Blast from Your Past

Thursday, March 1, 2018

50 Years Ago FM Rebel Rock March 1968

Rebel Rock on Your Radio Dial

This 50 Years Ago this Month post can brag about a DJ featured in the Blast from Your Past series! Those of us who were “there”, know the 1960s is in many ways, an uncanny sister-era to the 2010s. But back “in the day” we had the added attraction of enjoying the birth of FM Radio and Rebel Rock.

The Swinging Sixties felt the change and upheaval in all aspects around the world. Rebel Rock really started to catch fire as FM radio heated up the broadcasting industry. A handful of innovative disk jockeys felt the vibe—especially those who heard the call of underground music, and the psychedelic siren of San Francisco’s Haight-Ashbury. Leaning into 50 Years Ago this Month 1968 …

March 11^th: With the progress of Acid Rock and early Progressive Rock on FM radio airwaves, several former Top 40 radio stations gave up the ghost for an all-news format, like KFWB in Los Angeles. It followed in the footsteps of KYW/Philly and WINS/NY. However, a Boston station took a go-with-the-flow attitude …

March 15^th: WBCN/Boston thought no one would notice if they gradually began switching from easy listening to freeform Progressive Rock. Right … just proved a point for a very vocal pioneering DJ …

March 18^th: Always the innovator and instigator, popular San Francisco DJ and program director, “Big Daddy” Tom Donahue (1928-1975), propagated the infant Progressive Rock march into FM stations like legendary KMPX. But he shocked management when he resigned, with attitude. He and wife, Raechel, pushed the envelope, taking much of the staff and DJs with them in a walk-out dubbed by locals as “The Great Hippie Strike.” More than a little partying flanked the picket lines, as the strike waged on for two months, with a lot of head-butting, but no resolution.

The Donahues didn’t let one stubborn station owner get in their way of Rockin’ progress. They morphed former KSFR 94.9 (now KYLD) into iconic KSAN/FM “The Jive 95.” Most of the former KMPX staff moved in with them.

As Raechel used to say, “This is KSAN in San Francisco. Sometimes we do it fast … sometimes we do it slow … but we al-ways do it!”

Tom spoke into the microphone with energetic glee, “You can see, we’re gonna be doin’ a LOT of boogie’n’.”

Featured Radio Survey: Top 40 still ruled many San Francisco stations, though, like popular KFRC. The Beatles’ “Lady Madonna” marched up the chart at #13. A far-out rendering of the Fab Four on the cover, fascinated fans. 50 Years Ago This Month, recall that awesome day when …

Celebrate MARCH 1968: 50 Years Ago and … Rock On!

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LinDee Rochelle is a writer and editor by trade, and an author by way of Rock & Roll. She has published two books (of three) in her Blast from Your Past series, available on Amazon (eBook and print): Book 1 – Rock & Roll Radio DJs: The First Five Years 1954-1959; and Book 2 – Rock & Roll Radio DJs: The Swinging Sixties. Coming soon, … The Psychedelic Seventies!

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Thursday, February 1, 2018

50 Years Ago Prog Rock & Mr. Rogers February 1968

February 1968 – Cue the Cowbell!

Two very different but equally dynamic Radio personalities commanded our attention in February 1968:

Dr. Don Rose honed his down-home style at WQXI/Atlanta, while Jim Stagg reveled in his popularity at his Chicago home station, WCFL.

Many high-profile Rock and Roll Radio DJs crossed paths as they crisscrossed the nation in their nomadic profession. Interestingly, both of these veteran DJs graced the air in San Francisco at one point or another, just not together …

Jim’s early career found him testing the waters in 1960’s City by the Bay at KYA. Not finding the avant-garde city his style, in less than a year, he hot-footed it back to the traditional Midwest. I’m guessing he never learned how to surf.

It would be another decade before Dr. Don skipped across the country to plant himself at KFRC. By 1974 the amiable Dr. Don felt his home and his heart, belonged in the cosmopolitan city, despite his corny, country-bumpkin one-liners. Cue the cowbell! We loved him.

What else happened in February 1968? Do you hear the sound of progress …?

February 1^st – WABX/Detroit decided classical music was on its way out, and they weren’t about to be left behind in the music revolution. Grabbing the Progressive Rock shiny new brass ring, they rolled over to a freeform style with a commanding presence through 1984.

February 19^th – Apropos! THIS month (2018), Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood is in the news again, touting Tom Hanks as the star of a Mister Rogers biopic, You Are My Friend. It’s just in time to herald the show’s National Education Television debut on this day, 50 Years Ago! No, it has nothing to do with Radio, but you can’t deny Fred Rogers’ influence on the entertainment industry of that era … right up to this one. (Mr. Rogers moved to a heavenly neighborhood in 2003.)

Featured Radio Survey: A two-fer! Since we spotlighted two DJs above, and I just happen to have February 1968 surveys for each, you’re in luck! WQXI and WCFL surveys at your pleasure … 50 Years Ago This Month! Were you listening? "Love is Blue" (Paul Mauriat) led us into Valentine's Day on both sides of the continent. An instrumental that tugged at our heartstrings. Recall that awesome day when …

Celebrate FEBRUARY 1968: 50 Years Ago and … Rock On!