The “New” F-105 wasn’t new, but the branding was for one of Boston’s first FM Top 40 stations. WVBF (which stood for the owner’s wife’s name, Virginia Brown Fairbanks) had been rocking since the early ’70s, but when the Disco craze took hold in late ’77, the station also took on a new monniker: F-105.
Here’s one of our all-time favorites, JoJo Kincaid (KKLQ, WEGQ, WXKS-FM) as heard a few day’s before St. Patrick’s Day. Now, St. Patty’s day in Boston literally MEANS beer! And F-105 will be part of the celebration over the coming weekend. At least that’s what they’re promoting.
One thing that’s apparent as I edited this, Fairbanks apparently had deep pockets. WVBF is constantly contesting. Commercial free hours are worth money – here, Kincaid does one worth $3.00 a minute. Listeners have to calculate how many minutes went by before a commercial, and at the start of the hour, he gives out the exact time. WVBF is giving away tons of albums. The “Album Rush” was a big hit on F-105 – three consecutive callers are given whatever the album is for that particular hour. Also, the station is, in this recording, going to be in South Boston for St. Patty’s day… and anyone holding a hand made sign with WVBF on it (and is seen by someone from WVBF) gets money.
What people not familiar with WVBF don’t hear, are the many talented jocks. JoJo Kincaid was but one of dozens of incredible voices that graced the airwaves on this station. At the time of this recording, Dale Dorman (WXKS-FM, WRKO, WODS) was doing mornings. Mighty Mike Osborne was another legendary voice from this time period, along with Mike Demambro.
The energy and promotions would continue at this level through much of 1979, until the disco craze faded, along with this incredible format – as WVBF would slowly morph into a sleepy AC called “FM 105”, which literally did put listeners to sleep and elsewhere on the dial in early 1981. But here, in March of ’79… this was the best that WVBF EVER sounded.
A level of excitement on the radio that no longer exists- Perhaps the Internet and MP3 players changed everyting. But more likely its a result of shitty corporate conglomerates and poor managment that resulted in the shambles the industry is in today.
He hits the laugh on ‘Roxanne’. Damned tricky post to hit!