I so remember and miss the days when radio was good.

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.....

Awesome! :)

What a blast it is to find this site. We moved to Tucson in 1978 and I
soon started working with Fred, Roger and Bill Cashman at Westwood to
put together a new band for the up and coming Street Pajama. I booked
and did sound for what I thought where the best years. Those gig's at
Tequila Mockingbird very cool. I have just spent most of the afternoon
listing to the Central Air Session that was recorded at Westwood for
KWFM. I happened to be in the studio that night. What a great band.
Cherie and I will be in Tucson in a couple of weeks, would be great to
see some of those folks.

Hey Cats and Kitties.  I love this site.  As a former radio personality
in town, I have fond memories of your station, including Sunday night
Jazz.  Tucson needs a full-time jazz station again.  Long live the
"Great American Art Form."!

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. 

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.

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

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 .....

Thank you so much for the great site and time machine back to the great
KWFM and the early 1980s Tucson music scene I loved so much! Dave
LaRussa STILL rocks, and I am still thankful to him for all of his help
as I started in music... Any old Tucson scenesters who remember Jacket
Weather, The Marshmallow Overcoat or any of my other bands please drop
a line! :)

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.

Doug, that "Street" something would be Street Pajama, and you can find a
song by them in the "KWFM On The Air" album, posted on this site under
the "LIVE!" tab.

Hey everybody!  Looks like Jim Ray is coming to town for a visit and
that means KWFM staff reunion!  Mark your calendars for November 6th
and contact me or Margie for the details.  Looking forward to seeing
you all there!

Thanks to Margie Wrye, Cool 1450 and Clear Channel for putting together
the KWFM 2010 Reunion Special.  It was a captivating hour and a half; a
trip down memory lane!  (...if you missed it, you can listen to it at
your leisure here on the tribute website...)

Happy holidays, everyone!

Ahh...Tucson.  I can still remember listening to the great tunes in
Sabino Canyon with the smell of the creosote bushes in full bloom, and
a beer.  Love those days.  Thanks for the walk down memory lane.  Are
there any stations taking the place of this cultural icon?

I remember sometime in 1974 a friend's older brother told us that KWFM
was THE station to listen to, so we did.  I never stopped until I left
Tucson in 1980, but it was one of the things that got me through high
school.  I recall a hilarious pre-concert interview sometime in there
with Frank Zappa (1978?) -- anyway to hear that again?  The station was
better than buying records.

My aunt, Joan Klukas, worked for KWFM around 1982, 1983 timeframe in the
advertising dept.  She brought my 3 brothers and me in for a tour of the
studio on one occasion, where we met DJ Rick Allen, and were given a
Pink Floyd album as a souvenir.  It was a great experience to see where
the rubber met the road.

On a weekend whim I did a search for the Magic Rat, Michael Hester and I
found that you want to find his whereabouts too.  What a perfect time to
have been in radio.  I was up on Swan Road at KIKX in 1975-77.  Michael
let me visit the KW studio's one night during his air shift.  He even
let me do a Beatles segue and KW sounded a little bit TOP 40 there for
a couple tunes.  Good Memories for what I can remember but the feeling
thinking back still makes me shake.  Too Our Perky Sunny Days!  Toodles
Toots.  Thank you for this serendipity happen chance.  Aloha Baby

I grew up in Tucson and in my early years, my station of choice was
KTKT. When Kdub came around, I spent quite some time trying to get an
FM setup in my bedroom in the foothills. When I did, my world changed
and I became engaged in music and new sounds that still engage me
today. I'll always remember placing the white sticker with the yellow
sun all over my parent's house and my Dad going nuts.

I was extremely disappointed when Kdub disappeared in a format change
and I still know the disappointment I had back then. I have since moved
away from Tucson and have been exposed to bigger cities and the radio
they offer, but outside of WXRT here in Chicago, nothing really comes
close. Even XRT doesn't fill the bill, but I know how strongly
listeners in Chicago have felt about this station and I understand. It
just isn't enough for me. As time goes on, I find that I really
appreciate the past and this website is a fine reminder of how
important the past can be. I still remember absolute shock over the
senselessness of Bob Cooke's death. But my other memories are equally
as strong and they remind me of a Tucson I no longer see when I'm
there.

When I visit Tucson today, which I do yearly, I seek out a station that
might take me back, but one never does. Kdub will never be replaced but
if I take time and think back, I can't quite feel those days, but their
presence in me is unmistakable. Thank you for the website and the
jogging of memories.

Hello!

I am the "little sister" that Christy Price referred to in here in the
guest book. 

I wanted to thank you for this very cool web site.  I have had such a
great time listening to the "tune in" portion.   I am just going nuts
over this one.  Takes me back listening to the lost and found animals
and all the great Audio Emporium commercials.  We truly were two of the
most loyal fans and we were so sad when it ended.  Tucson radio has
never been the same.

I just did want to share with you... I found the actual album "Meet
Mississippi Charles Bevel" through Craig Moerer Records By Mail.  I
just received it the other day.  Now, I am totally in heaven.

I also found the original (long) version of Little River Band "It's a
Long Way There" on that site.  Of course, these are not out on CD's --
only vinyl.  Which is totally cool.

All my findings were thanks to your web site.  Looking through the play
lists really helped jog my memory of tunes I had nearly forgotton.  When
I started this mission, I knew I wanted "overheard" by Mississippi
Charles Bevel, however, I had no idea what the name of the album was or
that it was made by A & M--- so, with thanks to your web site, and me
doing more digging...after many years... I FOUND IT.  

You may want to sometime check out that Craig Moerer Records By Mail
web site, they have some very hard to find vinyl.  They may even have
another copy of the "Bevel" :)
 
Just wanted to say "thanks" and share my findings.
 
Sincerely,
Teresa Peterman
Long time fan of KWFM and native Tucsonan

I lived in Tucson from 80 to 95.  KWFM was the only thing I listened to.
 What a treat to stumble on your site!

I was actually trying to find any surviving recordings of Street
Pajama.  Anybody know where I can get any or all of their three
albums??

Thanks! And keep on rockin!

Was a Pills fan and Billy Clone and the Same. What happened to the band
members in The Pills, does anyone know?

Thank you for keeping Bob Cooke's memory alive. I was a teenager and Bob
let me host a 30 minute radio show on Sunday evenings for my JA project.
He was such a cool dude. I was broken when he was murdered.  So many
years later and I still think of him from time to time. He was that
special. We had him for such a short time and he was way ahead of his
time. He would have ended up being one of the greats for sure.

Hello...I lived and loved in the 70's in Tucson and I am searching for
any info on the band.... Air Brothers with Paul, drummer, Chuck Surface
and Donny Roberts, etc......????
What happened to them???
Flash from the past and so many happy memories and the best music
ever!
Suzanne

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 wanted to let everyone know my dad Alvin just pasted away October
21, 2006.  He was very proud of KWFM and it always was a big part of his
life.

Susan 

I was in junior high ( Flowing Wells ) when I tuned in....Lots of great
memories!

Lord have mercy how I miss J.Snyder, Allen Browning, Bill Russle, Jim
Brady, and of course, Lee Dombrowski. Tried to get in touch w/Matt
Segal (rockin' in Bean Town) Broadcast life after KW was brief...about
a year @ KAIR, then into publishing (Sale-O-Gram, Tucson Shopper), I'm
sure the 'Shopper still inundates the Tucson area mail boxes on a
weekly basis. Then on to El Paso for another 'shopper', then to Austin,
TX for still another tree destroying fish-wrap. Lastly came auto sales
with Performance Mazda, Desert Toyota, Dave Aufmuth and a couple
others. Mom's illness brought me to Dayton, OH in 1990, where I've been
stuck ever since. Although I did get to break bread w/ AB and talked w/
Jim Brady. I sure miss the area where a person can breathe air without
having to chew it first. If any of you old KWs from the early-mid 70's
catch this diatribe, it would be more than fantastic to hear from you.
P.S. Whatever happened to Diane and Stan Sloan???

Yeah bro. '72-'77--loved those blinking yellow lights on Speedway,
Broadway, Grant Rd., et al. Loved my days w/AB,JB, Matty, Janie Snyder,
Bill Russell, Lee Dombrowski and the K-Dub fans who supported us thru
the formative years.
God bless, and God rest Mark Young.

Yo Mark...you got me remembering the blinking east-west traffic lights
on 22nd st., Broadway Blvd., Speedway Blvd. Grant Rd., et al.
Sure miss the old K-Dub with AB/JB/Matty/Janie Snyder/Bill Robins/Lee
Dombrowski, so many others, and OF COURSE--the KWFM faithful AND, NEVER
FORGETTING, the businesses putting their hard earned advertising dollars
on K-Dub while we got this puppy in the rating books. For me? '72-'74.
Some of the best times of my life. GOD BLESS MARK YOUNG!!