Today this blog site is going to begin something new; sharing air checks and other audio files from my collection of reel-to-reel and cassette tapes that I’ve just started to digitize. I hope you will find it interesting and fun, as I share some of the radio stations, personalities and other tidbits that created my lifelong desire to be in radio.
Call Letters
One of the fascinating aspects of the radio industry has been that of station call letters. Some, like WLS (“World’s Largest Store” which was at that time owned by Sears), WCFL (Chicago Federation of Labor), KHJ (Kindness, Happiness & Joy) or WKBW (Well Known Bible Witness).
The WVBF call letters (Welcome, Virginia Brown Fairbanks) were chosen by Fairbanks Broadcasting owner, Richard M. Fairbanks after the station was purchased in July of 1971 to honor his wife, Virginia. Mr. Fairbanks had done something similar in 1957, when his company purchased a radio station in the Cape Canaveral area of Florida and changed the call letters to his initials; WRMF.
Short History of WVBF
Fairbanks Broadcasting bought WKOX and WKOX-FM in July of 1971. After the purchase, WKOX-FM’s call letters were changed to WVBF. George Johns was brought in, to create a new sound for this radio station, giving birth to “The Electronic Mama,” as a hybrid Top 40/Rock Station.
By 1975, during Fairbanks ownership, the music programming would evolve to mainstream Top 40, eventually moving to a hot adult contemporary format by the end of the decade.
In 1981, WVBF debuted a new morning show hosted by Loren Owens and Wally Brine. Loren and Wally would survive multiple ownership, format and call letter changes until 2019.
Even Delilah, in the early 1990s, was an air personality on the station before moving to Seattle and entering national syndication. In 1996, the station’s call letters were changed to WROR 105.7 FM and programed a classic hits music format.
Electronic Mama
Today, I will feature an audio clip of WVBF Stereo 105 from Framingham, Massachusetts that I recorded, in stereo, in the early 70s.
To listen to this air check, just click on the link below.
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