For many years, after finding its own identity, WKBW would be the dominant radio voice for teenagers and their music. Some of the better know DJs that got air time on KB read like a broadcasting Who’s Who. A partial list of the on air staff was Perry Allen, Russ “The Moose” Syracuse, Johnny Barrett, Art Roberts, Dick Biondi, “Jungle” Jay Nelson, Jim Taylor, Tom Shannon, Ted Hackett, Bob Diamond, Rod Roddy, Jeff Kaye, Tom Saunders, Gene Nelson, Sandy Beach, Doug James, Joey Reynolds (twice), Fred Klestine, Stan Roberts and Shane. After a bumpy start, Dan Neaverth would take the record for the longest running on air show. The Janitor and Frank Jolly hold the record for the shortest employment at KB. Their tenure was measured in weeks. There also was an early morning show called “The Farm And Home Show,” hosted by Don Keller.
Click to hear music memories on WKBW Radio!
Oldies!
Doo-Wop!
Motown!
Much later, during a listener shift to FM radio, WKBW would self destruct by simply bad format changes. Also evident was a lack of ample time for any format to take hold. KB even tried an AM Stereo format. The all-powerful KB is now a vast wasteland. Channel 7 was sold and with the decision to keep the WKBW-TV identity, WKBW radio had to change call letters that it had since going on the air. This was yet another blow to its image. In order to maintain the ever popular “KB” slogan, it became known as WWKB.
AM radio in general was reduced to as many talk shows as the dial could absorb. There was 24 hours of news on one station. That did not make it. An oldies format with local ties failed. The same station, impatient with success, went oldies with a satellite feed and gave up. A business format was used with little success. Ironically, some stations are using ethic programming to simply reach an audience. And the list went on. The AM dial fell to the dominance of the new FM radio stations. Better sound quality with musical formats being offered for any taste of music. Gone are the great radio station owners, the independents. Gone are the dynamic radio announcers, the disc jockeys. Gone are the great radio jingles, their identities. Maybe it comes with the age of the listener. It’s not the same.
Excerpts from an article "WBNY-AM, Forgotten Pioneer" by Bob Skurzewski (used with permission.) Would you like to receive Bob's "Buffalo, New York And Other Stuff!" newsletter? Click here: [email protected]