06 lipca 2007
KWFM Rocks Tucson
I ran across a tribute site to KWFM. The station operated from 1970 until it was sold in 1983, and provided a home for Margie Rye, Charlie Morriss and the late Bob Cooke. It even included on its roster, for a short time in 1970, Lou Waters. The station was also among the first in the area to have women DJs.KWFM was Tucson's early exponent of the "FM Format" (KWFM was founded years before Rock warhorse KLPX). Hard for folks to remember now, but FM radio was once the home for free-form and experimental formats. The stations were newer and were largely free from corporate ownership. This left DJs with a lot of control over playlists.
One program is well remembered by folks in the local "alternative" music community. Dave LaRussa ran the Anything That's Rock 'n Roll program that was the place to hear the latest punk, new wave, ska and reggae in Tucson. He also promoted the burgeoning local music scene, with Giant Sandworms, Phantom Limbs and the Serfers (later Green on Red) making their broadcast debuts on his program. Lee Joseph sometimes showed up to play rockabilly, garage and psychadelic rock. Joseph has since moved to Burbank, but he was an important chronicler of the music scene in Tucson (he was also a member of the band Johnny Sevin). He wrote articles on the history of Tucson rock for Howie Salmon's Slit fanzine, letting newer fans know about bands like Sot Weed Factor, the Dearly Beloved and the Lewallen Brothers.
The station was bought by a chain in 1983 about the time that corporate America noticed the success of FM stations, and proceded to wreck everything that made them successful.
The station's frequency, 92.9, has changed formats several times but is now occupied by The Mountain.
Hasta la proxima. Do zobaczenia.
