church (currently an actor,) Bret Menassa aka Bret Michael,
Iris Bekker, Carla Marion, Ellie Hogue,
Rod
Stasick (his program "Transitions" later moved to KCHU,) Bill
Mercer (station manager in 1969; left KNTU in 1972 to announce Texas
Rangers baseball games,) Lewis Abernathy (currently an actor and director;
worked on "Titanic,") George Gimarc (Gimarc and Waldrop hosted "Jukebox
Saturday Night", which later moved to KDNT-FM; in March, 1977, Gimarc hosted
the show, "Rock and Roll Alternative,") Mike
Shannon (II), Mark Followill, Simon "The Diamond" Garza
(host
of "La Onda Tejana,") J. W. Hutson, Terry Hunt, Annette Gonzales, Mike
Bain, Debbie Hillman, George Dunham.
Campus radio station for The University of North Texas (formerly
North
Texas
State University,
1961-1988. No, there was never a question of renaming the station
"KUNT"...but it made for a good joke on campus!) Faculty station
administrators Campbell and Sauls attended NTSU as students in the 1970s
and worked in DFW radio previously. Faculty members Bud
Buschardt and Bill Mercer are also Dallas radio icons. Station
roots go back to "KOED," a mock station set up in the early 1960s as part
of a campus radio club; a typical radio station staff was installed, but
the club only produced feature-type shorts for play on terrestrial stations
at other campuses. Station's original equipment and frequency was
bought from KNER (see below.) Station on-air 6AM-midnight daily.
AIRCHECK
AVAILABLE
.
KNER, Richardson.
Station established 10/16/1955 (but a test run occurred 10/9/1955 to broadcast
a church service.) Format: Eclectic/Soft Rock (mostly student-selected)
with Southern Baptist programs (loosely defined as educational, spiritual
and recreational.) Owner: Buckner
Orphans Home aka Buckner Baptist Benevolences. Student-run station;
originally 10 watts, but later upgraded to a 50w Gates 2-bay transmitter
that put out 66 watts. Start-up investment was $7,000. Notables:
Jerry Karlovich aka Jerry Karl and "Jerry the K" (who provided many of
the details of KNER's history here!), Wayne
Harrison, Robert Lunday, Melvin Walls, Leon Barbee, Roy Powell, Jack
Bird (SM; also helped put KCBI on the air,) Robert Hancock, Paulette Clark,
Carol Hudgins, Orvil L. Deary, Norman Hurt, James Ryle, Randy Adams, Fletcher
Hurst. Broadcasted Sunday through Friday during the earliest years,
5:30AM-10PM. Located first in the Chapel Building on Buckner Blvd
at Samuell in an old choir rehearsal room; later moved to the SE corner
of the campus. Frequency dark after 1968 (equipment and frequency
were sold to North Texas State University to start up KNTU.)
.
88.3
KEOM,
Mesquite. Station established 9/4/1984. Owner: Mesquite Independent
School District. Moved to 88.5 on 12/21/1991 (see entry there.)
KYKX, Mesquite.
Initial call letters requested for 88.3 when application was submitted
in 1980 by the Mesquite Independent School District.
And separately,
serving the Fort Worth market:

KJCR,
Keene. Call letters established 3/1/1984. Format: Religious,
Inspirational. Owner: Southwestern Adventist University.
Call letters stand for Keene
College
Radio
(although bored students called it "Keene Just Can't Rock"!) A reimaging
of KSUC under new call letters. Notables: Bob Mendenhall, Melissa
Rasmussen, Glen Robinson (1998-2004,) Randy Yates (GM, 2004-date.)
Station relocated from dorm room in college's Heritage Hall to 300 N. College
Drive in 2/1987. On 5/5/1989, 110-mile an hour winds toppled the
station's transmitter, destroying 60 feet of tower sections and two of
four antenna elements. In two days, the station returned to the air
under temporary authorization on a 75-foot tower at 925 watts. Construction
began on a new 180' tower by the fall, and was put into use on 5/18/1990.
A power increase was granted for 4,000 watts with an ERP of 23,000 watts
directed to the west. The original KSUC transmitter was sent to the
Adventist college in Chile the following year, and was on the air by 11/1992
as part of the first Adventist radio station in that country's history.
In 1998, GM Bob Mendenhall stepped down from his 25 years at the station,
and was replaced by Glen Robinson. In November, 1999, KJCR began
broadcasting 24 hours a day with the aid of voicetracking.
KSUC, Keene.
Station established 6/13/1974. Format: Religious. Owner:
Southwestern
Union
College
(later renamed Southwestern Adventist University in 1977.) Notable:
Bob Mendenhall (GM,) Ed Fry (PD.) 88.3 frequency chosen because it
rhymed with call letters (if life were only that easy these days!)
Radio station idea proposed in c. 1968; a gift to the college by Arkansas
radio pioneer Raymond Beem financed the station's start-up costs; station
planning began in 1973. Studios were located in the school's Heritage
Hall in the former dorm room of Beem's wife, who had previously attended
SUC. Initial power was 1,850 watts, and broadcasted from 12 noon
to 12 midnight daily (Saturdays were 6AM-midnight.) Applied for a
signal increase in late 1980 after noting the Mesquite Independent School
District's application to start a radio station at 88.3. Station
sponsored "I Love KSUC" week in February, 1980, to raise $5,000 to expand
the programming schedule to include 18 hours a day on Sundays. A
second fundraiser in early 1981 was held to equip the production studio
and begin an 18-hour-a-day weekly broadcast schedule; the money was raised,
and the station's first 18-hour day was 4/1/1981. By 1984, station
management decided to abandon the KSUC call letters, and applied for replacement
calls KJCR (see above.)
Thanks to
former KSUC/KJCR GM Bob Mendenhall and former employee Melissa Rasmussen
for providing the history of these two stations!
.
88.5

KEOM,
Mesquite. Station established 9/4/1984 at 88.3 mHz. Format: 1970s Top 40/Community
Radio/Sports (1995-present,) Adult Contemporary (1984-1995.) Owner: Mesquite
ISD. Nicknames: "Mesquite's Memory Lane," "Your Community Leader." Network
affiliation: Texas State Network. Call letters stand for "Education
of
Mesquite."
Programs: "Lifetimes: The Texas Experience," "Earth and Sky,"
"The American Music Magazine," "The Recipe File." Notables: Dr. James
Griffin (station manager, faculty administrator and broadcaster,) Brenda
Wagner,
Robert Bass (1986-present;
Music Manager beginning 11/2003; last jock to broadcast on 88.3 frequency
in 1/1992,) Mike Wolfe
,
Bill Sherrard, "Trish," Ed Johnson and Steve Glenn (sportscasters,) Jim
Gibbs, Andrea Galendo, and students Charles Stoudt, Jennifer Lee, Gordon
Griffin and Rebecca Mills. First and only Metroplex station to regularly
broadcast 1970s pop oldies. Student radio station for Mesquite Independent
School District. Station moved from 88.3 on 12/21/1991.
AIRCHECK
AVAILABLE
.
KRSM, Dallas.
Station established 1975. Moved to 93.3 in 1991. See entry
at 93.3 for information and personalities.
KNTU, Denton.
Station established 11/2/1969. Moved to 88.1 (unknown year.)
See entry at 88.1 for information and personalities.
KVTT,
Dallas. Station established 1/26/1950. Moved to 91.7 (unknown
year; somewhere between 1965-1975.) Owner: Texas Trade Schools
aka Elkins Institute/Bill Elkins. See entry at 91.7.
.
88.7
.
KTCU,
Fort Worth. Station (legally) established 10/5/1964 as campus station for
Texas
Christian
University,
but broadcasted only across the TCU campus and dormitories on 1025 kc (AM)
from 1957-1964, then to 89.1 FM. Format: Alternative (present,) Talk/ Documentary/Drama
(1950s-1960s.) Owner: TCU. Nickname: "The Choice." Broadcasted from
3PM-9PM from 1957-1960; 5PM-10PM weekdays in 1964; maintained regular broadcast
schedule thereafter. Notables: Russ
Bloxom (later with WBAP/KXAS-TV,) Bill Hawes (station manager and faculty
adviser,) Russell Scott (station manager, 7/2006-present,) Chip Adams,
Roger Cooper, Andrew Haskett, Chuck LaMendola, Mercedes Olivera, Rosemary
Solomons, Gerald "Jerry" Park (later with WFAA-TV,) Paul Adkins, Ray John,
Bill Miller, Jim Dye, Dale Hughes, Dr. R. C. Norris, Kent Apple, Morris
Johnson, Bob Delk, Larry Kuehn, Mary Dewald, Don Lacy, Jane Eller, Craig
Libby, Leonard Herring, Sanda McQueery (later with KTVT; married Russ Bloxom,)
Linda Hubbard, Bonnie Malcolm, John Moncrief
,
David Therrin, Kenneth Nations, William Thompson, Robert Watson, Kay Robertson,
Merlin Littlefield, Janet Johns, Carolyn Hand, Jerry White, Gretchen Short,
Jim Wright, Chuck Sibley, James Young, Jim Stovall, Jim Zetshe, Clem Candelaria
(later with KTVT,) Bob Lamey, Bebe Edmonson, Phil Crow, Linda Hubbard,
Linda Craugh, Lee Roy Quick, Mike Marshall, Jack Pippen, June Pierce, Teresa
Hale, David Fisher, Sara Freeman, Jay Cruz.
AIRCHECK
AVAILABLE
88.9
.
KETR,
Commerce. Station established 4/7/1975. Format: Adult contemporary, oldies
and jazz. Owner: TAMU-Commerce. Nicknames: "The Lion" (school mascot,)
"The Mint." Call letters stand for "East
Texas
Radio."
Network affiliation: Bloomberg, BBC. Campus radio station for
Texas A&M University-Commerce (formerly East Texas State University,
1961-1996.) Programs: "The Art of Sound," "Bluegrass Special."
Notables: Vicki Holloway (t0 9/2006,) Mike Young, John Hendry, Bill
Ogden (host of "Bluegrass Special,") Bruce Tater and Mark Chapman (as hosts
of "The Art of Sound;" Tater was the longtime co-host of a similar program
on KERA-FM in the 1970s and 80s,) Frida Ross-Findlay (as Frida Ross, while
a student at ETSU; currently assistant news director with WBAP.)
89.1
.
KSQX, Springtown.
Call letters established 1/31/2002. Format: Soft Rock, Christian.
Owner: CSSI. Nickname: "QXFM." Simulcasts to KMQX-88.5
Weatherford and KYQX-89.5 Weatherford (not part of this survey.)
Formerly simulcasted KTPW-89.7. Notables: Brent Baker, Dave
Cowley, Gentry "Ace" Little.
KMQX, Springtown.
Call letters established 1/18/1999.
KTPW, Springtown.
Call letters established 12/11/1998.
KMQX, Springtown.
Station established 5/7/1985.
89.3

KNON,
Dallas. Call letters established 7/30/1983 at 90.9 FM (signed on 8/6/1983;)
began at 89.3 FM on 5/1/1988. See entry at 90.9. Format: Block
programming, including Alternative, Ecletic, Tejano, you name it!
Grassroots/community station. Owners: Agape Broadcasting, ACORN. Call letters
stand for "non-commercial."
Nickname: "The Voice of the People." Initially 10kW; upgraded
to 50kW in 3/1990. Programs: "Law for the People," "Pajama
Party," "Talk Back." Notables: Robert Spray
(host of "The Grey Zone,") Jeff Kovarsky aka Jeff K, George Gimarc (as
host of "The Rock-n-Roll Alternative,") Reverend Ivan Stang (as host of
"Hour of Slack,") Craig Taylor, James Stapleton, Robert Heath, Linwood
Henderson aka "Cuzzin' Linnie," John Wiley Price, Dave Chaos, Christian
Lee, Charlie Rawls, Dan Pacyna, Leo Perron, Tom Davis, Norm Ward (as host
of "Thank Goodness it's Friday,") Arnold Joe Poovey
aka "Texas Joe Poovey" aka "Groovey Joe Poovey," "Jojo," Omari Miller,
Ceodies Miller
,
H. T. Hardeman
,
Jerry Rocha, Robert Wisdom
(1983-1989,) "Shaggy" (1980s; host of "Pajama Party.") Station long
located at 4415 San Jacinto Street in Dallas until 2004, then to 5353 Maple
Avenue.
.
KCBI,
Dallas. Station established 5/1976. Format: Religious. Swapped frequencies
with KNON on 5/1/1988. See entry at 90.9 for more information.

KSMU/KPNI,
Dallas. Station established 1949 (other sources say fall, 1947, at
either 760 or 640 AM, and began as an FM on either 11/1/1950 or 4/16/1951,)
then dark 1958-64 (other sources say 1955-1964,) then returned 10/12/1964-1980,
then dark again 1980-87, returned 1987-2003, then turned into an online-only
station thereafter (station changed to KPNI calls in 1994; calls refer
to school mascot, the pony.)
Format: Classical, Edge/All Genre. Owner: Southern Methodist
University. Notables: George Wood (SM,) Chuck Conrad, Rob Horan,
Allen Case, Pierce Allman, Barney McGrath, Joe Albreitht (PD,) Mike Howe,
Jen Bradley, Sandra Garrison, Dave Hultsman, Randy Beckham, Chris Wilmot.
Broadcasted with 250w; on air 4PM-10PM, and only during the school year.
Sister station KSMU-AM was only receivable through campus electrical lines
(a "carrier current" station,) over 640 kc, but installed an antenna in
1957...much to the consternation of KSKY, whose signal was compromised.
KSKY complained, and, in 1958, KSMU's AM broadcasts were stopped, and its
FM license revoked! Located on top floor of Dallas Hall on the SMU
campus (1949-55,) then to an abandoned army barrack left on campus (1955-57,)
to the basement of the Umphrey Lee Student Center (1964-80,) to the Hughes-Trigg
Student Center (1987-date.) After 1958, station was forbidden by the FCC
to broadcast beyond the campus, but later managed to get a license to air
the AM side by 1964. The FM was used as a 10-watt simulcasting pirate
station from 1969-72. Station management applied for an FM license
in 1972, but did not have the support of the school's president.
(One source says the FM side was reactivated with a 2 watt, campus-only
signal in 1978.) By 1979, KSMU was sending an FM signal to Park Cities
Cable's public access channel, but interference issues caused the FCC to
confiscate the transmitter in 1980. From 1987-1997, the station was
only heard in the student center, although attempts were made to reuse
the old electrical line system (one source says a LPFM license was received
around 1988.) After 1997, a modern repeater system was installed
in nine residence halls on campus. Listenership was still limited,
and the station went to an online-only broadcast in 2003.
.
89.7
.
KVRK,
Sanger. Call letters established 6/14/2004. Format: Christian
Rock. Owner: Stan Thomas dba Research Educational Foundation.
Nickname: "Power FM." Basic re-image of KTPW (call letter change
requested by new owner.) Program: "Powertalk." Notables:
Chris Goodwin (PD,) Eddie Alcaraz (GM,) Dawn Henderson, Drue Mitchell,
Jade Clark, Rick Walker (host of "Powertalk.") New owner of former
sister station KVTT, Covenant Educational Media, has dibs on buying KVRK
should REF decide to sell it before 2007.

KTPW, Sanger.
Call letters established 1/18/1999, but format didn't begin until 7/27/1999.
Format: Christian Rock. Owner: Research Educational Foundation
(co-owned with KVTT-91.7.) Simulcasted to KSQX-89.1, Springtown,
TX, until ownership change. Call letters stand for "The
Power."
Nickname: "Power FM." Program: "Alan's Golden Oldies"
(hosted by Alan Price.) Notables: Rick Walker, Chris Goodwin.
KTPW calls were previously used at 89.1 FM.
KBJV, Sanger.
Station established 11/13/1998. Unknown format (likely just parked
call letters while awaiting construction.)
89.9
K213EB-LP,
Greenville. See entry at 100.5.
.
90.1
.
KERA,
Dallas. Station established 7/11/1974. Format: Public Radio/Talk (9/6/1999-present,)
Public Radio/Talk/Classical/Eclectic (7/11/1974-9/6/1999.) Nickname: "90.1,
One of a Kind," "Radio for Big Thinkers." Network affiliation:
NPR. Owner: North Texas Public Broadcasting. Sister to TV stations
KERA-Channel 13 in Dallas and KDTN-Channel 2 in Denton. Call letters stand
for a new "era"
in broadcasting. Programs: "World Cafe," "Flight Time," "All-Night
Jazz," "BMT Jazz," "The Record Collector," "Sports Spectacular," "Morning
Magazine," "Morning Edition." Notables: Norm Hitzges, Dan Seibold,
Rick
Vanderslice, Hugh Lampman
,
Ray Whitworth aka Ray Kennedy, J. T. Aquila, Mark
Lambert, Ed Budanauro (host of "All-Night Jazz,") Karen Denard, Glenn
Mitchell
(host of "Morning Magazine," 1976-79; held reporter and commentator duties
for most of the station's history,) John Nelson, Steve Shapiro, Mark Elfenbein,
Norm Hitzges (host of "Sports Spectacular," 8/1975-3/1990,) Gabrielle West,
Craig Shropshire, Mike Ritchey, John Ardoin (as host of "The Record Collector,")
Liza Richardson, Bill Porterfield, Tom Grimes, Ed Pfister, Lee Clark, Jyl
Hershman, Chris Douridas, Katie Sherrod, Marla Crockett, Kevin Allen, Yolette
Garcia, Jeff Luchsinger (began 1991; fired 3/2006,) Susan Harmon, Bill
Ryan, Tom Olson
(1983-1991,) Dennis Gonzales, Dr. Richard Meyer (began 4/1982,) Ira Bernstein,
Duane Martin, Bruce Tater (Bernstein, Martin and Tater were co-hosts of
"BMT Jazz,") Jean Fugett (host of "Flight Time" and a former Dallas Cowboys
player,) Tony Garrett/John Anders/Dick Hitt
(hosts of "Morning Magazine,") Sam Baker (host of "Morning Edition.")
Not related to KERA-94.3 (1946.)
KZAG, Dallas.
Initial call letters requested for 90.1 when application was submitted
in 1973 by North Texas Public Broadcasting.
.
90.5
K213BP-LP,
Dallas. Station established 9/9/1993. Format: Religious
("Oasis Network.") Owner: CSN International. LPFM; simulcasted
from KDKR 91.3-Decatur.
90.9

KCBI,
Dallas. Call letters established 5/1976 at 89.3; began at 90.9 on 5/1/1988.
Format: Religious. Owner: Criswell
Bible
Institute.
Swapped frequencies with KNON (see 89.3.) Notables: Jack Bird (formerly
SM at KNER,) Tom Nau, Terry Barrett, John Driggs, George Davis, Johanna
Fisher, David Briggs, Bruce Robertson, Mike McCormick, Mike Middleton,
Bob
Morrison.
.
KNON,
Dallas. Call letters established 7/30/1983, but signed on 8/6/1983.
See entry at 89.3. KCBI owner Criswell Bible Institute challenged
the FCC and wrestled KNON's license away. The 89.3 frequency was
legal for up to 100,000 watts, and was only broadcasting with 3,000.
Criswell argued that their station needed the additional power, and that
KNON and KCHU had neglected serving the public interest by being dark for
so long, and not expanding to the maximum wattage. KCBI won the 90.9
position, and reluctantly conceded their old 89.3 frequency to KNON on
5/1/1988. See entry at 89.3 for more information.
.

KCHU,
Dallas. Station established 8/28/1975. Format: Community Radio.
Owner: Agape Broadcasting. Feature: "Live Day" (a 24-hour
presentation of live bands performing on rotation inside the station.)
Programs: "Community Review," "Dr. Capacitor's Laboratory," "Voices
of the Masters," "Just Before Dawn" (early gay community show,) "Dallas
Arcade," "Transitions," "Jazz Street," "Cosmic Corner," "Handicapped in
Action," "Xanadu," "Follow Spot," "Hungry Ear." Notables: Vernon
Ahtone, Mark Amott, Madelyn Anderson (as host of "Community Review,") J.
D. Arnold, Roberto Arrendondo, Frances Atkinson, Khalil Ayoub, Suyarkant
Bhatt, Clarke Blacker, Larry Bolef (host of "Dr. Capacitor's Laboratory"
and station engineer,) Ernie Brandt, Barry Brenesal (host of "Voices of
the Masters,") Walter Brock (morning show host,) Charles Brooks, Mike Butts,
Lisa Caldwell, Neal Caldwell, Dale Carnegie, Daniel Carapetyan, Al Christians,
Terry Clotioux, Lewis Cody, J. R. Compton, Kevin Costa, James Cowan, Nikki
Craft, Jayne Crom, Cryspian, Ed Cullum, Perfecto Delgado, Pam Deutsch,
Dave Dunnigan, Manny Esquivel, Olga Evanoff, Brad Ficke, Cecilia Flores
(morning show co-host,) Art Fogg, James Lawrence Fly, Akin Tunde Funso,
Norma Garcia, Mike Gingrich (host of "Just Before Dawn,") Charles George,
Sut Grant, Sara Gray, Penny Greaves, Dennis Gross, Bill Gruben and Roger
Gruben (co-hosts of "Dallas Arcade" comedy show,) Yolanda Guerra, Irma
Hall, Pete Hansell, Zoo Harris, Richard Hoffman, Jerry Hunt
,
John Johnson, Richard Johnson, Debbie Kalina, Gary Ketler, The Knights,
Mike Kriss, Terry Lance, Albert Lemke, Regina Lester, Mike Levin, Gabriel
Liebermann, Dave Liggions, Susan Lorentina, David Luxem, Shirley Luxem,
Jim Mann, Pat Martini, Kim Marton, Tommy Mason, Ken Massman, Earl McDonald,
Herschell McDonald.
Also Dale
McFarland (host of "Jazz Street,") James McGar, Jerry McKinney, Ernist
MacMillan, Lorenzo Milam, Leslie Finney Mo, James R. Moore, David Newberger,
Mark Newberger, Allen Newton, Lisa Nichols, Carol Parks, John Pate, Donald
Payton, Tod Pearson, Leo Perron, Chris Phelps, Colin Pringle, Steve Putman,
Trisha Ramsey, Campbell Read, Charles Reed, Jed Riffe, Lois Robinson, Riki
Rothchild, Mike Saunders, Steve Schiller, James Searles, Robby Setser,
Lisa Sexton, Anthony Shaw, Pat Sheehan, Kat Sherman, Mary Shiroma, James
Siddall, Donald D. Smith, Rod Stasick
(as host of "Transitions;" program brought from KNTU,) Joe Stanco (as host
of "Xanadu,") Cynthia Stewart, Liz Stewart, Mary
Stoddard aka Mary Sanders (1975-1976,) Mike Stoddard
(the Stoddards were longtime DFW radio personalities, married, who served
on the board of KCHU,) Steve Stokes, Allen Stovall, Tom Sullivan, Keith
Terry, Jim Thompson, Bob Trammell, Sybil True, John Tuthill, Burns Vick,
Rene Villareal, Suza Welton, John Ward, Glenda Webb, Fred Weiss, Gabrielle
West, Jamie West, Barbra Whitlow, Shaw Whitney, Walt Williams (host of
"Follow Spot,") Robert Wisdom
,
Lynn Wyler, Angus Wynn, Shannon Wynn, Jim Yanaway, Laney Yarber, Chris
Yates, Charlie Young. Studios located at 2516 Maple in Dallas.
Station dark after 9/1977 (the antenna fell in 9/1977, and the station
couldn't afford to fix it!)
Former audio
engineer Colin Pringle has assembled an excellent site dedicated to the
history and people of KCHU...click
here!
.
91.1
K216EQ-LP,
Daingerfield. See entry at 100.5.
.
91.3
KDKR, Decatur.
Call letters established 5/17/1996. Format: Religious.
Owner: CSSI. Simulcasted to K213BP-Dallas at 90.5 FM and K248BC-Dallas
at 97.5 FM. Notables: David Ingels, David Warren.
KDTR, Decatur.
Station established 4/26/1996. Likely just temporary calls for KDKR.
KSKY,
Dallas. Station was to sign on in 1960, but most sources say it never
did. Format: Religious. Owner: Sky Broadcasting.
Simulcast of KSKY-AM. See AM page for station details. KSKY
was offered the 98.7 frequency in 1957 for $75,000, but passed on it.
.
91.7

KVTT,
Dallas. Station established 1/26/1950 at 88.5. Format: Religious (1976-present.)
Owner: Covenant Educational Media (2004-date; bought for $16.5 million,)
Eldred Thomas
dba Research Educational Foundation (3/1976-2004,) Texas Trade Schools
aka Elkins Institute/Bill Elkins (to 3/1976.) Former sister station
to KLTJ-Channel 49, KSQX-FM Springtown and KTPW-FM Sanger. Call letters
stand for "Keep
Voicing
The
Truth"
(previously, "Voice
of
Texas
Trade.")
Nickname: "Praising the Lord and Teaching the People." Radio
student lab during Elkins' ownership. Program: "The Cutting
Edge." Notables as Elkins Institute: students Rusty
"Rush" Limbaugh (yes, him!), Dave Mitchell, Doug Saye, "Deacon" Don Evans
.
Notables
as "Religious:" Brett Hall, Rev. Mike Hayes (host of "The Cutting
Edge,") Don Spear, Devin Wickham, Ray Nell Thomas
(wife
of Eldred,) "Brother" Tom Dooley (also owns Master Media in Euless, TX.)
Broadcasted 2PM-8PM daily (1950.) Eldred Thomas bought station after
hearing that KDTX-102.9 was dropping its religious programming. Station
first located at 1316 W. Commerce in Dallas.
.
92.1
.

KXEZ,
Farmersville. Station established 9/1/1998. Format: Country
("The Possum," 12/29/2006-present,) Oldies (ABC's "Oldies Radio" format,
to 12/29/2006,) Big Band/Standards, Ethnic. Owner: Ken Jones dba Metro
Broadcasters of Texas. Nickname: "Desi Zone," "Goodtime Oldies,"
"Easy 92.1." Sister station to KHYI-FM (95.3.) Originally the successor
to KAAM-AM's second incarnation (620 AM.) Programs: "Sunday
Jazz Brunch," "Backstage." Notables: Linda Martin, Jack Bishop, Hal
Mayfield, Cary Richards, Jack Carlisle, Dave Conley, Charlie Tuna (syndicated,)
Gary Owens (syndicated,) Wink Martindale (syndicated.) Station split
daypart with bartered "Radio Desi" programming in 2002. Station's
transmitter is located in Farmersville with studios in Allen.
KEMM, Commerce.
Station established 12/1/1981. Moved to 103.3 in the early 1990s
(see entry there.)
And separately,
serving the Fort Worth market:
.
KTFW,
Glen Rose. Call letters established 4/1/1998. Format:
Country. Owner: LKCM Capital Partners, M&M Broadcasters
(80%,) George Marti (20%.) Nickname: "The Ranch." Was
sister station to KTFW-1460 AM; now sister to KFWR-FM, KRVA-FM and KRVF-FM.
Notables:
Morgan Choat, Joy Delaney,
Ron Peterson, Jimmy Aiken, Dave Stone, Mike Crow, Gary Moss, Scott Miller,
Ron Moore, Marlee Padgett, Richard Adams, Jamie McGriff, Jimmy Stewart,
Bill Jackson, Jim Russell.
KCLE, Glen
Rose. Station established 1989. Unknown format. Owner:
George Marti. Successor to Marti's KCLE-94.9, which was sold in 1969.
Marti applied for the 92.1 position and resurrected the old call letters
(which were still in long use by his KCLE-AM in Cleburne.)
.
92.5
.

KZPS,
Dallas. Call letters established 2/20/1986. Formats: Top 40 (2/20/1986-12/1986,)
Classic Hits and Jazz (12/1986-1988,) Classic Hits (1988-1990,) Classic
Rock (1990-4/23/2007,) Americana (as "Lone Star 92.5") (4/23/2007 to present;
"Lone Star" was originally a format used on one of 92.5's HD channels.)
Former sister station to KAAM (1/1978-11/1993; new owners continued to
rent space at KZPS until the studios for successor KTCK were complete in
3/1994.) Current owner: Clear Channel. Former owners: Evergreen Media,
Bonneville Broadcasting (Evergreen bought KZPS and KDGE from Bonneville
in 6/1997 for a combined $83.5 million,) Chancellor Media (AMFM; absorbed
Evergreen in 1997.) Call letters stand for "Your
Power
Station."
Nickname: "Lone Star 92.5" (4/23/2007-present,) "Classic Rock" (1990-6/2007,)
"Classic Hits" (12/1986-1990,) "Z92.5-Your Power Station" (2/20/1986-12/1986.)
Programs: "Back Pages," "Southern Fix at Six," "Enerjazz," "Dillon's
Dungeon," "Out to Lunch Show," "Most Music in the Morning," "Get the Led
Out" (hosted by John Moore,) "Jerry Jones Show." Notables as "Classic
Rock/Hits": Clyde White aka Jim
White (I) (morning show host, 1986-1987, prior to John Rody,) John
LaBella
and John Rody ("LaBella and Rody," 1990-91; Rody started 2/1/1988; soloed
from 1988-1991 as host of "The Morning Deal;" he and LaBella reunited in
a special broadcast on 2/9/1990; KZPS split team in early 1991 and used
LaBella on other shifts; Rody was rehired on 9/27/1991 and reunited with
LaBella until his firing in 8/1992,) Scott Parkin (to 4/1992; Parkin also
hosted the "Farm Report,") Sam "Bo" Roberts and "Long" Jim White (II) ("Bo
and Jim," 8/1998-6/18/2001; returned later.)
Also Jim
Thomas,
Brent Alberts aka
Big Wally Londo,
John Boy and Billy
(via satellite; began 7/6/1995,) Jack "Locker Room" Lindstrom,
Tempie
Lindsey, Babe Laufenberg, Charles Mixon aka Chaz
Mixon (1990-97; returned in 2004,) Danny
Owen,
George Gimarc (host of "Back
Pages,") Cerie Segal,
Jon Dillon (1989-present;
host of "Dillon's Dungeon,") Pamela Steele (1982-1992; fired in 8/1992
along with John LaBella; Steele is married to John Rody,) Scott
Reese, David Perry aka Dave Bolt, Guy Johnson, Jaan (pronounced "John")
McCoy, Stan Robak, Chris Kerson (5/1989-9/1993,) Shadow Hayes aka "The
Jammer," Cindy Scull (late of KEGL; fired 4/2007,) John Michaels (not sure
if this is "Johnny Michaels" of KNUS fame,) Gerry Oher, Susan Edwards,
Melissa Rasmussen, Michael Moser aka Michael T. Parker (1997-1999,) Keith
Vaughn, Debbie Alcocer, Doyle King, Bob Kevoian and Tom Griswold aka "Bob
and Tom" (cheaper, syndicated Indianapolis morning team used to replace
Bo and Jim after their 6/18/2001 firing,) Christopher Hackett,
Blair
Garner, Nancy Jay, Ed Budanauro (host
of nighttime jazz program, "Enerjazz," 1986-1988,)
Stephen
"Stubie" Doak (1983-4/1989,) John
Lacy, Jay Philpott (to 1/3/2003,) John
Ford,
Randy James, Steve
Nichols, Nancy Johnson (1994-1996,)
John
Morrill aka John Moore aka J. David (12/24/1993 to 5/1995; returned
briefly in 10/1995; returned 8/1998 as host of "Out to Lunch Show" and
as assistant PD; left 11/1999; returned 6/2001 to 10/11/2002 until replaced
with Schelby Sweeney-Dugan,) Ellen Daniels, Brian Allen (8/1998-present,)
Jack "Locker Room" Lindstrom (fired 4/2007,) Marc Avery,
Paula
Street aka Paula Walker,
Robin
Jones, Schelby Sweeney-Dugan, Tom Dooley. Notables as "Lone
Star": J. D. Freeman, Bo Roberts and Jim White (II,) "Redbeard,"
Jon Dillon.
AIRCHECK
AVAILABLE
.
KZPW, Dallas.
Call letters established 2/12/1986. Format: Top 40. Temporary
calls for KZPS, 2/12/1986- 2/20/1986.

KAFM, Dallas.
Call letters established late 1972. Formats: Top 40 (1973?-12/31/1974,)
Progressive Country/Western Swing (1/1/1975-7/1976,) AOR (7/1976-6/12/1978,)
"Adult" Rock and Jazz (6/12/1978-1982,) Pop Oldies (1982-8/1982,) Top 40
(8/1982-1986.) Owner: Bonneville Broadcasting (1/1978-6/1997,) Metromedia
(1/1978; sold when they exceeded FCC ownership limits by buying former
sister station KRLD-AM,) Jonsson (to 1/1978.) Nicknames: "92K" (1973-1974,)
"The Outlaw" (1975-1976,) "Maximum Music," "K-FM" (1975,) "The Pride of
Texas" (1975,) "Feel the Energy," "Maximum Hits." Sister station
to KRLD-AM and KRLD/aka KDFW-Channel 4. Promotion: "$500,000
Trivia Challenge" (1984.) Publication: "Texas Radio Chili Cookbook."
Programs: "Longhorn Jamboree," "All That Jazz," "Historic Moments,"
"Texas Hit Review" (simulcast over KTVT-TV,) "Texas Top 20." Notables:
Randy Hames, Andy Barber ("fired" in 6/1984 for calling Duran Duran's Nick
Rhodes a 'sissy;' Barber was soon reinstated, but the whole process was
actually a bit,) Pete Thomson,
Nancy Jay,
"Captain Billy," Ryan West, Paul Donovan, William Steding, Guy Johnson,
Chris Kerson, Pam Johnson, Susan Edwards,
Blair
Garner, A. C. Greene (as host of "Historic Moments,") Allen Elwin aka
Owen Farmer, Jim Heath, Dave "Dorb" Howe, Larry Martin, Bob Burns, Randy
Coffey
,
Steve Coffman, Pamela Steele (1982-1992,) Don Moore, Jonathan Lear, Mark
Campbell (as host of "All That Jazz,") Lynn Woolley, Chris Favors, Dick
Hitt
(concurrently columnist for "The Dallas Times Herald,") Dan Stevens, Sam
Sauls, Leon McWhortor aka Jay Roberts (I,) Chuck
Dunaway, Danny Moffat, Steven "Stubie"
Doak, Bob Johnston, David Hultsman,
Allen
Stone, Steve Nichols, J. D. Ryan.
Chastised in the mid-1980s for editing and relooping songs to make them
kid-friendly (the station was then Mormon-owned!) Located at 12750
Park Central Dr, Suite 512 (moved from Maxwell Building at 7901 Carpenter
Fwy/1080 Metromedia Place after sale closed from Metromedia.)
AIRCHECK
AVAILABLE
.
Thanks to
Ed Padget for providing this long-lost logo!
KRLD,
Dallas. Station established 3/15/1948. Format: Progressive (1972,)
simulcast of KRLD-AM (pre-1972; 50% simulcasting was reported in 1969.)
Sister station to KRLD-AM and KRLD/aka KDFW-Channel 4. Call letters
stood for Radio
Laboratories
of Dallas, original
owner of KRLD-AM in the 1920s; readapted as "Radio
Love
Dallas"
around 1970 to match their PAMS jingle package. Owners: Metromedia,
Times-Herald Printing. Nickname: "Radio Love Dallas."
Station was used on occasion in the 1950s to simulate stereo: KRLD-AM's
"Music Till Dawn" program was sometimes broadcasted in one channel on AM,
the other channel on FM (so a listener could tune one radio to the AM side
and another to the FM, thus creating "stereo!") Notables: Dan
Foster, Hugh Lampman
,
Jon
Dillon. Broadcasted 5:30AM-12AM daily (1950.) One of only
three 24-hour FM stations in DFW (1960s.) An early-1950s Texas Almanac
states that call letters "KDFW" were used on this station prior to KRLD,
but no other sources confirm this...the KDFW calls were applied for in
1958 to use at 107.9, and, of course, were taken on 7/2/1970 by Channel
4 and still in use today.
.
93.3

KDBN,
Haltom City. Call letters established 1/29/2002, although format
began under KKMR calls on 1/3/2002. Format: Classic Hard Rock
(1/3/2002-4/23/2007,) Classic Rock (4/23/2007-present.) Owner:
Cumulus, Susquehanna. Nickname: "The Bone."
Notables: Sam "Bo" Roberts,
Channing Johnston (2002-04; returned briefly on 1/21/2006,) "Yvonne," Jonathan
Hayes aka "Judge," Randy James,
Jeff Kovarsky aka Jeff K, Tim Freeman aka "Cane," Channing Johnston, Chris
Myers (host of a wrestling-themed program,) Barbara Smith (late of KVIL,)
"Squeaky." Not related to the former KDBN-AM (1991.) HD channel:
New Adult Hits.
AIRCHECK
AVAILABLE
.
KKMR, Haltom
City. Call letters established 12/15/1999, although format began
under KKZN calls 8/31/1999. Format: Classic Hard Rock, Adult
Alternative/1980s Rock. Owner: Susquehanna Broadcasting.
Nicknames: "The Bone" (1/3/2002-2/2002; see above,) "Merge"
(8/31/1999-1/4/2002, meaning the 'merging' of radio and the internet.)
Stunting between "Merge" and "Zone" formats consisted of airing the audio
portion of "The Bob Newhart Show" episodes on 8/31/1999. Notables:
Mike Vasquez, John LaVine aka John Wolf, Jeff Kovarsky aka Jeff K, Chip
Adams, Tim Rogers (1999-2001) and Yvonne ("Tim and Yvonne;" Tim, fired
over a dead cat story, details his negative radio experiences in a 2/2002,
'D Magazine' article...click
here.)
Simulcasted to KMRR-104.1, Sanger.
AIRCHECK
AVAILABLE
.
KKZN,
Haltom City. Call letters established 12/20/1996. Format: Adult Alternative.
Owner: Susquehanna Broadcasting. Nickname: "The
Zone"
(12/20/1996 to 8/31/1999.) Release: "Zone Cuts Live."
Notables: John Morrill aka John
Moore (first live jock; 1/1997 to 4/1998) and "Spike" (Moore and Spike
hosted morning show from 1/1997 to 5/1997,)
Joel
Folger (PD,) Brian Wilson.
Simulcasted to KXZN-104.1-Sanger. Station was to have originally
to be a partnership of Susquehanna and Hispanic Coalition and programmed
Spanish.
AIRCHECK
AVAILABLE
.
KNBR, Haltom
City. Station established 10/31/1996. Nickname: "The Zone." Temporary call
letters for KKZN (see above.)
.
KRSM, Dallas.
Station established 1975 at 88.5; call letters established here in late
1991. Format: Contemporary Hits,
Oldies, Classical/Jazz/Diversified (1975-?.) Owner: St. Mark's
School of Texas. Call letters stood for "Radio
St.
Mark's."
Network affiliation: Longhorn. Non-commercial (yes, at 93.3!)
Moved from 88.5 when KEOM received FCC approval for a power increase and
a move from 88.3 to 88.5. Station broadcasted at 10 watts (according
to WFAA News and Broadcasting Yearbook) or 33 watts (according to the Dallas
Business Journal.) Station briefly broadcasted simultaneously with
KNBR/KKZN (above,) although coverage overlapped. Notables:
Paul Gutman, Larry Groebe (first PD and announcer in 1975,) Ken Walters,
Graeme Wood, Scott Smith, "Fast" Eddie Vasallo, Trent Wolbe, Mia Squilla
(faculty adviser; later with KERA-TV.) Station went dark in early
1997. St. Marks first operated radio stations as "Lion" (1966-Spring,
1967) and as KSTM (1970;) both only broadcasted through the school's PA
system. "Lion"s station director was Rich Geyer, and production was
handled by David Laney.
.
93.5
.
KIKT,
Greenville. Station established 9/15/1978. Format: Country (1980s-8/1988,
?-present,) Top 40 (1970s,) Pop Oldies (1970s.) Owner: Frank Janda
(longtime SM,) Susquehanna Broadcasting (bought it to turn down the power
so KKZN/KMRR/KDBN-93.3 could be heard clearly in Dallas.) Notables:
Cliff Powers, John Hendricks, Jason Russell, Dakota LeAnn. Sister
station to KGVL-1400 AM. Station located at 1517 Wolfe City Dr near
Greenville.
KBEC, Waxahachie.
Station established 1958; dark by 1960. Format: Variety (simulcast
of KBEC-AM.) Sister station to KBEC-1390 AM; on air briefly as owner
Richard Tuck lost money on it and surrendered the license back to the FCC
in 1960. See KBEC-AM for personalities.
93.7


KNOR,
Krum. Station established 9/10/1984 as KZEA-105.7 (later KTYX and
KICM) in Healdton/Pauls Valley, OK; moved to 93.7 in 1996 so that KSTV-Stephenville
(now KRNB) could move into DFW. Began plotting a move into DFW as a rimshot
in 6/2002. On 6/10/2003, the KICM call letters and Country
format were sent to 93.7's sister station at 97.7-Ardmore, OK. 97.7's
existing calls, KNOR, were assumed by 93.7, and 93.7 went dark on the same
day. Studios moved to Krum on 8/1/2003, with signal testing beginning
in the fall; regular programming began in 3/2004. Format: Spanish
(as "La Raza," 7/13/2006-present,) Dance (as "Party 93.7," 8/6/2004-7/13/2006,)
Spanish (4/2004-8/6/2004,) Country (as simulcast of KICM-Ardmore, 3/15/2004-4/2004,)
Smooth Jazz (during periodic testing, 7/4/2003-3/15/2004; nothing more
than the same Jazz disc continually repeated.) Owner: Liberman
Broadcasting (4/2004-present, paid $15.5 million,) Dick Witkovski dba Witko
Broadcasting/AM-PM Broadcasters. Notable: Winter Horton (SM.)
Radio vet Kevin McCarthy was reported to have expressed serious interest
in buying the station, but interference from a local media broker, who
was trying to force its way in as a middleman on the transaction, ended
up ruining the deal. McCarthy then scrapped his dream of ownership
and signed on with the new KMSR-990 as a talk show host. To have
been sister station to rimshot KBOC-98.3/Bridgeport. Station located
at 4201 Pool Rd in Colleyville.
93.9
(frequency
dissolved on 11/17/1986)
KESS,
Fort Worth. Call letters established 1977. Format: Spanish.
Owner: Latin American Broadcasting. Network affiliations:
Mutual, TSN. Nickname: "La Fabulosa," "Recuerdo," "Solid Spanish
Radio." Notables: Armando Quintero (also Spanish voice of the Dallas
Cowboys,) Armando Reyna, Rogelio Soto, Jonas Molina, Demetrio Mora, Bertha
Obregon
,
McHenry Tichenor
,
Marcos Rodriguez (Sanchez)
.
Station located at Seminary South shopping mall in Fort Worth (later known
as Hulen Fashion Mall and currently as Fort Worth Town Center mall.)
KESS traded 93.9 for KSSA's 1270AM on 11/17/1986; at that time, the 93.9
frequency was dissolved and moved to 94.1.
For the
record, Seminary South's theme song for its 1960s and 1970s commercials
was "Here Comes the Sun"...resung as "Sem-in-ary South, do do do do, Sem-in-ary
South..."!
.
KRXV, Fort
Worth. Call letters established 3/3/1976. Unknown format (possibly news/talk
simulcast from AM side.) Owner:
Co-owned by actor Jimmy Stewart and William Schuller (Schuller also owned
the Oklahoma News Network) dba Radio 15, Inc. Call letters derived
from roman numerals (R=Radio,
XV=15)
as 1540 was the AM station's frequency. Sister
station to KRXV-AM. When John B. Walton sold the station to Radio
15, he kept the KBUY calls and transferred them to his station in Amarillo.
Later, his station in Ruidosa, NM was given the calls KBUY-FM. Station
located at Seminary South shopping mall.
KBUY, Fort
Worth. Call letters established 1/2/1967 (calls were taken from owner
John Walton's Amarillo, TX station.) Format: Ethnic,
Spanish (c. 1972,) Country (first area station
to have fulltime Country & Western format.) Owner: John
B. Walton (bought 8/24/1966.) Sister station to KBUY-AM (both KCUL-AM
and FM were sold to John Walton and became KBUY-AM/FM.) Program:
"Cowtown Hoedown" (carried over from KCUL.) Notables: Jack
Dillon
,
Joe Fuchs aka Jay Weaver,(1/1966-1972,)
Thomas Shelby Brown aka Randy Rider, Hal
Jay,
Brad Wilson, Boxcar
Willie, Ted Mack, James Schumacher, Larry
Shannon aka Charlie Wise, David Perkins aka Charlie Brown, Skeeter
Gordon, Gene Kelly
(PD, later with KXOL and spent many years in San Antonio radio thereafter,)
Ken Enos aka Ken Knight (left for San Antonio radio,) Wade Simms aka Cary
Simms (later with WBAP-TV,) Ron Rice (II), Larry Glenn, Don Miller, Lawton
Williams, Tony Berta, Roy Lemons (SM 1966-1969,) Don Thompson (PD,) Bud
McKool aka Bob Gordon, Darrell Monroe, Don Swancy (5/1969-7/1969,) Jerry
Condra aka Jerry Parks, Don Sitton
aka Don Miller, Bob White (PD,) Bob Allen (PD,) Ron Peterson, Bill Smith
aka Bill Mack (II) (began 10/1967,)
Stacy Richardson (1972-1973,) Gary Smith (1967-1969,) Virgil Dowell aka
Mike Bradley, Larry Fitzgerald, Tom Bigby (PD; in Philadelphia radio for
many years thereafter.) Broadcasted with 50Kw (day) and 5,000 watts
(night.) Station located at Seminary South shopping mall in Fort
Worth.

KCUL, Fort Worth.
Station established 12/24/1964. Format: Country. Sister
station to KCUL-AM. Owner: Kurt Meer dba Dalworth Broadcasting,
John B. Walton (8/24/1966-into KBUY, paid $7.15 million for both the AM
and FM.) Call letters reportedly taken from backwards spelling of
original AM owner's name, Dr. L. H. Luck.
Simulcasted from sister KCUL-1540 AM. Programs: "Cowtown
Hoedown," "Open Line." Notables:
Joe Fuchs aka
Jay Weaver (began 1/1966,)
Jerry Condra aka Jerry Parks, Bud Faulder, Eddie Stewart, Ron McCoy, Bill
Smith aka Bill Mack (II) (1963-1966,)
Ray Robbins, Morgan Choat, Terry
Jones, Bob Peacock ("The Bird With the Word,") Bob McCord, Reb Foster aka
Dennis Bruton, Gary Smith (1966,) Bo Powell, Ron Rice (II), Gene Kelly
aka "Jelly Belly Kelly" aka "Chuck Roast," Hugh
Lampman
,
Ben Toney, Duane Ramsey, Dan Allison, Virgil
Dowell aka Mike Bradley (PD,) Bob White (PD,) Bob Allen (PD; host of "Open
Line,") Lawton Williams (GM,) Roy Lemons (1966-1969; GM,) Bill
Hightower, Jerry Condra aka Jerry Parks (not the WFAA-TV personality,)
Bruce Chambers, Roy Lemons (GM, 1966-1969,) Don
Sitton aka Don Miller, Jim Tucker
,
Andres Mantecon
,
Angie
Meer. 93.9 was one of two remaining, unassigned frequencies allocated
to Dallas-Fort Worth (107.5 was the other) that were applied for at the
same time in 1964. Station located at
3607 Camp Bowie, Fort Worth.
.
94.1
.
KLNO, Fort Worth.
Call letters established 2/15/2000. Format: Mexican Regional,
"Recuerdo." Call letters derived from "Latino."
Owner: Univision. Notables: "Brother" Jon Rivers, Dave
Tucker, Andy Lockridge, Donna
Fadal (former KEGL general manager.) Was simulcasted to 106.7/107.9/1480.
.
KGDE, Fort
Worth. Call letters established 1/21/2000, although format began
in 12/1999. Format: Mexican Regional ("Estereo Latino.")
Owner: Rodriguez. Formerly KRJT-100.7 prior to frequency swap
with KLTY.
.
KLTY,
Fort Worth. Call letters re-established 4/20/1989 (calls originally established
in 1985 at 94.9.) Moved to rimshot 100.7 FM in 12/1999 by trading
frequencies with KRJT-Bowie. Format: Christian. Owner: Rodriguez
dba Hispanic Broadcasting. Notables: Larry
Dixon, Chris Kerson, "Brother" Jon Rivers, Dave
Tucker, Scott Wilder, Judi Hanna, Bob
Morrison. Successor to KOJO; KLTY reassumed its original 1985
calls (and held a celebration for the change at Williams Square in Irving
in the spring of 1989; 5,000 fans attended.) KLTY was even-traded
for KDGE on 10/1/2000.
.
KOJO, Fort
Worth. Call letters established 3/23/1987, but format didn't begin until
7/4/1987. Owners: Latin American Broadcasting, Mark Rodriguez.
Format: Christian (7/1987-4/1989,) Spanish (3/23/1987-7/1987.) Nickname:
"The Light is Back On." Notables: J.
J. Hemingway, Dave Tucker,
Mark Johnson, Ernie Brown, Bob Morrison.
When KLTY became KHYI (I) on 10/10/1986, Latin American Broadcasting bought
KLTY's music collection and put KOJO on the air thereafter.
.
KSSA, Fort
Worth. Station established and call letters re-established 11/17/1986.
Format: Spanish. Call letters derived from "casa."
Owner: Latin American Broadcasting. Station involved in trade
with KESS: KSSA traded their 1270 AM frequency for KESS's 93.9 FM,
which also involved an instantaneous frequency change to 94.1 FM.
Frequency was dark from late-1961 to 11/17/1986.
.
KCPA, Dallas.
Station established 7/8/1960, but didn't go on the air until 1961. Format:
Easy Listening, Jazz. Owner: Charles
and Peggy Ames
dba Merchants Broadcasting. On air 9AM-midnight. License was
revoked on 2/12/1962, although station had already gone dark in late 1961.
First station in Texas to ever have its FCC license revoked! Notables:
Bob Fox, Bob Johnston, Mel Cummings, Frank Haley, John Lemburg, "Juicy"
Boyd, Mike Stoddard
,
Bob Brown (not the same person as on WFAA-TV and "20/20".) Bob Fox,
John Lemburg, Bob Johnston and Frank Haley have provided an in-depth report
on the quick fall and financial shortcomings of KCPA...click
HERE!
.
94.3
.
KXVI-LP,
Winfield. Station established 11/25/2002 at 100.5 FM. Format:
Black Religious. Owner: The Bridge Network. While Winfield
would normally not be part of this survey, it's included because they also
have repeaters positioned fairly close to Dallas: 89.9/K213EB-LP
in Greenville, and 91.1/K216EQ-LP in Daingerfield...AND this is a reuse
of the original calls from KXVI-1600 AM in Plano. Station swapped
with KLNA-LP on 2/14/2005.

KCLE, Cleburne.
Station established 4/1949; moved to 94.9 in 1961. Frequency dark
until 2002. See entry at 94.9.
.
KERA, Dallas.
Station established 10/5/1946. Format: Variety, and did partial
simulcast of sister WFAA-AM. Call letters stood for a new "era"
in broadcasting. Owner: Belo. Program: "News in Ninety
Seconds." Known first as experimental FM station W5X1C, which signed
on 10/15/1945.) Began with 250 watts; upgraded to 1000 watts on 2/13/1947,
to 14,000 watts in mid-1947, and to 43,000 watts in winter, 1947.
1946 start date coincided with opening of the Texas State Fair...Belo wanted
to show off the state's first FM station! (It was also the 66th FM
station in the US.) In 6/1947, the FCC decided to reassign KERA to
a preferential spot, at the center of the FM dial. On 9/15/1947,
with new WFAA-FM calls, the station moved to its new home at 97.9 (see
entry at 97.9.) Notable: William Shepard. KERA is not
related to KERA-FM (1974) or KERA-TV (1960.)
MISC KERA
TIDBITS...
WFAA/Belo
experimented with FM broadcasting prior to KERA: Station W5XD, was
operational for a short time in 1938-39. It broadcasted on 31,600
kc on the UHF band with 100 watts. The transmitter was located on
top of the Tower Petroleum Building in downtown Dallas. Another FM
station, W5XAJ (aka KEGE, at 31,000 kc) was used as a field transmitter
to feed audio to WFAA-AM. And KAXD at 1622 kc was WFAA's mobile transmitter,
mounted to a car chassis and towed around town for longer-distance field
transmitting (other sources refer to the mobile unit as KFAA at 2790 kc.)
Soon thereafter, Belo applied for W5XGR (other sources say W5XD) on the
FM band in the mid-1940s, to handle facsimile transmissions of The Dallas
Morning News. The technology for facsimile and television came about
at the same time, and Belo opted to pursue facsimiles...this would permit
over-the-air transmission of The News to subscribers, who would receive
the signal through a printer at home, which printed out the daily paper!
(No one thought to use telephone lines for this at the time.) Interest
and practicality soon died off, leaving Belo to scramble for entry into
the quick-thriving television market. See WFAA-TV in the "TV"
section of this site.
.
94.5
.
KSOC,
Gainesville. Call letters established 6/6/2002, although format began
4/22/2002. Format: Soft R&B Pop/Oldies. Call letters
stand for "Soul
of
the City."
Nickname: K-Soul. Owner: Radio One. Notables:
Tom Joyner (via satellite, although based in Dallas across the street from
the station!), Lynne Haze (2003-date,) Maria Donaldson aka Maria
Miller, Kevan "Smokin' B" Browning, Tony B, Eurro Thomas, Gary Leigh.
Format stunted as "Joyner 94.5" during March and April, 2002.

KTXQ, Gainesville.
Call letters re-established 11/9/2000. Format: R&B Pop/Oldies.
Owner: Radio One. Nickname: "Jammin' Hits," "Jammin'
Oldies," "K-Soul" (4/22/2002-present.) Station evolved from KTXQ-102.1,
'heritage' call letters were thoughtfully retained. Notables:
Ben Martin (as host of "70s Saturday Night,") "Fast"
Eddie Coyle (2000-2001; carried over from frequency change,) Kevan
Browning, Tommy DuPree, Willie Mitchell, Tom Joyner (via satellite,) Georgia
(formerly Russ Parr's sidekick "Alfredas" on KJMZ; later known as "Cherokee"
on KBFB.) Most staffers from the original 102.1 position were fired
or quit in anticipation of the move to 94.5, as a format change was inevitable.
At the last minute, Radio One decided to swap formats along with stations
and kept "Jammin' Hits."
AIRCHECK
AVAILABLE
.
KDGE,
Gainesville. Call letters established 6/30/1989 (relocated to 102.1 on
11/9/2000; see entry there.) Format: Alternative. Owners: Steve Allison,
Evergreen Media, Salem (bought 3/2000,) Chancellor Media/AMFM, Clear Channel,
Radio One, Bonneville Broadcasting (to 6/1997,) Allison Broadcast Group
(6/30/1989-11/1991,) Founders Media (11/1991-?.) Nickname: "The Edge."
Programs: "The Hard Edge," "Adventure Club," "Gilligan's Jukebox,"
"Back in the Day Buffet." Notables: George
Gimarc (father of the original "Edge" format; Gimarc was breaking in
alternative records in the early 1980s on KZEW,) Chris Jagger (former co-host
of the syndicated Jacor radio program "Love Phones;" he concurrently hosted
TV's "Change of Heart,") and Michelle Boros and Ryan Chase and Julie Fisk
(hosts of the "Jagger, Ryan and Michelle" morning show [later "Jagger,
Ryan and Julie,"] began 4/23/1998 [although Michelle didn't join until
10/1998,])
Brian Curry, Jeff Kovarsky
aka Jeff K, John Morrill aka
J. David, Nancy Johnson (1991-1992;
host of "The Hard Edge," considered most successful specialty show on station,)
Brian Butler, Valerie Knight, Alan Smith, Alan Ayo, Wendy Naylor, Mary
Ellen Smith, Jared Aman, Roger King,
John
Lacy, Jerry Lentz, "Fast" Eddie
Coyle, Alex Luke, "Roger and Wendy,"
Donna
Fadal, Larry Nielsen,
John Ford,
Jessie Jessup, Josh Venable and Keven McAllister (hosts of "Adventure Club.")
Chancellor Media, aka AMFM, who absorbed Evergreen, bought KDGE in 6/1997
along with KZPS for $83.5 million; when Clear Channel bought AMFM, KDGE
was sold to Salem to divest of an extra property that put them over FCC
limits. After Salem traded KLTY for KDGE on 10/1/2000, new owner
Sunburst sold the frequency to Radio One, and the intellectual property
(format) to Clear Channel. Radio One then traded 102.1 to Clear Channel
and moved "Jammin' Oldies" format to 94.5.
AIRCHECK
AVAILABLE
.
KZRK, Gainesville.
Call letters established 7/4/1987. Format: Z-Rock from Satellite Music
Network. Owner: Galen O. Gilbert dba KDNT Broadcasting (11/17/1984-6/29/1989.)
Call letters stood for "Z-Rock."
Sister station to KDNT-AM, which was retained after KZRK was sold.
Notables: "Madd" Maxx Hammer, David Perry aka Dave Bolt, Pat Dawsey,
"Crankin'" Craig Dori, "Crazy" Mike Paine, Jay "The Tiptonizer" Tipton,
"Wild" Bill Scott, Scott Wilson.
.
KDNT,
Gainesville. Call letters established 1949 at 106.3 (later 106.1...see
entry at that frequency,) but this incarnation was established here at
94.5 in the spring of 1980. Format: Country. Call letters stood for
"Denton."
Owners: Mel Wheeler (1976-11/17/1984,) Galen O. Gilbert (11/17/1984-6/29/1989.)
Sister station to KDNT-AM, which was retained by Wheeler after KDNT/KZRK-FM
was sold in 1989. See entries at 1440 AM and 106.1 FM for notables.
Mike Shannon,
Mike Ehrle and Sandy Shepard chronicle the history of KDNT...click here!
.
KGAF,
Gainesville. Station established 11/18/1958. Format: MOR (AM)/Top
40 (afternoons)/Easy Listening (night) (1960s,) Light Rock (1970s,) Country
(1978-81.) Owner: First IV Media (11/15/1974,) White Fuel Corporation,
Bud and Joe Leonard Jr. dba Gainesville Broadcasting (1958-1967; Joe Leonard
also owned Lin Records.) Nickname: "The Voice and Choice of
North Texas and Southern Oklahoma." Broadcasted at 250 watts in 1960.
Sister station to KGAF-AM (retained after FM was sold; still operating
today at 1580 AM.) Notables: Ray Whitworth aka Ray Kennedy (to fall,
1977,) Randy Williams, Mike Stoddard
,
Mike Parenti aka Mike Monday, Ross Whitmire, David Klement, Mike Smith,
Steve
Eberhart (12/3/1973-5/1976; currently owns KGAF-AM,) Pat Bolin, Dee
Blanton, Steve Simmons, Bob Couch. Studios located at Radio Hill
in Gainesville; Ray Whitworth explains the layout: "The studio was
in a converted house...the master bedroom was the main studio, a smaller
bedroom the production studio, the utility room had the wire machines,
the transmitters were in the carport, the reception area was in the living
room, and the kitchen housed the engineering area and break room!"
The Leonard brothers made more money off selling FM sideband broadcasts
(ala Muzak) to local businesses.
.
94.9
.
KLTY, Arlington.
Call letters re-established 12/22/2000. Format: Christian.
Owner: Salem, Sunburst Media, Rodriguez (Sunburst bought from Rodriguez
in 3/1999; then even-traded KLTY for KDGE on 10/1/2000.) Moved from
rimshot 100.7 FM exactly one year after its move from 94.1 (Sunburst already
owned 100.7.) KLTY was formerly on this frequency in 1985.
Notable: Larry Dixon, Donna
Fadal, Lauren Lintner, Steve Tanner, "Brother" Jon Rivers (left 7/2001.)
.
KWRD,
Arlington. Call letters established 1/11/1997 (other sources say 8/7/1997,
although station was originally established as KDFX-1190 AM in 1996. Format:
Christian Talk. Nickname: "The Word."
Owner: Salem. Notables: Pete Thomson, Scott Wilder, Monte Johnson, John
Morrill aka John Moore (4/2000-5/2001,) "Super Handyman" Al Carrell,
Mal Couch (of Mal Couch Ministries,) David Gold (nicknamed "The Conservative
Freight Train;" began 12/1997.) KWRD moved to rimshot 100.7 on 12/22/2000
by trading places with KLTY.
.
KEWS, Arlington.
Call letters established 3/29/1996, although news format began on 2/27/1996.
Format: News
(live, but initially carried CNN News after 8PM; later extended live news
until midnight, then to continuously live on 4/1/1996.) Talk.
Nickname: "The First All-News FM Station in America... Made in Texas!"
Program: "Don and Mike" (syndicated; began 12/1996.) Notables
as "News": Ron Jenkins aka Ron McAlister, Tim
Vasquez, Arnold Evans,
Martha
Martinez, Peter Gardner,
Mark Lambert,
Iris Bekker, Scott Savage, Cameron Fairchild, Heather Behrens, John
McCarty, Kym West, Ty Walker, Brian Burns, Mary Tyler,
Roger
Emrich, Jerry Burke (traffic,) Roz Frank (traffic,) Cary Richards (traffic,)
Dave
Michaels (traffic,) Elana Adamsons, B. J. Austin, James Francis (II)
aka Sam Baker, Amanda Barnett, Aaron Brodie,
Sheryl Brooks, Ed Budanauro, Chris Fox, Suzanne Weber/Ecklund/Calvin,
Ray
Canaveri, Tami Carlisle, Caryn Carlson, John Carroll, Al Casey, Drew
Dickens, Mark Elliott, Arnold Evans, Heather Fraley, Joe Frascino, Lirsten
Frederick, Chris Fox, Chris Garcia, Ken Gregory, Anne Hamilton, Bob Henke,
Jill Hicks, Cheryl Hood, Diann Hodges, Nancy Jay, Tracy Joseph, Sharon
Mayo, Marla Morris, Mike Motsney, Steve Pickering, Ann Ranson, Dan Sampeck,
Heather Scott, Russell Scott, Dick Silverton, Deadrah Smith, Jackie Smith,
Julie Songer, Tim Sullivan, Rick Torcasso, Shelly King, Jay Walker, Lisa
Weber, Brad Wheelis (now with ABC Radio News,) Clint White (news anchor.)
Notable as "Talk": Don Imus (via satellite beginning 10/28/1996;
moved to 1190 AM on 1/11/1997 after station swapping was complete.) Traded
frequencies with KDFX-AM on 1/11/1997 (in essence, KEWS became all-talk
KOOO-AM, and KDFX-AM became KWRD.) Numerous KRLD-AM staffers flocked
to KEWS for its short run. On 10/27/1996, the local news format was
suspended as sister station KYNG was broadcasted over 94.9 for several
weeks after their tower fell; although KEWS staffers were retained briefly
for a return after KYNG's tower was repaired, owners pulled the plug on
the News format by 12/1996, and stunting began with simulcasts of CNN Headline
News and later a syndicated Talk format.
.
KSNN, Arlington.
Call letters established 10/12/1992. Format: Classic Country. Nickname:
"Sunny
95". Owner: Evergreen Media, Alliance Broadcasting (10/8/1993-9/1995
[but already had LMA rights with Evergreen since 10/1992.]) Sister
station to KYNG-FM; KYNG leased KSNN with the option to purchase, creating
the first FM duopoly in DFW. Notables: Arnold Evans, Mary Tylaska
aka Mary Tyler, Jay Walker, Dana Blair, John McCarty, Maggie Hart, Mark
Marshall.

KODZ, Arlington.
Call letters established 10/28/1991. Format: Pop Oldies. Nickname: "Oldies
94.9". Owner: Evergreen Media. Notables: Richard
Stevens (brother of voiceover king Shadoe Stevens,) J.
J. McKay (currently OM for satellite oldies format on Jones Radio Network,)
Phil Hall, Laurie Bandemir
aka Laurie B (a holdover from KHYI,) Ken
"Hubcap" Carter
(defected from KLUV,) Blake Lindsay
(area's only blind jock,) Billy Burke (a holdover from KHYI,) Ken
Dowe, Brian Wilson, Jimmy deCastro,
Liz Kiley, Cameron Smith. Wolfman Jack
guest-hosted the morning show live the first week of broadcasting, and
flew in for several consecutive weekends to do a live oldies program on
Saturday nights.
AIRCHECK
AVAILABLE.
KXRK, Arlington.
Initial call letters requested for 94.9 when application was submitted
in 1991 by Evergreen Media. Format was originally to be an Album-Oriented
"Pirate Radio" Rock station, but Scott Ginsburg of Evergreen changed his
mind at the last minute in favor of oldies. The idea got as far as
creating billboards, designing bumper stickers and hiring a morning host.
.
KHYI, Arlington.
Call letters established 10/10/1986. Format: Top 40. Nicknames: "Y-95"
(1985-4/25/1991,) "Power 95" (4/26/1991-10/1991; new name celebrated station's
power increase from 33kW to 100kW.) Owner: Heftel/Ginsburg
Broadcasting, Statewide Broadcasting. Promotion: "10 In a Row
or $10,000 in Dough." Notables: Sonny Fox (morning show host; began
8/1989; fired 6/1/1990; as a station stunt, Fox conducted a mass wedding
at the Hyatt Regency-DFW on Valentine's Day, 1990,) Steve
Nichols, Ken Barnett, Wendi Westbrook
(to 1990; later an MTV veejay; regular feature around town on station billboards,
as well as Miller Genuine Draft beer posters and billboards,) Bill
Evans and Trey Matthews ("Trey and Bill" morning program, 1987-8/1989;
Evans was concurrently a weatherman at WFAA-TV,) Jo Jo Wright, Billy Burke,
J.
J. McKay,
Laurie Bandemir
aka Laurie B, Scott Nevius aka Scott
West (began 9/1988,) Dave Spence, Mark Driscoll, Ed Budanauro, Buzz
Bennett, "Super Snake," Shadow Hayes aka "The Jammer," Mark Driscoll, John
Martin, Jack Murphy (morning show host after Sonny Fox; began 6/4/1990,)
Randy Rhodes, Andrea Lively aka Andi Lively (11/1986-5/1987,)
Brian
Wilson. The station's first promotion was offering a $25,000 prize
to anyone they randomly called who answered the phone with, "I listen to
the new sound of Y-95!" According to
Mick
Williams, the station experienced a backlash with their "10 In a Row
or $10,000 in Dough" contest...winners were required to sign contracts
that spread the winnings into annual payments. And, if they died,
their estates would not receive the remainder owed, and, if they complained
to the press about the terms, the winnings were forfeited. Dallas
Times Herald columnist Helen Bryant picked up the story and made it public.
The FCC got involved and sided with the winners, as the rules were not
provided up front.
AIRCHECK
AVAILABLE
.
KLTY,
Arlington. Call letters established 8/1/1985. Format: Contemporary Christian.
Owner: Statewide Broadcasting (bought 5/1985.) Notables: Steve
Nichols (1985-1986,)
Bob Morrison,
Dave
Tucker, Alan Scott,
Todd Brandon,
Brian
Wilson. Re-imaged as KOJO-94.1 in 1987; returned as KLTY-94.1
on 5/12/1989.
.
KJIM, Arlington.
Call letters established 1984 (KJIM calls were originally used at 102.1
in the 1960s, and at 870 kc from 1957-84.) Owner: Jimmy
Swaggart Ministries. Basically a re-imaging of KWJS-FM (see below.)
.
KWJS, Arlington/Cleburne.
Call letters established 6/19/1976. Owner: Jimmy Swaggart Ministries.
Format: Contemporary Gospel. Call letters stood for "Word
of Jimmy Swaggart."
Nickname: "Son Life Radio." Programs: "Call to Prayer,"
"Community Forum." Notables: Mal Couch (formerly of WFAA-TV;
later of Mal Couch Ministries, now heard on KWRD-FM,) Paul Thomas Hughes,
Mick
Williams (intern in 1982; later host of "Mick Williams Cyber-Line,")
Glen Miller (host of "Call to Prayer,") Hardy Brundage, Ted Sauceman, Jeff
Flanders (began 1979,) Jack Rabito, Dave Jackson (host of "Community Forum.")
According to Mick Williams, owner Swaggart lead the cause against the backmasking
of records; the station's PD (who was a member of the Moral Majority, and
had organized rock record burnings in the station's parking lot) had one
of the young DJs go to area schools and tell of the "horrors" of backmasking.
The campaign faced ridicule and was stopped when students at Sam Houston
High School in Arlington asked the young jock what his thoughts were on
Pat Benatar. He told them that he hadn't had a chance to listen to
HIS music yet! The station's PD, who had earlier started the well-publicized
local campaign against 7-11 and Stop-n-Go for selling Penthouse and Playboy,
later went to work for the Moral Majority. In 1982, lightning struck
the main transmitter, knocking the station off the air for several days.
They returned at half-power using a tower in Azle. They tried to
do make-goods with the sponsors, but the sponsors wanted refunds.
The PD, in a fit of anger, fired all the interns! Call letters were
resurrected 11/23/1985 at 1360 kc as an affiliate of Swaggart's network,
but under different ownership. Station located at 2216 S. Cooper
St. in Arlington.
.
.
KAMC, Cleburne/Arlington.
Call letters established 1/1/1972. Owner: Dick Osburn.
Nickname: "K-95," "K-Mac." Format: Progressive (1972-1974,)
Hard-Core Country (1974-1976,) "Texas Country Music." Program:
"Country Sunday" (hosted by Stuart
McRae; inspired by Bill Mack at WBAP, it was the first program to play
'outlaw country music.') KAMC also simulcated a weekend bluegrass
music show from KERA-TV. Notables: Ken Bateman aka Ken Baker,
Stuart
McRae, "Laura," Mike Magruder, Stan Castles aka The Michaels, Chris
Favors, Bill Merrill (host of "Farm and Ranch Report,") Dave Johnson, Tim
Spencer, Larry Fitzgerald, Michael Clay, Don Swancy (1/1976-4/1976.)
Stereophonic broadcasting started in 1973. Switched formats to country
soon after WFAA-FM changed to KZEW. Station broadcasted 24 hours
a day but signed off from 12 midnight Sundays to 6AM Mondays. Station
located at 2216 S. Cooper in Arlington.
Thanks to
former KFAD personality Ed Padget for sharing the above logo!
KFAD, Cleburne.
Call letters established 1969. Owner: Jim Gordon and wife (when
Gordon and George Marti dissolved their partnership, Marti took KCLE-AM,
and Gordon took KCLE-FM...changing it to KFAD. Other sources say
the dissolution occured in 1/1960.) Format: Black-oriented Jazz,
Underground/Progressive Rock (both formats were block programmed together.)
Call letters stood for "Fort
Worth and Dallas."
First progressive station in Texas. Considered an underground station;
DJs used a homemade audio board! Notables: Jon
Dillon, Dave Thomas (a KCLE holdover; also lived at the Cleburne studios,)
Stuart
McRae, Gary Gorbett, Don Swancy (7/1969-4/1970,) Tim Spencer, Jack
Darden, Ed Padget (12/1970-3/1971;
worked at both studios,) Charlie Bassham, Jim Gordon (owner; conducted
live remotes from area black churches in the station's earliest days,)
Jerry Johnston, Debbie Runnels (traffic manager,) Phil Cook (PD,) Joe Nick
Patoski (later senior editor of "Texas Monthly" magazine; was paid $1.60
an hour for his services!), Pat Patterson (late of KCUL-1540AM; played
blocks of gospel and jazz on Sundays between church remotes.) Initially
broadcasted 6 hours a day, with Jon Dillon covering the entire shift himself.
Station initially maintained studios in Cleburne and Arlington (2216 S.
Cooper Street,) and shut down the Cleburne studio in January, 1971.

KCLE, Cleburne.
Station established 4/13/1949 at 94.3 (moved to 94.9 in 1957.) Call
letters stood for "Cleburne."
Owners: George Marti and Jim Gordon (yes, THE George Marti, inventor
of microwave transmitters and ENG.) Format: Variety (initially simulcast
of sister KCLE-AM.) Nicknames: "Spectrasonic Sound," "Crown
of the Megacycles." Programs: "Man on the Beat," "Swap Shop."
Notables: "Ramblin'"
Russ Bloxom (host of "Man on the Beat;" later longtime news anchor
for WBAP/KXAS-TV,) Frank Hardgrove, John Butner
,
Lee Myres, Don Harris (I) (later of WBAP-AM,) Bob Ellis, Glenn
"Uncle Hank" Craig
,
Eddie
Craig (son of Hank,) Art Jones, Ron Harper, Willie Townes (former Dallas
Cowboys player,) Ray Weathers, Sam Riddle (later with KRLA and KFWB in
Los Angeles,) Jean Jenkins, David Perkins, Tommy Jeter, John Polson, D'Vae
Smith, John Merti, Olin Merrill, Dave Thomas (who lived at the studios,)
Mike Ambrose (later "Captain" Mike Ambrose on KLIF-AM; retired in 2001
after 28 years as a San Diego weathercaster.) Marti sold KCLE-FM
in 1969 but retained the AM side; he reused the KCLE-FM calls at 92.1-Glen
Rose in 1989. Initially broadcasted with 250 watts.
AIRCHECK
AVAILABLE
.
95.3

KHYI,
Howe. Call letters established 4/17/1994. Format: ABC's "Real Country"
format (automation) (4/17/1994-1/1/1997,) Americana/"Hard Country" (1/1/1997-present.)
Nickname: "The Range", "Y-95.") Owner: Ken Jones dba Metro Broadcasters
of Texas. Calls resurrected from KHYI-94.9 (calls were "parked" temporarily
since 11/21/1991 when 94.9 surrendered them; owner Jones had just received
call letters KZKF, but swapped them for KHYI a month later. Records
show that KHYI-95.3 was licensed to be a separate station from KSSA's 95.3,
although Howe and McKinney are very close neighbors.) Sister station
to KXEZ-FM. Notables: Dan Foster, Dave Avery
,
Brett Dillon (1996-present,) Bruce Kidder, Allan
Peck (concurrently owns a home theatre business, and is the former
host of the "Peck and Penny/Peck and Peggy Show" on KBOX-AM in the 1970s;
son Allan Peck II is a DJ on 96.7-The Twister.)
.
KSSA, McKinney.
Call letters established 8/1/1988. Format: Spanish. Owner:
Marcos Rodriguez (Sanchez)
(8/1/1988-1994,) Evergreen Media (who swapped it in 1994 for rimshot KGDE
at 94.1 and KTLR at 106.9.) KTLR moved to 95.3 and switched calls
to KHYI, and a new KTLR started broadcasting at 107.1 (see entry at 107.1
for more information.) Broadcasted Plano high school football games.
.
KWPL, McKinney.
Call letters established 10/21/1985. Format: Adult Contemporary.
Call letters stood for "Wonderful
Plano."
Owner: Oaks Broadcasting (5/1/1984-8/1/1988.) Some sources
say station moved to 106.9 on 8/1/1988, but no record can be found of any
station existing at 106.9 until 1990 [ and that was KWSK-Daingerfield;
likely unrelated, anyway.]) Notables: Daryl
Dwayne Doss (1985-86; holdover from KMMK,) Brad Denton.
.
KMMK, McKinney.
Call letters established 1/2/1974. Format: Adult Contemporary, MOR.
Nickname: "Collin County Radio." Owner: C. R. Graham
dba Modern Media
of McKinney,
Ken Fairchild dba Oaks Broadcasting (5/1/1984- 10/21/1985.)
Programs: "Sports Show," "Table Talk" (hosted by Ray Whitworth and
later C. R. Graham.) Flagship station for Allen HS Eagles football.
Notables: Sam Sauls, Dave Garland, Russ
Campbell, Andy Waldrop, Ray Whitworth
aka Ray Kennedy, Steven "Stubie" Doak
(1980-82,) Chris Kerson, Dan Perrine, John Gray, George Riba (later with
WFAA-TV,) Chris Kerson (1978-1980,) Brad Denton, Daryl
Dwayne Doss (1984-85; continued into KWPL,) Barry Cope (1979-81; now
"Elvis Duran" on WHTZ-New York.) Broadcasted from 6:30AM-midnight
(1970s.)
.
KAWB, McKinney.
Station established 8/1/1969. Format: MOR, Country and Western.
Owner: Albert
W.
Brown.
Notable: Kip Currins, E. C. Mounger (SM.)
95.9

KFWR,
Mineral Wells. Station established 10/4/2002. Format:
Country. Owner: LKCM Radio Group. Sister station to KRVA-FM
and KRVF-FM. Nickname: The [Fort
Worth]
Ranch.
Notables: Dick Siegel, Billy Thorman, Rick Lovett (2005-present,)
"Catfish" Jim Prewitt, Dave Marcum, Steve Harmon (to 9/2006,) Mac Curtis,
Joe Bielinski, Nadine Bodett and "Rebel," Chris Faust, Larry Stanley, Hugh
Savage aka "Heywood U-sue-me" (former character on WBAP-AM's morning show;
was co-hosting morning show with Steve Harmon,) Andy Meadows, Linda O'Brian,
Ken Fine.

KYXS, Mineral
Wells. Call letters established 10/13/1981. Format: Country.
KMWT, Mineral
Wells. Station established 3/1/1970. Format: Easy Listening.
Call letters stood for Mineral
Wells,
Texas.
Owner: Ralph Harbus
.
.
96.3
.
.
KSCS,
Fort Worth. Call letters established 2/1970. Format: Country. Owner:
Amon Carter, ABC, Capital Cities. Nickname: "Silver
Country
Stereo"
(2/1970-?, featuring '3-in-a-row' country,) "Today's Best Country," "Continuous
Country." Programs: "KSCS Hill Country Cafe," "Honkytonk Texas
Show," "Five and Dime." Notables: Terry Dorsey (began 7/18/1988,)
Mark Louis Rybczyk aka Hawkeye (began 7/11/1988,) Bill Kinder, Liz Johnson,
Brad Wright (was concurrently KXAS-TV anchorman,) Randy Hames, Blaine Brooks,
Cathy Martindale, Clint White (hosted "Cryin' Lovin' or Leavin'" program;
also hosted briefly by Bill Reed,) John Hare, Andy
Connell aka Crash Kelly,
Martha
Martinez,
Steve Nichols, Bill
Reed, Stuart McRae (first jock
on the "Silver Country Stereo" format,) Jack Dillon
,
Gary Smith (1969-1973,) Mike Crow and "Dixie" (hosts of "Honkytonk Texas
Show,") Dominica Harrell, Paul Bottoms, Michael Scott (II,) "Brother Van,"
Bob Shiflet, Jeff Cunningham,
Steve Smith, Kerry Alford aka Jimmy Stewart, Linda O'Brian (as host of
"Hill Country Cafe.") The country format was created by Capital Cities'
VP of programming, Joe Somerset. He took the low-key "beautiful music"
radio approach by playing several songs in a row, and having 'quiet' DJs
and a low commercial load.
.
WBAP,
Fort Worth. Call letters established 3/8/1949 at 100.5 FM (see entry there;)
moved to 96.3 in late 1955. Format: Entertainment, Classical, Easy
Listening. Owners: Amon Carter
dba Carter Publications. Nickname: "First in Fine Music."
Sister station of WBAP-AM and TV (Channel 5.) Call letters stand for "We
Bring A Program" (jokesters used to say, "We Bore All People!") Simulcasted
WBAP-AM (1950s.) Programs: "High Fidelity Symphony Hour," "The
Song and the Star," "Martin Block Show," "Musical Potpourri," "Dinner Time
Music," "High Fidelity Concert Hall," "Symphony Pops Concert," "Music for
You." Notables:
Gene Reynolds, Jim Vinson,
Larry Fitzgerald, Gary Smith (1969-1973,)
Ben Harrover, James Calloway, Gordon Fitzgerald,
Stuart
McRae, Art Riley, Bill Barclay (PD,) Don Thompson, Chem Terry
,
Layne Beaty, Ted Gouldy, Gene Baugh, Lee
Woodward (brother of actor Morgan Woodward,) Ted Graves, Frank Dinkins,
Phil Wygant
(husband of WBAP/KXAS entertainment reporter Roberta "Bobbie" Wygant.)
See 820 AM entry for additional personalities (many worked for both stations
equally.) Owner Amon Carter was threatened by RCA/NBC officials in
1946 with a loss of network affiliation if he did not apply for an FM frequency!
AIRCHECK
AVAILABLE
.
KTSN, Fort
Worth. Initial call letters requested for 96.3 when application was
submitted in 1947 by Tarrant Broadcasting. Call letters were to stand
for "Texas
State
Network"
and was to be a sister station to KFJZ-AM. Unknown whether application
was denied or if Tarrant pulled out, but frequency stayed dark until WBAP-FM
moved to it from 100.5 in 1955. KFJZ instead got 97.1 in 4/1959.
.
96.7

KPMZ,
Flower Mound. Call letters established 7/2008, although format began
under KTYS calls on 6/30/2008. Format: Soft Oldies. Nickname:
"Platinum 96.7." Owner: Citadel. Notables: Larry
Dixon, Gail Lightfoot, Tyler Cox, Angie Michaels, Vic Thomas, Valier Smith
(imaging,) Ron Chapman (brought out of retirement to consult for the station.)
.
KTYS,
Flower Mound. Call letters established 10/21/2003, although format
began under KMEO calls on 6/27/2003. Format: New Country.
Owner: ABC/Citadel. Nickname: "The Twister." Notables:
Allan Peck II, Scott "Chulo" Gaines, Arty Watkins, Rick DeVoe, Bob Shiflet,
Crash Poteet, Blake Barrett, Denise Welch aka Mia Ryder (traffic.)
.
KMEO,
Flower Mound. Call letters established 12/28/1998; format began under KNKI
calls on 11/23/1998. Format: New Country (6/27/2003-present,) Easy Listening/Soft
Adult Pop (12/28/1998-6/27/2003.) Owner: ABC. Nicknames: "The Twister,"
"Memories
96.7," "Unforgettable Favorites." Program: "Memories Scrapbook."
Notables
as "Memories": John LaBella
(first personality hired for the station,) Pamela Steele, Bob Eliot, Charles
Mixon aka Chaz Mixon (1999-2004,)
Martha
Martinez, Mike Young, Randy Fuller, Becky Wight (DJ and host of "Memories
Scrapbook,") Bob Lawrence, Susan Edwards, Scott
Reese, Sammi Gonzales, Tori Logan, Vic Thomas (overnights via satellite
from ABC; ABC Radio also carries an identically-programmed "Memories" satellite
format.) Eliot came directly from a longtime stint at hard rocker KTXQ-"Q102;"
Mixon from KZEW; and LaBella, of course, was half of the "LaBella and Rody"
morning show on rocker KZEW who died in a freak traffic accident, and was
eulogized in an on-air reunion of former KZEW jocks on 3/8/2002. Notable
as "Twister": Allan Peck II. The "Memories" format was
dropped on 6/27/2003; previously live, local programming was briefly replaced
by ABC Radio's corporate "Memories" satellite programming on 6/26/2003,
and "The Twister" debuted the following afternoon.
AIRCHECK
AVAILABLE
.
KNKI, Flower
Mound. Call letters established 10/15/1997, but did not sign on until 11/23/1998.
Format: Easy Listening (as "Memories 96.7.") Evolved into KMEO (see
above.) During dark period (10/15/1997-11/23/1998,) city of license
was changed from Sherman to Flower Mound.
KDVE, Sherman.
Call letters established 2/6/1995 at 101.7; swapped frequencies with KIKM-FM
on 6/17/1997. Station dark after 10/15/1997. One source says
that KWCS/KBOC swapped 96.7 for 98.3 with KDVE on 5/3/1993.

KIKM, Sherman.
Call letters re-established 9/2/1985. Format: Country.
Nickname: "96 and a Half," "Kick'm Country," "24-Hour Country." Sister
station to KIKM-910 AM. Notables: Larry
Carolla, Barry Diamond.
KZXL, Sherman.
Call letters established 12/12/1983. Sister station to KIKM-910 AM.
KIKM, Sherman.
Call letters established 7/1975. Format: Country (days), Top
40 simulcast with KIKM-AM (nights,) then full Top 40 simulcast of AM and
FM, then Country (on automation; began 1977.) Owner: Albert
W. Brown (who had just sold McKinney's KAWB [see 95.3 above,]) Lon Williams.
Sister station to KIKM-910 AM.
KSHN, Sherman.
Call letters established 4/1969. Format unknown.
KDSQ, Denison.
Station established 6/29/1967 at 101.7. Calls stood for Denison-Sherman.
97.1
.
.
.
KEGL,
Fort Worth. Call letters established 1/20/1981. Format: Top 40 ("Eagle
97," 1/20/1981- 9/12/1984,) Contemporary Hits ("The Eagle," 9/12/1984-5/12/1992;
switched in 1984 in reaction to the new KTKS-FM's CHR format,) Hard/Active
Rock (6/12/1992-5/18/2004,) Light Adult Contemporary ("Sunny," 5/18/2004-8/25/2005,)
Spanish ("La Preciosa," 8/25/2005-12/1/2007,) Christmas Music (stunting;
12/1/2007-12/18/2007,) Hard/Active Rock ("The Eagle," 12/18/2007-present;
return of 1992-2004 format and moniker.) Owner: Clear Channel.
Former owners: Nationwide Insurance (aka NCI; 1997-1998,) Sandusky
Newspapers (1981-1997; Sandusky traded KEGL to Nationwide for KSLX-AM/FM
in Phoenix in 1/1997.) Nickname: "La Preciosa" (8/25/2005-12/1/2007,)
"Sunny 97.1" (5/18/2004-8/25/2005,) "The
Eagle"
(3/1985-5/18/2004,) "Eagle 97" (8/1981-3/1985,) "FM97" (5/1981-8/1981;
the station encountered serious signal problems that entire summer,) "Z-97"
(1/1981-5/1981; according to original PD Randy Brown, the "Eagle" moniker
started on 1/20/1981.) Also "Rock of the 80s." Sister station
to KFJZ-AM, KDMX. Programs: "Relationships," (1981-82; an oddity
for its time: a mid-day talk program on a Top 40 station!,) "Friday Night
All-Request Party," "Unmodern Rock Program," "Local Show with Chaz," "New
Wave Hour," "Sunday Night Zanies," "Amateur Hour," "Happy Hour,"
"Dr. Demento," "American Top 40" (by tape,) "Nostalgic Rock," "The Party."
Notables as CHR/Rock/Active Rock:
Howard
Stern (via satellite, 9/8/1992 to 7/26/1997; unceremoniously dropped
prior to the end of his KEGL contract for berating new station owner Nationwide
Insurance on the air,) Dave Cradick aka Kidd
Kraddick (whose regular feature, "Burn Your Buns," tested the limits
of prank calling!; Kraddick began in 1984 and was teamed with Julie Patterson
to replace Moby in the morning drive on 4/11/1988; Kraddick was fired 6/12/1992;
Kraddick dropped "Kidd" in favor of his real first name on-air from 3/1989
to 8/1991,) Joel Folger, Michael
Blake, Steve Graham (jock, and original producer for Michael Blake,) Sharon
Golihar aka Sharon Wilson (as host of "The Party," her evening radio show,)
"Humble" Billy Hayes (and his alter ego, the "Rude Moose,") Rose Wright
(known as "Beth Rose" at KNUS; co-hosted "The Rude Awakening" morning show
with Billy Hayes,) John Roberts.
Also James
Smith Carney aka Moby (longtime Houston jock; began 9/1/1986 in afternoons;
moved to morning drive 10/20/1986; left on 4/8/1988,) Paul Robins/Paul
Kinney/Phil Cowan (morning team prior to Moby, began 3/31/1986 and fired
10/17/1986,) Drew Pierce, Kelly Howard
,
Roy "Mark" Stevens and Jame