The Texas Radio Thread - Then And Now (Houston, Dallas: foreclosed, house)

[Pipeweld]

Originally Posted by case44

I'll start us off just to give you an idea. Many people in my part of the state remember KZEW-FM way back in the 80s. They played an album-rock format that many of my old classmates used to listen to. They had LaBella and Rody, who were real popular and had a great morning show at the time and I can still remember Mike Rhyner (who is currently at The Ticket in Dallas) doing sports for the Morning Zoo. He would always butcher his mentioning of the sponsor of the sportscast, and I actually thought that was pretty funny (though I'm not sure the sponsor at the time felt the same way). In addition, in junior high, there used to be an AM station in Sherman (north of Dallas) that I would pick up on my old world band radio. They did Top 40 in those days, but it was the most fun for me to listen to. I even remember a DJ by the name of Gil Nelson, who, I believe, worked nights at the old KIKM. The names of other personalities that were there escape me.

Good thread Case!
Yea i remember The ZOO. You could hook up your cable to your stereo back then in Odessa, and get it. Considering the cable then in Odessa was just the Dallas TV stations and a couple of others. Also when we headed to Lubbock there was KFMX.

[case44]

Originally Posted by kacvb1974

I grew up in Dallas listening to big band and standards on what I believe was 1310 (KAAM). Now I tune into the format on 770 AM out of Garland. I am not going to earn any cool points with my friends... 'cause a 34 year old singing along with Perry Como will never be considered the epitome of hipness. But what can I say? I just dig the classics and feel you shouldn't have to be a senior citizen to appreciate them.

"Europe Today" with Hermann Bocklemann, broadcasting on Fridays at 6PM on 770, is hands down the most entertaining radio show I've ever run across. The dude is nutjob. In the best possible way.

Here's some trivia for you. In or near Dallas, there are three stations that carry a Big Band format. In the rest of the state of Texas, there is only one other station with that format (at least, right now), and that's KRFE (580) in Lubbock. They used to have this format in Houston and San Antonio, but those stations changed formats a few years ago. KBME and KLUP were fantastic before the switches were made. In Houston, they had a guy named Paul Berlin, who had his own show on the old KBME. As recently as a few years ago, I listened to his show on my Houston vacations. Today, he is retired. He had been a real legend there and was so, dating all the way to the 50s.

By the way, those 3 stations in or near Dallas are: (1) the aforementioned KAAM, (2) KPYK (1570) in Terrell, and (3) KJIM (1500) in Sherman.

[WillysB]

Originally Posted by kacvb1974

I grew up in Dallas listening to big band and standards on what I believe was 1310 (KAAM). Now I tune into the format on 770 AM out of Garland. I am not going to earn any cool points with my friends... 'cause a 34 year old singing along with Perry Como will never be considered the epitome of hipness. But what can I say? I just dig the classics and feel you shouldn't have to be a senior citizen to appreciate them.

"Europe Today" with Hermann Bocklemann, broadcasting on Fridays at 6PM on 770, is hands down the most entertaining radio show I've ever run across. The dude is nutjob. In the best possible way.

kacvb, that's awesome that you'll listen to classics. I've been watching a lot of Turner Movies lately... but, not to hijack.

You remind me of an old gal I lived next door to in Houston, Montrose. And I mention this because it is radio...

So, this gal, RIP, Inez Parham, a Houston native, would give piano lessons in her apartment. I was in there one time and there were pictures of her and the Three Stooges, Groucho and the Marx Brothers and other party pics. She had a stage name, Joy Paige and used to play piano in bars in Chicago and New York. She once told me the dirtiest joke I ever heard. Every week she'd come home with a case of Budweiser. Her car was ten years old and had 2400 miles. Chevy Nova.

But here's the radio part... there used to be a program broadcast Saturday nites from the Rice Hotel, a very long time ago. This gal, Inez played Rhapsody in Blue, Saturday nite from the Rice Hotel, back when it was the big hit.

Just more radio, in Texas.

[case44]

Any of you folks remember these?? How about:

In Houston, KULF (790), KFMK (97.9), KIKK (95.7)?? How about John Lander when he was on 92.9 before it went country (incredibly still called 93Q today)?

In San Antonio, KTFM (102.7 and the original), KITY (92.9)??

In Austin, do any of you remember KJFK?? How about Froggie (94.7), which played oldies? How about B93?

Let's hear from you folks on these........

[jeffari-al-texani]

Originally Posted by case44

I'll start us off just to give you an idea. Many people in my part of the state remember KZEW-FM way back in the 80s. They played an album-rock format that many of my old classmates used to listen to. They had LaBella and Rody, who were real popular and had a great morning show at the time and I can still remember Mike Rhyner (who is currently at The Ticket in Dallas) doing sports for the Morning Zoo. He would always butcher his mentioning of the sponsor of the sportscast, and I actually thought that was pretty funny (though I'm not sure the sponsor at the time felt the same way).

Another one from KZEW was George Gimarc doing the Rock and Roll Alternative on Sunday nights...

[jeffari-al-texani]

Originally Posted by case44

I wonder if anyone remembers Moby and Matthews from the old 97 Rock in Houston (KSRR-FM)? They had some cool billboards back in 1980s.

Moby also plied his trade in the DFW market at some point as well...

I just don't remember which station it was...

[jeffari-al-texani]

Thinking about George Gimarc got me to remembering when KDGE came on air in 1989 at 94.5. It was George, Wendy Naylor and Alex Luke (or was it Luc?). Finally, a station that played The Smiths, New order and so on and so forth...introduced me to Happy Mondays, Soupdragons, The Farm....

Oh...happy days...then they just all disappeared as the format changed...

[case44]

Originally Posted by jeffari-al-texani

Moby also plied his trade in the DFW market at some point as well...

I just don't remember which station it was...

KEGL (97.1). He was there only about two years. I've even met him in person, and he's a terrific guy. Today, he's at a successful country station in Atlanta and hosts a syndicated morning show. He's also toned down his act, as he used to do a lot of blue humor and was a 'shock jock' back then, but it's different today, in that he's approaching things on the lighter side. But his big success was in Houston at KSRR. He got big ratings while there.

[case44]

Any of you West Texans (Lubbockites) remember the recently-retired Lew Dee in his younger days? He just retired at Stars 97.3, but he worked at a number of stations prior to that. He was a legend out there, and in his own right.

[lonestar2007]

Bet we all remember listening to 'Country' Bill Mack on WBAP.

There were also the Fort Worth stations KXOL 1360 and KFJZ 1270 AM (remember Markey Baby Stevens) that was just a short twist on the dial from KLIF.

Destin 04, I remember listening to the talk shows regarding Cassius Clay (Muhammad Ali) and his revelation that he was a member of the Islam Nation (Black Muslims). Then his famous remark he 'ain't got no quarrel with them Viet Cong when told he had been reclassified to A1.. There were some high spirited discussions on that topic if you recall. I believe these were on either KLIF or KXOL.