PRESERVING RADIO HISTORY ACROSS COLORADO

Archives: Stations

  • KCFR-FM

    KCFR (90.1 FM) is CPR News, the flagship of Colorado Public Radio. If you start your day with Morning Edition in Denver, you’ve been listening to a station with a long history behind it.

    History

    It signed on November 4, 1970, as KCFR, “Colorado Free Radio,” owned by the University of Denver, and it was a charter member of NPR. DU ran it until 1983, and in 1984 a community board took it over. KCFR started airing All Things Considered in 1973 and Morning Edition in 1979. In 1991, KCFR merged with KPRN in Grand Junction, and that merger is usually given as the start of Colorado Public Radio.

    In 2000, CPR bought the assets of commercial classical station KVOD, and in March 2001 the call letters swapped: KVOD classical went to 90.1 FM and KCFR news moved to 1340 AM. On July 9, 2008, CPR moved news and talk back to 90.1 as KCFR-FM, and KVOD classical moved to a newly bought signal on 88.1.

    Call sign timeline

    • KCFR: 1970 to 2001
    • KVOD: 2001 to 2008
    • KCFR-FM: 2008 to present

    The signal

    • 90.1 MHz, licensed to Denver, Colorado
    • Branding: CPR News
    • Owner: Colorado Public Radio (University of Denver, 1970 to 1983)
    • FCC facility ID 53777

    Ownership history

    • 1970 to 1983: the University of Denver, which signed it on as “Colorado Free Radio”
    • 1984: a community board takes it over
    • 1991 to today: Colorado Public Radio, after the merger with KPRN in Grand Junction

    Where the studios have been

    Today CPR is listed at 7409 S. Alton Court in Centennial. Earlier studio addresses haven’t turned up yet, so if you know them, we’d love to hear from you.

    Sources

  • KTUN-FM

    KTUN (94.5 FM) is a Spanish-language hits station licensed to New Castle. If you’re looking for Spanish-language music along the I-70 corridor west of Glenwood Springs, this is one to try.

    History

    KTUN signed on in 2005 as KCUV-FM, became KJEB later that year and took the KTUN call letters in 2009. Its signal also reaches into the Grand Junction area.

    Call sign timeline

    • KCUV-FM: 2005
    • KJEB: 2005 to 2009
    • KTUN: 2009 to present

    The signal

    • 94.5 MHz, licensed to New Castle, Colorado
    • Format: Spanish hits
    • FCC facility ID 164290

    Ownership history

    The owners of KTUN since its 2005 sign-on haven’t been identified here yet.

    Where the studios have been

    We haven’t found studio addresses for KTUN yet. If you know them, we’d love to hear from you.

    Sources

  • KRYD-FM

    KRYD (104.9 FM) is a Jack FM adult hits station licensed to Norwood, in San Miguel County. If you drive between Montrose and Telluride and want a mix of everything, it’s one you’ll find.

    History

    KRYD signed on in January 1998 and runs 24,000 watts, reaching the Montrose and Grand Junction areas. It’s simulcast with KNOZ-FM (97.7) in Orchard Mesa as “97.7 & 104.9 Jack FM.”

    The signal

    • 104.9 MHz, licensed to Norwood, Colorado
    • Branding: 97.7 & 104.9 Jack FM
    • Format: adult hits
    • FCC facility ID 57324

    Ownership history

    The owners of KRYD since its January 1998 sign-on haven’t been identified here yet.

    Where the studios have been

    Today Jack FM is listed at 203 Grand Avenue in Grand Junction, even though the station is licensed to Norwood. Earlier studio addresses haven’t turned up yet, so if you know them, we’d love to hear from you.

    Sources

  • KZYR-FM

    KZYR (97.7 FM) is The Zephyr, the Vail Valley’s homegrown rock station. If you’ve been skiing Vail or Beaver Creek and cranking the radio on the way home, this is the dial position for you.

    History

    KZYR signed on in 1984 at 103.1 as “Brave New World,” playing album rock from studios in Avon. It was only the fourth radio station in the Eagle Valley. After several ownership changes, it switched to modern rock as “The Mountain” in 1994. In the winter of 2001, it moved to 97.7 and was renamed “The Zephyr.” It was sold to Rocky Mountain Radio Group for $1 million in 2017. In 2021, longtime morning host Steve Leigh, on the air there since 1992, bought the station himself.

    Branding timeline

    • 1984: Brave New World (103.1 FM)
    • 1994: The Mountain
    • Winter 2001: The Zephyr (moves to 97.7 FM)

    The signal

    • 97.7 MHz (103.1 MHz until 2001), licensed to Avon, Colorado
    • Format: modern rock
    • FCC facility ID 57335

    Ownership history

    • 1984: signs on as Brave New World; the founders haven’t been identified here yet
    • 1984 to 2017: several ownership changes, owners not identified here yet
    • 2017: sold to Rocky Mountain Radio Group
    • 2021: longtime morning host Steve Leigh buys the station

    Where the studios have been

    • 1984: studios in Avon

    Sources

  • KOTO-FM

    KOTO (91.7 FM) is Telluride’s community radio station, built by the town for the town. If you’ve ever tuned in while driving the box canyon or skiing the Telluride slopes, you’ve heard volunteer DJs and a lot of local heart.

    History

    In 1974, Telluride had hardly any radio reception, so a group of locals formed a nonprofit and got an FCC permit for a 10-watt FM station. KOTO was legally established on October 3, 1975, and was on the air within six months of getting its permit. The Town Council chipped in $10,000 for equipment over two years. Jim Bedford, who wrote as “B.F. Deal,” was one of the people who made it happen, driving around town in a pickup with a partner to test reception.

    Today

    By 2009, KOTO was on the air 20 hours a day, every day, from a 3,000-watt transmitter near the Coonskin lift, with more than 200 licensed volunteer DJs. It’s still commercial-free and doesn’t run underwriting. It carries NPR and reaches Ophir, Pandora, Norwood and Placerville through four translators. In 2025, the Telluride Historical Museum marked its 50th anniversary with an exhibit.

    The signal

    • 91.7 MHz, licensed to Telluride, Colorado
    • Format: community and public radio (variety, NPR)
    • FCC facility ID 58920

    Ownership history

    • 1974 to 1975: a group of Telluride locals formed a nonprofit and got the FCC permit; Jim Bedford was one of the people who made it happen
    • Since October 3, 1975: KOTO has been run as a community station, with the Town Council chipping in for equipment

    Where the studios have been

    By 2009 the transmitter was near the Coonskin lift. Today the KOTO studio and office are at 207 N. Pine Street in Telluride. Earlier studio addresses haven’t turned up yet, so if you know them, we’d love to hear from you.

    Sources

  • KRGS-AM

    KRGS was Rifle’s AM station for 55 years, from its 1967 sign-on as KWSR until a transmitter failure in 2022. If you grew up in Garfield County, this was the hometown sound.

    History

    The station went on the air June 9, 1967, at 810 kHz, managed by Jimmy Seany, a former Denver TV promoter. In the mid-1970s a contest controversy put its license renewal at risk. After the community spoke up for the station, it got a one-year license and a $200 fine.

    Ownership changed several times over the years. Western Slope Communications bought the station for $30,000 in 1994. It became KRGS on April 21, 1994, and moved to 690 kHz in 1995. The format went from country (1994) to oldies (1997) to ESPN sports radio. KRGS went silent in July 2022 when its transmitter failed, and the FCC cancelled the license on July 24, 2024. Its FM sister was KZKS.

    Call sign timeline

    • KWSR: 1967 to 1985
    • KDBL: 1985 to 1987
    • KWWS: 1987 to 1989
    • KKGD: 1989 to 1994
    • KRGS: 1994 to 2022

    The signal

    • 690 kHz AM (810 kHz until 1995), licensed to Rifle, Colorado
    • On the air June 9, 1967 to July 2022; license cancelled July 24, 2024
    • FCC facility ID 71960

    Ownership history

    • 1967: signs on as KWSR, managed by Jimmy Seany; the original owners haven’t been identified here yet
    • 1967 to 1994: ownership changed several times; the owners in between haven’t been identified here yet
    • 1994 to 2022: Western Slope Communications, which bought the station for a small sum in 1994

    Where the studios have been

    We haven’t found studio addresses for KRGS yet. If you know them, we’d love to hear from you.

    Sources

  • KZKS-FM

    KZKS (105.3 FM) is Drive 105, a classic rock station licensed to Rifle. If you remember it as Kiss Country, you caught the station in its long country era.

    History

    It signed on in 1983 as KDBL, went through a few call changes in the 80s and became KZKS in 1988. For years it played country as “Kiss Country” before switching to classic rock. It’s owned by Western Slope Communications, which also owned the AM sister station KRGS.

    Call sign timeline

    • KDBL: 1983 to 1985
    • KDBL-FM: 1985 to 1987
    • KWWS-FM: 1987 to 1988
    • KZKS: 1988 to present

    The signal

    • 105.3 MHz, licensed to Rifle, Colorado
    • Branding: Drive 105 (earlier Kiss Country)
    • FCC facility ID 71959

    Ownership history

    • 1983 to the 1990s: early owners of the KDBL signal haven’t been identified here yet
    • Later: Western Slope Communications, which also owned KRGS

    Where the studios have been

    Today KZKS is listed at 751 Horizon Court, Suite 225, in Grand Junction, even though the station is licensed to Rifle. Earlier studio addresses haven’t turned up yet, so if you know them, we’d love to hear from you.

    Sources

  • KMZK-FM

    KMZK (106.9 FM) is Radio Z, the Grand Valley’s alternative rock station, licensed to Clifton. If you want guitars and something a little off the mainstream while you drive around Grand Junction, tune here.

    History

    KMZK signed on in 2011 with an alternative rock format and rebranded as “106.9 Radio Z” on May 10, 2021.

    The signal

    • 106.9 MHz, licensed to Clifton, Colorado
    • Branding: 106.9 Radio Z (since May 10, 2021)
    • Format: alternative rock
    • FCC facility ID 165324

    Ownership history

    The owners of KMZK since its 2011 sign-on haven’t been identified here yet.

    Where the studios have been

    Today Radio Z is listed at 138 S. Park Square, Suite 201, in Fruita, even though the station is licensed to Clifton. Earlier studio addresses haven’t turned up yet, so if you know them, we’d love to hear from you.

    Sources

  • KKVT-FM

    KKVT (100.7 FM) is The Vault, an adult hits station in Grand Junction. If you remember the 100.7 signal as KMOZ, this is the same frequency under a new name.

    History

    The 100.7 signal signed on in 1999 as KSNJ and became KMOZ-FM in 2001. On August 1, 2013, it swapped places with the station at 92.3, took the call letters KKVT and switched to adult hits. In 2017 it added HD subchannels: oldies on HD2 (first branded “95.7 The Monkey”) and adult album alternative on HD3 (“103.9 The Planet”), both also heard on FM translators.

    Call sign timeline

    • KSNJ: 1999 to 2001
    • KMOZ-FM: 2001 to 2013
    • KKVT: 2013 to present

    Related

    KMOZ-FM: the call letters this signal used from 2001 to 2013 now belong to 92.3.

    The signal

    • 100.7 MHz, licensed to Grand Junction, Colorado
    • Branding: The Vault 100.7
    • FCC facility ID 81556

    Ownership history

    The owners of the 100.7 signal, from its 1999 sign-on as KSNJ through KMOZ-FM and KKVT, haven’t been identified here yet.

    Where the studios have been

    Today The Vault is listed at 1360 E. Sherwood Drive in Grand Junction. Earlier studio addresses haven’t turned up yet, so if you know them, we’d love to hear from you.

    Sources

  • KGJX-FM

    KGJX (101.5 FM) is Junction 101.5, a Grand Valley classic hits station licensed to Fruita. If you grew up on 80s and 90s hits, it’s built for you.

    History

    KGJX signed on September 1, 2012. In April 2019 it dropped syndicated programming for local shows and rebranded as “101.5 The Junkyard.” On July 7, 2022, it became “Junction 101.5” with an 80s and 90s-based classic hits sound. Its HD subchannels carry classic hip hop, Spanish-language hits and classic country.

    Branding timeline

    • 2012: sign-on
    • April 2019: 101.5 The Junkyard
    • July 7, 2022: Junction 101.5

    The signal

    • 101.5 MHz, licensed to Fruita, Colorado
    • FCC facility ID 190448

    Ownership history

    The owners of KGJX since its 2012 sign-on haven’t been identified here yet.

    Where the studios have been

    Today KGJX is listed at 734 S. 7th Street in Grand Junction, even though the station is licensed to Fruita. Earlier studio addresses haven’t turned up yet, so if you know them, we’d love to hear from you.

    Sources