PRESERVING RADIO HISTORY ACROSS COLORADO

Archives: Stations

  • KZLO-FM

    KZLO (100.7 FM) was the original call sign of Pueblo’s 100.7 FM, and its “Z100” years were a recognizable part of the Pueblo dial in the late 70s and early 80s. If you grew up in Pueblo then, you may remember it.

    The Z100 years

    KZLO signed on in March 1976 as the FM sister of KDZA 1230 AM. It started with easy listening programming and later moved toward Top 40 under the “Z100” name.

    What came next

    The 100.7 facility became KATM in 1986 and KGFT in 1992. Those later names are the same licensed signal, not separate stations.

    Ownership history

    KZLO was the FM sister of KDZA 1230 AM, so it shared that station’s owners. The people behind it haven’t been identified on this page yet. The 1986 to 1992 owners are on the KATM page.

    Where the studios have been

    We haven’t found studio addresses for Z100 yet. If you know them, we’d love to hear from you.

    Call sign timeline

    KZLO (1976 to 1986), then KATM (1986 to 1992), then KGFT.

    Sources

  • KAPP-AM

    KAPP (690 AM) is the earliest call sign documented for Pueblo’s 690 AM facility. If you tuned in to Pueblo’s AM dial around 1960, this is where the 690 lineage starts.

    A small daytime station

    Late-1950s Broadcasting Yearbooks list KAPP as authorized for 250 watts in the daytime, from 2829 Lowell. It carried local programming, including Spanish-language specialty shows. By the early 1960s the station had become KAPI, which kicked off the better-documented line of KRMX, KSIP and KWRP.

    Ownership history

    • By 1960: Ray J. Williams is listed as president and general manager

    Who held the original license hasn’t been confirmed yet.

    Where the studios have been

    • Late 1950s: 2829 Lowell, Pueblo

    The 1960 team

    • Ray J. Williams, president and general manager
    • Del Kunkle, sales
    • Bob Burch, program director and farm director
    • John Lambert, promotions
    • Dale Redingshafer, chief engineer
    • John Bosman, news director

    Sources

    • Broadcasting Yearbook (1960) (print)
    • Later FCC and station records

  • KSKX-FM

    KSKX (105.5 FM) was “Sax 105.5,” Colorado Springs’ smooth jazz station from 1996 to 2006. If you had smooth jazz on in the Springs in the late 90s or early 2000s, this was the one.

    Sax 105.5

    The KSKX era began in 1996, after the “K-High” country format on KHII ended. The smooth jazz programming ran until 2006, when News-Press & Gazette began operating the station, switched it to news/talk and adopted the KRDO-FM call sign. NPG later acquired the station. The frequency has since returned to country programming in the Colorado Springs market.

    The signal

    • Frequency: 105.5 MHz FM
    • Market: Colorado Springs, Colorado
    • Call sign period: 1996 to 2006
    • Brand and format: Sax 105.5, smooth jazz
    • Before: KHII
    • After: KRDO-FM

    This is a short page built from call-sign records. If you worked at Sax 105.5, we’d love to hear from you.

    Ownership history

    • 1996 on: the Optima Communications and Pikes Peak Broadcasting arrangement that began in the K-High years carried into the smooth jazz era
    • 2006: News-Press & Gazette began operating the station and later acquired it, turning it into KRDO-FM

    Where the studios have been

    Sax 105.5 was based at 3 S. 7th Street in Colorado Springs. We don’t have the exact years yet, so if you remember when the studios moved in or out, we’d love to hear from you.

    Sources

  • KHII-FM

    KHII (105.5 FM) was “K-High,” Colorado Springs’ country station on 105.5 from 1991 to 1996. If you listened to country in the Springs in the early and mid 90s, K-High was one of your choices.

    K-High country

    KHII followed KBZE, “The Breeze,” on 105.5 and carried country music as K-High. In 1993 Optima Communications entered a local marketing agreement with Pikes Peak Broadcasting. In 1996 the station changed formats and calls and became KSKX, the smooth jazz “Sax 105.5.” The 105.5 facility later became KRDO-FM and came back as a country station in the Colorado Springs market.

    The signal

    • Frequency: 105.5 MHz FM
    • Market: Colorado Springs, Colorado
    • Call sign period: 1991 to 1996
    • Brand and format: K-High, country
    • Before: KBZE
    • After: KSKX (“Sax 105.5”)

    This is a short page built from call-sign records. If you worked at K-High, we’d love to hear from you.

    Ownership history

    • 1991 to 1996: Optima Communications
    • From 1993: operated under a local marketing agreement with Pikes Peak Broadcasting, which ran it alongside other Colorado Springs stations

    Where the studios have been

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

    Sources

  • KBZE-FM

    KBZE (105.5 FM) was “The Breeze,” Colorado Springs’ new-age and smooth jazz station from 1989 to 1991. If you wound down with mellow instrumentals on the radio at the end of the 80s, this is the one you remember.

    The Breeze

    Optima Communications bought the former KWYD-FM and introduced the KBZE identity in 1989. “The Breeze” stood out with a mellow, instrumental-oriented sound. In 1991 the calls changed to KHII and the station switched to country as “K-High.” A later local marketing agreement with Pikes Peak Broadcasting tied its operation to other Colorado Springs stations, and in 1996 it moved to smooth jazz as KSKX.

    The signal

    • Frequency: 105.5 MHz FM
    • Market: Colorado Springs, Colorado
    • Call sign period: 1989 to 1991
    • Brand: The Breeze
    • Format: new age and smooth jazz
    • Before: KWYD-FM
    • After: KHII

    This is a short page built from call-sign records. If you worked at The Breeze, we’d love to hear from you.

    Ownership history

    • 1989 to 1991: Optima Communications, which bought the former KWYD-FM and launched The Breeze

    The people behind Optima haven’t been identified yet.

    Where the studios have been

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

    Sources

  • KWYD-FM

    KWYD-FM (105.5) was a Colorado Springs-area FM station broadcasting from Security, Colorado. If you listened to country in the early 70s, Christian programming in the late 70s or 80s, or The Breeze after that, you’ve had this frequency on your dial at some point.

    From country to Christian

    KWYD-FM signed on April 8, 1973, on 105.5 MHz, with a country format. In 1975 it changed to Christian programming. The signal served the Colorado Springs market from the eastern community of Security.

    The Breeze

    After a sale in 1989, the station took the KBZE calls, “The Breeze,” with a new-age and smooth jazz sound. Later call signs on 105.5 were KHII, KSKX and KRDO-FM.

    Ownership history

    • 1973 to 1989: Edward J. Patrick is the owner name tied to the KWYD calls on this frequency
    • 1989: sold, and the station became KBZE

    The buyer in 1989 hasn’t been identified on this page yet. Later owners are on the KRDO-FM page.

    Where the studios have been

    The signal was licensed to Security, Colorado. We haven’t found street addresses for the studios yet. If you know them, we’d love to hear from you.

    Not to be confused with

    The later KWYD calls on 1580 AM belonged to a separate station.

    The signal

    • Frequency: 105.5 MHz FM
    • Community: Security, Colorado
    • First broadcast: April 8, 1973
    • Call sign period: 1973 to 1989
    • First format: country
    • Later format: Christian programming, from 1975
    • Next call sign: KBZE

    Sources

  • KWBY-AM

    KWBY (740 AM) was the original call sign of the 740 AM facility in Colorado Springs, which signed on in 1955. If you’ve ever tuned in to KVOR on 740, you’re listening to a signal with roots in KWBY.

    The early station

    The 1957 Broadcasting Yearbook lists KWBY on 740 kHz with 250 watts in the daytime, operated by Music Broadcasting Corporation. In February 1959 the FCC approved a technical change that allowed nighttime operation with a directional antenna and higher limited-hours power.

    What came next

    The station became KSSS in 1959 and kept that call sign for decades. It later became KTWK, and after the 2000 Colorado Springs frequency realignment the 740 facility became the modern home of KVOR.

    Ownership history

    • 1955 to 1959: Music Broadcasting Corporation, listed as operator in the 1957 Broadcasting Yearbook

    The people behind Music Broadcasting Corporation haven’t been identified yet. Later owners are on the KSSS and KVOR pages.

    Where the studios have been

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

    Facility lineage

    KWBY, then KSSS, then KTWK, then KVOR.

    Sources

  • KPIK-AM

    KPIK (1580 AM) was a Colorado Springs country station that was playing country from its very first day. If you grew up with country music in the Springs in the 60s or 70s, KPIK was one of the places you could hear it.

    A country station from day one

    KPIK signed on in June 1957 as a daytime country station owned by Western Broadcasting. Country was part of the station from the first day it went on the air.

    The FM sister

    In 1966 the company bought KLST at 94.3 FM and renamed it KPIK-FM. The AM and FM simulcast country programming through much of the 60s and 70s. By 1977 the FM started moving toward a more contemporary sound, while the AM stayed traditional country.

    A sale in 1978

    Station manager George James won a seat on the Colorado Springs City Council in 1977 and led Area Broadcasting, which bought the AM in 1978. The AM and FM split at that point, and KPIK-FM became KILO.

    Where 1580 went next

    The 1580 AM facility later became KWYD, KKKK, KREL, KHIG and KFCS.

    Ownership history

    • 1957 to 1978: Western Broadcasting, whose principals included David Pinkston and Leroy Elmore
    • 1978: Area Broadcasting, led by station manager George James, who had just been elected to the Colorado Springs City Council

    Later owners of 1580 are on the KFCS page.

    Where the studios have been

    We haven’t found street addresses for the KPIK studios yet. If you know them, we’d love to hear from you.

    Sources

    • FCC history cards
    • Broadcasting Yearbook (print)
    • Colorado Springs Gazette coverage from the time (print)
    • Published histories of KFCS and KILO

  • KFUM-AM

    KFUM was Colorado Springs’ first commercial radio station, and it’s where the whole KVOR story starts. If you’ve ever listened to KVOR, you’ve tuned in to a station lineage that began as KFUM in the earliest days of radio.

    Colorado Springs’ first commercial station

    KFUM was licensed in September 1922, which makes it one of the earliest broadcasters in Colorado. It later became KVOR, a name that stayed central to Colorado Springs radio for decades. The frequency KVOR used changed over time, but the lineage of the KVOR identity begins with KFUM.

    Call sign lineage

    KFUM, then KVOR.

    Ownership history

    The people who held the KFUM license in 1922 haven’t been identified on this page yet. The later owners of the same lineage are on the KVOR page.

    Where the studios have been

    We haven’t found the KFUM studio location yet. If you know it, we’d love to hear from you.

    Sources

  • KJQY-FM

    KJQY (95.5 FM) was the call sign on the Rocky Ford-licensed FM that served Pueblo and southern Colorado from 2002 to 2005. If you had 95.5 on in the early 2000s, this was the name between KOOO and KPHT.

    Where it fits

    The station began as KAVI-FM on 95.9 in 1966. It moved to 95.5 in 1989 as part of an upgrade and later used the calls KOOO. The KJQY period followed in 2002, and in 2005 the facility became KPHT.

    Call sign timeline

    KAVI-FM, then KOOO, then KJQY (2002 to 2005), then KPHT.

    The signal

    • Frequency: 95.5 MHz FM
    • Licensed to: Rocky Ford, Colorado
    • FCC facility ID: 87658
    • Class: C1 in later records

    This is a short page built from call-sign records. If you worked at KJQY, we’d love to hear from you.

    Ownership history

    Who owned 95.5 during the KJQY years hasn’t been identified yet. The ownership trail is on the KPHT page.

    Where the studios have been

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

    Sources