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1971 - Bob Green
returns to WKNR and is named program
director. He's given the assignment to rejuvenate the Keener sound. Bob hired a
fresh line-up of air talent including Jim Tate, Mack Owens, Dan Henderson
and Pat St. John. Programming consultant Lee Sherwood added his own unique
contribution to the Keener legacy, commissioning PAMS to create a
charismatic logo package
to showcase Keener's Motor City Music. The Sig Alert series, dubbed CLYDE
(Cool Logos You Didn't Expect) by PAMS production wizard Jonathan Wolfert,
is universally recognized as the hottest new jingle package in America and
is syndicated worldwide. |
|
| But the world is tuning to FM. WRIF, W4 and WABX fight for
the album rocker audience and WDRQ is grabbing a larger teen share. Keener's
perennial problem, an weak AM signal and ineffective night-time coverage
pattern makes it virtually impossible to compete. After a brief foray into
the album rock genre, WKNR-FM debuts a new concept in soft-rock, inventing
"Stereo Island". PAMS creates a ground breaking Stereo Island jingle package
and the FM jocks (Bob Bartlett, Jim Cutler, Bob Chenault and Tom Graye among them) master the art of
creating seamless music sets that generate strong listenership among Motown
office workers and businesses. The format spawns imitators including
Lansing's WFMK. But Keener's days were numbered. In 1972 the company was
sold and the new owners decided that WKNR-FM would compete with WLDM for the
beautiful music audience, shadow-casting the format on the AM dial. On April
25, John McRae was close to tears as he thanked the station's faithful
listeners for "making nearly a decade.. Keener season." The Byrds
sang "Turn, Turn, Turn" and WKNR faded into history.
Next: The end of the Keener Era |
