Did your radio station celebrate Festivus? My friends at Townsquare Media did! The official Festivus Pole was brought into the building. Staff members then participated in an Airing of the Grievances.
(I’m not sure who was pinned in order to end the Festivus celebration!)
KMXA-AM 1090 in Aurora, CO (suburban Denver) was booming into Minnesota last night. This station is licensed for 50,000 watts daytime, but only 500 watts nighttime with a tight 6 tower directional pattern. The nighttime pattern nulls Little Rock as well as in my direction. I’m guessing someone “forgot” to change to nighttime power/pattern. Anyone else hear this?
I was scanning the AM band, looking for stations that might have already begun playing Christmas music. 1090 in my area is usually a jumble of stations at night with no dominant signal. (A far cry from the “old days” when Little Rock’s Mighty 10-90 KAAY absolutely owned the channel after sunset.) Instead of the usual heterodyne mess, I heard a strong broadcast in Spanish.
I listened until the next stopset and was able to pick out references to “Denver” in the PSAs. These were being used to fill breaks in what I presume to have been a satellite music feed. This is how I determined the station to be KMXA. I’m not real familiar with Spanish satellite services/programming, so if you are, please fill us in!
Radio in the Twin Cities is about to get interesting again! This morning, CBS Radio announced that longtime A/C WLTE-FM “102.9 Lite FM” is about to become BUZ’N 102.9, the “New Buz’n Country.” Ever since Colfax’s BOB 100FM left the local airwaves more than 14 years ago, there has been speculation that someone would fill the void and launch a second full-signalled Country FM in the market. Now, it is about to happen.
What makes this situation particularly intriguing is one Mick Anselmo. Mick was instrumental in the creation and success of K102 (KEEY-FM.) Under his direction, K102 became a dominant force in Twin Cities radio, both in terms of revenue and audience share. He served as General Manager of K102 and President of Clear Channel Minneapolis. In 2007, Mick was relieved of his duties. Shortly thereafter, he became Senior VP Market Manager of CBS Minneapolis. Now, with the vast resources of CBS behind him, Mick and his crew is about to launch a direct competitor against his old station.
According to recorded promos currently airing on WLTE, the new BUZ’N 102.9 will debut on Monday, December 26, 2011 at 8:00AM local time. Needless to say, THIS one will be fun to watch and listen to!
Radio Geek Heaven has just learned that Red Lewis has died unexpectedly at the age of 46. Red worked for KTOE-AM 1420 in Mankato, Minnesota. Along with Don Rivet, Barry Wortel, and Pete Steiner, he hosted ‘The Morning Blend’ from 6:30-10:00AM each weekday. Red Lewis also served as Production Director for the Minnesota Valley Broadcasting/Radio Mankato cluster.
I will update this article with information on the funeral service, visitation, memorials, etc., as it becomes available.
I never met Red Lewis, but exchanged many e-mails and Facebook messages with him. I also listened to him frequently via the web stream on ktoe.com. He was a professional broadcaster in every sense of the word. His quick wit and humor will be missed by all who knew him. He was a good man who loved what he did and enjoyed life to the fullest.
R.I.P, Red Lewis.
UPDATE: Here is the obituary and funeral announcement, published in today’s Mankato Free Press. Also available on the ktoe.com homepage:
Rubin Lewis Shonbom, age 46, of Mankato died unexpectedly on Tuesday, October 11, 2011 at Mayo Clinic Health System, Mankato.
A Celebration of Rubin’s Life will be held at 6 p.m., Friday, October 14, 2011 at North Mankato Mortuary – NORTHVIEW. Visitation will be held from 3-6 p.m., Friday at NORTHVIEW. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Blue Earth-Nicollet County Humane Society or donor’s choice.
Rubin was born February 21, 1965 to Irving E. and Sigrid G. (Traenkle) Shonbom in Lynnwood, California. The family moved to Minnesota when Rubin was ten. He graduated from Wellcome Memorial High School, Garden City in 1983. Rubin attended Mankato State University and was active in the Theatre Department. He was united in marriage to Becky L. Bergemann on June 16, 2007 in Eagle Lake. Rubin started his radio career while at MSU with KMSU-FM and his first program “Winelight”. He then went on to work at KRBI in St. Peter and then to Radio Mankato for the past 23 years. He enjoyed playing poker, watching movies, and was a collector of The Simpsons and Family Guy memorabilia.
Rubin is survived by his wife, Becky of Mankato; parents, Irving and Teddy Shonbom of Amboy; sister, Suzanne Shonbom of Blaine; brother, Daniel (Michelle Green) Shonbom of Mankato; father and mother-in-law, Waldo and Nadene Bergemann; brother-in-law, Brian Bergemann all of Madison Lake; two uncles, Kurt (Donna) Traenkle of Nisswa and Seymour Glass of Vernon Center; his Radio Mankato Family, “The Morning Blend”; and his beloved daschunds, Snickers and Peanut.
Rubin was preceded in death by his grandparents; one aunt; and one uncle.
After serving East Central Minnesota for 16 years, Mora’s KBEK-FM 95.5 falls silent today (Friday, September 30, 2011.)
KBEK’s 25,000 watt signal provided primary coverage to the communities of Mora, Princeton, Cambridge, and Milaca. They aired a unique mix of Oldies, featuring live and local air personalities.
KBEK owner Colleen McKinney confirmed to the local newspaper that the station was indeed terminating their operations. This is another blow for independently owned, “hometown” radio and the service it provides to smaller markets. R.I.P, KBEK.
*UPDATE* – 10/1/2011 – KBEK has apparently won a temporary reprieve. Colleen McKinney announced yesterday afternoon that KBEK would remain on the air until at least the end of the year. Here’s the audio:
Anyone want to buy a radio station? KNEC-FM 100.9 in Yuma, Colorado is for sale. KNEC is a Class C3 FM with a solid local presence. Owner is retiring. Includes CP for new, unbuilt Class C1 FM. E-mail me for contact info if you’re interested.
De La Hunt Broadcasting has just updated their website. There are some GREAT additions on here including a photo gallery of KPRM AM-1240 in Park Rapids, Minnesota throughout the years. Also, Ed and Carol De La Hunt’s 2006 induction to the Pavek Museum Hall of Fame.
Featured are an audio montage of the early days including the long-lost “Vacationland Radio K-P-R-M 12-40 Park Rapids” singing jingle. Also included are photos of the original KPRM tower site, building, studios, remote vehicle, etc. Check this out when you have a chance:
http://www.kkradionetwork.com.prod.ngin.com/page/show/346146-about-us
I just received this from a reader. Can you help Shannon? If so, please comment publicly or e-mail me and I will forward the information/photos. Thanks, fellow RadioGeeks!
“Good Afternoon Drew,
Perhaps you could help. I am seeking 2 things. Neither of which I am having any luck finding.
I’ve been scouring the web and wearing out Google.
#1 A COLOR PHOTO of any GEL (General Electronic Laboratories) FM transmitter.
I have attached a black and white photo. These were very early 60’s and marketed to
stations when FM stereo came about. GEL’s were a beautiful powder blue color with shiny brushed aluminum and stainless steel trim. They were one of the finest FM transmitters available at the time. WGBH-FM Boston had one. WBCN-FM Boston had one. The long gone KQAL Omaha Nebraska had one. and of course WLDM Detroit had 2.
#2 A PHOTO of the original building of station WLDM Detroit, 95.5. The building was at 15401 West 10 Mile Road (at Greenfield) in Oak Park Michigan. It stood from 1948 when built to 1978 when the station was sold to Combined Communications. They built a new building and demolished the old one.. (pout)
Perhaps one of your many website visitors could help me?
Shannon”
Our prayers and thoughts go out to the residents of Birmingham, Tuscaloosa, and Cullman, Alabama this morning. Yesterday’s severe weather (April 27, 2011) produced massive tornadoes which killed or injured many people. At the time of this writing, the Alabama death toll from these storms stands at 128. That number is expected to rise.
Live, local radio used to do a great job informing people of approaching tornadoes and other severe weather. Unfortunately, many stations are no longer live nor local. Instead, they use prerecorded voice tracks and computerized automation systems to cut costs. This is especially true during evening and overnight hours when weather information is the most crucial. When the storms come, nobody’s there to warn you.
RadioGeekHeaven.com strongly recommends you purchase a NOAA Weather Alert Radio. This will keep you informed as to tornadoes, severe thunderstorms, hurricanes, flash flooding, earthquakes, blizzards, and other hazards in your area. They are battery-operated, so they will function in the event of a power outage. Manufacturers include Oregon Scientific, Eton, Midland, Reecom, Sangean, and Sony.
You can purchase weather radios locally at Radio Shack, Walmart, Target, and Best Buy stores. A quality NOAA Weather Alert Radios costs less than $50 and can save your life. Yes, there are still some good radio and TV broadcasters who provide severe weather coverage. But many no longer do. Don’t take that chance. Get a NOAA Weather Alert Radio and be sure you will receive the information you need in order to stay safe.
I stumbled across these gems on YouTube and wanted to share with my fellow RadioGeeks. Anyone who grew up in the 1970s and early 1980s remembers K-Tel Records. Who could resist the temptation of 18, 20, 22 or more hit songs by the original artists, all on one record or tape? Nevermind the songs were edited down and/or faded out early. Or that the music was pressed into microgrooves, resulting in lower volume, inferior audio quality, and a severe tendency for the needle to “skip.” No, this was pure pop music bliss. If you were a young kid like me who only had allowance money to spend on records, K-Tel was your ticket to having the hits on your record player!
K-Tel record commercials were an art form all by themselves. The musical montages, the cheesy graphics, and the over-the-top announcer shouting “GET MUSIC POWER FROM K-TEL! $4.99 FOR RECK-KORD, 8-TRACK TAPE, FIVE NINETY-NINE.” K-Tel commercials aired on both TV and radio. The radio versions were created by simply taking the audio track from the corresponding television commercial. On both the TV and radio versions, there were a few seconds at the end of the spot for the local announcer tag. On radio, the DJ would say “Get Music Power from K-Tel at K-Mart, Shopko, Woolworths, and at all Snyder Drug Stores.” On TV, the store logos would be superimposed over the video at the end of the commercial. Sometimes, it would be accompanied by the local announcer voiceover. In other cases, the music would just fade out as the store logos and lettering appeared on the screen.
Here they are, in chronological order. Where possible, I have included the list of songs included on the U.S. release of the album. And yes, I will admit, I bought nearly all of these albums and still own them today! Keep checking back. I will be adding to this collection as time allows:
“22 EXPLOSIVE HITS” – K-TEL TU 224 – Released in 1972 – Available on LP record only, priced at $3.99.
Side One:
1. The Candy Man – Sammy Davis Jr.
2. Nice To Be With You – Gallery
3. A Simple Man – Lobo
4. If Not For You – Olivia Newton-John
5. One Bad Apple – Osmonds
6. Rainy Day Feeling – Fortunes
7. Mammy Blue – Pop Tops
8. Don’t Pull Your Love – Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds
9. Chick-A-Boom – Daddy Dewdrops
10. You Could Have Been A Lady – April Wine
11. Popcorn – Hot Butter
Side Two:
1. Layla – Derek & The Dominos
2. Small Beginnings – Flash
3. Son Of My Father – Giorgio
4. Butterfly – Danyel Butterfly
5. You Are The One – Sugar Bears
6. Wedding Song – James Last
7. Baby Let Me Take You – Detroit Emeralds
8. Power To The People – Chi-Lites
9. My Man, A Sweet Man – Millie Jackson
10. Honky Tonk Pt. 1 – James Brown
11. Power Of Love – Joe Simon
“BELIEVE IN MUSIC” – K-TEL TU 227 – Released in 1972 – Now available on 8-track tape cartridge for $5.99. Price of the LP record remains at $3.99.
Side One:
1. Brandy (You’re A Fine Girl) – Looking Glass
2. Beautiful Sunday – Daniel Boone
3. Sunny Days – Lighthouse
4. How Do You Do? – Mouth & MacNeil
5. Long Cool Woman – Hollies
6. Go Away Little Girl – Donny Osmond
7. Back Stabbers – O’Jays
8. Go All The Way – Raspberries
9. Fly Pretty Baby – Andy & David Williams
10. Maggie May – Rod Stewart
11. Sealed With A Kiss – Bobby Vinton
Side Two:
1. Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves – Cher
2. Sylvia’s Mother – Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show
3. Sweet & Innocent – Donny Osmond
4. Hold Your Head Up – Argent
5. Let It Rain – Eric Clapton
6. Let Your Yeah Be Yeah – Brownsville Station
7. No – Bulldog
8. Money Back Guarantee – Five Man Electrical Band
9. Speak To The Sky – Rick Springfield
10. Down By The River – Albert Hammond
11. I Believe In Music – Gallery
“BRIGHT SIDE OF MUSIC” – K-TEL TU 330 – Released in 1973
Side One:
1. Oh Babe What Would You Say – Hurricane Smith
2. I Wanna Be With You – Raspberries
3. Big City Miss Ruth Ann – Gallery
4. Motorcycle Mama – Sailcat
5. Loving You Just Crossed My Mind – Sam Neely
6. Why Can’t We Live Together – Timmy Thomas
7. Bell Bottom Blues – Eric Clapton
8. Don’t Expect Me To Be Your Friend – Lobo
9. Wildflower – Skylark
10. Puppy Love – Donny Osmond
11. Pinball Wizard / See Me Feel Me – New Seekers
Side Two:
1. Daisy A Day – Jud Stunk
2. Let’s Pretend – Raspberries
3. Love Jones – Brighter Side of Darkness
4. Something’s Wrong With Me – Austin Roberts
5. What Am I Crying For – Dennis Yost & the Classics IV
6. It’s Lonely Out There – The Sweet
7. Daddy Don’t You Walk So Fast – Wayne Newton
8. Boogie Woogie Man – Paul Davis
9. Step By Step – Joe Simon
10. I Got Ants In My Pants (And I Want to Dance) Part I – James Brown
11. Down By The Lazy River – Osmonds
“FANTASTIC” – K-TEL TU 233 – Released in 4th Quarter, 1973 – As the 1970s inflation began to kick in, the price of the LP record was raised $1 to $4.99. 8-track tape remained at $5.99. This video is for the CANADIAN version of Fantastic. However, the tracks listing is for the U.S. version. K-Tel released different versions of each album in the U.S. and Canada. Also, cassette versions of K-Tel albums were not available in the U.S. until 1977′s Music Machine.
Side One:
1. Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree – Dawn (featuring Tony Orlando)
2. Crocodile Rock – Elton John
3. Hocus Pocus – Focus
4. Little Willy – The Sweet
5. Lean On Me – Bill Withers
6. I Wanna Be With You – Raspberries
7. The Free Electric Band – Albert Hammond
8. Misdmeanor – Foster Sylvers
9. L.A. Freeway – Jerry Jeff Walker
10. I’m Doin’ Fine Now – New York City
11. I’m Gonna Love You Just A Little More Baby – Barry White
Side Two:
1. The Morning After – Maureen McGovern
2. Twisting The Night Away – Rod Stewart
3. The Night The Lights Went Out in Georgia – Vicki Lawrence
4. The Twelfth Of Never – Donny Osmond
5. Armed & Extremely Dangerous – First Choice
6. It Sure Took A Long Time – Lobo
7. Randy – Blue Mink
8. Back When My Hair Was Short – Gunhill Road
9. Rock ‘N Roll Part II – Garry Glitter
10. Power to All Our Friends – Cliff Richard
11. Rocket Man – Elton John
“MUSIC POWER” – K-TEL TU 234 – Released in 1st Quarter, 1974
Side One:
1. Smokin’ In The Boys’ Room – Brownsville Station
2. Spiders & Snakes – Jim Stafford
3. Rockin’ Roll Baby – Stylistics
4. Painted Ladies – Ian Thomas
5. Pillow Talk – Sylvia
6. It Hurts So Good – Millie Jackson
7. Mammy Blue – Stories
8. Pretty Lady – Lighthouse
9. Where Peaceful Waters Flow – Gladys Knight & the Pips
10. When You Say Love – Sonny & Cher
11. The Americans (A Canadian’s Opinion) – Gordon Sinclair
Side Two:
1. Say, Has Anybody Seen My Sweet Gypsy Rose – Dawn (featuring Tony Orlando)
2. Keeper Of The Castle – Four Tops
3. Two Divided By Love – Grass Roots
4. By the Devil I Was Tempted – Blue Mink
5. Oh Girl – Chi-Lites
6. Can This Be Real – Natural Four
7. Tonight – Raspberries
8. Little Willy – The Sweet
9. River – Joe Simon
10. Drift Away – Dobie Gray
11. I’ve Got So Much To Give – Barry White
“DYNAMITE” – K-TEL TU – Released 4th Quarter, 1974 – Inflation rears it’s ugly head again. The price of both the LP and tape is raised another dollar. LP is now $5.99, 8-track tape is $6.99. Also, the number of songs has been reduced from 22 to 20, reflecting the trend towards longer hit singles during the mid-1970s.
Side One:
1. The Night Chicago Died – Paper Lace
2. Takin’ Care Of Business – Bachman-Turner Overdrive
3. This Flight Tonight – Nazareth
4. Be Thankful For What You’ve Got – William DeVaughan
5. I Shot The Sheriff – Eric Clapton
6. Hollywood Swinging – Kool & The Gang
7. Stuck In The Middle With You – Stealers Wheel
8. I’m A Train – Albert Hammond
9. Rock Your Baby – George McCrae
10. Honky Cat – Elton John
Side Two:
1. Seasons In The Sun – Terry Jacks
2. Rock & Roll Hoochie Koo – Rick Derringer
3. Meet Me On The Corner Down At Joe’s Cafe – Peter Noone
4. Save The Last Dance For Me – DeFranco Family Featuring Tony DeFranco
5. Rings – Lobo
6. The Lord’s Prayer – Sister Janet Mead
7. Love’s Theme – Love Unlimited Orchestra
8. Show & Tell – Al Wilson
9. On & On – Gladys Knight & the Pips
10. Let’s Put It All Together – Stylistics
“OUT OF SIGHT” – K-TEL TU – Released 1st Quarter, 1975 – The LP price hike does not hold and is reduced to the previous $4.99. 8-track tape remains at $6.99.
Side One:
1. Saturday Night’s Alright For Fighting – Elton John
2. I’ve Got The Music In Me – The Kiki Dee Band
3. Life Is A Rock (But the Radio Rolled Me) – Reunion
4. Beach Baby – First Class
5. The Black-Eyed Boys – Paper Lace
6. Touch Me – Fancy
7. Higher Plane – Kool & The Gang
8. You Little Trustmaker – The Tymes
9. I Feel A Song (In My Heart) – Gladys Knight & The Pips
10. Kung Fu Fighting – Carl Douglas
Side Two:
1. You Ain’t Seen Nothin Yet – Bachman-Turner Overdrive
2. Get Dancin’ – Disco Tex & The Sex-O-Lettes
3. Star – Stealers Wheel
4. After The Goldrush – Prelude
5. So You Are A Star – Hudson Brothers
6. Heavy Fallin’ Out – The Stylistics
7. The Need To Be – Jim Weatherly
8. Abra-Ca-Dabra – DeFranco Family (Featuring Tony DeFranco)
9. Kings Of The Party – Brownsville Station
10. Rock The Boat – The Hues Corporation
“SOUNDS SPECTACULAR” – K-TEL TU – Released 2nd Quarter, 1975
Side One:
1. Never Can Say Goodbye – Gloria Gaynor
2. Free Ride – Edgar Winter Group
3. Fire – Ohio Players
4. Roll On Down The Highway – Bachman-Turner Overdrive
5. Radar Love – Golden Earring
6. Come And Get Your Love – Redbone
7. Up In A Puff Of Smoke – Polly Brown
8. Butter Boy – Fanny
9. Sugar Baby Love – Rubettes
10. Do It (‘Til You’re Satisfied) – B.T. Express
Side Two:
1. My Eyes Adored You – Frankie Valli
2. Shame, Shame, Shame – Shirley & Company
3. Get Dancin’ – Disco Tex & The Sex-O-Lettes
4. Nothing From Nothing – Billy Preston
5. Doraville – Atlanta Rhythm Section
6. The South’s Gonna Do It Again – Charlie Daniels Band
7. It’s Impossible – New Birth
8. Be Thankful For What You’ve Got – William DeVaughn
9. Just Don’t Want To Be Lonely – Main Ingredient
10. My Maria – B.W. Stevenson
TO BE CONTINUED…
