KXOK (AM)
Encyclopedia
KXOK was a radio station
in St. Louis, Missouri
, which helped pioneer the Top 40 radio format in the early-1960s.
KXOK broadcast on the 630 kHz frequency with 5,000 watts of power and reached a substantial portion of eastern Missouri and southern Illinois during daytime hours. At night, the power was 5,000 watts as well, but with a more directional signal, sending a strong signal into the immediate St. Louis metro area, from KXOK's three tower site just outside Granite City, Illinois
.
as part of the Storz family of stations (other stations in the group included WHB
in nearby Kansas City, WQAM in Miami, WTIX
in New Orleans, KOMA in Oklahoma City, and WDGY
in Minneapolis-St. Paul). During the mid-60's KXOK was one of the two dominant radio stations in the St. Louis market, along with KMOX. KXOK was so successful during this period, that its Top 40 competitor, WIL (AM 1430) dropped pop music in 1967, and switched to country music
. http://630kxok.stlmedia.net/
, Johnny Rabbitt aka Ron Elz, Peter Martin
, Shad O'Shea, William A. Hopkins, Johnny Rabbitt aka Don Pietromonaco
, Don Shafer, Delcia Devon, Louise Harrison Caldwell (Beatle George Harrison's sister), Lou Cooley
, Davey O'Donnell, Peter Martin, Keith Morris, Richard Ward Fatherley and Bob Shannon.
Other outstanding personalities of the 1970's included Jerry Butler, Jack Mindy, Craig Roberts and Scott Sherwood, The news staff included veteran reporters Bob Shea, Robert R. Lynn and Steven B. Stevens. It was under the leadership of Station Operations Manager Bud Connell and program directors Ray Otis and Mort Crowley that KXOK became one of the highest-rated stations in the country.
Many of the station's DJ's over the years went on to successful careers as national talk show hosts, television news anchors, actors and nationally known freelance talent. Danny Dark
became the Voice of NBC
-TV, a post he held for an entire generation.
(now known as KYKY), KXOK went through several format
changes starting in circa 1975, including talk
and oldies
. As of March 2008, KZQZ-AM 1430 in St. Louis is referring to itself as the new KXOK, playing an oldies
format.
in Enid, Oklahoma
. The 630 kHz frequency in St. Louis has been used by KJSL
, a Christian talk radio station since the sale of the station in 1994.
"Jumpin' Joe" Madigan, an oldies DJ from Cleveland produces a special one hour edition "Retro Radio" tribute to KXOK and other Top 40 stations from the 1960s on The Oldies Super Highway,an online station. Madigan also hosts a live version of his program on Saturday afternoons on the online stream of the website of WJCU
a campus FM station in the Cleveland area.
, a Christian talk 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...
in St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
, which helped pioneer the Top 40 radio format in the early-1960s.
KXOK broadcast on the 630 kHz frequency with 5,000 watts of power and reached a substantial portion of eastern Missouri and southern Illinois during daytime hours. At night, the power was 5,000 watts as well, but with a more directional signal, sending a strong signal into the immediate St. Louis metro area, from KXOK's three tower site just outside Granite City, Illinois
Granite City, Illinois
Granite City is a city in Madison County, Illinois, United States, part of the Greater St. Louis metropolitan area. At the 2010 census, the population was 29,849, making it the third largest city in the Metro-East and Southern Illinois, behind Alton and Belleville...
.
History
Nicknamed "The Sound and the Spirit of St. Louis" and "The Fun Spot," KXOK was one of several stations owned by Todd StorzTodd Storz
Robert Todd Storz is credited with being the father of the Top 40 radio format, which Gordon McLendon then went on to perfect with great commercial success during the 1950s and 1960s.-Biography:...
as part of the Storz family of stations (other stations in the group included WHB
WHB
WHB is a commercial sports radio station in Kansas City, Missouri, and is known as the first full-time Top 40 station in the country...
in nearby Kansas City, WQAM in Miami, WTIX
WIST (AM)
WIST is a combo news/sports talk station based in New Orleans, Louisiana. The locally owned & operated station is an affiliate of Fox Sports Radio and broadcasts at 690 kHz with a power level of 10,000 watts daytime and 5,000 watts nighttime.The facilities of the station, previously called...
in New Orleans, KOMA in Oklahoma City, and WDGY
WDGY
WREY is a Spanish-language radio station with studios located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is licensed to Saint Paul, Minnesota, although it was licensed to Hudson, Wisconsin from 1997 to 2005. It is a full market coverage radio station of Minneapolis/St.Paul...
in Minneapolis-St. Paul). During the mid-60's KXOK was one of the two dominant radio stations in the St. Louis market, along with KMOX. KXOK was so successful during this period, that its Top 40 competitor, WIL (AM 1430) dropped pop music in 1967, and switched to 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...
. http://630kxok.stlmedia.net/
Top 40 DJ's
A number of legendary air personalities graced the KXOK airwaves during the station's glory years 1including Ray Otis, Mort Crowley, Danny DarkDanny Dark
Danny Dark was widely acknowledged in the commercial industry as the voice-over king. For nearly four decades, he embedded pop culture with memorable lines in advertisements for Budweiser , Raid Ant & Roach Killer and StarKist Tuna...
, Johnny Rabbitt aka Ron Elz, Peter Martin
Peter Martin
Peter James Martin is an English former cricketer who played in 8 Tests and 20 ODIs for England from 1995 to 1998.Nicknamed "Digger", Martin was primarily a fast-medium swing bowler...
, Shad O'Shea, William A. Hopkins, Johnny Rabbitt aka Don Pietromonaco
Don Pietromonaco
Donald Stephen Pietromonaco was a Child Actor, award-winning radio personality and voice actor whose career would span more than 47 years.-Early Years:...
, Don Shafer, Delcia Devon, Louise Harrison Caldwell (Beatle George Harrison's sister), Lou Cooley
Lou Cooley
Lou Cooley was a cowboy, and alleged gunfighter who took part in the Earp-Clanton feud in Tombstone, AZ from 1880-1882.-Biography:Cooley's reputation as a gunfighter is mostly hearsay. In fact, there are no known gunfights involving Cooley. The one confirmed fact is that he was one of the suspects...
, Davey O'Donnell, Peter Martin, Keith Morris, Richard Ward Fatherley and Bob Shannon.
Other outstanding personalities of the 1970's included Jerry Butler, Jack Mindy, Craig Roberts and Scott Sherwood, The news staff included veteran reporters Bob Shea, Robert R. Lynn and Steven B. Stevens. It was under the leadership of Station Operations Manager Bud Connell and program directors Ray Otis and Mort Crowley that KXOK became one of the highest-rated stations in the country.
Many of the station's DJ's over the years went on to successful careers as national talk show hosts, television news anchors, actors and nationally known freelance talent. Danny Dark
Danny Dark
Danny Dark was widely acknowledged in the commercial industry as the voice-over king. For nearly four decades, he embedded pop culture with memorable lines in advertisements for Budweiser , Raid Ant & Roach Killer and StarKist Tuna...
became the Voice of NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
-TV, a post he held for an entire generation.
End of an era
With the departure of key air talents and the advent of Top 40 music on FM, most notably from KSLQKYKY
KYKY, originally known as KSTL-FM, KRCH and later, KSLQ-FM prior to October 1, 1982, is an FM radio station serving the St. Louis, Missouri radio market. The current format of the station is Adult Top 40. It operates at 98.1 MHz. KYKY is owned by CBS Radio, which also owns soft rock station...
(now known as KYKY), KXOK went through several format
Radio format
A radio format or programming format not to be confused with broadcast programming describes the overall content broadcast on a radio station. Radio formats are frequently employed as a marketing tool, and constantly evolve...
changes starting in circa 1975, including 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...
and oldies
Oldies
Oldies is a term commonly used to describe a radio format that concentrates on music from a period of about 15 to 55 years before the present day....
. As of March 2008, KZQZ-AM 1430 in St. Louis is referring to itself as the new KXOK, playing an oldies
Oldies
Oldies is a term commonly used to describe a radio format that concentrates on music from a period of about 15 to 55 years before the present day....
format.
Other uses
The call letters are also used for a low-power television station, KXOK-LPKXOK-LP
KXOK-LP is a low-power television station in Enid, Oklahoma, broadcasting locally in analog on UHF channel 32 and digitally as KXOK-LD on VHF channel 31 as an affiliate of both the Pursuit Channel and America One....
in Enid, Oklahoma
Enid, Oklahoma
Enid is a city in Garfield County, Oklahoma, United States. In 2010, the population was 49,379, making it the ninth largest city in Oklahoma. It is the county seat of Garfield County. Enid was founded during the opening of the Cherokee Outlet in the Land Run of 1893, and is named after Enid, a...
. The 630 kHz frequency in St. Louis has been used by KJSL
KJSL
KJSL is a Christian talk radio station broadcasting from St. Louis, Missouri.- Overview :Owned and operated by Crawford Broadcasting Company, KJSL is one of 26 radio stations owned by Crawford Broadcasting. This frequency was formerly used by KXOK, the pioneer of the Top 40 radio format in the...
, a Christian talk radio station since the sale of the station in 1994.
"Jumpin' Joe" Madigan, an oldies DJ from Cleveland produces a special one hour edition "Retro Radio" tribute to KXOK and other Top 40 stations from the 1960s on The Oldies Super Highway,an online station. Madigan also hosts a live version of his program on Saturday afternoons on the online stream of the website of WJCU
WJCU
WJCU is a non-commercial FM radio station at John Carroll University in University Heights, Ohio, United States, broadcasting at 88.7 MHz. WJCU broadcasts 24 hours a day, 365 days a year in the Cleveland area and online...
a campus FM station in the Cleveland area.
The frequency today
The 630 AM frequency in St. Louis today is used by KJSLKJSL
KJSL is a Christian talk radio station broadcasting from St. Louis, Missouri.- Overview :Owned and operated by Crawford Broadcasting Company, KJSL is one of 26 radio stations owned by Crawford Broadcasting. This frequency was formerly used by KXOK, the pioneer of the Top 40 radio format in the...
, a Christian talk station.