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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 […]

todayJuly 1, 2025 48 3 2

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 […]

todayMay 26, 2025 38 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 […]

todayMay 26, 2025 101

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 […]

todayApril 14, 2025 84

Radio History

Radio Tribute Websites

Radio Tribute Websites: Preserving the Legacy of Classic StationsBefore the rise of digital streaming, AM and FM radio stations were the pulse of music, news, and community engagement. Many iconic stations from the 1960s through the 1990s have since evolved or ceased operations. However, passionate enthusiasts and historians have created radio tribute websites to ensure their legacies endure.These online archives offer airchecks, jingles, photographs, and stories, capturing the essence of […]

todayMarch 18, 2025 150

WNOE LOGO

Radio Eras

WNOE AM and FM New Orleans

For decades, WNOE was a defining voice in New Orleans radio, shaping the musical tastes of an entire generation. From its early days in the 1950s through the golden years of the 1960s and 1970s, WNOE-AM and later WNOE-FM played a critical role in broadcasting the latest hits, elevating local DJs to celebrity status, and keeping the Crescent City dancing to the beat of pop, rock, and country music. The […]

todayMarch 18, 2025 153 1

Radio Legends

Bob Rivers Passes Away at 68

​Bob Rivers, born on July 7, 1956, in Branford, Connecticut, was a multifaceted individual whose influence spanned radio broadcasting, music, aviation, and community service. His journey from a passionate young broadcaster to a beloved Seattle radio personality is a testament to his versatility and dedication.​ Early Life and Introduction to Radio Rivers' fascination with radio began in his youth. At 14, he launched a high school radio station, demonstrating an […]

todayMarch 11, 2025 45

Paul Freeman

Radio Legends

Paul Freeman

Paul Freeman: A Voice That Shaped Los Angeles Radio Paul Freeman’s journey through the world of broadcasting epitomizes what it means to thrive as a radio personality. From his humble beginnings in Spokane, Washington, to his celebrated career that spanned four decades on Los Angeles airwaves, Freeman mastered the art of connection. He wasn’t just a DJ. He was a storyteller, a sound architect, and a voice that became inseparable […]

todayMarch 10, 2025 109 2

am radio towers

Radio News

AM Radio’s Quiet Fade

  AM Radio’s Quiet Fade: Local Stations Fall Silent Across America By Boris McClendon, Staff Writer Late one October morning in San Francisco, a familiar voice on KGO 810 AM was suddenly replaced by the R&B hit “For the Love of Money.” Soon another cash-themed song followed, then another. Listeners were puzzled – was this a prank or a technical glitch? It wasn’t. It was a requiem. After 80 years […]

todayMarch 6, 2025 158

SKIP-ESSICK

Radio Legends

Skip Essick: A Life on the Airwaves

Skip Essick: A Life on the Airwaves – From WGRD to Radio Leadership "Radio is the most intimate and socially personal medium in the world." — Harry von Zell For decades, Skip Essick was a familiar voice and a guiding hand behind the scenes in radio. Whether he was on-air, programming a station’s format, or leading an entire operation, his influence helped shape the way radio sounded in multiple markets. […]

todayMarch 4, 2025 31