tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6766534511299368622.post7158633851082134655..comments2024-03-12T15:03:22.262-05:00Comments on Houston Radio History: The 1960s - KIKK, Talk Radio, KODA, KENRBrucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02689118444867837021noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6766534511299368622.post-62208498751186921682023-07-25T08:01:12.223-05:002023-07-25T08:01:12.223-05:00I remember Rick Jason! We played together Bobby Mi...I remember Rick Jason! We played together Bobby Mill's band in Seabrook back in in 1978. Nice fellow... I heard that he died in an auto accident on Red Bluff Rd in 79 or so. <br />Stevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07137616140826039519noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6766534511299368622.post-54349869076506437872016-07-14T23:50:28.681-05:002016-07-14T23:50:28.681-05:00Holy crud!! It makes sense now! I remember seeing ...Holy crud!! It makes sense now! I remember seeing a KODA sign right there in front of that parking garage (a time or two in the mid to late 80s) on San Felipe and near the W Loop and never knew why it was there. Now i know it sat at the end of their parking lot. Crazy it never dawned on me to realize that building was where the station was at.Ragehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04072478702285127359noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6766534511299368622.post-46985518174628882382016-02-24T19:22:45.816-06:002016-02-24T19:22:45.816-06:00anyone know or heard of Rick Jason from KENR in th...anyone know or heard of Rick Jason from KENR in the 70's?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13267252543890911166noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6766534511299368622.post-40523388132165399392015-05-29T20:23:19.073-05:002015-05-29T20:23:19.073-05:00Thank you so much, Scott. That is fantastic. It ...Thank you so much, Scott. That is fantastic. It will be a long time before your Dad is forgotten. I'm posting a link to the video on the obit notice, too.Brucehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02689118444867837021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6766534511299368622.post-17823976257106273002015-05-29T16:33:45.772-05:002015-05-29T16:33:45.772-05:00Hi, my name is Scott Young. My father was DJ/PD a...Hi, my name is Scott Young. My father was DJ/PD at KILT back in their hayday. In the mid to late 60's though, my mother did a live broadcast from her home phone under the name 'Tiger'. She provided a traffice report using a sexy/sultry delivery. If anyone has a link to one of her 'broadcasts' I'd be very grateful. Next Monday (5/31/15) will be a year since Day's passing. Here is my tribute video for those that don't know him...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFseQhkJbcE<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6766534511299368622.post-86853392633703531292014-11-05T16:31:03.755-06:002014-11-05T16:31:03.755-06:00Sorry to hear of your father's passing, Laura....Sorry to hear of your father's passing, Laura. Thanks for checking in with us.Brucehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02689118444867837021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6766534511299368622.post-8597922696063581302014-11-05T14:26:28.770-06:002014-11-05T14:26:28.770-06:00Mr Warmack and Duyka, My name is Laura Willis Hix...Mr Warmack and Duyka, My name is Laura Willis Hixon My father is Milt Willis. He passed away in 2005 and Today I have been missing him so I Googled KODA and his name and it warmed my heart to read the nice things both of you had to say about him. I also grew up with Gene Arnold visiting our house as a child Daddy and Mr Arnold traded Move Lobby Cards. Thank You for holding them in your Happy Memories laurahxn@yahoo.comAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6766534511299368622.post-55576975156908065822014-06-30T20:06:29.815-05:002014-06-30T20:06:29.815-05:00Wayne
I recently read your comments on this blog ...Wayne <br />I recently read your comments on this blog and thought I might have some history that coincides with at least part of your time frame at KODA. I worked for Taft Broadcasting Company (KODA) in the mid sixties in the Systems group. We installed sound systems in places such as the Astrodome, Intercontinental Airport in addition to all the Muzak and sound systems in many buildings in a growing Houston. I was a frustrated would-be DJ so I spent a lot of my free time up front in the studios. <br />As a kid in my hometown, I had built and modified a small Lafayette AM transmitter (5 mile range). I'd play my favorite records and we would ride around town and listen to them. I had a mike and even gave weather bulletins (i.e. There will be No weather in Chesterville today), and told occasional jokes. My buddies would always ask me to keep it on - playing Johnathan Winters, Smothers Brothers et.al. Never got caught! <br />I developed a lot of friendships in radio during my time at Taft. Gene Arnold, Rhett Butler, Milt Willis among many other great personalities. I became friends with their chief engineer, Eddie Bates. He designed and built the first completely automated FM broadcast station in Houston, if not the industry. The FM people would make tapes of all the music, news, weather and even bulletins and load them on "OTTO" and a sequencing program would play them in the order the director chose. The "Correct Time" device was very clever. Mr. Taft would add his tempo and style preferences as his personal "touch". <br />I met a lot of celebrities during my 3+ years there - Paul Harvey, Howard Cosell, The Four Freshman, along with several C&W singers and their bands -- Willie Nelson and Ray Price. We were the local franchise for Altec sound equipment which was found on many professional sound stages. I guess the most exciting for me was Otis Reading (Sitting on the Dock of the Bay). I rented a complete Altec setup to him and his band. He invited me to be his guest and I ended up going into his dressing room (with my date - Boy! Was she impressed!)! Then he asked me to show him Houston the next morning. We drove all over - even ended up getting a Princes hamburger for lunch. There's a lot more to that story! <br />I was going to night school at the U of H at that time and would stop by the station on the way home. Rhett had the night duty most of that time and he and I would get in a production studio and cut some neat tapes of our own. One of our targets to mimic was Gene Arnold’s patented sign-off. One Christmas one of our tapes almost got put on OTTO. We would have both been looking for work the next morning if it had. <br />Lots of great memories. Every now and then Rhett would actually let me do the FM weather report. Closest I ever got to being a radio personality. Ha! <br /><br />I guess you know Rhett has passed away. I got a lead on Gene Arnold the other day. Need to follow it up. Will let you know what I find!<br /><br />If this doesn't bore you I have some more. <br /><br />Clint <br />cd034@aol.comAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01463523014405787579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6766534511299368622.post-29101571977264070932014-01-04T19:34:33.971-06:002014-01-04T19:34:33.971-06:00Use KILT in the search box or click on KILT as a l...Use KILT in the search box or click on KILT as a label at the bottom of a post to pull up a list of all KILT material on the blog including a link to a flyer for a 1966 Hootenanny sponsored by KILT.Brucehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02689118444867837021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6766534511299368622.post-14058576784076829552014-01-03T21:35:30.360-06:002014-01-03T21:35:30.360-06:00This is totally off but I was a kid and lived in H...This is totally off but I was a kid and lived in Houston until 1971. I use to go the concerts that KILT had in the mid 60s. I am looking for posters, radio spots or anything related. I almost sure they were called "End of School" or "Back to Schoo"...I saw bands like the Byrds, 4 Seasons, The Shangra Las, etc...I can't find anything online...<br />Does anyone have anything on that?<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6766534511299368622.post-22239483599121374112013-01-23T17:02:54.926-06:002013-01-23T17:02:54.926-06:00Love your comment. Yeah, radio was a blast. Than...Love your comment. Yeah, radio was a blast. Thanks for the additional clarifications and the id of the picture.Brucehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02689118444867837021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6766534511299368622.post-39166598582997613872013-01-23T13:28:31.315-06:002013-01-23T13:28:31.315-06:00Actually, Bruce, I forgot to mention the date KPRC...Actually, Bruce, I forgot to mention the date KPRC stopped playing country. It was January 1970. So, I guess one could stretch the facts and say KPRC played country during the 60s and 70s. LOL. Anyway, whenever we visit the Houston area, I see KPRC is totally talk (and way conservative talk, at that!) I don't understand since the large NBC radio station I was on up here in Fort Worth, WBAP, also went from number one in DFW country to maybe 8th or 9th talk just as KPRC did (we were number one in Houston in evenings...granted the Astros will get that for you, but being the only country station in Houston at the time will get great ratings, too.) I will say Bill Bailey on KIKK and Arch Yancey of KNUZ, both country of course, were so nice to me. Funny story, I don't remember the afternoon drive time jock's name on KILT but we met at a party and I told him I listened to him on the way to work at KPRC. And he says...he listened to me and my country after getting off the air! Man oh man, lots of good times. Single and on the air in the sixties couldn't be beat. And BTW that's a picture of me at the studio on Post Oak, the old one in the quanset huts.<br />Sincerely David PerkinsAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04786435940498854913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6766534511299368622.post-51914866591298377542013-01-22T19:26:18.970-06:002013-01-22T19:26:18.970-06:00Thanks for all the history, David. I arrived in H...Thanks for all the history, David. I arrived in Houston in September, 1970, and was totally unaware there had been country on 950 as late as 1968.Brucehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02689118444867837021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6766534511299368622.post-25442700016101880662013-01-22T11:40:22.070-06:002013-01-22T11:40:22.070-06:00I haven't seen anything about KPRC and country...I haven't seen anything about KPRC and country music in the 60s so I'd like to set the record straight.<br />In June 1968 KPRC hired me away from KBUY in Fort Worth and I began July 4th weekend on the 7pm-1am shift. As Charlie Brown, I was to play country music before or after the Astros baseball games. Since KIKK went off the air at sundown, there was no country music for a city of one million. There was much discussion between me and the PD Sam Sitterlee about what "country" was. I insisted on playing Hank Williams, sr, Waylon, Willie, Tammy Wynette, etc and he thought a softer side like Dean Martin. I won (but Sam was as nice a man as you'll ever meet.) After baseball season it was all country after 7pm for KPRC. Tim and Bob rode me something else. But it was all in fun and we respected each other and got along very well. I felt very included in the KPRC radio/tv "family." Later, since country on KPRC was such a success, management (The Colonel) decided to open up all night and so hired my choice, Ron Rice, also from Fort Worth.<br />The reaction from Houston was tremendous. I had a spot for country "heavy hitters" in VOXJOX and every week put out a "top 40 country songs" list. Things couldn't have been better.<br />Then, without my knowledge, KPRC decided to cut off country and go back to MOD. Ron Rice stayed and I was offered a job but decided to stay country. I went as PD to WYAM Birmingham, Alabama. Big mistake. Only 7 months later I was back in Texas on Fort Worth's WBAP which had just gone country.<br />I stayed with WBAP some years but returned briefly to Houston, KIKK and KYND-FM. Finally I went back to college, became a computer "scientist" and programmed computers 21 years till I retired. Ron Rice and I stay in touch to this day and I follow Facebook, KPRC former employees.<br />David Perkins<br />Fort WorthAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04786435940498854913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6766534511299368622.post-25255597447149878712010-09-20T23:12:51.673-05:002010-09-20T23:12:51.673-05:00Thanks Wayne. Note: I have corresponded with Way...Thanks Wayne. Note: I have corresponded with Wayne and determined that I am not the Bruce Williamson he worked with at KODA. I never knew there was another Bruce Williamson in Houston radio. Wayne is on the track of Gene Arnold but would love to hear from any of the others mentioned or anybody who worked with him, and of course, I'd like to be kept in the loop on any unearthing of long lost Houston radio personnel.Brucehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02689118444867837021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6766534511299368622.post-55348611975658250642010-09-19T23:39:17.849-05:002010-09-19T23:39:17.849-05:00My name is Wayne Warmack. I now live in northweste...My name is Wayne Warmack. I now live in northwestern Arkansas, and from 1969 to the mid 1980s I was an announcer at KLEF-FM 94.5 (classical), KODA AM/FM (Beautiful Music, Paul Taft Owner, James Rhett Butler PD), and KYND-FM (Beautiful Music) At KODA I had the awesome privilege of working alongside my mentor, the great Milt Willis, whom I had grown up listening to on KXYZ-AM. Other co-workers at KODA included sportscaster Gene Arnold, commentator Fred Nahas, and announcer Bruce Williamson. Those were amazing years in my life, and the people named above left enduring impressions on me. I still consider Milt Willis particularly to have had the most elegant and persuasive radio voice I have ever heard, and I patterned my own voice inflections and delivery after Milt's for the 26 years of my radio career. I could tell many stories about my wonder-filled years in Houston radio. If anyone knows anything current about the people I named above, I would appreciate hearing from you. Email: notmyworld44@hotmail.comWayne Warmackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12361043018342231418noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6766534511299368622.post-11790286882419460242009-11-02T07:40:03.295-06:002009-11-02T07:40:03.295-06:00Thanks again, Andrew. I'd never known the nam...Thanks again, Andrew. I'd never known the name before. I looked him up in the Encyclopedia of Country Music - he managed radio stations in the 30s, promoted big bands before switching to country, managed some early dates for Elvis. Quite a history.Brucehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02689118444867837021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6766534511299368622.post-39293139106584274172009-11-02T06:04:35.548-06:002009-11-02T06:04:35.548-06:00Great to get the date when KRCT became KIKK. The p...Great to get the date when KRCT became KIKK. The person credited with the name was "Bam" Bamford, not Mamford. Here's more about him:<br /><br />http://www.namm.org/library/oral-history/av-bam-bamfordABhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15536547131562840293noreply@blogger.com