I was also looking around for Meighan and Riopelle music not too
recently (within past year) and dropped by PDQ records on Grant in
Tucson. Browsing through the old vinyl sections, I found several copies
of their albums; picked out all the ones I was missing. You might have
similar luck at Bookmans too, they have used records. I wish they had
recorded more material.
Good luck,
Francisco

FINALLY ! Some history about one the most influential (and early) Tucson
FM Station!!

Many of the persons mentioned here I've had 
the pleasure of meeting & working with over the 
years in and around Tucson/Southern Arizona radio.

Like Jim Brady, I too hung around the studios from time to time but
alas, I was WAY too young but was 
still Interested.  It's unfortunate that there aren't any air checks to
listen to but . . . the 
voices that made KWFM I can remember like yesterday!! My most sincere
Thanks for your web site, & if by any chance I have ANY air checks in 
my collection, I WILL DEFINATELY pass it on to here!!  

Sincerely,
Frank Luna
Chief Eng.

580 AM, 1210 AM, 1080 AM, 100.3 FM

....thanks for the memories, KWFM RULES!!!

I can remember having an FM converter in my car so as to listen to KWFM
radio. I remember listening to one of the original DJ's, Jim Ray, and
immediately became a loyal listener to KWFM. One of KWFM's main
formats/strengths was to take other cuts/tracks from albumn's and play
them over the Top 40 formats by other stations. I first heard and
listened to Dan Fogelberg on KWFM. Captured Angel. I was hooked. What
memories.  R.I.P. B.C.

KWFM. One of the true original community based radio stations. Real
People, Good music, support of talent and local involvement in the arts
and music scene. A lot of stations now claim to be "Community radio"
when all they are is just a soap box for a political agenda. They need
to take a look at one of the great true community radio stations, KWFM.


I miss KWFM dearly. Times change and when they do some of the best
parts of life become a cherished memory.

Long time listener in the 70's and early 80's.
Now doing Radio at the Burning Man festival.

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

Lived in Tucson 1980 - 82, remember great station highlighted by Bob
Cooke's tribute to John Lennon when he was killed; have two cassettes
of Beatles music thanks to Bob. Sadly we were still there when BC was
taken from us. Still a sad memory to this day. Long live the memory of
KWFM in Tucson and WZMF in Menomonee Falls,WI.

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.

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.

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 worked as an ad sales rep for KWFM from 1983-1985. Won a couple of
Tucson ADDY awards for the the copy I wrote that was produced by the
great air staff of both KWFM and then sister station KCEE-AM.

In 1983-84, I remember assisting our Chief Engineer (I can only recall
his first name was "Bill") with the installation of the new transmitter
and STL on top of the mountain after hours.

Dan Hicks of NBC Sports (Golf, and most recently 2016 Olympic Swimming)
got his start at KW/KC around that time.

Far out, truly wild. Hearing the Beatles ID again brought me back to 19.


Hey - I have HOURS of the Sunday night KWFM Jazz Show on fairly good
stereo 3-1/4 inch tape. How do we upload this analog stuff?

Doug Jaffee's Beatles ID lives!  Tune it at noon Pacific time Saturdays
and Sundays to 97.5 FM in Malibu, or online at kbu.fm or
radiomalibu.net . 

So, AM 1330 has gone dark and with it the KWFM call letters have been
released.   
Somebody, please fix the KWFM Wikipedia page! It doesn't even mention
this giant FM station.

What a trip ... this site takes me back to the Naked Pueblo ... the
Stumble Inn ... halter tops ... the best rock and roll station in the
world right there at 92.9.

I remember getting into an argument with the program director - Guy
Zapoleon, who's now a certified radio genius - when they put KRQQ on
the air.


He said Tucson in 1978 had the lowest FM penetration in the country
because FM was so bad. I argued that it was low because the only rock
station - KWFM- was too good for the masses. 

He looked at me like the populist simpleton that I was.

Hearing the Beatles station ID took me to the back seat of a Datsun
210, waking up one morning in at Gates Pass and listening to the
Beatles during a Tucson sunrise....

Nicely done!

[I have several hours of reel-to-reel tape of the KWFM jazz show -
which I loved - from the late '70s. Pls e-mail me if you want a dub...]

I am very thankful to KWFM for all the great memories especially those
Friday nights out off of Houghton Road in the back of my truck, I can't
remember all the girls names but I can what was on my radio. And then
there was Saturday Nights cruising Speedway, KWFM was a lot more than
just a radio station it was a way of life for many of us. Thank you for
all the great memories.
Harry Gorrell

I'm still a close friend of Jane Snyder and know Perk pretty well.  I
used to hang at KWFM with Janie in the good ole days and remember
several live interviews that took place at the board.  What great
memories.  (I'm not saying anything here Janie!)  It was a tribute to
Jane that years after, when she would visit Tucson and the station
would give her courtesy air time, guys would still send her roses and
chocolates.  We remember her airtime well.  What a good time we all had
in those years.  KWFM was the only radio station worth listening to
then.  I moved here in 1972 and met Janie that first month.  What good
fortune.  Thanks Lee and everyone else for putting this together.  I
look forward to more photos and some stories.

Helen Gaus

I listened to KWFM from the time I was 12 years old (1973).   The
station opened my mind to so many types of music.  It wasn't just rock
being played, but a free, open format.  Bruce Springsteen's version of
"Fever" was a song often played and the one that sticks in my mind as
being an example of the quality of music airing at that time.

Started listening to K-Dub-Ya in 1970 until we got assigned to a base in
Germany in 1972. Came back to go to the U of A in 1973 and this was
STILL the only station in town to listen too.  Spent so many nights in
the design studio at the U listening to K-Dub during all night
charrettes and jamming to artists you’d never hear anywhere else. I
have so many fond memories listening to this station and wish I had
gotten all the playlists thru the 70’s. After leaving Tucson in 1980
I gave up on finding a better station to listen to because where I
landed there were none to be found. I hope folks keep adding to the
playlists because there’s a certain song I’m trying to find but
can’t remember the artist or the songs title.  Thank so much for
providing this web site!

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.

Thanks to my dear friend Lee Dombrowski for e-mailing me this site! I
was happy to be a part of KWFM during the greatest years, and a pioneer
woman jock in the good old days. I will be happy to dig out some old
playlists and send them in...I see you have perhaps the best photo of
me that was ever taken! I keep in touch with Lee and Matty
Siegel...would love to hear from the rest of you. 

I am so sorry to hear about Nina Joy's passing. She was an inspiration
and a role model for me. The world of radio has lost a great one.

The blue glow of my Pioneer receiver in the middle of the night with the
best music ever to come across the airwaves.  Still remember
Springsteen's version of "Fever."  Awesome.  Great site here, thanks.

Since the reunion show Dec. 19, 10, I've made it a habit to listen in on
my youth. Brain theory currently attributes the olfactory wiring across
certain neurocenters to make the scent of a cookie bring us back to a
day in 19-whatever, but I swear, listening to my k-dub on this site
transports me aurally in the same way.
Just the Mark Young Dec. 9 "74 aircheck with Blind Faith's "Can't Find
My Way Home" makes me visualize the Jack in the Box on old Speedway as
I sat talking to the clown ordering a great greasy taco at 1 a.m., on
my way home to Catalina Garden Apts. a couple blocks north at Pima and
Jerry, across from Al-Anon, and 2 Circle K's.
Keep this site up!
And, uh, thanks, man ! 

I remember KWFM as a listener.  I remember how its DJ personalities
molded my and others' exposure and our taste of Rock n' Roll music
while coming of age as a teenager in the late 1970's.  KWFM was an
integral part of the freshman student experience at The University of
Arizona in the late summer of 1978.  Everything felt so new including
what emanated from the stereo speakers in our dormitories, the
fraternity houses and apartment dwellings.

Was it Tucson's "Golden Age of Radio"?  I believe that it was.  KWFM
was one of Tucson's first tenants on the mysterious FM dial, a frontier
that demanded the eclectic and creative.  In the fall of 1978,  KWFM was
voted the 9th best radio station in the country by Rolling Stone
magazine.  KWFM comforted us through the deaths of Keith Moon and John
Lennon.  It introduced Tucson listeners to "Punk" and "New Wave". 
Before cable and before all night local television, KWFM was our
overnight sentinel.

How can one relive the entire KWFM 70's and early 80's?  We must build
a spaceship that can travel faster than radio transmissions.  We must
catch up to all those fleeting signals of the music and the warm voices
in between.


"I like to dream yes, yes, right between my sound machine
On a cloud of sound I drift in the night 
Any place it goes is right 
Goes far, flies near, to the stars away from here"

Desert Dwellers REJOICE!  It's the weekend!

Wow.  What a blast from the past (75-83). Thanks. Anything that's Rock
and Roll, Midnight Album hour.  I STILL haven't found anything that
comes close to KWFM.

I arrived in Tucson in mid-August 1981 as the new General Manager under
the new Sandusky ownership.  Lee Dombrowski stayed on as General Sales
Manager, Jimmy Ray was Program Director, Jim Owens was Production
Director.  It was a "magic" time for me in my 36 year broadcast career
and I reflect on it often.

Thanks for putting it all together.  

WOW, what a cool find. I was a loyal listener from 72 to 79 when I moved
away. I still got that old bummper sticker on my tool box.

In 79 the station was giving away 3 albums if you were the 9th caller,
got the bumper sticker with the albums.

I to was checking the web for following groups: Street Pajama, Chuck
Wagon and the Wheels, Saddle City Band, & The Frank and Woody Show.
Anyone know if you can get their CD's if there are any?

Amazing to see all these pictures of my parents (Jim and Donna). My
father taught me an appreciation for music that fulfills my life to
this day, and by 15 I could convincingly agree why Aja is superior to
Gaucho; however, my father might disagree. He passed in 2001 and he is
missed dearly. I hope these pictures remain up for a long time.

I started listening to KWFM in 1972 as a snot-nosed 12-year-old. It was
a revelation. No hype, album sides, DJs that sounded like real people.
It was like anti-radio. My only complaint is that I once requested
Black Sabbath and was told you had burned all their albums. You
weenies! It was probably Brady I talked to on the phone. Most
memorable: KWFM used to play new albums in their entirety on Sunday
nights. One evening in 1975 I heard Patti Smith's *Horses*. I had never
heard anything like it before (and probably never will again). A sublime
moment.