KKFR (Power 92) – Phoenix – 12/31/92 (Top 92 of ’92) – Supersnake, Kid Corona & Big Daddy
“92 might be leaving your calendar, but it will never leave your radio…” — One of the sweepers featured in these snippets of Power 92’s countdown at the end of 1992. Includes Kid Corona (one of at least three personalities heard on this aircheck) mentioning (via information from a listener) that the #1 song on the station from 20 years prior (1972) was “Theme from Shaft”. (Does anyone know what format resided on 92.3 FM at that time?)
I loved the high-energy, laser-sound-effect-dominated presentation style used by KKFR (and its clones) during this period. I wish that stations focusing on this type of music today would take it a step further and employ the production values from that era.
An additional composite of Kid Corona can be heard at this page on our sister site, Airchexx.com.
Podcast: Embed
KKFR was KXTC in 1972 with a Contemporary/Jazz format. They did Disco in the late 70s before flipping to Soft AC in the early 80s.
I don’t know if I could classify “Theme From Shaft” as a Jazz record though, even with the current format definitions of Smooth Jazz.
Robyn
OK – I knew they were KXTC in the late 70’s – didn’t realize that they had those calls at the start of the decade as well.
BTW, any idea who voice guy is on this aircheck? I always figured it was Eric Edwards with extra processing, but when I posted a similar clip years ago on a message board, I’m pretty sure I was told that it was someone else.
Thanks as always for all of the great information you contribute!
The late Chuck Riley. He was used on Emmis’s CHR stations in the late 80s-early 90s (Hot 97/NY, KPWR/LA, WAVA/Washington, DC, and others).
Robyn
Not to mention he did WNAP in Indinanapolis & WLOL in the twin cities.
When KXTC dropped disco, it became “C92” with a country format and a (partial) simulcast of sister KJJJ. In 1985, both stations were sold to Fred Webber, both callsigns were changed (KXTC to KKFR and KJJJ to KFYI) and new formats (automated top 40 with rhythmic oldies on KKFR and news/talk on KFYI) were introduced. KKFR went rock top 40 with live DJ’s in 1986 and moved to the rhythmic sound heard here in 1989. With the exception of a brief fling with mainstream top 40 in 1994 (after the demise of both KZZP and KOY-FM), it retained this format until Bonnville bought it in 2005 and flipped it to news/talk (as KTAR-FM).