Memphis Composite - WHBQ, WMPS, Others | September 2, 1972
Well… Look what we found lurking on the back of a KLIF tape… Dueling Top 40 stations 56 WHBQ (RKO General) and 68 WMPS (Plough)!
Imagine the surprise hearing this tape. Rob Grayson, where are ya! This is from before the Memphis appearance of Rick Dees, before FM 100 was Top 40… even before FM was even popular!
Regardless of how good these stations sound here, the number one station hands down in the city was neither. It was the Soul station, WDIA 1070. And the Memphis sound sure is heard all over this aircheck. Take a listen and go back to a more troubled time, almost 34 years ago!
Was it really that long?
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(2 votes, average: 5 out of 5)
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Great treat to hear radio from the era that made me want to be in radio. Where was I? In September ‘72, I was going into the 10th grade in Greenville, MS, but listening to these very stations. By August ‘76, (by the grace of God) I was in Memphis, on the air at WHBQ!
Steve, I am still searching for stuff from MPS from 73 to 77….Dan
I wanted to add that I sure enjoyed this aircheck though….thanks. Hope all is well with you.
It was great to hear the air checks from way back when. In September 1972 I was a part time transmitter engineer at WMPS’s transmitter plant on Benjestown Road in Fraser, where Harry Simpson was the night announcer. The monitor speaker at the transmitter was set up to switch back and forth between the AM and the FM every 10 seconds. Imagine 10 seconds rock then 10 seconds classical then repeat. All day and all night until FM signed off. It messed with your head . . .
Sounded like pure 1972 radio. Recognized the music of the era, easily plus Memphis radio market sounded very professional and good. Enjoyed listening to this aircheck. Go Memphis!!!
Johnny Driscoll on WHBQ. I worked with him in Miami at WMYQ. His name there was Bob Shannon (not the same as the one in NYC). Then he went to WCFL as Johnny Driscoll.