Airchexx.com » Norfolk/Virginia Beach

Tim Morgan on WKEZ "Keys Country" Yorktown VA | March 1987

Steve West — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 04:01:03 +0000

There’s a reason we don’t do much with country station airchecks – compared with top 40 they are kinda boring, but they are similar in format to AC stations so sometimes its worth it.

Here’s a recording I made while still living in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia. There were, at the time of this recording, three country stations one could pick up in that market. The first, WCMS AM/FM was the heritage country station, having been in the format for over 50 years. Then, there was a fairly new station called Kix 106 (105.9 WSKX) from Suffolk VA, and this one. I liked Keys Country both because it was a BIG signal on 94.1, and I liked the music variety better. I was JUST getting into Country music and discovering all the great music, as Country was moving from the “Urban Cowboy” era to what I’d call the modern Country era. Amazingly, as you listen to this, realize that Garth Brooks, Brooks & Dunn and so many of the staple artists of today’s Country format were just four years away, and listen to how much different the music sounds here than on an aircheck from 1992.

WKEZ lasted into the 90s, then flipped through a number of format changes. It is now WXEZ, an AC station. Check out how relaxed this format is back in ‘87 – no wonder I loved it!

Part 1

Part 2

Tim Morgan on WKEZ “Keys Country” Yorktown VA | March 1987 is a post from: Airchexx.com

Larry Mars on WSKX "Kix 106″ Suffolk VA - Part 1 | March 1987 (46:17)

Steve West — Sun, 06 Mar 2005 05:01:39 +0000

With all the format changes and vast station realignments in the Hampton Roads, VA market since 1987, I thought it appropriate that we take a look at what was then a promising Country station.

Today, it’s known as The Fox, a Classic Rock station. In 1987, this station once using the WTID call letters, had upgraded it’s facilities and got new call letters – WSKX. This aircheck is from a short three-year time period when they had those call letters. It would end in 1989, when the station flipped to CR.

In the Fall of 2004, we posted (or, re-posted, since they were part of the original archives) some other Tidewater area airchecks: WGH from 1976 and 1987. Now we have another station which made it’s mark in America’s Navy capital.

I recorded this myself around the same time of the WGH-FM airchecks. Listen – Country was in transition from the Outlaws & Urban Cowboy era to what it would become when Garth Brooks first hit the scene some five years later… WSKX could have been a huge winner – but like so many other stations, jumped off the train just as it was leaving the station.

I think you’ll really enjoy this, a country aircheck. For 1987, boy did this station sound GOOD!

Click HERE to Listen!

Larry Mars on WSKX “Kix 106″ Suffolk VA – Part 1 | March 1987 (46:17) is a post from: Airchexx.com

WGH 1310 Norfolk | December, 1969 (10:08) Scoped

Steve West — Sun, 05 Dec 2004 19:14:44 +0000

Here’s a short scope of WGH 1310 Norfolk. We posted another ‘check several weeks ago from 1978, and one earlier from 1987. There are many fans out there who remember WGH from the 60s. Here’s your treat.

This aircheck features the reverb, PAMS jingles and personality most people remember.

Click HERE to Listen!

WGH 1310 Norfolk | December, 1969 (10:08) Scoped is a post from: Airchexx.com

M.J. Kelli on WGH-FM 97-Star Newport News | 1987 (12:55) Scoped

Steve West — Thu, 21 Oct 2004 20:06:27 +0000

Compare this with the WGH 1310 1978 aircheck and see what a difference 9 years makes! At this point in time, 97.3 had returned to the WGH-FM calls and was doing real, hot CHR. M.J. Kelli was at this point, running the tightest night show I ever heard!

Click HERE to Listen!

M.J. Kelli on WGH-FM 97-Star Newport News | 1987 (12:55) Scoped is a post from: Airchexx.com

Bob Canada and Rob Wayne on 1310 WGH Norfolk | 1978 (30:28) Scoped

Steve West — Thu, 21 Oct 2004 19:46:06 +0000

Remember when we put this online? Lets refresh your memory. WGH 1310 was the top rated station in Hampton Roads VA. Times were much different back then. You won’t notice many jingles on this aircheck, but you will hear the dry humor of Bob Canada, the “Bright Side Of Radio”, and even a few dead segues. Music is all over the road, but definitely top 40, just like it should be in 1978.

In the 80s, the AM would change call letters to WNSY, then back to WGH, while the FM would go between WNSY, WRSR, then in 1986, finally back to WGH-FM. It would remain a high rated (and darn good) CHR from ‘86 till ‘92 when in was blown up and flipped to Country. Today, WGH-FM is Eagle 97.3, and the AM side is sports. Both are owned by Barnstable’s Norfolk Radio Group.

Click HERE to Listen!

Bob Canada and Rob Wayne on 1310 WGH Norfolk | 1978 (30:28) Scoped is a post from: Airchexx.com