KJR-AM
Encyclopedia
KJR is an all-sports
radio station
based in Seattle, Washington
, owned by Clear Channel Communications
. KJR currently is the flagship station of the University of Washington
, including Husky football and men's basketball broadcasts. Its sister station KHHO
is the broadcast home of the Washington State University
Cougars, including football and men's basketball play-by-play.
Since the 2006-2007 season, ISP Sports was the media rights holder for Husky athletics until IMG College took over. KJR remains the Washington IMG College Network's flagship station.
KJR carried some play-by-play from ESPN Radio
, and some of the regular talk shows at night and during weekends. KJR-AM is now the Puget Sound region's home of Fox Sports Radio
.
It was Seattle's only all-sports talk radio station until 710 KIRO affiliated itself with ESPN
.
. KJR is the oldest station presently operating in Seattle, having been founded March 9, 1922. In the 1960s under the programming guidance of Pat O'Day
, the station was top rated in Seattle and well known for introducing the Pacific Northwest to many recording stars such as Jimi Hendrix
, the Beatles
, Merrilee Rush
& The Turnabouts and the Ventures
. Today, the call letters are used by KJR-FM
, which broadcasts a format which includes many of the songs and shows (including original American Top 40
shows from the 1970s) from that era.
It was the number one top 40 station in Seattle during the 1960s and the 1970s. Competitors at the time included KING-AM
1090, and KIRO
710.
KJR would switch to adult contemporary in 1984. In 1986, the station shifted to oldies, playing the music that had made the station famous throughout the 1960's and 1970's.
KJR's shift to sports programming was a gradual evolution starting in 1989, when the station added some sports-themed shows in mid-days and afternoons. The rest of the music programming would be phased out in September of 1991.
On November 4, 2011
, at 7 AM, KJR began simulcasting on 102.9 FM, replacing country
-formatted KNBQ
. Clear Channel did not transfer the KJR-FM
calls from 95.7 to 102.9, despite the 95.7 station being classic hits
.
, Scotty Brink, Norm Gregory, Burl Barer
, Pat O'Day
, Eric Chase, Bob Shannon, "World Famous" Tom Murphy, Bobby Simon, Jerry Kaye, "Emperor" Lee Smith, Lan Roberts
, Robert O. Smith, Bwana Johnny, and sports commentator Chuck Bolland. Gary Lockwood "Lockjock, LJ the DJ" had the longest tenure as a jock on the "Mighty 95" from 1976-1991.
from 1987–2006.
This station also runs itself as "Home of the 12th Man", mainly during Seahawks season.
In 2002, Seattle Mariners
relief pitcher
Jeff Nelson had surgery to remove bone chips from his pitching elbow. During his weekly show with Dave "Softy" Mahler, Nelson announced he would attempt to sell his bone chips on eBay
. After earning bids as high as $23,600, eBay pulled the chips from auction.
In 2003, Seattle Storm
point guard Sue Bird
made a bet with morning host Mitch Levy that gained national publicity. The bet was over Bird's season assist
/turnover
ratio. If the ratio finished higher that 3:1, Bird agreed to be spanked by Levy on the air. If Bird won the bet, Levy agreed to purchase Storm season tickets. The bet was later amended to include Bird yelling "Harder, Daddy, Harder." The bet was ultimately called off by Bird. When asked at a later date, Tyler Orsborn (morning show producer at the time)suggested that Storm management were the real reason the bet was called off and not Bird.
During a 2006 radio interview with Dave "Softy" Mahler and former University of Washington
quarterback Hugh Millen
, then Atlanta Falcons
head coach
Jim L. Mora
said he'd be in the "friggin' head of the line" for the Washington Huskies
football head coaching position, if it became available. Mora, who played for the University of Washington
, later said he was only kidding during the interview, but was still fired by the Falcons at the end of the season.
Recently, sports show host "Softy" began a feud with another sports show host in Salt Lake City, Utah
after they argued about their predicted outcomes of the Washington vs. BYU game on September 5th, 2008. After arguing with Hans Olsen of Sports Radio 1280 The Zone, he had an on air meltdown where he claimed that he was going to choke Hans and repeatedly called him an idiot.
Weekends:
Sports radio
Sports radio is a radio format devoted entirely to discussion and broadcasting of sporting events. A popular format with an almost exclusively male demographic in most areas, sports radio is characterized by an often-boisterous on-air style and extensive debate and analysis by both hosts and...
radio station
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
based in Seattle, Washington
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
, owned by Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications, Inc. is an American media conglomerate company headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. It was founded in 1972 by Lowry Mays and Red McCombs, and was taken private by Bain Capital LLC and Thomas H. Lee Partners LP in a leveraged buyout in 2008...
. KJR currently is the flagship station of the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
, including Husky football and men's basketball broadcasts. Its sister station KHHO
KHHO
KHHO is a radio station broadcasting a Sports radio format. Licensed to Tacoma, Washington, USA, the station serves the Tacoma portion of the Seattle-Tacoma radio market. The station is currently owned by Clear Channel and features programing from Fox Sports Radio and Premiere Radio Networks...
is the broadcast home of the Washington State University
Washington State University
Washington State University is a public research university based in Pullman, Washington, in the Palouse region of the Pacific Northwest. Founded in 1890, WSU is the state's original and largest land-grant university...
Cougars, including football and men's basketball play-by-play.
Since the 2006-2007 season, ISP Sports was the media rights holder for Husky athletics until IMG College took over. KJR remains the Washington IMG College Network's flagship station.
KJR carried some play-by-play from ESPN Radio
ESPN Radio
ESPN Radio is an American sports radio network. It was launched on January 1, 1992 under the original banner of "SportsRadio ESPN." ESPN Radio is located at ESPN headquarters in Bristol, Connecticut...
, and some of the regular talk shows at night and during weekends. KJR-AM is now the Puget Sound region's home of Fox Sports Radio
Fox Sports Radio
Fox Sports Radio, abbreviated FSR, is an international radio network consisting of sports talk programming. The network is a service of Premiere Networks...
.
It was Seattle's only all-sports talk radio station until 710 KIRO affiliated itself with ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
.
History
Originally, KJR was a pioneer Top 40 radio station owned by entertainer Danny KayeDanny Kaye
Danny Kaye was a celebrated American actor, singer, dancer, and comedian...
. KJR is the oldest station presently operating in Seattle, having been founded March 9, 1922. In the 1960s under the programming guidance of Pat O'Day
Pat O'Day
Pat O'Day is a Pacific Northwest broadcaster and promoter. He is probably best known as the afternoon drive personality at Seattle's KJR 950 in the 1960s, he would eventually become program director and general manager. He owned KYYX - FM 96.5 Radio in Seattle in the mid seventies and early...
, the station was top rated in Seattle and well known for introducing the Pacific Northwest to many recording stars such as Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter...
, the Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
, Merrilee Rush
Merrilee Rush
-Career:As a girl, Merrilee studied classical piano for 10 years. In 1960, Rush auditioned for a band, directed by her first husband, that played sock hops. Next, she was part of Merrilee and Her Men, doing covers of male pop hits. Then she joined a Seattle rhythm and blues group called Tiny Tony...
& The Turnabouts and the Ventures
The Ventures
The Ventures is an American instrumental rock band formed in 1958 in Tacoma, Washington. Founded by Don Wilson and Bob Bogle, the group in its various incarnations has had an enduring impact on the development of music worldwide. With over 100 million records sold, the group is the best-selling...
. Today, the call letters are used by KJR-FM
KJR-FM
KJR-FM is a Seattle, Washington,radio station that is broadcasting a classic hits format. It operates at 95.7 MHz at 98 kW, and also on the Internet via streaming audio. KJR-FM is owned by Clear Channel Communications, Inc.- KJR :...
, which broadcasts a format which includes many of the songs and shows (including original American Top 40
American Top 40
American Top 40 is an internationally syndicated, independent radio program created by Casey Kasem, Don Bustany, Tom Rounds and Ron Jacobs. Originally a production of Watermark Inc...
shows from the 1970s) from that era.
It was the number one top 40 station in Seattle during the 1960s and the 1970s. Competitors at the time included KING-AM
KPTK
KPTK is a Progressive talk radio station based in Seattle, Washington, broadcasting at 1090 kHz.Billing itself as "Seattle's Progressive Talk," KPTK broadcasts syndicated progressive/liberal talk programs hosted by personalities such as Ed Schultz, Mike Malloy, Randi Rhodes, Thom Hartmann, Rachel...
1090, and KIRO
KIRO
KIRO may refer to:* KIRO , a radio station licensed to Seattle, Washington, United States* KIRO-TV, a television station licensed to Seattle, Washington, United States...
710.
KJR would switch to adult contemporary in 1984. In 1986, the station shifted to oldies, playing the music that had made the station famous throughout the 1960's and 1970's.
KJR's shift to sports programming was a gradual evolution starting in 1989, when the station added some sports-themed shows in mid-days and afternoons. The rest of the music programming would be phased out in September of 1991.
On November 4, 2011
2011 in radio
The following events occurred in radio broadcasting in 2011.-Events:*January 1: 2 Knoxville stations change formats as WDLF and WYLV flip to K-LOVE and Air 1 , and a few Pittsburgh station change formats, as ESPN Radio moves from WEAE to WBGG, and Radio Disney moves from WWCS to the renamed WDDZ,...
, at 7 AM, KJR began simulcasting on 102.9 FM, replacing country
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
-formatted KNBQ
KNBQ
KNBQ is a sports talk formatted radio station serving the Seattle-Tacoma area. The station is licensed to Centralia, Washington. It became active in the 1990s...
. Clear Channel did not transfer the KJR-FM
KJR-FM
KJR-FM is a Seattle, Washington,radio station that is broadcasting a classic hits format. It operates at 95.7 MHz at 98 kW, and also on the Internet via streaming audio. KJR-FM is owned by Clear Channel Communications, Inc.- KJR :...
calls from 95.7 to 102.9, despite the 95.7 station being classic hits
Classic hits
Classic hits is a radio format which generally includes rock and pop music from 1964 to 1989. The term is sometimes erroneously used as a synonym for the adult hits format, but is more accurately characterized as a contemporary style of the oldies format...
.
Notable DJ's
A collection of some of the country's greatest air personalities entertained Seattle listeners like Larry LujackLarry Lujack
Larry Lujack , a Top 40 Music radio disc jockey, was known for his world-weary sarcastic style, "Klunk Letter of the Day" and darkly humorous "Animal Stories" along with "sidekick Little Tommy", and "Cheap Trashy Show Biz Report." He was also referred to as Superjock, Lawrence of Chicago, Uncle...
, Scotty Brink, Norm Gregory, Burl Barer
Burl Barer
Burl Barer is an American author and literary historian. He is best known for his fiction and non-fiction writings about the character Simon Templar, also known as "The Saint".-The Saint:...
, Pat O'Day
Pat O'Day
Pat O'Day is a Pacific Northwest broadcaster and promoter. He is probably best known as the afternoon drive personality at Seattle's KJR 950 in the 1960s, he would eventually become program director and general manager. He owned KYYX - FM 96.5 Radio in Seattle in the mid seventies and early...
, Eric Chase, Bob Shannon, "World Famous" Tom Murphy, Bobby Simon, Jerry Kaye, "Emperor" Lee Smith, Lan Roberts
Lan Roberts
Lan Roberts , was an American radio DJ. -Career:During the 1960s and 1970s, Roberts was a high-profile presenter with KJR in Seattle. Like many of the local DJs of the time, he left KJR for rival top 40 station KOL in a late 60s talent raid and returned to KJR in the early 70s...
, Robert O. Smith, Bwana Johnny, and sports commentator Chuck Bolland. Gary Lockwood "Lockjock, LJ the DJ" had the longest tenure as a jock on the "Mighty 95" from 1976-1991.
Sports
KJR served as the home of the Seattle SuperSonicsSeattle SuperSonics
The Seattle SuperSonics were an American professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington that played in the Pacific and Northwest Divisions of the National Basketball Association from 1967 until 2008. Following the 2007–08 season, the team relocated to Oklahoma City, and now plays as...
from 1987–2006.
This station also runs itself as "Home of the 12th Man", mainly during Seahawks season.
In 2002, Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
relief pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
Jeff Nelson had surgery to remove bone chips from his pitching elbow. During his weekly show with Dave "Softy" Mahler, Nelson announced he would attempt to sell his bone chips on eBay
EBay
eBay Inc. is an American internet consumer-to-consumer corporation that manages eBay.com, an online auction and shopping website in which people and businesses buy and sell a broad variety of goods and services worldwide...
. After earning bids as high as $23,600, eBay pulled the chips from auction.
In 2003, Seattle Storm
Seattle Storm
The Seattle Storm is a professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the 2000 season began...
point guard Sue Bird
Sue Bird
Suzanne Brigit "Sue" Bird is an American professional women's basketball player for the Seattle Storm and WBC Spartak Moscow Region....
made a bet with morning host Mitch Levy that gained national publicity. The bet was over Bird's season assist
Assist
-Sports:Several sports have a statistic known as an "assist", generally relating to action by a player leading to a score by another player on their team:*Assist , a pass by a player that facilitates a basket by another...
/turnover
Turnover
-Business:*Turnover is sometimes a synonym for revenue , especially in European and South African usage.Services sold by a company during a particular period of time....
ratio. If the ratio finished higher that 3:1, Bird agreed to be spanked by Levy on the air. If Bird won the bet, Levy agreed to purchase Storm season tickets. The bet was later amended to include Bird yelling "Harder, Daddy, Harder." The bet was ultimately called off by Bird. When asked at a later date, Tyler Orsborn (morning show producer at the time)suggested that Storm management were the real reason the bet was called off and not Bird.
During a 2006 radio interview with Dave "Softy" Mahler and former University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
quarterback Hugh Millen
Hugh Millen
Hugh Breedlove Millen is a former professional American football player who was selected by the Los Angeles Rams in the third round of the 1986 NFL Draft. A 6'5", 216-lb...
, then Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
head coach
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
Jim L. Mora
Jim L. Mora
James Lawrence "Jim" Mora is an American former NCAA defensive back and National Football League head coach. As of 2010, he is currently an analyst for the NFL Network....
said he'd be in the "friggin' head of the line" for the Washington Huskies
Washington Huskies
Washington Huskies is the nickname of the University of Washington's athletic teams. The school is a member of the Pacific-12 Conference. The athletic program is made up of 9 men's sports and 10 women's sports Washington Huskies is the nickname of the University of Washington's athletic teams. The...
football head coaching position, if it became available. Mora, who played for the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
, later said he was only kidding during the interview, but was still fired by the Falcons at the end of the season.
Recently, sports show host "Softy" began a feud with another sports show host in Salt Lake City, Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
after they argued about their predicted outcomes of the Washington vs. BYU game on September 5th, 2008. After arguing with Hans Olsen of Sports Radio 1280 The Zone, he had an on air meltdown where he claimed that he was going to choke Hans and repeatedly called him an idiot.
Schedule
Monday-Friday:- 5 AM-6 AM: Dick Fain
- 6 AM-10 AM: Mitch in the Morning
- 10 AM-1 PM: Dave "Softy" Mahler
- 1 PM-3 PM: Ian Furness
- 3 PM-7 PM: Mike "The Gasman" Gastineau
- 7 PM-10 PM: Elise Woodward
- 10 PM-5 AM: Fox Sports RadioFox Sports RadioFox Sports Radio, abbreviated FSR, is an international radio network consisting of sports talk programming. The network is a service of Premiere Networks...
Weekends:
- Program schedule varies
External links
- Sports Radio 950 & 102.9 KJR
- The Puget Sound Radio Broadcasters Association - KJR History
- Kent Burkhart - I Was There, #4