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 

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.

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.

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

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/

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

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.

I was there in The Air Brothers.

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.

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

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.

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.

I lived in Tucson from '72-'80 and have fond memories of KWFM. It was a
great part of the music scene in those days, truly a great station. Of
course Janie was my favorite DJ!! Thanks for this site, it's great to
see so many people supporting it! 

I just listened to an old tape I found of the KWFM Jazz Show with Chris
Ryan!  Sure brings back memories and it was so nice to hear Chris'
voice again.  I miss those days.  IMO, the Sunday night Jazz Show was
absolutely the best part of KWFM.  Hope Chris is doing well.  

Hi Everybody! Just wanted to share some exciting news with you. Soosie
and I are in the process of re-locating to San Diego. After 30
wonderful years in Arizona I have landed a job with Jefferson-Pilot
Communications as Director of Engineering for their cluster of stations
here. KBZT is radio without borders and of course KSON is the heritage
Country station here. Also there is KiFM smooth jazz to watch the sun
set over the ocean. J-P isn't corporate radio like most groups. I'm
really lucky to be able to contribute to the accomplishments of so many
fine folks here. And hey,no more hot summers! What a great bonus. Surf's
up...

Hello friends! It's been so quiet on this site for over a year! Figured
it's time to post something. My radio job here evaporated at the end of
September, so I am between opportunities as it were.

We are finally going to get some much needed rain here in SoCal.

Hope you all have a pleasant Thanksgiving, 2008, and here's looking
forward to the new administration in Washington.

All the best,

Eric

P.S.: Look me up on Facebook if the mood strikes you.

Nice site. I appreciate the historical significance of such sites,
especially with regards to the evolution and current state of radio
today. Indeed, kwfm was born in the true spirit of radio, a rarity
today outside of free-form college and pirate broadcasts. kwfm's
influence on myself and friends who grew up to be musicians was
invaluable. To this day i miss the old FM delivery, typified by voices
like Bob Bish (when I hear todays "radio personalities", zingers, and
obnoxious production thats when I reach for my revolver). It was my
observation that the station changed pretty heavily after about
1977-78, playing more toward standard hit formats. Its interesting to
me to read others' comments that post-1978 could be considered "the
golden age" of kwfm (I wouldve considered 1970-76 the golden age of FM
in general). Unfortunately my interest in commercial radio waned around
the time time krq and klpx appeared (78?) as the competition seemed to
breed less creative air programming (and my music tastes went
underground where they've remained ever since). But thats just me. 
Thanks for a wonderful site. And thanks for having a hand in the
evolution of radio. kwfm was great (especially the jerry's audio "album
of the week" on weds nights where you would even give us time to cue up
our cassette recorders! boy, try that in today's ridiculous anti-music
sharing corporate atmosphere).

Bill Cuevas

p.s. and for those of you "longing for the past", good radio is far
from dead. In fact, webstreaming makes it easier to access than ever.
Check the streams of wfmu, kzsu, wnyu, kfjc, kexp, wkcr and others.

I went to high school in Tucson 79-83 & still remember this as one of
the best radio stations EVER! I've worked in the music biz for 20 years
& the world is a better place because of KWFM! Thanks for all the great
music & memories! Cheers

John Shook where are you?

D

Wendy Korngold was a member of my age group swim team in the 70's. On
occasion, she'd show up for practice and say "Coach, do you want a
couple of tickets to the Rolling Stones concert?" 

Wendy, I still owe ya!!! Your family's radio station was one of the
best 'back in the day.' 

The spirit lives on with KPIG in San Fracisco...there are still a few
of 'em out there. 

was norm flint, KWFM's GM in 1970, the producer of a garage band in
Monterey, CA in 1967, called The Rock Shop? I just found their only
song "Is That Your Halo?" on Fuzz, Flaykes, and Shakes Vol. 4 on a CD
produced in Germany. The Norm Flint I know was also a DJ from KMBY 1240
AM before being the producer of the Rock Shop. Great song!

I grew up on KWFM ..... Nothing like growing up at the base of the Santa
Catalinas with the warm winds blowin' and Steely Dan, Bad Company and
Santana pumpin' thru on the old Kenwood.  Beautiful .....

Hi Tim,
I'll scan some 8x10 promo photos I have of Bob Cooke and send them to
you. Thanks for putting together the web site.

Cheers,

Eric Schecter
a.k.a Eric Spector
KWFM 1977-1980 or so.

Hey all, Just wanted to let you know that I'm back in AZ now for about a
year and a half. The San Diego gig went bust after 4 years, and I was
lucky to get my old job back with CBS Radio and be re-united with some
old friends. If you happen by, say hi.

Adios!

Bill,
I had dinner with Nina Joy many years (10?) ago. She was out of the
radio biz and working for American Express at the time. Lost track of
her after that.
I gave her a tape of the Open Forum Program the day after Bill Compon
passed away. E-mail me if you want a copy.
Eric

Sad to report the recent passing of the lovely and talented Nina Joy.
Danny Zelisko sent out the news on 11/29:2015. RIP Nina

Looking for Gene/Bill Thayer. Back in my Navy days I was a submarine
sailor stationed in Honolulu, and was the "Ship's Entertainment Petty
Officer".

KPOI was very generous in that they allowed me use of their library and
recording facilities in order to make music tapes for the submarine's
crew music system.

While making a tape one night I encountered Gene Thayer, one of the
"Popular" ones, who allowed me to make copies of some Halloween class
Spooky Tapes made by Gene and Michael Guinn, another KPOI Jock.

Several years ago I found the tapes in my collection of Navy Days
Stuff, and took the time to do some editing and splicing and what have
you and laid the tapes to CD. I wonder if Mr. Thayer or Mr. Guinn would
be interested in a copy of the CD?

The names of the stories are "How I Found Count Dracula" and "The
Monster's Thoughts".

They are both excellent examples of classic radio drama production
work, with cool sound effects and piles of tongue in cheek humor.

Should anyone know them or their whereabouts, please have them contact
me. Halloween is about upon us and I think they would relish some of
their younger days efforts.

Thanks in advance to anyone who could clue them in and/or contact me
via e-mail, and we can go from there.

E-mail is w7tty@centurylink.net

Regards to all,

George Hutchison - Sequim, Washington