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

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

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

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

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 :)

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

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!!

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.

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. 

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!!!

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

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! 

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.

John Shook where are you?

D

I remember sitting in my parent's house late at night watching channel 9
with my Walkman tuned to 92.1.  Rock 'n Roll picture show was awesome!

Just stumbled on your site. What a trip down memory lane. I was born and
raised in Tucson and was a disco hater from the get go. My wife of 28
years still remembers me listening to kw back then. I had forgotten
about the Dixie Dregs. Got to go find my cassette. Thanks again.

Found this while searching for MODA Mud Wrestling. I had no idea the KW
was still online! HAHA! I just read the blurs, and I wrote it!!
HAHAHA!!! No one answered the question tho'. I believe it was 1980, but
I need the exact date for a video I am making of the Night Train/ PM Mag
show. I guess locals all know that Martha was fired last year from KVOA
for shop-lifting (like they don't pay her enough!!).

I worked 'with' KWFM from 1979-1982, videotaping their events, including
the Westwood Studios Homegrown stuff, the 9th and 10th anniversaries,
the MODA- Choo-Choos, Mud Wrestling event (I was the photographer for
all MODA events). I will be posting the KVOA PM Magazine segment on
Vimeo and will post a link when it is ready. It is about all that
survives on tape, now digitized. I have the Central Air tape, but it is
so bad it would take years to clean it up, but copies were made for the
entire band and Jim Ray, so someone should have a copy! Whoever
monitors this site, please contact me. Wish I would have known about
the 40th event, I would love to have seen the old gang again. BTW, you
have Margie Wrye's name spelled wrong throughout this entire site.
'Rye' is a drink, not  a DJ! ;-) LOL!!

I had the privilege of working with KWFM in the glory days of Tucson
radio.

As Opti-Graphics Visual Productions I was tasked to videotape KWFM
music events, like the recordings of the Westwood Studios live
Homegrown Hour sessions, with Central Air, Bob Meighan (sp), Dusty
Chaps, Jerry Rhiopelle and others.

I also taped the fabulous KWFM 10th Anniversary bash at Old Tucson
studios.

Working with the FM greats like Jim Ray, Lee Dombrowski (GM) and 'The
famous Jim Brady'. We had some cool 'parties' too!! (sniff! ;-)

Anybody remember Mud Wrestling with MODA? Remember that? Choo-Choos? It
was on 'PM MAGAZINE' with Martha Vasquez, sponsored by KWFM!

Tucson is not the same without this station and these talented people.
I would love to find some of the albums that were created during these
sessions, and if anyone has a setlist for the KWFM 10th Anniversary
bash, I'd love to have it!

There was a local band, very talented, with a very HOT female lead
singer... what was her name?? The band was 'Street' something..,. GAWD,
I hate getting OLD!! Help me out here folks!

Used to hang around with Dave Gordon  in the mid-70s. Left town in '77
to report for daily newspapers. Retired  in 2013  and moved back to
Tucson. Would love to track Dave down. Anyone know where he is?

KWFM was the ONLY station my big brother and I ever listened to in the
'70's and early 80's.  It was the greatest, and this web site has
brought back great memories of the station.  I remember one of the DJ's
doing a special segment where a disco record would be "put on trial"
(played) and then destroyed.  Would LOVE to hear that again!

Thanks for the memories,

Eric.

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.

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

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