JERRY HENDRICKS
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Top Ten Radio Stations Rather than ranking, I'll do this one chronologically since each station was the most important at a particular time. |
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~ 1958-1964 |
WKBW 1520 AM Buffalo NY |
Aircheck |
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My first recollection of listening to the radio was in Ray Nitschke's basement growing up in Buffalo (neighbor, not the football player). Rock and Roll had just been released on the world and I clearly remember listening to Great Balls of Fire by Jerry Lee Lewis. KB had switched from a religious station to Top 40, and after a move to Delaware in 1959, became my lifeline to my birthplace. Broadcasting at 50,000 watts, I could clearly pick it up on my transistor radio which played next to my pillow every night. I never actually melted purple wax on my radio dial nor officially joined The Royal Order of the Night People, but Joey Reynolds initiated my lifelong love of radio. | |
1963-1967 |
WAMS 1380 AM Wilmington DE | Aircheck |
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The choice for Top 40 in Delaware was WAMS which was my station during the high school years. One of my earliest collections consisted of tracking down the latest Top 40 survey every Saturday morning. They could usually be found at Almart, but I think I picked up most at Putt-Putt playing with Dave Barber and Jimmy Taylor. On the to do list is scanning and posting that collection. memorable DJ's included Dean Tyler, Roger Holmes, and for a short time Hy Lit. | |
1961-1966 |
WIBG 990 AM Philadelphia | Aircheck |
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I didn't listen often when it was an AM station, but it goes down in Philadelphia history as one o the great Rock and Roll stations. "Wibbage" claimed Philly legends Joe Niagara, Jerry Blavat and Hy Lit. Listened more often once it moved to FM and became on oldies station. | |
1966-1971 |
WFIL 560 AM Philadelphia | Aircheck |
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While the car radio was usually tuned to WAMS,in 1966, Philly created stiff competition with this Top 40 station. Memorable DJ's included Diamond Jim Nettleton, King George Michael, Long John Wade, Dr. Don Rose and Jim O'Brien. Dick Clark got his start on the station, but that was before my time. One unfortuante experiment that failed badly was bring my favorite DJ from Buffalo to WFIL in 1983. He had a terrible apttitude rervealing that he just didn't want to play oldies anymore. He was canned quickly, and here is an example. Today "Famous 56" is a Christian station. | |
1968-1975 |
WMMR 93.3 Philadelphia | Aircheck |
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In the spring of 1968, I was cruising our fancy new FM radio and stumbled upon Dave Herman's "Marconi Experiment" and radio suddenly entered the entirely new era of Underground Radio. Hi-fi sound and album tracks never heard on AM radio. Soon followed by Michael Cuscuna and Michael Tearson , but perfected by Ed Sciaky who introduced us to Billy Joel, Yes, and Bruce Springsteen. Carrying on today are two alumni David Dye and Nick Spitzer (see below). | |
1975-1982 |
WIOQ 102 Philadelphia | Aircheck |
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I left WMMR behind when it started to present a harder edge, and followed favorite DJ's David Dye and Ed Sciaky to WIOQ. In addition they had John Harvey ("Harvey in the Morning") and Helen Leicht who was the first to host a show called "Breakfast With The Beatles" on Sunday mornings. Both David Dye and Helen Light would later move to WXPN (below). Harvey would occasionally DJ at an upstairs restaurant (name?) in Newark. | |
1968-present |
WHEN/WDRB/WXDR/WVUD 91.3 Newark, DE | Listen Live |
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While I spent most of college listening to what was to become Classic Rock, I would occasionally get bored and turn to the campus radio station. Now on it's 4th moniker, it has consistently offered music found nowhere else, especially the shows Roots and Green Willow for folk and celtic tunes, and Crazy College for the best in novelty songs. Notable Dj's over the years include George Stewart, Jerry Grant, Ron Smith, Even Steven and the late Suzi Wollenberg and Bill Chambless. | |
~ 1980 - present |
WHYY 90.9 Philadelphia | Listen Live |
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Can't actually remember when I became a regular listener. It seemed to grow on me gradually, lured in by All Things Considered and A Prairie Home Companion. Now the commute to work almost always includes Morning Edition going in and All Things Considered going home. Rarely listen at home, but if in the car on weekends, the radio is usually tuned to Car Talk, Fresh Air, Wait, Wait Don't Tell Me, You Bet Your Garden, This American Life, American Routes and A Prairie Home Companion. I said I wasn't going to rank stations, but I have surely spent more time here than with any other. | |
~ 1995 - present |
WXPN 88.5 Philadelphia | Listen Live |
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Again unsure of when I became a listener, but judging from my collection of Live at The World Cafe CD's, it's been many years. Great source of Adult Alternative music and home of nationally syndicated Live At The World Cafe with previously mentioned WMMR alumnus, David Dye. Sadly, I let my membership lapse since at home and in the office, I'm listening to iTunes, both streaming and mp3's. Still catch in the car occasionally though. | |
2013 - present |
Streaming Radio - iTunes, Spotify, Pandora | iTunes |
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I hope I am not contributing to the demise of traditional radio stations, but as mentioned above, I now only listen to radio in the car. I'm not willing to pay for radio just yet, so have no intention of signing up for Sirius XM, so haven't given up on it totally. | |
2010 - present |
Podcasts | Directory |
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An additional challenge to traditional radio stations are podcasts. A little early to predict wether they will prove to be a net positive or negative effect. I listen to some from established outlets such as NPS and KCRW, but also to free lancers like Coverville and The Marconi Experiment. | |
