My Sandusky predecessor made the deal to buy KWFM from Alvin Korngold. 
I was lukewarm to cold on the acquisition for a number of reasons, not
the least of which was that I thought we had agreed to pay too much for
the station.  The ratings had slumped.

Dudley White, Sandusky's chairman, told me bluntly and impatiently one
day that I had to **** or put my pants back on.

So we informed Mr. Korngold that there had been material adverse change
at KW, contract jargon usually reserved for Acts of God, and would not
consummate the deal.  So we renegotiated and saved a million bucks.

In 1982, only 4 AOR radio stations in the country ranked #1 overall in
their respective markets: KBPI, KDKB, KWFM and WMMS in Cleveland.  That
accomplishment, one of many, is a sterling tribute to Jim Hardy, Jim Ray
Cobb, Lee Dombrowski and the entire team of All-Stars that staffed,
loved and continue to love KWFM.

I and Sandusky were fortunate to have played a part in the station's
rich history and tradition of excellence.

Wow!  What a blast from the past with this web site!  I moved away from
Tucson about six months after KWFM came on the air but now 34 years
later when I talk to old friends still in Tucson, "KW" still comes up
as very fond memories.

This site is fantastic!  It's a great tribute to the staff, the
listeners and to the Old Pueblo. KWFM was the best and a great part of
broadcasting history.  What a time we had, growing up in Tucson and
listening to KWFM.  The station was my inspiration to go to UofA, major
in Radio/Television and become a DJ/Announcer in the 80's and 90's. 
Those days of creative FM programming are gone forever but never
forgotten.  Party On!

Mike Kraushar, AKA Pete Michaels
FORMER DJ AT KLPX & KSTM "The Storm" in Phoenix

Hello To All Old Friends From Tucson.

Hi everyone,

Looking back on KWFM and those days ...it was amazing how the station
really helped promote local bands.
Those memories of the desert are still dear to all of us that were
there.
Today, the Air Brothers and Rock Doctor are almost never mentioned at
all yet we lived there many years.
If you're interested in The Air Brothers  Band, Rock Doctor, Roy
Raisin, then please contact Chris Drake at Sphinxtricity@gmail.com. 
I'd love to get back in touch with friends.

Thanks for everything...Chris

Nostalgic for Tucson.  Nice site you've got here.  One correction if I
may.  You've got a picture in your Gallery labeled "Central Air", which
is actually one of the last incarnations of "The Air Brothers".  Left to
right: John Houge, Greg White, Chris Drake, and Dale Caddell.

I was there in The Air Brothers.

The early days at WKZE were a great trip. I was news director for $18
per week. But for that I got 5 minutes every day to say whatever I
wanted to on the radio, plus rip and read the news. I really wanted to
be a dj and got to do that only a little at KWFM. Today, I am 34 years
into an independent book and record store in the Hudson Valley (Oblong
Books & Music), have a weekly radio show on WKZE and am married to a
folk singer, Priscilla Herdman. Live is good.
Peace.

Thanks for the great memories that I have been enjoying with all the
pictures and recordings in this site.  I worked from 1975 to 1980 on
KEVT am, wich was a Spanish radio, in the same building and of the same
owner of KWFM, so I knew a lot of the great announcers of KWFM, as we
shared the studios and a lot of good times, both the Spanish speaking
announcers and the KWFM dj's.

Great site, Thanks again

Hi there KWFM folks!!  After decades sitting in a closet, I have
transfered nearly 60 photographs I took during my KWFM years
(1974-1980) to disc. I'd like very much to share them with all of you,
as most have never been seen except by a few close friends. Someone
please tell me HOW to get them onto this website. I can't seem to find
out how to accomplish this task.  Help.  It'll be worth it...wait and
see.  Thanks alot, John Shook

Hi Tim, I've been to the KWFM web site many times. You guys have done a
great job on it. It's a shame there isn't a KDKB one.

The playlist archives & personal history are great. I enjoyed reading
awhile back how Nina Joy did her show in the nude and you (the
listener) missed it. 

Radio is notorious for forgetting its past so it's nice to see such an
excellent work in progress. It validates what happened back then and
those that contributed to it.

Andy Olson
RadioFreePhoenix
http://www.radiofreephoenix.com/

Great work you guys. How I miss this kind of taste. I'll always remember
my friends on that station and that period. Thanks for giving us this
reminder.

Bob

What a kick!  I'm having a little trouble concentrating at work today as
I just discovered this webpage. I keep looking at the pictures and
remembering how I felt 25 years ago when they were taken...knowing that
Bob and Jim aren't with us any more...knowing that I missed the reunion
and haven't seen the rest of you in that long...and still being in
radio knowing how much things have changed!  What an amazing time of my
life. Thank you all for being a part of it.

As a teenager, I grew up listening to KWFM. It was easily the best rock
station in the area, and Tucson's only FM stereo rock station. I'm
pleased to be able to offer this tribute site and hope you will enjoy
browsing it.  Please take a moment to sign the guestbook. If you have
any airchecks or memorabilia, we would love to hear from you. Cheers.

I just happened upon alot of familiar names looking at your web site. We
lived in Tucson from 1972-1984.  I managed Creations on 4th ave. from
around 1973-1979 and Larry Sotosanti was my ad salesman. I knew Bob
Cooke, John Shook and alot of other people at KWFM.  What struck me
while reading some of the entries was the entry from Laura (Lau) Cooke.
That time was something that will never be erased from mine and my
husband Mike's memeory.  Thanks for the memories.

Both smiles and tears seeing this site..... I met Bob Cooke at a KWFM
party in 1977 when I heard someone say "blah  blah  blah...Union, NJ."
I turned around and said "who's from Union?" There was Cooke, after we
exchanged names we found he graduated Union High with my younger
brother and I graduated with his older brother. (His DAD was the
principal of Union High during my time there). An instant bond was
formed. I hung out at the booth many night's with Bob and always felt
special when he would say  "Hi, Bob Cooke....AND FRIENDS...here at
KWFM"  Many, many very good times with him at the station as well as
off work. His death was not only a tragedy for his friends, family and
fellow workers, but a loss for Tucson and beyond.

This has been a very enjoyable trek down memory lane being some 25-30
years ago. If anyone wants to talk about old times, I'd love it.

Mike 

If one radio station ever existed that pushed musical boundaries KWFM
was the ticket to every type of genre. Bob Bish kicked and so did Doug
Jaffe with whom I lived in 1974 at Euclid Terrace Apartments, went to
UofA until 1980, now married with 3 children, my long association with
"electronic" music and those concerts at the Night Train on 4th Avenue,
saw Randy Hansen, The Dregs, Asleep at the Wheel... is owed to the staff
at this remarkable station.
Great I found this website....

Bob Meighan with Norm Pratt and Dick Furlow bring their notable musical
talent to the Calabazas stage at Oracle State Park Saturday for a
twilight performance.  Known for desert rock and ballads the talented
trio will wrap up the 8th annual Fiesta de las Calabazas.  Meighan
became well known in the 70’s and developed a regional reputation
for his original sound.  He’s back and has brought with him two
fine musicians to rouse a crowd and prompt some dancing under the
stars.

For more information contact:
Diamond Jim Hewitt
400-4965
jim@hewitt.name

Geez Louise!!! They just cannot make a Radio Station like KWFM was in
the 70's-some of the 80's.  Bob Cooke was the Greatest!!!!  We had alot
great AM conversation. R.I.P. Mon Ami!!!
Lived in San Francisco in the mid 80's to mid 90's KFOG was like KWFM
but couldn't and never could be like FM in the 70's.
I live in Coastal North County San Diego and we have a cool local
Station called Sets 102,  But I like my music via satellite. Too bad we
cannot "beam" all the Greatness of the 1970's KWFM into  Space and back
to Earth. It's the Back to Earth that hards!!! Thanks to whoever put
this together!!!  My Brother Jim was in a few of those great bands we
had around town back then!!! Adios Muchachos~ Tomas

Wow, I wish I had been in Tucson at the time of this station! My
girlfriend used to work at Shipwreck Kelly's and would watch a band
called "Central Air, of whom she just turned me onto. 

What's the backstory on those guys? What an awesome group! Thanks
again!

Started at the UofA in the fall of 1975. KWFM was my indoctrination to
real rock, reggae, southern rock, and jazz.  Oh yes... Blue Dolfin,
KWFM, Sunday evening jazz show.  Thanks for the website. It brings back
many memories Despite all the partying, I still remember.

My father Mr. Korngold was the founder and owner of KWFM. He started
from the ground up. It was actually named after me when I was a little
girl living in Tucson. My father has recently died, and I came upon
this website, I just want everyone to know, that his entire life he
never stopped talking about KWFM, and we, his children have the
greatest memories of all the station provided us as young kids growing
up....This is my tribute to my dad, who I loved deeply.....

Stumbled into this site following a memory lane trip that started with
looking for WTBS's Night Tracks show back in 1982. That brought
memories of the Rock and Roll Picture Show; I was 15 at the time living
in Nogales Sonora Mexico (60 miles south of Tucson). Me and my brother
had to rig up our TV antenna on the roof (no cable!) to properly get
channel 9... fuzzy and ghosty at best but it was enough: it was the
once hour we could see videos and listen to them in full blast stereo
sound. Stopped to check the personalities names in the site and it was
like seeing old friends... Mike Rapp... Kimberly Craft... Bryan
Miller...

Been working as a Radio Broadcast Engineer since 1987, currently doing
so in New York City for a Financial News AM station. Far cry from the
days when KWFM was a staple in my HS and college years... and the one
station that kept KLPX on its toes :-)

Long live KWFM!

Glad I stumbled on this site. My air name was Rich Kalin. I started out
at KW as a part timer sometime around 1980. Bob Bish showed me the
low-tech board while getting high on a overnight shift! I did weekends
and fill ins for about a year. I left for a brief time to do sales for
an AM Top 40 station in Tucson (KHIT???). I returned to do part time
again (for minimum wage!). Soon after I returned, KWFM was bought out
by a large company. Bob Bish was let go and I replaced him as the
weekday overnight DJ until sometime in 1982. Bob Cooke was the morning
DJ. Great memories from a great station.

An amazing time machine - I can not stop browsing the playlists and
remember the times...

Thanks for this!

Chill

I can't believe I have stumbled upon a website that brings me so close
to an incredibly important and never to be forgotten part of my
history.  I have been looking for ways of staying in contact with so
many of the site's contributers.  Thanks to those of you who have
posted information and thanks for never letting go of the work and
memory of my late husband Bob Cooke.

Watching this site come alive is very exciting.  While I was in Tucson
in February I ran into many people that still have great memories of
KWFM.  I have listened to the tapes from that time and it is amazing
just how good that station sounded.  Holy cow, we knew how to have a
party.  50 ounce pitchers of beer for 92 cents at the Outlaw!  The
people that worked on the air and manager Lee Dombrowski made it click.
 If anything was ever a group effort, KWFM was.  I will be sending all
my memories to Tim to share with others.  There's not too many days
that go by that I don't have a great memory about my time there.  While
listening to the tapes I got chills listening to Bob Cooke and Jim
Owens.  Great friends taken away from us way too early.  They would
love this site.  The KWFM Birthday party at Reid Park, Lee Dombrowski
and I met with Jim Ronstadt who asked us how many people we thought
might show up.  We smiled and said "if we're lucky about 1500 or so." 
Well, 10,000 people showed up and Mr. Ronstadt was not happy with us at
all.  What a blast!  The number of artists that dropped by KWFM studios
to do interviews — the names are many and there was always a "Party
on the Patio"!

My daughter Colby found the web site.  A treat for her to see the old
man in his aviators and his partners with their members only jackets. 
Tell your kids to look at it and respond...

Tim, you have done a great job putting this together.  We need to
recognize the UNSUNG HEROS of KWFM. THE SALES & SUPPORT STAFF.  Back in
the day people like Larry Sotosanti, Lauren, Chris, Julie, Linda, Sue,
Tom, Jennie, Dave, Regina Barndt, Nancy Wilson, (and a ton more that I
can see their faces but can't recall their names) helped PAY THE RENT! 
The owner at the time shall we say was a bit "frugal".  When we needed
something for the station these guys went out and made it happen for
us. We didn't always agree but they loved it as much as we did.

Larry Sotosanti was the original Herb Tarlick (WKRP) — this guy made
sure we all had free pizza and beer trade somewhere.  Larry was the
originator of the "Blues Brothers" look-a-like contest that went on for
weeks and helped us get "off the dime", so to speak.

People like Joe Crystal — not part of our generation but put up with
us — will always be remembered.  (He had a great collection of Bolo
Ties, Mexican Wedding Shirts and Kachina Dolls.)

Then the "BIG GUY" Jim Hardy came along with the corporate strcture
that would eventually put KWFM in the money making column.  We didn't
agree with the structure but we accepted it and he brought the "TEAM"
to the table. Thanks Jim.

Thanks again for the site.  Lets fill it up with memories!  

Jim Ray is my father!  Crazy but true!  Seeing him back before I was
born is nuts!  With the aviators and members only jackets, he was the
badass :)

Tim, Thank you for this history of KWFM. Being a 4th generation native
from Tucson and working there starting in 1982 was an honor.