KPIK 1580 AM signed on in June 1957 as a daytime country station owned by Western Broadcasting. Country music was part of the station from its first day on the air.
In 1966 the company acquired KLST 94.3 FM and renamed it KPIK-FM. The AM/FM combination simulcast country programming through much of the 1960s and 1970s. By 1977 the FM began moving toward a more contemporary approach while the AM remained traditional country.
Station manager George James was elected to the Colorado Springs City Council in 1977 and headed Area Broadcasting, which purchased the AM in 1978. The AM and FM were separated at that point; KPIK-FM became KILO.
Facility lineage: KPIK later became KWYD, KKKK, KREL, KHIG and KFCS.
Sources: FCC history cards; Broadcasting Yearbook; contemporary Colorado Springs Gazette coverage; published history of KFCS/KILO.
FROM THE TIMELINE
Moments in KPIK-AM History
KPIK begins broadcasting in Colorado Springs
KPIK began broadcasting at 1580 kHz with 5,000 watts daytime under Western Broadcasting Inc. The station later developed a strong country identity and gained an FM companion in the 1960s.
KLST becomes KPIK-FM and simulcasts country
Western Broadcasting Co., owner of country station KPIK 1580, acquired KLST 94.3 FM and changed its calls to KPIK-FM. The FM simulcast KPIK's country programming, making the AM/FM operation an unusually early example of country music being carried full-time on FM.
KPIK/KPIK-FM 1969 country operation and personnel
KPIK 1580 remained a 5 kW daytime country station under Western Broadcasting, with KPIK-FM 94.3 duplicating the AM about 67 percent of the time. Period listings identify Donald L. Drennan as general manager, Norm Tester as program director, Jack Bouchie as music director and George James as assistant manager/chief engineer.
1971: Dennis W. Walker joins KPIK-AM
1971 — Its career notes said he joined KPIK-AM in 1971 after work at KRSY and KRTY and that he had also served as KPIK-AM program director.
1972: Diane T. Lundstrom joins KPIK-AM
1972 — The 1973 Starship Radio market directory lists Lundstrom in the 2–5 a.m. shift and records that she joined KPIK-AM in 1972.
KPIK-FM moves to 93.9 and becomes Super K-94
KPIK-FM moved from 94.3 to 93.9 MHz and broke from its full simulcast with KPIK 1580. The FM emphasized contemporary country as “Super K-94,” while the AM retained a more traditional country approach.
George James elected to Colorado Springs City Council
KPIK station manager George James was elected to the Colorado Springs City Council while continuing his broadcasting career.
FCC approves $302,074 sale of KILO
The FCC granted assignment of KILO 93.9 from Western Broadcasting to KILO Broadcasting for $302,074. Trade reporting identified Robert D. Telmosse as 51-percent owner and James L. Pinkston as 49-percent owner. KPIK AM was sold separately, with George James becoming its owner.
Hard Report profiles Rich Hawk and KILO’s evolution
A December Hard Report profile documented Rich Hawk's unusually long tenure at KILO and the station's evolution through changing rock formats, ownership and frequency. Hawk recalled arriving in Colorado Springs in 1973, working in news and mornings at KPIK, and becoming part of the group that created KILO after Bob Telmosse and a partner acquired the FM.
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