The Saga of Ed Christian

The Saga of Ed Christian: A Radio Pioneer’s Enduring Legacy In American radio broadcasting, few names resonate as powerfully as Ed Christian. As the founder, chairman, president, and CEO of Saga Communications, Christian’s career spanned over five decades, leaving an indelible mark on the industry. His journey from a teenage disc jockey to a titan of radio was marked by a relentless commitment to localism, innovative programming, and a leadership style that blended iconoclasm with compassion. Christian’s passing on […]

August 8, 2025 5

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Radio History

WLS-AM: The Rock of Chicago

Pull up a chair, grab a coffee (or a slice of deep dish, if you’re into that sort of thing), and let’s talk about WLS-AM. For those of you too young to remember the glory days of Top 40 radio in Chicago, WLS was the “Rock of Chicago” for over two decades starting in the 1960s. It had legendary DJs, unforgettable stunts, and a format that many people turned to for their daily dose of new music. Today, we’re going to dive into […]

July 26, 2025 83 112

Radio History

KROY Radio: Sacramento’s Top 40 Station

KROY Radio: Sacramento’s Top 40 Station of the 1960s and 1970s KROY Radio (1240 AM) is one of Sacramento, California’s two most popular Top 40 radio stations of the 1960s and 1970s. Its selection of high-energy sound recordings, popular disc jockeys, and effective promotions earned the station an important place in the city’s cultural and musical history during its heyday in the area. This article is a retrospective review of the KROY Radio station, including its history and profiles […]

July 25, 2025 24

Radio Eras

Allentown’s Top 40 Powerhouse in the Lehigh Valley

The Golden Age of WAEB: Allentown’s Top 40 Powerhouse in the Lehigh Valley In the vibrant tapestry of American radio history, few stations capture the essence of a community’s spirit and the dynamism of the Top 40 format quite like WAEB in Allentown, Pennsylvania, during its peak in the 1960s and early 1970s. Known as “Music Radio 79 WAEB,” this AM station, broadcasting at 790 kHz, dominated the Lehigh Valley’s airwaves, becoming a cultural touchstone for the region’s youth and […]

July 3, 2025 33

Radio Legends

Stereo Quad Suzy Waud

Stereo Quad Suzy Waud: The Voice That Rocked Ohio’s Airwaves In the vibrant mosaic of Midwest radio history, few personalities shine as brightly as Suzy Waud, the irrepressible “Stereo Quad Suzy Waud,” whose voice defined an era of Top 40 radio in Columbus, Ohio, and beyond. From her debut in 1980 at WXGT 92X (now WCOL-FM) to her triumphant return to the airwaves in 2023 on Pure Rock 105.5 WXTQ in Athens, Waud’s career is a testament to the power […]

July 2, 2025 51

Radio History

KAAY’s Top 40 Triumph in Little Rock

The Mighty 1090: KAAY’s Top 40 Triumph in Little Rock In the pulsating heart of the 1960s and 1970s, KAAY-AM 1090, known as “The Mighty 1090,” stood as a colossus of Top 40 radio in Little Rock, Arkansas, its 50,000-watt signal blanketing much of the United States and beyond. Launched as KTHS in 1924 in Hot Springs, the station reinvented itself in 1962 under LIN Broadcasting, adopting the KAAY call letters and a dynamic Top 40 format that captured the […]

July 1, 2025 36

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Radio Legends

Howie the Hitman

Howie the Hitman: From LG73’s Vancouver Airwaves to a Distinctive Voiceover Legacy By Morgan Rugby In the pulsating heart of Vancouver’s fashion district, where DJs jested that “the heels were high and the skirts were short,” CKLG AM 730—known as LG73—stood as a Top 40 titan from the 1960s to the 1990s. At its forefront was Howard Cogan, “Howie the Hitman,” whose bold voice and irreverent humor made him a radio icon in Vancouver. For enthusiasts like me, who revel […]

May 26, 2025 34 1

Radio History

The Big Ape’s Roar

By Kelly Parker, Aircheck Radio Enthusiast In the heart of Jacksonville, Florida, a radio station once roared with a sound so powerful it echoed from Cape Canaveral to Cape Hatteras, captivating generations of listeners. WAPE, known as “The Big Ape,” was more than a radio station—it was a cultural cornerstone, a soundtrack to adolescence, and a beacon of community connection from its inception in 1958 through its AM heyday and into its modern FM era. For those of us who […]

May 26, 2025 87

Radio Legends

Remembering Jed the Fish

Jed The Fish: A Voice That Defined Los Angeles Radio April 14, 2025By Aircheck Radio We are deeply saddened to share the news that legendary Los Angeles radio personality Jed The Fish—born Edwin Jed Gould III—passed away this morning at the age of 69, following a brief battle with small-cell lung cancer. For generations of listeners in Southern California, Jed The Fish was more than a DJ—he was a defining voice of KROQ-FM and a pioneer of alternative radio in […]

April 14, 2025 82

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