… WKBW now becomes a thing of the past …
[Description by Dale Patterson ]
A jingle heard on the station near the end said, ‘KB forever. It wasn’t. On June 18, 1988,
an emotional Tom Donahue said goodbye to live-assist oldies at WWKB, Buffalo, N.Y.,
ending an era that started nearly 30 years before.
On July 4, 1958, WKBW began playing Top 40 music, and a legend was born. With a powerful
signal that reached 17 states and  in the words of Dick Biondi  “everyone
up there in Canada”, ‘KB radio grew over the years into one of the greatest Top 40 stations
in North America.
Joey Reynolds, Dan Neaverth, Stan Roberts, Don Berns, Sandy Beach, Jackson Armstrong, Tom Shannon, Fred Klestine and Shane were among the many who presented music shows. Irv Weinstein, Jim Fagan, Henry Brach, John Zach, Jim McLaughlin and others anchored a stand-out news department, a pioneer in the presentation of news in the Top 40 format.
There wasn’t a dry eye in the house when Donahue said farewell that muggy night in 1988, as ‘KB switched to a satellite oldies format. He went with a great collage of ‘KB music, moments and memories. Western New York/Southern Ontario radio has never been the same.
After the final broadcast, I phoned Donahue and asked if he would send me a tape of the last show. He did, and it is presented here.