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WAQY 102.1 FM is a Springfield, Massachusetts, USA area classic rock radio station. Since the late 1980s, the station has been known as "Rock 102"
[edit] Station History
102.1 FM in Springfield signed on as WCRX in the late 1950s. The call letters stood for "Charles River Broadcasting extension," the station being a sister and extension of 102.5 FM WCRB in Boston, Massachusetts. Both the Springfield and Boston stations programmed a classical music radio format overseen by Charles River Broadcasting owner Theodore Jones.
In 1972 the station adopted the call letters WAQY and switched to an automated Top 40 hit music format. Known as "Wacky 102" the station played a mix of Rock, Pop, Soul and later Disco music that was popular in the 1970s. The station was voiced by Bobby (Jim Bouldebrook) Brooks. He is still heard today voicing car commercials around the country.
Around 1976, the station owners (Don Wilkes / Mike Schwartz a/k/a Springfield FM) decided to go live with their Top 40 format. Jim (James Marshall) Rising was the stations first Program Director. He had been the morning jock on WHYN/AM. The "Wacky 102" lineup of on air personalities was well known among Connecticut River Valley youth. Some favorite "Wacky" era personalities were Ken Gilbert, Glenn "FM" Stevens, Chuck Morgan, Jim Rising, Johnny Michaels and Rick Kelly. 7pm-12 midnight evening personality Jim Kaye "The Big Tuna" was especially popular with the areas junior high and high school aged population. Jim Kaye and Rick Kelly (see Rick Kelly's Northeast Airchecks) still live in the greater Springfield area.
In August 1981, WAQY switched to a Rock music format known as AOR standing for Album Oriented Rock.
Now known simply by the stations call letters WAQY, they played a mix of new rock music from the 1980s mixed with older rock artist of the 60s (The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix etc.) and 70s (Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin etc.). Artist played included then current and popular Arena rock favorites Blue Öyster Cult, Journey, Foreigner and Fleetwood Mac as well as singer and songwriter artist from Tom Petty to Billy Joel. Hard rock and heavy metal acts like AC/DC, Van Halen and Rush were also core artists.
In the late 1980s WAQY adopted its current moniker "Rock 102" and only played a couple of current rock songs each hour. By 1992, WAQY stopped playing current music and completed its evolution from an AOR to a classic rock format.
[edit] On-Air Personalities
- Bax and O'Brien Morning Show
- Michael A. Baxendale a.k.a Bax
- John O'Brien
- Steve Nagle Morning Show Producer
- Pat Kelly (Mid-Day Afternoons 10am-3pm)
- Bob Kester (Afternoon drive time 3pm-7pm)
- El Toro (Weekends/Part-Time)
- Diana Ricci (Weekends/Part-Time)
[edit] External links
