Rock Radio 50 Years Ago ☼ JULY 1976

Rockin’ a Red, White & Blue Radio DJ Summer!    

Of course, I have a Red-White-Blue article for you this month! How could I not? It’s such a special edition that it’s going to be offered in segments for the first couple of days. Feel free to wait ‘til it’s presented in its entirety, but either way, it’s a leisurely read. Grab a Summer libation, relax and enjoy …   

Personally, I’m a proud American and feel privileged that I and other 39ers+ experienced the 200^th anniversary of the United States in 1976 and will enjoy this month’s 250^th celebration! But I can’t help feeling a touch of sadness this year, as we slide into the most patriotic of months with so much animosity and hatred. It should be a happy time to celebrate how much we have here, and what our ancestors did to shape this country.  

Both celebrations—50 Years Ago, JULY 1976—and JULY 2026—mark years of civil unrest, political upheaval and societal struggles. The difference, is 50 Years Ago, no one doubted the democracy of America or sought to destroy it, even as they vehemently protested some of its doctrines.

Whether born-n-bred or chose to come here, I hope you share my patriotism for the best country on the planet. If you don’t, either feel free to leave, or stick around, work peacefully to make changes and quit your whining.

So, let’s get Rockin’ JULY where there is nothing more American than apple pie, Rock & Roll, and Rock Radio DJs! Let the celebration begin …

Up first, is a quick peek at Tom Peake (November 13, 1955-May 29, 2026), with a Radio Heaven tribute for this pioneering Radio DJ, who followed the music skyward on May 29^th. Contrary to being solemn and sad, let’s celebrate Tom’s stellar career in broadcasting! One of DJ/Broadcast industry's favorite sons, Tom was a beloved member of its groundbreaking hallowed ranks, as suggested by BFYP DJ Extraordinaire, Bill Gardner.

According to Bill, Tom—or Peaker, as his coworkers fondly called him—was the “heart and soul” of KOOL/94.5 Phoenix, during the nearly ten years they worked together.

All-in-all, Tom spent nearly forty years at KOOL Radio, retiring in 2019—a rare DJ occurrence, for sure. Radio-Online reported in 2016 for his 37^th year with KOOL, “Peake's history with KOOL-FM began on September 1, 1979.” They quoted Tom, ‘I honestly don't know where the time went,’ added Peake. ‘Looking back over the last 37 years, I think I've been the luckiest person in radio to have spent it all at such a legendary station as 94.5 KOOL FM.’"

Tom began as a weekend host and finished his tenure as Music Director—oh, and still hosting the midday slot behind the mic. “At one radio station,” exclaimed Bill. “Unheard of.” Another KOOL anomaly Bill remembered, “ … we seemed to all like each other! I’d listen to Tom Peake on my way driving home … I recall one time he played Oliver’s ‘Good Morning Starshine,’ [1969] and warned everyone on air about every "Gliddy glub goopy, nibby nabby noopy, la la la lo lo, sabba sibby sabba, nooby abba nabba’ to expect.  :-).”

Maybe you’ll recognize more than Bill Gardner and Tom Peake in this ad feature from 2004. The lineup included: Bill Gardner, Tom Peake—who by this time had been there 20 years—Camelback Jack, Lee Bortell, and Allie Torres. As with Tom Peake, a life well-lived isn’t counted by the dollars you leave behind … it’s the abundance of fond memories and smiles that linger well after.  

And now, let me take you back to more memories and smiles as we Rock Red, White & Blue throughout JULY… 50 Years Ago …   

º JULY 1976 Radio News & Muse ♪ 
What was your fave DJ playing when you turned on your tinny transistor radio 50 Years Ago?  

If you were Rockin’ around the Midwest, WCOL, “Stereo Rock 92” in Columbus, Ohio, is now Country, but back in the day, you were listening to a riveting AOR (Album Oriented Rock) station. (The link above is to ARSA; not a secure site.) Sadly, I don’t have a music chart image for you and I’ve noticed that many Radio stations began easing off printing surveys in the late 1970s.
       So I went scouring the ‘Net and found a May ’76 WCOL music chart image that ties in with our July theme, though also not on a secure site. We’re missing the “guts” of a July chart, but enjoy their earlier patriotic picture.

Fortunately, we can trek over to California, where I have a B-100 FM/San Diego, Rockin’ survey #64 for July 8, 1976. The red, white & blue chart is apropos for July’s Featured Radio Survey, with DJ Gary Kelley as the quintessential surfer boy on the cover. Gary was in good company, as many popular DJs sat behind the station’s mics. While there is a fair amount of info on former B-100 DJs like Shotgun Tom Kelly, Bobby Rich (who truly built the station) and Rich Brother Robbin, info was scarce on Gary.

I did learn, however, Gary Kelley is a hometown guy, hired to pre-record voice-overs for local stations as a young teen. By the time he was eighteen, he became an L.A. DJ on KIIS/KKDJ and KIQQ—reportedly the youngest disc jockey at the time to sit behind the mic of a #1 station. It wasn’t long before he made his way back to San Diego Radio and adopted “Kelley” as his surname, honoring another San Diego king of the airwaves, Shotgun Tom Kelly. 
       After nearly a lifetime in his radio passion, Gary went back to his true identity of “Mr. Roehl,” and found another rewarding career as a teacher—always still keeping a toehold on Radio. And what is he doing now? Well, planning to get married soon? I know of a guy in San Diego … 

We Rocked through a 200^th anniversary July 4^th 50 Years Ago, presided over by President Gerald Ford. We were wearing ever-baggier pants, popular sports-clothes-gone-all-day-chic, and we danced in the Disco look … slick, sleek and flashy.

July 4^th: The Eagles and Fleetwood Mac hit the stage at Tampa Stadium, while Lynyrd Skynyrd and ZZ Top played to a cheering crowd at Memphis Memorial Stadium. And there were more performances across the county for America’s 200^th anniversary, celebrated in grand style… nobody cancelled or refused to show up! Washington D.C. set off 33-1/2 tons of fireworks while President Ford rang the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia. No wonder we’re nostalgic for “the good ol’ days.” 

July 7^th: And the parties continued … 50,000 or so, brave fans attended a free … yes, free … Jefferson Starship event in the rain, in Central Park. Like that could happen today.

♪ JULY 1976 Song(S) of Note ♪
On X where I post hype for these articles, I’ve been putting together three or four song titles from our monthly Featured Radio Survey that could inspire a “Fun Fictional Fable.” So let’s spark our imaginations for a Summer reverie with three appropriate, red, white ‘n’ blue tunes from B-100/San Diego’s July 7, 1976, chart …

RED: “Cherry Bomb” … just the title suggests images of RED sparkles as it raced up the B-100 chart to #17, from #29, in one big explosion. Those of us “of a certain age” still recall the wild days of 1976 and earlier, when Cherry Bombs were legal—and so were most fireworks. Though still available in a less volatile form than before 1966, in 1977 the firework that erupted into a ball of red, was made illegal for citizens to own, altogether. 
       But this Hard Rock song lived up to the name as an explosive sound and suggestive lyrics to match, by the Runaways. The song was written by Joan Jett and band manager, Kim Fowley, for lead singer, Cherie Currie, with the title a play on her name. Though only sixteen, she, with the all-female band, Runaways, were aptly named, eschewing teenage naiveté, much as many ‘70s teens did (and still do). ♪ … Hello world I'm your wild girl | I'm your ch ch ch ch ch cherry bomb … ♪    

WHITE: Who recalls the Rolling Stones’ WHITE-“Hot Stuff” Rockin’ our Summer hard at #1 on the B-100 chart. The funky tune, with Mick Jagger struttin’ the stage, sizzles with sexy innuendos and flashy duds—until the hot drum sounds had him stripping half of it off. That’s Mick! Apparently, we liked it and it hung around the charts for more than a couple of months that Summer, oh, so long ago.  
       Written by Mick with Keith Richards, San Diegans were evidently the ones who liked its white-hot Summer splash. After checking charts for L.A.’s KHJ, San Francisco’s KFRC , Pennsylvania’s WIBG and New York’s WABC, not finding “Hot Stuff” even making an appearance, I finally found it lingering at #13 on Columbus, Ohio’s, WCOL 1230 AM (ARSA/not a secure site). Ah well, somebody has to buck the trend …  ♪ … The music is mighty, mighty fine | Hot stuff | Hot stuff | Can't get enough … ♪  

BLUE: “Misty BLUE” croons for lost Summer love as it hit #8 on the B-100 survey. Written in 1966 by Bob Montgomery, it was a heart-struck hit by Blues artist, Dorothy Moore, ten years later. The tune ignited her career and was included in the soundtrack for the 1996 movie, Phenomenon, with John Travolta. No one can turn your eyes misty better than an awesome Blues singer … ♪… Just the thought of you | My love, my whole world turns | Misty blue … ♪    

♪♪ BFYP Featured Radio Survey ♪♪   
JULY 6, 1976 ~ B-100 FM/San Diego, California … city of Summer sand castles, surfers and sexy songs groovin’ from your transistor Radio shaped like a sh*thouse! Sorry if I offended you, but it’s true! Take a gander at the B-100 survey and you’ll find an ad for the Brick Shirt House … coincidence that their logo is shaped like the novelty transistor Radio collectible I have from the ‘70s? I think not. And yes, it’s a radio— complete with a seat inside! 😊 San Diego used to be known for its playful irreverence, too. Keepin’ it regular … 50 Years Ago this Month in Rock & Roll Radio! Where were you that groovy day when your radio played … 

There's more to come with nostalgic images and a few more pieces of history and trivia. Come on back soon, after we enjoy America's 250th Anniversary!  

Rock JULY 1976 and … with patriotic power!  

BFYP Book 1 (1954-1959) on Amazon         
BFYP Book 2 (Swinging ‘60s) on Amazon 
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Share your Golden Oldies R&R fun on X: @BlastFromPastBk 

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LinDee Rochelle is a writer and editor by trade, and author by way of Rock & Roll. Two books (of three planned) are published in her Blast from Your Past^TM series, available on Amazon: Book 1 – Rock & Roll Radio DJs: The First Five Years 1954-1959^TM (eBook only; coming soon in updated print edition) and Book 2 – Rock & Roll Radio DJs: The Swinging Sixties^TM (eBook & print). Coming soon-ish … Book 3 – The Psychedelic Seventies!^TM 

Note: FYI – All links in the BFYP site are personally visited, verified, and vetted. Most are linked to commonly accessed sites of reputable note. Occasionally, since I often feature real people and/or singular sources there may be an unsecured link. As with everything cyber-security, use at your own discretion and risk. This site is wholly owned by LinDee Rochelle & sponsored by PenchantForPenning.com^TM. No compensation is received for any mentions of businesses, products, or other commercial interests. *All holiday and special event days are found at Brownielocks.com’s calendar site. Enjoy! 
            RE: AI – The Blast from Your Past site has never and will never (knowingly) be written or assisted, by Artificial Intelligence. It’s just stupid ol’ “I” and I enjoy writing these articles. They soothe my soul. So why would I hand that indulgence over to an artificial, soulless entity that can’t feel pleasure?!

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