Contributor Rob Grayson is understandably proud to say he was part of Cecil Heftel’s WKTQ Pittsburgh. Known as 13Q, a Top 40 powerhouse created by Buzz Bennett, this station was a major force in the market through much of the 1970s. Here’s what the airstaff of 13Q looked like during the station’s golden years. (Courtesy of Jeff Roteman’s 13Q Tribute website)
This is so tightly scoped down you have to listen closely or you’ll miss something. You have to admit, from what you hear of the playlist, 13Q was a real Rocker! From Abba to Kansas and everything in between, the station was exciting to listen to!
Here’s a lesson in how to do Top 40 radio the right way!
13 Q had great energy.
I was intrigued that Bennet would use the “Q” moniker, considering there was already a heritage station called KQV.
…and without any jingles or sweepers. Top-hour ID done live, dry newscast in-and-out; this was a very bare-bones approach! The jock and the music are pretty much all that keep it cooking!
What is humorous to me is that I never thought about the fact that we didn’t have jingles until, literally, decades later. I guess there was so much going on that I didn’t notice.
Eric Chase did the shift before me, and produced the Beatles Away With Words promo in the middle of the aircheck. My current station subscribes to his promo service Chase Cuts Country.
I was surprised to hear Sharon Kennedy’s voice! I worked with her at WFFM but never knew she worked at 13Q. Nice lady.
Most people don’t know this, but before 13Q, the big top 40 station in Pittsburgh was KQV; in fact 13Q was responsible in large part for KQV’s becoming an all-news station. 13Q came into existence in March of ’73: they kept the WJAS calls for a short time, then became WKPQ. In early ’74, KQV became 14K Music Radio, but that went over about like the proverbial lead balloon. Anyway, by about ’76 or ’77, WPEZ-FM dethroned 13Q.
I had a bunch of radio specials on the Beatles recorded on cassette tape from early 1980s I wish I still had. just recently tossed them out like a fool.