WKCI-FM (101.3 FM, "KC101") is a radio station broadcasting a
Top 40 (CHR) format. Licensed to the suburb of
Hamden, Connecticut, it serves the
New Haven, Connecticut metropolitan area. The station is currently owned by
Clear Channel Communications. The studios are located at Radio Towers Park at 495 Benham St Hamden, CT. WKCI transmits a full class B signal (50,000 watt equivelant of 12,000 watts @ 279 meters) from a 625 foot tower on Madmare Mountain in Hamden, CT, near the WTNH transmitter site (where WKCI formerly transmitted from until moving to this tower in 2003).
1960s-1979 History
WKCI(FM) 101.3 began broadcast operations on Monday February 10, 1969 at 3:36pm. They broadcast Monday though Saturday from 7am to 1am and 8:45am to Midnight on Sundays. The first program director was Neil I. Offen. Studios were originally located in Hamden as their main address and phone number were P.O. Box 4368 Hamden, CT 06514 (203) 288-1091. During this time and through the 1970s WKCI(FM) 101.3 was a beautiful music station and sister to Top 40 13
WAVZ (1300 AM.) The station was low rated while 13 WAVZ was a ratings powerhouse. The ratings for WAVZ were usually in the top three where it battled 960 WELI-AM. The stations were owned by Kops-Monahan Communications Inc. WAVZ had Music Research programs for many aspiring communications majors and broadcasters during the 1970's under the reign of Pete Salant. Music researchers, worked just a few yards from the jocks and had the responsibility of doing everything from pulling music to answering and screening calls for the jocks, to compiling music data that would later be published on weekly music survey's.
Toward the end of the 1970s programmers Pete Salant and Curtis W. Hansen (Curtisss) wanted to move WAVZ's format over to sister station 101.3 FM. The two wanted to keep the format flip a secret from other radio stations. If other local stations found out about their plans, they could either beat them to the punch with a similar format or start counter programing against WKCI. They thought about changing the call letters, but the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) had tougher regulations in 1979. They thought by applying to the FCC for a call letter change might tip off their competitors that something was in the works. Therefore, the WKCI call letters were kept.
In July 1979, "KC101" was born with a Top 40 format that leaned adult. The station played the top hits of the day while mixing in a few oldies. The energy level of the jocks during this period would almost be considered AC by today's standards. Pete Salant was the Program Director and Curt Hanson was the Assistant Program Director/Music Director.
WKCI Jock Line-Up Summer 1979:
Mornings Jerry Kristafer (6am-9am)
Middays Danny Lyons (9am-1pm) and Pete Salant (1pm-3pm)
Afternoons Friendly Floyd Wright (3pm-7pm)
Nights Willie B. Goode (7pm-12am)
Overnights Kathy Cardinal (12am-6am)
Weekends Curt W. Hansen and Jim McNeil
1980s History
During the early 1980s, KC101 was met with heavy turmoil as ownership changes caused many staff members to leave. In 1982, the station was sold to Eastern Broadcasting Corporation for $6 Million and the Noble Broadcast Group a couple of years later. A lot of original WKCI staff members left the station during the ownership changes. Pete Salant, Peter Bush, Curtis W. Hanson, Danny Lyons and Storm N. Norman all left. Hanson went up the dial with Storm N. to 107.9 and put WEBE 108 on the air. One of the early slogans was "The Best Music on FM, KC101."
By the mid-1980s, KC101 was a force to be reckoned with, as the station received better ratings and shifted to a mainstream Top 40 direction. The station slogan during the mid 80s was "Connecticut's Hottest KC101." The station held its ground with nearby CHR competitors such as WKSS (Kiss 95.7) and WTIC-FM (96TIC-FM) both out of Hartford.
Program Notes
The station and Peter Bush did a tribute to John Lennon the weekend after his death on December 14, 1980.
During the early 80s, the station hired the Coach George DeMaio as the Sports Director, who did sports updates during the morning show and updates on Saturday and Sunday mornings during the Rick Dees Weekly Top 40. The station also used Shadow Traffic, based in NYC, for their traffic reports.
The station also started the long running KC101 Bridal Fair annually in January, where listeners could get everything they needed in planning for their wedding.
In the mid-80s, station features such as the "Top 10 at 10," and "The All Request Lunch" debuted.
The morning show's "Hozay" character (voiced by Dr. Chris) declared himself the Mayor of "Fogarea" in the '80s. "Fogarea" was actually a section of Interstate 91 in New Haven, where highway warning signs declaring a "fog area" still stand today.
Some of the notable personalities during the '80s were:
Program Directors: Curtis W, Stef Rybak, Tony Bonvini, Mike Scalzi
Mornings: Jerry Kristohper, Jay Stone, Dr. Chris Evans & Hozay
Middays: Danny Lyons, Curtis W, Sandy Kelley, Susan Saks, Steve Wilson
Afternoons: Floyd Wright, Jim Cruise, Peter Bush, Jon Howe
Nights: Willie B. Goode, Curtis W., Peter Bush, Storm N. Norman, Yo! Sunny Joe, Tony Terzi, Kid Kelly, Bret Richards, Kelly Nash
'''Weekends: Paul DeFrancisco, Sue O'Neal, Father John, Al "Late Night" Lawrence, Jay Fink (The Boomer Oldies Show), The David Lawrence Show.
Syndication: Rick Dees and the Weekly Top 40.
WKCI Jock Line-Up Fall 1986:
Mornings Dr. Chris Evans and Hozay
Middays Sandy Kelly
Afternoons Jim Cruise
Nights Yo! Sunny Joe Stevens
'''Overnights" Dana Lundon
Weekends Paul DeFrancisco, Father John & more
WKCI Jock Line-Up Fall 1988:
Mornings Dr. Chris Evans and Hozay
Middays Susan Saks
Afternoons Jim Cruise
Nights Tony Terzi
Weekends Paul DeFrancisco, Father John & more
1990s History
In the early 1990s, the CHR Top 40 format was in trouble as stations across the country were losing ratings, KC101 was no exception. In 1993, KC101 shifted back to more of an adult Top 40 and mixed in more adult and 80's titles. The station adopted the slogan "The New Sound of KC101." The late Brian James was the voice of KC101 until the mid-'90s when Sean Caldwell became the station voice (until January 1, 2004.)
It was also during this time the station debuted the "KC101 Saturday Night Dance Party" live from legendary night spot Toad's Place in Downtown New Haven with music mixed live by DJ John Trousdale.
The annual KC101 "Stuff-A-Bus" Food Drive to benefit the Connecticut Food Bank was started in 1992 by the Glenn and Pat Morning Show. The event is usually held the Thursday before Thanksgiving in a grocery store parking lot. The first Stuff-A Bus was held in East Haven, near the station's North Haven studio. After the move to Hamden in 1993, subsequent food drives were held in either the Hamden Stop & Shop or Hamden Shaw's parking lots (varying year-to-year, depending on which store bought the sponsorship). KC101 listeners would donate food for the needy and try to fill up a school bus. During his years at KC101, Glenn Beck usually turned the food drive into a marathon broadcast event, spending most of the day and night at the food drive site. The station usually sets a goal to collect 1,013 turkeys to play off its frequency 101.3FM. As years went on, they would usually "stuff" more than one bus and even famous celebrities would stop by as well.
In 1993, KC101 and sister station 1300 WAVZ moved into new studios with former WAVZ competitor 960 WELI at Radio Towers Park in Hamden and 33 acres of land, where they remain to this day. Along with new studios, came a new phone number (203) 230-1013. Glenn Beck (along with morning show partner Pat Gray) the first personality to broadcast from the new studio in Hamden, and was instrumental in designing the famous KC101 "globe" logo (which lasted until 2004.) PD Steve Wilson and others took advantage of the 33 acres and put on a variety of concerts. Artists such as Joan Jett, 98 Degrees and Huey Lewis and the News played outdoors for KC101 listeners.
By the mid 90s, the CHR format was still in trouble but was showing signs of life in other markets. KC101 leaned in the rock direction while playing artists such as Pearl Jam and Green Day in regular rotation. By 1997, the slogan "Connecticut's Number 1 Hit Music Station, KC101" was adopted and the station started to maintain a website.
Program Notes
In the early 90's, an alternative show called "Planet Zed" was launched on Sunday nights. In the mid 90s the "TRC Total Request Countdown" debuted as a play off of MTV's popular "Total Request Live" program at the time. The decade also saw the debut of an 80s music formatted show called "Sunday Night At The 80s", replacing "Planet Zed". "Sunday Night At The 80's" was first hosted by Operations Manager Mike Raub, then Samantha Stevens, then weekender Jim McNeil.
In the mid-'90s, Program Director Tony Bristol wrote a local novelty hit "Christmas In East Haven" with a little help from East Haven resident and KC101 Assistant Program Director Ed Sabatino. The song got considerable airplay for years and recently was available only on the station website.
In July 1999, KC101 hosted a "20th Anniversary Reunion Weekend" as the station celebrated 20 years on the air. During the weekend, former radio personalities were back on the air playing music and jingles from the time when they were on the station.
Some of the notable personalities during the '90s were:
Program Directors: Pete Cozensa, John Scott, Glenn Beck, Tony Bristol, Kid Kelly, Steve Wilson, Kelly Nash
Mornings: Glenn Beck, Pat Gray, Ed Sabatino, Vinnie Penn, Mary Scanlon
Middays: Steve Wilson, Mike Raub, Samantha Stevens, Carla St. John
Afternoons: John Scott, Jeff McCartney, Mike McGowan, Michael Maze, Jimi Jamm
Nights: Kelly Nash, MoJo, Mark McCarthy, Kerry Collins, Samantha Stevens, Rob Hayes, Chris Moretti, Brian Goode
Weekends: Lisa Gold, Lisa Paige, Ron O, Dave Michaels, Jim McNeil (Sunday Night 80s)
Syndication: Rick Dees and the Weekly Top 40, Backtrax 80s with Kid Kelly
WKCI Jock Line-Up Spring 1993:
Mornings Glenn & Pat
Middays Steve Wilson
Afternoons Mike McGowan
Nights Kelly Nash
Overnights Chris Moretti/Samantha Stevens
Weekends Samantha Stevens, Mark McCarthy
WKCI Jock Line-Up December 1996:
Mornings Glenn Beck & Ed Sabatino later joined by Vinnie Penn
Middays Samantha Stevens
Afternoons Jeff McCartney
Nights Kerry Collins
Overnights Dann Marino
Weekends Bill Fisher, Joe D'Addio, Jim McNeil, Dann Marino
WKCI Jock Line-Up January 1998:
Mornings Glenn Beck & Vinnie Penn
Middays Samantha Stevens/Kelly Nash
Afternoons Michael Maze
Nights Kerry Collins
Overnights Dann Marino
Weekends Bill Fisher, Joe D'Addio, Jim McNeil, Dann Marino, Steve McDermott
2000s History
The 2000s would see a lot of change for WKCI both in programming and staff.
Early in the decade Danny Ocean became Program Director after spending time in programming at WJMN (Jam'n 94.5) in Boston. The station kept the rock music Top 40 lean where artists such as Michele Branch, Bon Jovi received airplay. In fact, Danny Ocean's good relations with the band brought Bon Jovi to play at Radio Towers Park for listeners.
Radio deregulation in the early part of the decade brought once fierce competitors WKSS (Kiss 95.7) and WKCI (KC101) under the same ownership via Clear Channel Communications for the first time. (Clear Channel also owned the station in the 1990s.)
The "Saturday Night Dance Party" evolved into "Party 101" which broadcast live from 9pm-1am (later 10pm-2am) from The Playwright in Downtown New Haven. The station slogan "Connecticut's Number 1 Hit Music Station, KC101" was still in use.
In 2003, Chaz Kelly became Program Director and shifted the station more towards a mainstream Top 40. One of the things she did to emphasize a mainstream format shift was to implement "Mini-Mixes" or remixes of the current songs during the night show. Gone was Sean Caldwell as the station voice, and the famous "globe" logo (replaced with the logo above). A new Friday night mix show called "Club Control" with music mixed live in studio by veteran local club DJ Ricky Smith debuted in 2004. The station slogan was shortened to "The Hit Music Station, KC101."
Under Chaz Kelly's era, the station started "Ticket To Ride" concerts held at Six Flags New England in Massachusetts. Artists that appeared at the show over the years were Fallout Boy, Sum 41, Jordan Sparks and many others.
In 2006, KC101 was recognized by the radio industry as it won "Station of the Year for Markets 101+" by industry trade magazine Radio and Records.
The same year, the station was also mentioned in the WB Network drama "Gilmore Girls." "Go downstairs and turn on the radio KC101" is how the station was mentioned by an unidentified character. Following the broadcast, the station proudly proclaimed they were "Gilmore Girls' Approved" in a station liner with the TV show soundbite.
HD Radio came to KC101 around 2007 as the station broadcast on new adjacent frequencies listenable with an HD Radio. WKCI-FM HD1 (101.3-1) was a simulcast of KC101's regular programming, while WKCI-FM HD2 (101.3-2) was a national CHR/Dance format provided by station owner Clear Channel.
Program Notes
On September 11, 2001 after the terror attacks, the station went jockless and told listeners to tune in to sister AM News/Talk station 960 WELI.
New features were added to the station in 2004 and 2005 such as "The 11 At 7," "RadioActive Lunch" and the "The Next Big Thing," a 2-hour lifestyle and music show hosted by Chaz Kelly & Michael Maze.
Some of the notable personalities during the 2000s were:
Program Directors: Danny Ocean, Chaz Kelly, Stan Priest
Mornings: Vinne Penn, Mary Scanlon, Michael Maze, Chaz Kelly
Middays: Samantha Stevens, Kerry Collins, Jagger, Ryan Smart, Wendy Wild
Afternoons: Danny Ocean, Michael Maze, Jagger, Trey, Kerry Collins
Nights: Kerry Collins, Kory, Jagger, Zach Dillon, Erich Bachman
Weekends: Joe Aguiar, Erich Bachman, Lisa Gold, Tucker, Brandi, Zach Dillon, Justin Louis
Syndication: Hollywood Hamilton's Weekend Top 30, Backtrax USA 80s & 90s, The Ringtone Countdown, Carson Daly's Most Requested.
WKCI Jock Line-Up September 2000:
Mornings Vinnie Penn
Middays Samantha Stevens/Danny Ocean
Afternoons Jimi Spears
Nights Kerry Collins
Weekends Jackie Steele, Lisa Gold, Jeff Austin, Amy Dawson
WKCI Jock Line-Up June 2001:
Mornings Vinnie Penn & Mary Scanlon
Middays Samantha Stevens
Afternoons Danny Ocean
Nights Kerry Collins
Weekends Brandi, Tucker, Lisa Gold, Jimmy Caplan, Lisa Paige
WKCI Jock Line-Up August 2003:
Mornings Vinnie Penn & Mary Scanlon
Middays Samantha Stevens
Afternoons Kerry Collins
Nights Lisa Gold
Weekends Brandi, Tucker, Lisa Gold, Jimmy Caplan
WKCI Jock Line-Up February 2004:
Mornings Vinnie Penn & Mary Scanlon
Middays Kerry Collins
Afternoons Michael Maze
Nights Erich Bachman
Weekends Erich Bachman, Brandi
WKCI Jock Line-Up February 2007:
Mornings Michael Maze & Chaz Kelly
Middays Jagger
Afternoons Trey
Nights Zach Dillon
Weekends Erich Bachman
Budget Cuts
In January 2009, station owner Clear Channel, which also owned stations in Hartford, CT started a wave of budget cuts at the station. Gone from Radio Towers Park were the station promotions department and the "KC101 Street Team," Program Director Chaz Kelly, the midday jock Ryan Smart, Brady who did nights, as well as long-time weekender Erich Bachman. Bachman was replaced by Clear Channel's "Premium Choice" national format feed. Smart and Brady were replaced by out of market voice-tracked jocks. Michael Maze was replaced in September 2010 by a syndicated morning show from NYC. The promotions department is now operated out of Clear Channel offices in Hartford. The new program director is Stan Priest is also based in Hartford and oversees KC101 and the Clear Channel Hartford Cluster.
WKCI Jock Line-Up September 2010:
Mornings Elvis Duran and the Morning Show (Syndicated from NYC)
Middays Wendy Wild (voice-tracked from NYC)
Afternoons John Mayer (Local)
Nights Ashley(voice-tracked local)
Weekends Premium Choice (National CHR Format Feed)
Syndication: Hollywood Hamilton's Weekend Top 30, Backtrax USA 80s & 90s, Static Beach
Radio Personalities
Some notable radio personalities have worked at KC101 since 1979, and include
Glenn Beck, Pat Gray,
Tom Poleman,
Brian Whitman,
Scott Shannon, Kid Kelly, Danny Ocean, Paul DeFrancisco, Kelly Nash, Tony Bristol, Steve Wilson, Steve Stewart (Scrubs), Jimi Jamm (Spears), Ron O, Sandy Kelley, Jim "The Cruiser" Cruise (Dann), James Severine "The Chucker", Dave Stewart (as Brian Holiday), Susan Saks, Yo! Sunny Joe, "Hollywood" Joe Tironi (now Logan), Tony Terzi, Dana Lundon, Father John, Big Rich Baker, Danny Lyons, Dr. Rossi, Dr. Chris Evans, "The Coach" George DeMayo, "Krazy" Jerry Kristafer, Curtis W., Pete Salant, Peter Bush, Sue O'Neal, Jon Howe, Al "Late Night" Lawrence, Samantha Stevens, Kerry Collins, Mike "Jagger" Thomas, Vinnie Penn, Chaz Kelly, Michael Maze, Trey Morgan, Brady, Lisa Gold (now "Chloe" on WAPE) and Erich Bachman. Did we mention "Mr Giggles" Gary Lajoie.
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References
External links
WKCI-FM Website
Category:New Haven, Connecticut
Category:Media in New Haven County, Connecticut
KCI-FM
Category:Contemporary hit radio stations in the United States
