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.

What a pleasure it was to learn of this site!  Remember the daizz of
KWFM well, miss em a lot!  Thanks to John Jolly for sending this my
way! 

I worked with Lou and Norm in Tucson in 1977. Remember Westad
advertising and our campaign for Robert Royal for mayor. 
I remember our fun in San Diego when you were with Marty. We went to
Tucson to do a  commercial with James Kahn. 
Nice to catch up and remember
Sincerely, david gentner

It was odd that I was thinking back to the times when I lived in the
barrecks in 73 and 74 at DM. My first exposure to FM radio...and a lot
of other things. It would be great to find some old faces..Anyhow..KWFM
was a great source of entertainment back in the day!!!

Wow.

Tripped across your site. It brought back many memories of a Tucson
lost to me, where I whiled away the better part of my youth and all my
best memories remain.

My family had moved to the area in 1969, and I was always a faithful
listener until I left in 1996, in spite of the changes the station had
undergone. 

The classic KWFM logo on this site wrenched the heart and revived old
memories for me. The earler yellow-sun and earlier logos would display
nicely alongside, don't you think...?

Thanks for the site. You have no idea.    

You guys REALLY need merchandise! T-shirts and bumper stickers; it's
been years since I've driven a car with a KWFM bumper sticker... it
just hasn't felt right since. 

I thought I'd been taken back to Washington, D.C., when I first heard
Bob Cooke on KW. He reminded me of Cerph, an amazing radio talent at an
amazing station back in DC's Maryland suburbs (WHFS-FM in "Beth -ezzzzz-
daah" Maryland.) He even sounded like Cerph. And, like Cerph, Cooke cost
me a hell of a lot of money. I'd listen to his show and just have to buy
a new "album," something I'd just heard on his show.

Of course, he wasn't the only talent on KW. I just connected more with
him because he reminded me of Cerph and WHFS. The KW staff was
amazing.

I don't want to be an old fart, but I truly feel bad for my kids and
the other younger people who never got to experience radio "made" by
people with great ears and not some tin-eared MBA with software and a
pile of data. Don't get me started.

I'm thinking if Global Warming raises sea level enough the KW survivors
can set up a pirate radio station in the deep water just outside the Ajo
Reef in the Dire Straits of Bob Cooke. Maybe we can hire Margie as
Captain of Music. And yes, there should be plank walking and keel
hauling every afternoon during drive time. Request lines will be open.

Just came across your Bob Cooke tribute page. Man I still miss that guy,
talk about the day the music died! Thank you for this site and for not
turning your back on Tucson's true rock heritage. For those of you who
never had a chance to tune into the greatest rock station that the west
will ever have sorry you missed it!!

Just heard the awful new that "Doc" Dennis Alvord passed away today in
Texas.

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 :)

Bill Cashman (producer of the ON THE AIR) album told me about this site
and I'm sure glad... it's disturbing how much I'd forgotten, but this
site refreshes the memory! The names, images, playlists... the whole
era was a hoot and a half! How cool it was that one station would play
Alice Cooper and Pure Prairie League then John Couger and then Charlie
Daniels in the same hour..... that does'nt happen much anymore..... and
bless everyone at KWFM for the way they supported the local
musicians...... and to all who experienced the CHOO CHOO's, STUMBLE INN
era, isn't it nice to still be alive!!! 

new e-mail and website ....stop by sometime

Hello All; what a welcome site to see the call letters KWFM. My little
sister and I grew up in Tucson, rockin' to KWFM during the 70's, This
was the best station going. My little sister found your site, then
shared with me where you were on the web. We were also able to find an
artist that we have not been able to find anywhere else, by searching
thru your archives. Lo and Behold, we found the album by Mississippi
Charles Bevel, song title "Overheard" in Portland, Oregon and it is on
the way to our hot little hands.

It was great seeing all the DJ's and some of the old local bands names,
Dusty Chaps, Street Pajama. The old Stumble Inn, Choo Choo's, Ox Bow.
Great Stuff. My sister and I will spend hours on your site remembering
days gone by and songs that will never leave the heart.

Thanks for all your hard work, Christy

Christy Price
Tucson, Arizona

Wow!  This site is soooo freakin'cool!  Hearing those old Bob Cooke
airchecks brought tears to my eyes.  Thank you for doing such a
wonderful job of preserving the memory of this great station!  

Chris Wagganer

P.S. Keep an eye out for "High and Dry" the documentary which I
co-produced about the Tucson Music scene which features interviews with
Dave LaRussa and other Tucson air personalities.  

You can get more info at www.highanddrymovie.com

Wow...what a tribute to a great time in our lives, both as professionals
working in radio, but more importantly, as people who LOVE MUSIC!  Those
were the days when DJs were creative, when we could meet to discuss what
songs on a record would be best to play. No computers.  No consultants. 
OLD SCHOOL BABY!  Thank you for putting this site up, and I will be
making audio and video available.  Remember the Frank Zappa interview? 
I've got it on tape! KWFM rocks Tucson...my first radio gig and a great
place to cut my teeth.
Chris Ryan
KWFM DJ 1980-1987

It's so gratifying that this music and time in our lives will live on -
captured here. And what a treat to read notes from fans of the old
K-dub. That was a magic time. Thanks to Dave LaRussa and all who
contribute to make this site possible. 

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

Hello To All Old Friends From Tucson.

I was there in The Air Brothers.

Kelly-
You're absolutely right.
I too remember some of those days.
(Before shit got weird)
Wonderful memories tho.
Signed- A fellow stoner

P.S.__ I believe one of the first engineers KWFM had now owns a few
radio stations around these parts -
www.kcdx.com for inquiring minds.

I was looking for Margie Rye and found your website...  My sister Toni
Nichols worked in the offices of KWFM until her death nearly three
years ago... the names I saw here were familiar from hearing her talk
about you all like "family"... I love Tucson, and still hope to move
back there one day...

Truly a great station! Remembering staying in the car - even after
arriving at your destination- to finish listening to Hey Jude or Layla-
played in their entirety, of course. Miss hearing all kinds of music and
great DJs.

In 1981 or 82 KWFM partnered with the U of A Flandrau Planetarium to
present "Cosmic Radiance" the first locally produced full-featured
laser light show ever done there. 

The show opening was a panorama of the Tucson skyline with an orange
setting sun, under which the KWFM logo letters faded in. The sun set as
the panorama faded out and then the letters faded out as the music
started. 

I remember going to the KWFM studios every week with an arm-load of LPs
to trade for the LPs for the featured artist for that week's show. We
mixed the show in a small studio in a converted closet covered in
carpet by the planetarium loading dock then took the tape into the
theater to add the visual effects.

I can still see the images from 'Dark Side of the Moon' in my minds
eye. (We certainly played that show a lot!) One of the best points of
my life.

Thanks for this web site's trip down memory lane.

It was so much fun photographing the crew throughout the years. KWFM was
my favorite station. Miss all of you.

Holy smokes! I was there for the Lee Dombrowski, Jim Hardy, Nancy
Wilson, Jim Ray days. And I worked with lots of the alumni at KTKT/KLPX
too. I went to Denver with Hardy and later Lee then moved east to Prov.
RI market. I saw Hardy in San Francisco about 15 years ago. We had a
great visit. And where's Kimberly Craft? I saw her in Boston in the
80's. I'm practicing law now but KWFM has my fondest of memories.

Great site. This brings back a lot of memories for me from the mid-70's.
I was actually googling for some info on Street Pajama when I found this
related site.

My start was at Chicago's WYEN in 1973. I'm still on the air at WKOA
Lafayette In. Several of our personalities have spent time in Tuson.
I'm glad you have kept the memories alive. 

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

It is with deep regret I sadly post the passing of Margie Rye (Wrye).
She was on of the KWFM originals. Sadly she passed away yesterday
December 14, 2017. I do not know the cause yet. I a hoping you can
setup some sort of tribute for her on this website. If you need to
contact me, you have my email. 

On the air I was Bob Allen. KWFM introduced me to Spanish language radio
through it's sister station KEVT where I also worked (in Spanish). Some
time later after working in both languages I went to Spanish in both
Tucson & Phoenix full time where I spent 40 years.