Rock Radio Scrapbook

Almanac

JANUARY

1 - WHLD-FM Niagara Falls, N.Y. signs on. Later became WZIR in 1980, WRXT in 1984 and WKSE in 1985.

1 - Roby Yonge's first show on WABC. (1968)

1 - In a move which amazed many radio people, 97 Rock in Buffalo disappeared (to become light rock WRLT). And WGR switched to a personality-downplayed format middle of the road format with the positioner "The Switch is On." 97 Rock eventually returned, and WGR-AM was all talk by the early '90s. (1985)

2 - Bob Smith, later known as Wolfman Jack, is born in New York. (1938)

2 - KFWB Los Angeles becomes "Color Radio", as Chuck Blore introduces one of radio's earliest Top 40 formats. (1958)

2 - CKFH Toronto switches to rock format. It was the first rock competitor to CHUM since CKEY went MOR in 1965. (1967)

3 - WKBW Buffalo call letters change to WWKB (1986)

4 - Long-time CHUM-AM and FM deejay and newsman Larry Wilson dies. (1997)

9 - Mike Rohzman, WGR-AM traffic reporter, killed in helicopter accident.

9 - CHUM-AM morning team of Bob Magee, Samantha Houston and Robbie Evans fired. (1997)

9 - Farewell show for Robert W. Morgan at K-EARTH. (1998)

10 - Jack L. Cooper, the first black deejay, dies at age 81. (1970)

13 - In an ill-fated move, CHLO London, Ont., moves from 680 to 1570 and a southwestern Ontario legend ends. (1970)

13 - Bob Lewis, WABC deejay who was later a progressive rock pioneer, dies at age 49. (1987)

14-15 - Alan Freed's first New York dance concert in New York is presented - trouble-free - at the Saint Nicolas Arena in Manhattan. The "Rock 'N' Roll Show" draws 16,000.

14 - Dan Ingram does first show at WKTU-FM New York. (1985)

17 - Chicago legend Joel Sebastian dies. (1986)

18 - "The Disc Jockey Kangaroo" replaces "Clementine - The Disc Jockey Cat " on the cover of the CHUM Chart. (1960)

19 - Bob Wells "Hi-Teen" broadcast debuts on WEBR Buffalo. (1946)

19 - Canadian radio legend Norman B. dies at age 53. (1997)

20 - Peter Tripp begins 201-hour, 10-minute on-air marathon on WMGM, signing off with 'I've Had It' by the Bell Notes. (1959)

22 - Alan Freed dies at age 52. (1965)

27 - Scott Shannon's last day at WHTZ New York. (1989)

31 - KHJ signs off as a top 40 station, with Robert W. Morgan and Dave Sebastian co-hosting the last program. (1986)

FEBRUARY

1 - WKYC Cleveland begins its Power Radio format. (1968)

3 - Murray the K does last show on WNBC, where he had been doing weekends. (1974)

8 - A U.S. House of Representatives subcommittee opens a hearing on payola in the music industry, this even though payola was not specifically prohibited by law.

8 - WROR Boston becomes Mix 98.5. (1991)

13 - KISN Portland, Ore., Reunion. (1988)

18 - Long-time CHUM morning man Jay Nelson, birth name Frank Cox, dies. (1994)

19 - George 'Hound Dog' Lorenz hosts the "Biggest Show of Stars" at Buffalo's Memorial Auditorium, with headliners Fats Domino, Chuck Berry and Clyde McPhatter. (1957)

19 - Joey Reynolds does first show on WNBC. (1986)

21 - Murray "The K" Kaufmann dies. (1982)

23 - The Federal Communications Commission is created. (1926)

24 - Harry Harrison debuts on WCBS-FM. (1980)

24 - Rockin' Robin does his last show on CING-FM Burlington, Ont. (1989)

25 - Hoss Allen, one of WLAC's famed Big Three deejays, dies. (1997)

27 - Jackson Armstrong's last show at WKBW. (1973)

28 - WMGM drops Top 40 format for middle of the road/standards format, at the same time adopting its old call letters of WHN. (1962)

MARCH

1 - Norman B's legendary but short-lived Where It's At R&B show debuts on CKFH; it would last until August 30 of that year. (1967)

3 - Joe Yocum, one of the original "Seven Swingin' Gentlemen" on KFWB, dies at age 55. (1974)

6 - WWKB switches from satellite oldies to satellite business, ending forever the rock music era at 'KB.

8 - WMCA great Jack Spector dies on air at WHLI. (1994)

9 - Dan Ingram returns to afternoon drive at WABC New Yotk after a year and a-half doing mornings.

10 - KFWB Los Angeles ends music programming; switches to all news. Gene Weed hosts KFWB's last music show. (1968)

13 - Tom Shannon leaves WWKB. (1986)

14 - "World Famous" Tom Murphy of KHJ fame is born. (1940)

14 - Dick Heatherton does last show at WCBS-FM. (1986)

15 - WRKO Boston debuts its Top 40 format. (1967)

15 - WCFL Chicago switches to beautiful music after 14 years as a rock music station. (1976)

15- Big Wilson's last show at WNBC. (1976)

15 - CKEY leaves rock programming to become CKYC, country format. (1991)

16 - B. Mitchell Reed dies. (1983)

16-17 - WROR Boston holds Rock 'N' Roll Reunion. (1985)

18 - Jim Kerr does first show at WPLJ, beginning a 15-year run. (1974)

19 - Joey Reynolds debuts on WNBC. (1986)

21 - Alan Freed holds first concert show at Cleveland Arena; it was called Moon Dog's Coronation Ball. (1952)

21 - CKFH Toronto becomes CJCL. (1981)

24 - Harry Harrison debuts on WCBS-FM. (1980)

25 - Midwest radio legend Frank Jolley is born. (1939)

25 - B. Mitchell Reed's last show on WMCA. (1965)

26 - WLAC legend John R. dies. (1986)

29 - WKBW switches dial position to 1520, where it has remained since. (1941)

30 - Norman B's first show on CING-FM. (1979)

APRIL

1 - Legendary Boss Jock "The Real" Don Steele is born. (1936)

1 - WWDJ, the only AM competition to WABC in the early '70s, switches to a commecial religious format - the first such station in the New York market. (1974)

6 - WMEX Boston call letters disappear; it becomes WITS. (1978)

7 - KMPX introduces part-time progressive rock format. (1967)

8 - After 20 days and four hours, Larry "Snortin" Norton of WGRQ-FM Buffalo, N.Y., enters the Guiness Book of World Records for consecutive hours on the air. He was holidaying in the Caribbean the next day. (1981)

8 - Final day of Philadelphia's WFIL as Famous 56. (1987)

10 - Newsman Dick Smythe leaves CHUM for CFTR after 18 years. (1987)

11 - Norm N. Nite does first show on WCBS-FM. (1973)

11 - WJMK's "Rock 'N' Roll Reunion." (1985)

16 - The last "pocket" CHUM chart is issued; subsequent issues appear in newspapers only. (1975)

19 - Top 40 WINS switches to all news format; the music format ended the day before. (1965)

22 - Soupy Sales' first show on WNBC. (1985)

24 - CHUM moves to the now historic studios at 1331 Yonge St., from 250 Adelaide W. (1959)

28 - KHJ becomes "Boss Radio". (1965)

28 - Progressive radio pioneer Tom Donahue dies at age 48. (1975)

28 - New York and L.A. radio legend Bob Dayton dies at age 62. (1995)

30 - WABC is born, replacing WJZ at 770 kc. (1953)

MAY

1 - Jonathan Schwartz does last show at WNEW-FM. (1976)

2 - WLS Chicago switches to Top 40 from country format. (1960)

2 - Dick Biondi does last show at WLS. (1963)

3 - Chariots of Fire is number two on the last WABC chart - there is no number one.

3 - Riot at Boston Arena rock 'n' roll show leads to Alan Freed's firing at WINS. (1958)

5 - Ron Lundy does first show at WCBS-FM. (1984)

9 - Paul Sherman, who often filled in for Alan Freed, dies. (1983)

10 - WABC New York says farewell to its top 40 format after 21 years to go all talk. (1982)

19 - Alan Freed and four other New York deejays indicted in payola scandal. Also indicted were one program director and two record librarians. (1960)

22 - Robert W. Morgan dies at age 60. (1998)

27 - CHUM-AM launches Canada's first top 40 format, and the first CHUM chart is published. (1957)

27 - WMGM stages famous "Charles De Gaulle" stunt on WINS. (1958)

28 - George 'Hound Dog' Lorenz dies at age 52. (1972)

JUNE

2 - Alan Freed does his first show on WABC after his firing from WINS; he would exit in November of that year. (1959)

5 - Charlie Van Dyke does last show at KHJ. (1977)

5 - Cousin Brucie returns to New York radio on WCBS-FM. (1982)

7 - The last CHUM chart is published after 1,512 consecutive issues. A June 14 chart was prepared but never issued. (1986)

7 - CFTR becomes 680 News, ending a rock format of 21 years. (1993)

9 - WINS legend Jack Lacy dies. (1996)

10-11 - WCBS-FM holds first Radio Greats Reunion Weekend. Subsequent celebrations have been held in 1989, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1997 and 1998.

11 - Rick Sklar's first day as program director at WABC. (1962)

14 - Old "H.H.", Hunter Hancock, begins a six day a week radio show on KFVD Los Angeles. The show was jazz-oriented in the beginning, but soon included rhythm and blues. Hunter remained on the air on several different L.A. stations for 20 years.

14 - Dave Maynard's farewell show on WBZ. (1991)

15 - Sandy Beach does last show on WDRC Hartford; moves to WKBW Buffalo and a long career in Western New York radio. (1968)

16 - Bob Lewis does first show on WABC, beginning a run that would last until nearly the end of the decade. (1962)

16 - Jackson Armstrong debuts on CHUM, his only Canadian stop in a long career that has included stints at about two dozen U.S. stations. (1968)

18 - WWKB switches to satellite oldies format, ending 30 years of live-assist Top 40/oldies programming. (1988)

20 - Dan Neaverth joins WHTT-FM after more than 26 years at 'KB. (1988)

21 - CHFI changes call letters to CFTR. (1971)

22 - Long-time WABC program director Rick Sklar dies of complications during routine surgery. (1992)

22 - Veteran rock radio personality Rick Shaw dies at age 53. (1998)

23 - Dick Summer's last show at WBZ. (1968)

26 - Mad Daddy Pete Myers does last show at WHK Cleveland. (1959)

29 - Joe McCoy is program director at WCBS-FM. (1981)

30 - WYNY New York drops pop programming for country. (1987)

JULY

1 - At 12:01 a.m., CHUM-FM switches to a progressive rock format after five years as a classical station. (1968)

1 - Wolfman Jack dies at his North Carolina home; he did his last show just the night before. (1995)

3 - Guy King, a.k.a. Tom Clay, conducts his famous Billboard stunt in Buffalo's Shelton Square on WWOL-AM. (1955)

3 - Dan Ingram does his first show on WABC as a fill-in for Chuck Dunaway (he calls himself Not Chuck Dunaway.) (1961)

4 - WKBW-AM becomes an all-top 40 station. George "Hound Dog" Lorenz left the station prior to the new format to start his own station, WBLK-FM. (1958)

4 - WCBS-FM begins all-oldies format at 6 a.m. with Johnny Michaels aas the first dee-jay. Prior to oldies, it programmed an AOR-CHR-OLD mix. (1972)

5 - Elvis Presley records "That's All Right, Mama". Shortly thereafter, Dewey Phillips of WHBC's "Red, White and Blues" show in Memphis plays a dub of the song 30 times in one show to an overwhelming response. (1954)

7 - Legendary west coast dee-jay Bobby Ocean is born. He used the name Johnny Scott early in his career. (1944)

9 - The WABC music chart debuted. Alley Oop by Dante and the Evergreens was number one. (1960)

11 - Dan Daniels does his last show at WMCA New York. (1970)

14 - WBZ goes from two hours to 10 1-2 hours of talk a day. (1969)

17 - Bruce Bradley's last show on WBZ. (1981)

21 - WMCA Reunion hosted by Barry Gray features legends Joe O'Brien, Harry Harrison, Jack Spector, Dan Daniels and - via phone - B. Mitchell Reed. (1980)

23 - Robert W. Morgan born in Galin, Ohio. (1937)

26 - Charlie Van Dyke, one of rock radio great on-air (and commercial), voices is born. (1947)

27 - Hunter Hancock retires from radio after a 20-year career. His exit was hastened by the station's desire to have him play white artists. Hancock - a white man who preferred black artists - declined. (1968)

29 - Clint Buehlmann does his last show on Buffalo's WBEN-AM after more than four decades as Buffalo's morning mayor. (1977)

30 - Rock radio pioneer Maurice 'Hot Rod' Hulbert is born. (1926)

30 - WOR-FM New York switches to rock format. (1966)

31 - Two CHUM charts were issued for this day for reasons that are still unclear. This also happened once before, on May 2, 1966, for unexplained reasons. (1971)

31 - Johnny Dark does last show on WRKO. (1977)

AUGUST

1 - The first WMCA chart is published. (1962)

1 - John R. does last show at WLAC Nashville, leaving after four decades on the air. "Gentleman John" refused a station edict to play pop music rather than R&B, so he quit. (1973)

2 - WHTZ New York becomes a rocker. (1983)

3 - Dick Biondi's first day at WJMK Chicago. The long-time WKBW, WLS amd WFCL star still holds down a regular shift there. Should he make it to the year 2001, he'll be one of the few major 1950s dee-jays still active in the 21st century. (1984)

5 - American Bandstand debuts on ABC-TV with Dick Clark as the host. Clark had been doing the show at WFIL Philadelphia, where it had been a mainstay since Bob Horn originated it in 1954. Clark's first ABC guest: Buddy Holly singing "That'll Be The Day". Clark left the show in 1989.

5 - The Real Don Steele, one of the original Boss Jocks on KHJ, dies of cancer at age 61. Steele, who held down the 3-6 p.m. slot on the original KHJ Boss lineup, had been afternoon drive at K-EARTH in Los Angeles. (1997)

6 - Bob Dayton makes infamous 'Hiroshima' comment on WABC. After making reference to the anniversary of the Hiroshima bombing, he played "16 Candles" by The Crests, a song that begins with the words "Happy Birthday." (1965)

6 - Wolfman Jack does first show on WNBC. It was the Wolf's first New York appearance after establishing his career in Los Angeles and Mexico. (1973)

7 - Charlie Greer, longtime WABC all-night man, does last show for that Top 40 powerhouse. (1969)

7 - Cousin Brucie does last show at WABC; he moves to WNBC. (1974)

8 - WNBC begins broadcasting in AM stereo. (1982)

8 - Bobby Ocean and Dr. Don Rose do their final shows on KFRC San Francisco. (1986)

9 - The CHUM Chart shrinks from a Top 50 to Top 30 chart in the wake of a major station upheaval that saw the firings of long-time personalities John Spragge and Bob MacAdorey. (1968)

12 - Cousin Brucie's last show at WNBC. (1977)

12 - Jim Brady's last day at CFTR Toronto. He wound up at CJCL and later CFGM and is now in Toledo, Ohio. (1981)

13 - Long-time CHUM announcer Terry Steele, birth name James Stromberg, dies of a fall in his bathtub. (1993)

15 - WNEW-FM carries a live broadcast of a Bruce Springsteen concert, They were ahead of their time as Springsteen had yet to emerge as a major artist. (1975)

15 - WGKT Buffalo debuts oldies format; sadly it would only last 15 months. (1988)

16 - Buffalo's WNIA, later to become WECK, signs on. (1956)

16 - WCVG Cincinnati dropped the all-Elvis format they had been carrying for about a year. Right in the middle of "My Way", a technician cut a cable providing the broadcast and that was it. WCVG switched to a business news format. It was the 12th anniversary of the King's death. (1989)

19 - Cousin Brucie does first show at WNBC. (1974)

19 - Authorities raid "Radio Caroline" and shut down the pirate station on the North Sea. One dee-jay said: "It's the worst day of my life." (1989)

22 - CKNW Vancouver carries a Beatle concert live on the air. It lasted 27 minutes and was hosted by the legendary Red Robinson. Copies of this concert, which cost $5.25 to attend, have been extensively bootlegged.

25 - Sandy Beach returns to Buffalo radio on WBEN. (1997)

25 - John Mahjor's last show at CHUM. (1983)

28 - Larry Lujack's final show at WLS. (1987)

28 - WABC's Bob Dayton, of the famous 'Hiroshima' comment, dies at age 62. (1995)

29 - KYA San Francisco has the honor of presenting the last Beatles concert, held at Candlestick Park. (1966)

29 - Pete Griffin leaves CHUM-FM after 17 years for CFNY. (1980)

29 - Joe Donovan does last show on WHAS Louisville, Ky. after 20 years, 16 on the all-night show playing oldies. (1997)

SEPTEMBER

1 - Ron Lundy opens first WABC show with "Satisfaction" by the Rolling Stones. (1965)

1 - Long-time oldies station FM 108 (CING-FM Burlington, Ont.) switches to a dance format. (1991)

2 - Dick Heatherton's first show on WCBS-FM. (1972)

2 - The Rock 'N' Roll Hall of Fame opens in Cleveland. Dick Clark, Alan Freed and Tom Donahue are the only dee-jays with plaque in the Hall, despite the fact many others have made important contributions. (1995)

2 - Howard Stern does first syndicated show at Q-107 Toronto and CHOM-FM Montreal.

4 - Several U.S. stations ban the Rolling Stones song "Street Fighting Man", fearing it would incite riots. The song peaks at only #48 on the Billboard chart. (1968)

5 - Bob Magee does first morning show at all-oldies CHUM-AM. (1989)

7 - Dan Ingram, often called the "thinking man's dee-jay", is born. (1934)

7 - Pioneer deejay Al Benson dies at age 70. (1978)

7 - Howard Stern's first show on WNBC. (1982)

8 - WFIL begins Top 40 programming that it calls "The Pop Explosion." (1966)

8 - Alan Freed debuts on WINS New York, initially on late-evening shift, later moving to early evening. (1954)

9 - George Michael begins the daunting task of replacing the legendary Cousin Brucie as he does first show at WABC; to his credit he lasts five years. (1974)

10 - WIBG Philadelphia ends its long-standing top 40 format with Hy Lit putting Philadelphia's "Grand Old Lady" to sleep. (1977)

11 - David Bowie's latest hit "Telling Lies" debuts on the Internet before it is delivered to radio stations, a departure from the standard practice. The song is downloaded 46,000 times in the first four days it is available. (1996)

12 - George 'Hound Dog' Lorenz joins WKBW. He would stay there for three years before leaving in a dispute over music policy. (1955)

13 - The U.S. House of Representatives officially made the practice of receiving payola illegal. Two years later, Alan Freed was fined $3,000 and given a suspended sentence after he pleaded guilty to two counts of commercial bribery. By then, the payola scandal had effectively ruined his career. (1960)

14 - Hey Jude and Those Were The Days unexplainably tied for the number one spot on the CHUM Chart. It never happened before or since. (1968)

15 - WMGM begins a 14-year run at 1050 on the New York AM dial, replacing WHN. (1948)

15 - WKBW becomes "The Great American Music Machine" and an era in personality radio ends. (1973)

16 - Former rocker WMCA switches to religious format. (1989)

17 - The first 33 1-3 RPM record is demonstrated by RCA Victor in New York. Columbia records would begin manufacturing it commercially 17 years later. (1931)

18 - WFIL Philadelphia holds deejay reunion. (1986)

18 - Ron Lundy does his last show at WCBS-FM, ending a 33-year career in New York radio. (1997)

19 - Herb Oscar Anderson exits WABC. (1960)

19 - Ed Baer does last show at WMCA as station prepares to switch to all-talk format. (1970)

20 - John Lennon is guest DJ at Los Angeles radio station KHJ. He plays "You and Me Against The World" by Helen Reddy to keep his record company happy. (1974)

20 - WRKO plays its last song after 14 years of Top 40. (1981)

20 - "Back and Rockin", 97 Rock Buffalo, N.Y. returns after a three and a-half year absence.

21 - Harry Harrison signs off for the last time at WMCA; he resurfaces at WABC two days later. (1968)

21 - WMCA switches from Top 40 to talk format called "Dialogue Radio." (1970)

24 - The movie "Mr. Rock 'N' Roll' debuts with Alan Freed starring as himself. Among those appearing in the film are Chuck Berry, Little Richard and The Moonglows. (1957)

24 - WBZ Boston holds "Grease Weekend." (1972)

27 - Last day of music for WRKO Boston. (1981)

27 - Howard Stern does last show on WNBC; he is fired three days later. (1985)

28 - Kenny Everett's last show at BBC Radio One. (1973)

29 - CING-FM Burlington, Ont., ends oldies programming after 12 years. It is now a dance music station. (1990)

30 - CFUN returns to Vancouver after years as CKVN. (1973)

OCTOBER

1 - WMJI Cleveland holds Basement Weekend. (1988)

2 - Rosko resigns on the air at WOR-FM. (1967)

2 - Robert W. Morgan does last show at KHJ before leaving for WIND Chicago (he returned in 1972 before leaving again.) (1970)

3 - The station now known as Oldies 104 (WHTT-FM Buffalo, N.Y.) signs on as WWOL-FM.

3 - Dick Biondi does first show on WCFL. (1967)

5 - Dr. Don Rose does his last WFIL Philadelphia show. (1973)

6 - WCBS-FM introduces "The Young Sound" with live deejays, a forerunner of their oldies format. (1969)

6 - Buffalo legend Tom Shannon debuts on WHTT-FM. (1997)

7 - WNBC New York becomes WFAN. (1988)

10 - KQV Pittsburgh ends top 40 format. (1975)

10 - First appearance of deejays at WOR-FM. (1966)

12 - WRKO "Arko-Matic" debuts as an automated rocker. (1966)

13 - Scott Muni is fired after 31 years at WNEW-FM; Dave Herman is also let go.

15 - Al Brady's first day as WABC program director - a month later he fired popular dee-jays Harry Harrison, Chuck Leonard and George Michaels in what has become known as the "Saturday Night Massacre." (1979)

19 - Dan Ingram debuts at WCBS-FM. (1991)

20 - Dave Johnson, long-time CHUM-AM and CFGM personality, dies of a heart attack. (1980)

21 - Roby Yonge is fired on air at WABC for breaking format and speculating on the possible death of Paul McCartney. (1969)

22 - Last day of WOR-FM before call letter change. Station is now WRKS. (1972)

22 - Traffic reporter Jane Dornacher is killed in helicopter accident while on the air at WNBC. (1986)

25 - Nat D. Williams breaks the color barrier in the south, as he does first show on WDIA Memphis. (1948)

26 - Dan Ingram does first morning show on WABC after years of afternoon drive. (1979)

27 - KFWB "Color Radio" original Bill Ballance is born. (1918)

30 - WOR-FM becomes WXLO. (1972)

31 - Rosko debuts at WNEW-FM. (1967)

31 - First broadcast of WKBW's famed remake of 'War of the Worlds' (1968)

NOVEMBER

2 - WADO, home of such legends as Jocko Henderson and Alan Fredericks, signs on at 1280 kc. (1959)

7 - "Joltin' Joe" Howard signs on WCHB Detroit, the first station in the country to be built from the start by black owners. (1956)

9 - Dick Dale heads a tribute to KRLA Los Angeles. The legendary surf guitarist is joined by members of the Turtles, Hank Ballard, the Letterman and Spirit among others. (1986)

9 - All-oldies WOGL-FM comes into being after demise of WCAU. (1987)

11 - Sebastian Stone (WOR-FM) dies. (1987)

14 - Dan Neaverth does his 25th anniversary show at WWKB. (1986)

15 - WWKB hosts Weekend Reunion. (1986)

16 - Harry Harrison's debut at WMCA; he stayed there nine years. (1959)

16 - Jonathan Schwartz does first show at WNEW-FM. (1967)

17 - Elton John performs live in the studio on WABC-FM. The results can be heard on the album 11-17-70. (1970)

17 - George Michael does last show at WABC. (1979)

17 - WINS legend Stan Z. Burns dies. (1990)

18 - Howard Stern's first show on WXRK New York. (1985)

19 - The Sunday Morning Oldies Show with Roger Ashby debuts on CHUM-AM. (1980)

20 - Bruce Hayes, KFWB's first morning man, dies. (1994)

21 - Alan Freed is fired by WABC radio after he refuses to sign an affidavit stating he had not participated in bribes. (1959)

21 - Al Boliska does first show at CKEY, after six years as morning man at CHUM-AM. (1963)

21 - Harry Harrison does his last show at WABC, ending an 11-year run. (1979)

22 - Many U.S. rock stations suspend programming in light of the death of President Kennedy.

23 - The BBC banned the Rolling Stones from its airwaves after the group was late for two radio shows carried on the network. (1964)

26 - Dan Ingram does first morning show at WABC after long stint on afternoon drive. (1979)

27 - Chuck Leonard does his last show at WABC; he does not sign off the show. (1979)

27 - Jack Carney, WIL and KMOX star who was featured on Cruisin '58, dies. (1984)

28 - Pat St. John's first show on WNEW-FM. (1987)

29 - Dean Anthony debuts at WMCA. (1964)

30 - Dick Clark, host of American Bandstand for 33 years, is born in Mount Vernon, N.Y. (1929)

DECEMBER

2 - Jay Nelson does first morning show on CHUM-AM Toronto; he would last 17 years. (1963)

2 - Don Imus signs on at WNBC. (1971)

2 - WQXR becomes WQEW. (1992)

2 - Long-time Buffalo morning man Clint Buehlmann dies at age 85. (1997)

4 - Billboard reports that New York Supreme Court Justice Carroll J. Walker has denied Alan Freed any further use of the nickname "Moon Dog" on his radio show. (1954)

5 - Alan Freed's movie "Rock Rock Rock" debuts to packed houses in New York. (1955)

6 - WRKS New York becomes "classic soul". (1964)

7 - New York's WABC begins its top 40 era. (1960)

7 - Don Daynard's first show at CHFI-FM; this Canadian radio star had previously been on CKFM and CKFH. (1987)

9 - Veteran New York city rock radio personality Jim Kerr is born. (no date)

11 - Joey Reynolds does first show on WOR-AM. (1995)

12 - George "Hound Dog" Lorenz signs on WBLK-FM. The call letters stand for Ron L. Kulick, a major financial backer of the station. (1964)

12 - Don Imus debuts on WNBC. (1971)

12 - Birthday for WNEW-FM legend Vin Scelsa. (no date)

13 - Pioneer deejay Vernon Winslow dies. (1993)

14 - At 2 p.m., radio stations around the world observe a 10-minute tribute for John Lennon, who had been shot to death six days earlier. Some went silent, others played Beatle records. (1980)

14 - Birthday for long-time WNEW-FM morning man Dave Herman (no date)

15 - Alan Freed is born in Johnstown, Pa. (1942)

16 - WCBS-FM afternoon drive man Bob Shannon is born. (no date)

17 - WPLJ New York becomes WWPR. (1987)

18 - Canadian radio legend Norman B. is born in Hamilton, Ont. (1943)

18 - WMCA legend Dan Daniel is born (no date)

18 - Scott Muni does first show on WNEW-FM. (1967)

19 - John Landecker's first show at WLUP Chicago. (1983)

21 - After one year and four days, WWPR is changed back to WPLJ. (1988)

24 - Long-time morning man Jay Nelson does final show on CHUM. (1980)

24 - Baltimore legend Hot Rod Hulbert dies. (1996)

25 - Bert Ferguson, often called the "Branch Rickey" of radio, dies at age 82. (1997)

26 - Brother John Rydgren, one of the early voices of progressive radio, dies. (1988)

29 - WMCA plays the Beatles' "I Wanna Hold Your Hand"; claims it is the first U.S. airing of a Beatles song. (1963)

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