Rock Radio Scrapbook

Airchecks: 1982

Talent: SHANE
Station: WGR Buffalo, N.Y.
Date: March 13, 1982
Time: 11:51

Live and local. We took that for granted on music radio in the evening and all-night dayparts as late as the 1980s. Even the suggestion that it be done any other way seemed almost sacrilege at the time.

Now of course, live and local talent on the all-night show is the exception, rather than the norm. And it is fast becoming that way for the evening periods. One of the reasons, of course, is economics - it is cheaper to pay a deejay for a 45-minute voicetrack session then for five hours of live radio. Another reason is technology: voicetracking on a computer is a much simpler process compared to the days of reel-to-reel tapes and carts and-or vinyl records. And of course there is an even simpler alternative now that was not available years ago: satellite programming.

Which brings us to this aircheck of Shane on WGR in 1982. When I heard it, I really waxed nostalgic for the days when you could hear LIVE newspeople and LIVE deejays in the evening on all the stations. Just the thought that real people were actually there somehow made the listening experience better.

Hear Shane (and the late John Otto with the news) on WGR in 1982 here.

(The Art Rockwood Collection)

Talent: FRANK BENNY
Station: WGR Buffalo, N.Y.
Date: March 25, 1982
Time: 18:15

A jingle carried on WGR in the late '70s suggested the station gave you "just a little bit more." But it would have been more accurate to stay WGR gave you a LOT more.

There was lots to enjoy on this two-time Billboard Radio Station of the Year. First, there was the great roster of on-air personnel, a mix of seasoned veterans and upcoming stars. Then, there were the jingles, some of the best ever heard in the Buffalo market. And we can't forget the music, an eclectic mix of old and new that was not quite oldies, not quite adult contemporary, not quite easy listening - just a bit of each. Even the signal at 550kc was outstanding with a reach that easily got it into Western New York, Pennsylvania and much of southern Ontario. Arguably, it had the best signal of any Buffalo AM station in Toronto.

WGR's glory years as a MOR/Oldies station ran from the early '70s to the late '80s. During that time, we got to hear the likes of Stan Roberts, George Hamberger and Tom Shannon in mornings, and Larry Anderson, Joe Galuski and Craig Matthews middays. Randy Michaels, Shane, Tom Donahue and Tony Venturoli were among the great nighttime voices, along with legendary talk show host John Otto. Jim Scott and Bob Bayette appeared on overnights. Among the many superb weekend hosts were Jerry Rio and the late Mike Rohzman.

Frank Benny was a constant in afternoon drive throughout much of WGR's music years. Arriving at the station in 1966, he moved from mornings to afternoon drive in 1972. Benny held that shift until departing for mornings at Buffalo's WYRK in 1985 (he was replaced at WGR in afternoons by Chuck Lakefield who later gave way to Shane.)

Enjoy Frank Benny and newsman Don Dussias - both now deceased - on WGR from March 25, 1982 here.

(The Art Rockwood Collection)

Talent: DALE PARKER
Station: CKOC Hamilton, Ont.
Date: April 24, 1982
Time: 3:08

Few stations have played hit music longer than CKOC. The Hamilton, Ont., station was a Top 40 outlet for 34 years, from 1958 until 1992. CKOC then switched to oldies which meant they were still playing the hits, only now they were past hits rather than current ones.

One jock who was with CKOC for much of the Top 40 and oldies era was Dale Parker. Long-time CKOC program director Nevin Grant tells us more:

"(Dale) is a super guy and a true veteran of southern Ontario radio. CKOC was fortunate to garner Dale in the seventies from CKPT Peterborough ... also a Top 40 station in those days. Over his 17 years at CKOC, Dale did everything, from evenings to middays to drive to filling in on mornings. He was an active force in the programming, particularly the music of CKOC when the station moved to the oldies format in early 1992. Dale also worked at CKLH-FM (K-LITE FM) for several years and was involved in music programming there as well. Post-CKOC Dale worked for CKDO Oshawa and was the program director at CKPC Brantford. Dale has always had a passion for hockey and for several years has been the top administrator for amateur hockey in Brantford and environs."

Enjoy Dale Parker on CKOC here.

(The Bill Dulmage Collection)

Talent: KEVIN O'CONNELL
Station: WBEN Buffalo, N.Y.
Date: April 27, 1982
Time: 7:04

Like many a television personality, Kevin O'Connell got his start in radio.

The long-time weather anchor at Buffalo's WGRZ-TV (Channel 2) was a Top 40 jock at WYSL in the '70s, moving to full-service WBEN later in the decade. O'Connell left WBEN in 1982, moving to Los Angeles television at KNBC, later to at KCBS.

O'Connell returned to Buffalo in 1990 to anchor the news at WIVB-TV (Channel 4). He joined WGRZ in 1993.

Winner of three Emmy awards, O'Connell was voted "Top TV Media Personality 2006" in Buffalo Spree Magazine.

Enjoy Kevin O'Connell on WBEN here.

(The Bill Dulmage Collection)

Talent: GLENN WALTERS
Station: CJLB Thunder Bay, Ont.
Date: June 3, 1982
Time: 4:45

(Walters is shown at WBAB - Photo courtesy Rick Hall, wackradio.com)

"Big G" Glenn Walters worked in many markets, big and small. His 40-year career took him to places as diverse as New York, Los Angeles, Honolulu, Toronto, Babylon, N.Y. (see above), and Thunder Bay, Ont.

So how did Walters wind up in Thunder Bay, you ask? Contributor Tish Iceton tells Rock Radio Scrapbook...

"We worked together in Thunder Bay in the 80's. I arrived in July '81, Glenn shortly after. He had been working at KQDS in Duluth and was looking to get back to Ontario because his girlfriend could not work in the States. He got in touch with the GM at CJLB he knew from TO Ray Erickson. Ray was News Director at CKEY in the 70's. Ray was so over the top that he was bringing "The Big G" to Thunder Bay - you have no idea! Glen was hilarious to work with. I was doing afternoon's Glenn was mid-day. He had trouble operating and talking at the same time so that didn't last too long. They then had him doing swing, commercials and voice-tracking the all night show."

By the time he got to Thunder Bay, "Big G" Walters was just known on-air as Glenn Walters (he got the Big G nickname from General Foods, a sponsor of one of his early shows.)

Enjoy Glenn Walters as he lays down some CJLB voicetracks here.

(The Tish Iceton Collection)

Kudos to SOWNY's Craig Smith, who sent us both the aircheck and the pics! Thanks, Craig!

Talent: RUSS THOMPSON
Station: CKFM Toronto
Date: 1982
Time: 10:47

(Logos courtesy Bill Dulmage)

Russ Thompson did the afternoon drive shift in the '70s and '80s at one of Toronto's classiest radio outlets, CKFM. A sample lineup from 1978 has Don Daynard 5:30-10 a.m., Don Cameron 10 a.m.-12 noon, Hour Toronto with Dave Agar noon-1 p.m., Hugh Russell 1-3 p.m., Thompson 3-8 p.m., Carl Banas 8 p.m.-midnight and Peggy Graham midnight-5:30 a.m.

Thanks to Bill Dulmage for this information.

Hear Russ Thompson here.

(The Bill Dulmage Collection)

RETURN TO ROCK RADIO SCRAPBOOK