WKOX-FM was a radio station that was way before it’s time. Originally a Classical music station, WKOX-FM was the FM side of WKOX (AM), then on 1190. In time, WKOX (AM) would move to 1200 and become “Metro West” radio, serving the city of Framingham and the western suburbs of Boston with a full-service format. The FM side broke away from its Classical format and launched a full-out Top 40 format called “The 105 Sound”, right about when this aircheck was recorded. In fact, its possible, although I have no facts to back it up, but this may have been recorded on the first night of the new WKOX-FM format. Which would make sense, if one wanted to preserve an historic event like this.
Very few FM stations tried commercial formats in the 1960s and it would be a few more years before the popularity of such FM powerhouses such as WBCN, WCOZ and WROR would come into being. Fairbanks Communications purchased 105.7 in July of 1971, and changed the call letters to WVBF (standing for owner Richard Fairbanks’ wife’s name, Virginia Brown Fairbanks), and the format then moved to a Top 40-Rock hybrid.
This represents an historic period of time when the original WKOX-FM did Top 40, and obviously with some success. We have no idea what became of Jim Conley or who recorded the station’s jingle package, but those in the know are invited to comment below.
Aircheck courtesy of Robyn Watts
Sounds like he belongs in Bangor, nothing against Bangor . This is the Greater BOSTON Market ??
No, it wasn’t part of the Boston market back then, nor do I believe it was part of the Worcester Mass market. It was in between the two and later, in the WVBF days, moved into Boston studios and moved the transmitter onto a much bigger tower where the Boston FM’s lived.
Wasn’t there a guy named Conley..or Conlee…that was the Operations Manager into the early to mid 80’s? Is this the same dude?
I remember hearing this guy on WKOX-FM….which was a great FM Top 40 station from January, 1969-July, 1971….when it became WVBF….Jim Conlee moved over to my local (at the time) Top 40 station….WEIM 1280-Fitchburg….later in 1969…and remained there for a year or so…WEIM was a great small market Top 40 station at the time! A quick search shows that Jim Conlee is still at it….Doing mornings at WBBT…a suburban Oldies station near Richmond, Va…
Rock on FM was definitely taking off in a big way in Boston….in early 1969….Aside from WKOX-FM….98.5-WROR was running Hit Parade ’69….An automated mix of Top 40 and Oldies…103.3-WEEI-FM was doing “The Young Sound”….an automated Top40/AOR hybrid…104.1-WBCN of course was live full time Progressive Rock….and 94.5-WHDH-FM was full time automated Progressive Rock….
This was my very first paid gig in radio while a student at Emerson College. It’s one for my scrapbook. From here I went to WSAR, Fall River, WEIM, Fitchburg, WXYZ, Pittsburgh, WIXY, Cleveland, WGH, Norfolk, KAUM, Houston, Ten-Q, LA – as PD, KHTZ, as PD, KODA, Houston, KLTR, Houston, KQXT, San Antonio, WLTJ, Pittsburgh, and now – as OM – WBBT-FM, Richmond. (Whew!!!!)
YES! KODA rocked (or ‘jazzed’ as it were after I got hold of the music!) 🙂
The jingles are TM..they were done at the same time the Design 72 stuff for WKOX AM..1190
The time counter is not working as of today. This is on all airchecks I have viewed. My browser is currently updated.
Brian, we had an audio server issue at the time. It has been resolved.