KNTH
Encyclopedia
KNTH AM is a news
/talk
radio station
serving the Houston, Texas
metropolitan area. It is owned by Salem Communications
.
The station broadcasts syndicated programing on the weekdays such as Morning in America
(hosted by former Reagan
Education Secretary Bill Bennett), The Mike Gallagher Show
, Dennis Prager
, Michael Medved
, Hugh Hewitt
, and Bloomberg On The Money
. Weekends feature locally produced programs on a multitude of topics, including gardening with "The Dirt Doctor" Howard Garrett, home improvement with "House Talk Today with Chris Miles", as well as nationally syndicated shows on health, real-estate and other non-political topics. The station also broadcasts games of the Houston Aeros
of the American Hockey League
, and Baylor University Football.
was a country music
radio station.
The station first signed on in January 1968
as a 5,000-watt daytimer, owned by Bill Edwards of Saginaw, Mich. In 1972
, the station began broadcasting 24 hours a day and increased its power to 10,000 watts daytime and 5,000 watts at night.
DJs on "Keener" Country in the early days included Eddie Kilroy, who went on to become a prominent country music record producer in Nashville, and Jacky Ward
, who subsequently scored country hits of his own with songs such as "Fools Fall In Love" and "Big Blue Diamond
."
When KENR started broadcasting 24 hours in 1972, Leroy J. Gloger, then-owner of KIKK
, was concerned about the fate of his station, so he sold it to Sonderling Broadcasting. In the meantime, KNUZ
's owner, Dave Morris, who felt his station was losing a Top 40 turf war with KILT
and was also being hurt by KULF
, so he flipped the station's format to "Country Fresh Kay-News" in 1973
. However, according to Houston radio vet Chuck Tiller, KNUZ at its best was a "punch", meaning that if you didn't like what KENR or KIKK were playing, you might "punch" your button for KNUZ as a second choice.
By 1973, KENR was a big success, becoming the first major-market country station to be ranked #1 in all demographic groups 12-years-old and older. DJ and music director "Dr. Bruce" Nelson (now known as "Dr. Bruce" Nelson Stratton) had a hand in this and, accordingly, was named Gavin Music Director of the Year in 1974.
Allegedly, the station helped boost the careers of Mickey Gilley
, Freddy Fender
, Johnny Lee
and Gene Watson
. Despite one #68 U.S. country chart hit ("Now I Can Live Again") in 1968, Gilley was essentially a local Houston-area artist when, in 1974, he cut a single, "She Called Me Baby", to be distributed in jukeboxes around the adjacent city of Pasadena, Texas. Nelson found the record, flipped it over and played the B-side on the air. The song, "Room Full Of Roses", became a hit, Playboy Records
picked it up and it became the first of sixteen #1 country chart hits for Gilley.
Nelson also started, on KENR, the first live broadcast from Gilley's nightclub, the "Saturday Night Special", which evolved into the syndicated "Live at Gilley's" show that was popular during the "Urban Cowboy
" craze.
The liner notes of Watson's 1975 album "Love In the Hot Afternoon" includes the statement, "We at Capitol Records
owe a debt of gratitude to radio stations KENR, KIKK and KNUS (sic; this should read KNUZ) in Houston for their part in exposing the talents of Gene Watson ..." The album included three country hits, including "You Could Know As Much About A Stranger."
Around 1976-77, KENR's DJ lineup included morning man "Buffalo Bill" Bailey (whose schtick included appearances by Ezra Brooks and other denizens of the Let It Pour Lounge); late-morning DJ Hal McClain (whose schtick included call-in sessions by "Granny"); early-afternoon DJ Mike Cannon; and Bruce Nelson in afternoon drive. (Bailey later became a Harris Co., Texas, constable.)By the way, Mike Cannon went on to become director of communications for The Houston Astros baseball organization and was referred to affectionately on the game broadcasts by legendary announcer, Milo Hamilton, as "Mike, the loose Cannon".
Other DJs during KENR's tenure included John Dew (1977), Howard Reynolds (1980), Frank Roberts (1981) and Jim Rose (1981). Additionally, helicopter traffic reporter "Chopper Bill" Waldrop worked there in 1981 as well. Another Jock of note was Sonny Ray Stolz (1977–1981) who was Houston's first FM Country DJ, having signed on KIKK-FM in September, 1966 and had a 14-point rating share. Sonny became the voice of Big Tex for The State Fair of Texas after statewide announcer competition in 2001. While at KENR, Sonny Ray Stolz produced 'The Original Home Grown Show' which featured strictly Texas music and Texas artists, a ground-breaking concept which spawned several imitators across the state. However, KENR was the first to provide this forum.
Circa 1979-80, KENR management brought in a "Yankee" to become program director in the form of one Joe Formicolla. At times he also filled in on-air. And, although his distinct "northern" accent was a handicap for being on-air in Texas country music, Formicolla did bring the concept of dropping interesting trivia into the course of an air shift, requiring all jocks to do likewise. They actually read items from sources such as The National Enquirer, etc. Formicolla left KENR circa 1981 and later was awarded Country Music DJ of the Year by the Country Music Association and recognized during its annual awards TV program from Nashville.
In 1981, KILT-AM changed formats to country from top 40; longtime album-rock sister KILT-FM followed suit. Additionally, nationwide, music on AM was fading at that time. (One exception, albeit an off-topic one, was the success of KKBQ-AM Houston—once known as KULF—for a time starting in mid-1982.)
KENR responded by becoming "Keener Country Gold." But it was being seriously hurt by KIKK-FM and both versions of KILT.
In 1982
the new management of Lake Huron flipped KENR's format again to news/talk as "The Radio Magazine, KENR." Former KNUZ air personality Joe Ford became morning man, Chuck Scott from channel 39 KHTV (now KIAH) did news and former New Yorker Peggy Crone handled entertainment news. John Greer and Mark Seegers did sports. Mike Shiloh was also on the staff as well. The station also carried Houston Astros play-by-play. And Bob Stephenson aired an outdoors show at 4 a.m. Aside from news, talk and sports, the station also programmed pre-rock standards music. Former KNUZ air personality Chuck Tiller was on the afternoon shift 2 p.m.-6 p.m. By November 1982, the station's music changed to light adult contemporary. The call letters were changed to KRBE on January 1, 1983. It became the Radio Magazine KRBE. By spring, Houston Astros ballgames were simulcast on KRBE-FM. The radio magazine ceased in June 1983.
AM 1070 subsequently went through periodic format changes, occasionally simulcasting sister KRBE (which, by the way, flipped back to top 40 in late 1984) and, at other times, airing such formats as classic rock and hard rock.
In November 1986
, Susquehanna Radio purchased KRBE as well as AM 1070, which by then was known for its as classic rock format. The format floundered by mid-87 and returned to a simulcast of KRBE-FM until early 1988 when it began running the Satellite Music Network, hard rock format "Z-Rock" under the KKZR callsign. Susquehanna changed 1070's call letters back to KRBE on January 1, 1991 and went back to simulcasting the FM when its agreement with SNM ended.
The station briefly took on the KCRR ("Community Recall Radio") calls when Susquehanna sold time to a religious broadcaster in 1993, but fell through within four months. The KRBE calls and simulcast returned.
In April 1994, the KENR callsign was restored and the station was sold.
Salem Communications
purchased KENR in the mid 1990's and broadcast brokered ethnic programming. In 2000, Salem sold KKHT 106.9 (now KHPT) to Cox broadcasting for $80 million dollars, plus five other Cox radio stations in other cities. Salem moved the Christian talk format and call letters to AM 1070 and became 1070 The Word, KKHT. In 2002, Salem purchased 100.7 FM from Univision
and moved the Christian talk format and call letters to 100.7. Thus, it became 100.7 The Word, KKHT. Salem flipped AM 1070 to the Salem news/talk format as "Newstalk 1070 KNTH". Former KNUZ and KILT air personality Chuck Tiller is the morning announcer on KNTH. He also does local news commentary on Bill Bennett's "Morning In America."
News Radio
News Radio can refer to:* NewsRadio, the NBC sitcom which aired from 1995–1999.* News radio, the all-news or news/talk radio format....
/talk
Talk radio
Talk radio is a radio format containing discussion about topical issues. Most shows are regularly hosted by a single individual, and often feature interviews with a number of different guests. Talk radio typically includes an element of listener participation, usually by broadcasting live...
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...
serving the Houston, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
metropolitan area. It is owned by Salem Communications
Salem Communications
Salem Communications is a U.S. radio broadcaster, Internet content provider, and magazine and book publisher specializing in evangelical Christian and conservative political talk radio. It owns 99 commercial radio stations, 65 of which are in the top 25 markets. Salem is the fifth largest U.S....
.
The station broadcasts syndicated programing on the weekdays such as Morning in America
Morning in America
"Morning in America" is the common name of an effective political campaign television commercial formally titled "Prouder, Stronger, Better" and featuring the opening line "It's morning again in America." The ad was part of the 1984 U.S. presidential campaign of Republican Party candidate Ronald...
(hosted by former Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
Education Secretary Bill Bennett), The Mike Gallagher Show
Mike Gallagher
Mike Gallagheris an American radio host and conservative political commentator. He is the host of The Mike Gallagher Show, a nationally-syndicated radio program that airs throughout the United States on Salem Radio Network and is also a FOX News Channel Contributor and guest host...
, Dennis Prager
Dennis Prager
Dennis Prager is an American syndicated radio talk show host, syndicated columnist, author, and public speaker. He is noted for his conservative political and social views emanating from conservative Judeo-Christian values. He holds that there is an "American Trinity" of essential principles,...
, Michael Medved
Michael Medved
Michael Medved is an American radio host, author, political commentator and film critic. His Seattle, Washington-based nationally syndicated talk show, The Michael Medved Show, airs throughout the U.S...
, Hugh Hewitt
Hugh Hewitt
Hugh Hewitt is an American radio talk show host with the Salem Radio Network, lawyer, academic, and author. An outspoken Republican, evangelical Christian, he comments on society, politics, and media bias in the United States. Hewitt is also a law professor at Chapman University School of Law.-...
, and Bloomberg On The Money
Bloomberg L.P.
Bloomberg L.P. is an American privately held financial software, media, and data company. Bloomberg makes up one third of the $16 billion global financial data market with estimated revenue of $6.9 billion. Bloomberg L.P...
. Weekends feature locally produced programs on a multitude of topics, including gardening with "The Dirt Doctor" Howard Garrett, home improvement with "House Talk Today with Chris Miles", as well as nationally syndicated shows on health, real-estate and other non-political topics. The station also broadcasts games of the Houston Aeros
Houston Aeros
The Houston Aeros are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. The team plays in Houston, Texas, at the Toyota Center. They are the AHL affiliate of the NHL's Minnesota Wild.- History :...
of the American Hockey League
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
, and Baylor University Football.
History
During the 1970s, 1070 AM KENR Houston, TexasTexas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
was a country music
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...
radio station.
The station first signed on in January 1968
1968 in radio
The year 1968 in radio involved some significant events.-Events:* 1 February: WABX Detroit drops classical music to air progressive rock/freeform full-time....
as a 5,000-watt daytimer, owned by Bill Edwards of Saginaw, Mich. In 1972
1972 in radio
The year 1972 in radio involved some significant events.-Events:*Bill and Becky Ann Stewart sell WPBC and WPBC-FM, both of Richfield, Minnesota, to Fairchild Industries. Later that year, both stations become WYOO....
, the station began broadcasting 24 hours a day and increased its power to 10,000 watts daytime and 5,000 watts at night.
DJs on "Keener" Country in the early days included Eddie Kilroy, who went on to become a prominent country music record producer in Nashville, and Jacky Ward
Jacky Ward
Jacky Ward is an American country music artist. Between 1972 and 1982, he recorded four albums for Mercury Records, and charted more than fifteen singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles Jacky Ward (born November 18, 1946 in Groveton, Texas) is an American country music artist. Between 1972...
, who subsequently scored country hits of his own with songs such as "Fools Fall In Love" and "Big Blue Diamond
Big Blue Diamonds
"Big Blue Diamonds" is a song written by Earl J. Carson in 1950 and published by Lois Music, BMI. It was first recorded by Red Perkins and originally issued as a 78rpm single on King Records #903 b/w "Rag Man Boogie" in 1950...
."
When KENR started broadcasting 24 hours in 1972, Leroy J. Gloger, then-owner of KIKK
KIKK
KIKK is a daytime-only station in the Houston, Texas area and broadcasts a news/talk radio format under ownership of CBS Radio. Despite different owners, KIKK and KHOU-TV maintain a strong partnership ....
, was concerned about the fate of his station, so he sold it to Sonderling Broadcasting. In the meantime, KNUZ
KQUE
KQUE is a radio station in Houston, Texas. The station brand is "Radio Ranchito". The radio station began in 1948 when KTHT vacated this frequency for a stronger signal at 790 kHz....
's owner, Dave Morris, who felt his station was losing a Top 40 turf war with KILT
KILT (AM)
KILT is a Sports/Talk formatted radio station in the Houston, Texas, metropolitan area. The station is currently owned by CBS Radio. KILT shares its call letters with sister station 100.3 FM, a country music station....
and was also being hurt by KULF
KBME (AM)
KBME AM is a sports-talk radio station in the Houston, Texas metropolitan area. It is currently owned by Clear Channel Communications. The station airs local sports-talk every weekday from 6am until 9pm and carries nationally syndicated Fox Sports Radio programming.-History:The station first went...
, so he flipped the station's format to "Country Fresh Kay-News" in 1973
1973 in radio
The year 1973 saw a number of significant events in radio broadcasting.-Events:*15 October – Dutch public-broadcasting station Hilversum 3 begins round-the-clock transmission....
. However, according to Houston radio vet Chuck Tiller, KNUZ at its best was a "punch", meaning that if you didn't like what KENR or KIKK were playing, you might "punch" your button for KNUZ as a second choice.
By 1973, KENR was a big success, becoming the first major-market country station to be ranked #1 in all demographic groups 12-years-old and older. DJ and music director "Dr. Bruce" Nelson (now known as "Dr. Bruce" Nelson Stratton) had a hand in this and, accordingly, was named Gavin Music Director of the Year in 1974.
Allegedly, the station helped boost the careers of Mickey Gilley
Mickey Gilley
Mickey Leroy Gilley is an American country music singer and musician. Although he started out singing straight-up country and western material in the 1970s, he moved towards a more pop-friendly sound in the 1980s, bringing him further success on not just the country charts, but the pop charts as...
, Freddy Fender
Freddy Fender
Freddy Fender , born Baldemar Garza Huerta in San Benito, Texas, United States, was a Mexican-American Tejano, country and rock and roll musician, known for his work as a solo artist and in the groups Los Super Seven and the Texas Tornados...
, Johnny Lee
Johnny Lee
Johnny Lee is an American country music singer. His 1980 single, "Lookin' for Love" not only spent three weeks at the top of the Billboard country singles chart in the second half of 1980 but also went to the Top 5 on the Pop charts, and Top 10 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary survey...
and Gene Watson
Gene Watson
Gary Gene Watson is an American country singer. He is most famous for his 1975 hit "Love in the Hot Afternoon," his 1982 hit "Fourteen Carat Mind," and his signature song "Farewell Party." Watson's long career has notched six number ones, 23 top tens and over 75 charted singles.-Biography:Watson...
. Despite one #68 U.S. country chart hit ("Now I Can Live Again") in 1968, Gilley was essentially a local Houston-area artist when, in 1974, he cut a single, "She Called Me Baby", to be distributed in jukeboxes around the adjacent city of Pasadena, Texas. Nelson found the record, flipped it over and played the B-side on the air. The song, "Room Full Of Roses", became a hit, Playboy Records
Playboy Records
Playboy Records was a record label in Los Angeles, California, and a unit of Playboy Enterprises. Artists recording for the label included Barbi Benton, Blue Ash, Bobby Taylor and the Vancouvers, Brenda Patterson, Jeanne French , Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds, Ivory, Wynn Stewart, Mickey Gilley...
picked it up and it became the first of sixteen #1 country chart hits for Gilley.
Nelson also started, on KENR, the first live broadcast from Gilley's nightclub, the "Saturday Night Special", which evolved into the syndicated "Live at Gilley's" show that was popular during the "Urban Cowboy
Urban Cowboy
Released as a 2× vinyl record album, re-released on CD in 1995.Side A:#Hello Texas – Jimmy Buffett #All Night Long – Joe Walsh #Times Like These – Dan Fogelberg #Nine Tonight – Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band...
" craze.
The liner notes of Watson's 1975 album "Love In the Hot Afternoon" includes the statement, "We at Capitol Records
Capitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
owe a debt of gratitude to radio stations KENR, KIKK and KNUS (sic; this should read KNUZ) in Houston for their part in exposing the talents of Gene Watson ..." The album included three country hits, including "You Could Know As Much About A Stranger."
Around 1976-77, KENR's DJ lineup included morning man "Buffalo Bill" Bailey (whose schtick included appearances by Ezra Brooks and other denizens of the Let It Pour Lounge); late-morning DJ Hal McClain (whose schtick included call-in sessions by "Granny"); early-afternoon DJ Mike Cannon; and Bruce Nelson in afternoon drive. (Bailey later became a Harris Co., Texas, constable.)By the way, Mike Cannon went on to become director of communications for The Houston Astros baseball organization and was referred to affectionately on the game broadcasts by legendary announcer, Milo Hamilton, as "Mike, the loose Cannon".
Other DJs during KENR's tenure included John Dew (1977), Howard Reynolds (1980), Frank Roberts (1981) and Jim Rose (1981). Additionally, helicopter traffic reporter "Chopper Bill" Waldrop worked there in 1981 as well. Another Jock of note was Sonny Ray Stolz (1977–1981) who was Houston's first FM Country DJ, having signed on KIKK-FM in September, 1966 and had a 14-point rating share. Sonny became the voice of Big Tex for The State Fair of Texas after statewide announcer competition in 2001. While at KENR, Sonny Ray Stolz produced 'The Original Home Grown Show' which featured strictly Texas music and Texas artists, a ground-breaking concept which spawned several imitators across the state. However, KENR was the first to provide this forum.
Circa 1979-80, KENR management brought in a "Yankee" to become program director in the form of one Joe Formicolla. At times he also filled in on-air. And, although his distinct "northern" accent was a handicap for being on-air in Texas country music, Formicolla did bring the concept of dropping interesting trivia into the course of an air shift, requiring all jocks to do likewise. They actually read items from sources such as The National Enquirer, etc. Formicolla left KENR circa 1981 and later was awarded Country Music DJ of the Year by the Country Music Association and recognized during its annual awards TV program from Nashville.
In 1981, KILT-AM changed formats to country from top 40; longtime album-rock sister KILT-FM followed suit. Additionally, nationwide, music on AM was fading at that time. (One exception, albeit an off-topic one, was the success of KKBQ-AM Houston—once known as KULF—for a time starting in mid-1982.)
KENR responded by becoming "Keener Country Gold." But it was being seriously hurt by KIKK-FM and both versions of KILT.
In 1982
1982 in radio
The year 1982 in radio involved some significant events.-Events:*23 July - KDKA-AM in Pittsburgh, becomes the first AM station to broadcast in Stereo sound....
the new management of Lake Huron flipped KENR's format again to news/talk as "The Radio Magazine, KENR." Former KNUZ air personality Joe Ford became morning man, Chuck Scott from channel 39 KHTV (now KIAH) did news and former New Yorker Peggy Crone handled entertainment news. John Greer and Mark Seegers did sports. Mike Shiloh was also on the staff as well. The station also carried Houston Astros play-by-play. And Bob Stephenson aired an outdoors show at 4 a.m. Aside from news, talk and sports, the station also programmed pre-rock standards music. Former KNUZ air personality Chuck Tiller was on the afternoon shift 2 p.m.-6 p.m. By November 1982, the station's music changed to light adult contemporary. The call letters were changed to KRBE on January 1, 1983. It became the Radio Magazine KRBE. By spring, Houston Astros ballgames were simulcast on KRBE-FM. The radio magazine ceased in June 1983.
AM 1070 subsequently went through periodic format changes, occasionally simulcasting sister KRBE (which, by the way, flipped back to top 40 in late 1984) and, at other times, airing such formats as classic rock and hard rock.
In November 1986
1986 in radio
The year 1986 saw a number of significant events in radio broadcasting.-Events:*January 18 – The syndicated "American Country Countdown" expands from three to four hours. Much like "American Top 40" had more than seven years earlier, several new features are added, including a weekly recap of three...
, Susquehanna Radio purchased KRBE as well as AM 1070, which by then was known for its as classic rock format. The format floundered by mid-87 and returned to a simulcast of KRBE-FM until early 1988 when it began running the Satellite Music Network, hard rock format "Z-Rock" under the KKZR callsign. Susquehanna changed 1070's call letters back to KRBE on January 1, 1991 and went back to simulcasting the FM when its agreement with SNM ended.
The station briefly took on the KCRR ("Community Recall Radio") calls when Susquehanna sold time to a religious broadcaster in 1993, but fell through within four months. The KRBE calls and simulcast returned.
In April 1994, the KENR callsign was restored and the station was sold.
Salem Communications
Salem Communications
Salem Communications is a U.S. radio broadcaster, Internet content provider, and magazine and book publisher specializing in evangelical Christian and conservative political talk radio. It owns 99 commercial radio stations, 65 of which are in the top 25 markets. Salem is the fifth largest U.S....
purchased KENR in the mid 1990's and broadcast brokered ethnic programming. In 2000, Salem sold KKHT 106.9 (now KHPT) to Cox broadcasting for $80 million dollars, plus five other Cox radio stations in other cities. Salem moved the Christian talk format and call letters to AM 1070 and became 1070 The Word, KKHT. In 2002, Salem purchased 100.7 FM from Univision
Univision
Univision is a Spanish-language television network in the United States. It has the largest audience of Spanish language television viewers according to Nielsen ratings. Randy Falco, COO, has been in charge of the company since the departure of Univision Communications president and CEO Joe Uva...
and moved the Christian talk format and call letters to 100.7. Thus, it became 100.7 The Word, KKHT. Salem flipped AM 1070 to the Salem news/talk format as "Newstalk 1070 KNTH". Former KNUZ and KILT air personality Chuck Tiller is the morning announcer on KNTH. He also does local news commentary on Bill Bennett's "Morning In America."