It would be hard to imagine any worse on-air assignment than to sign a station on at 9:00 p.m. on a Sunday night and sign it off again at 2:00 a.m. The last half hour is heard here and, from what he says, it sounds like Mike Lundy’s only weekly shift at KGBS. At 5:12 into this aircheck, he names the announcers who work weekdays at KGBS.
The “Now Sound” format seems like an adults-only version of Top 40: an emphasis on current songs from across the musical spectrum, including country hits not played on Top 40 and new material not yet on Billboard’s charts. Plus, lots of jingles.
KGBS was one of those uniquely U.S. institutions: the daytime-only radio station, only with a twist. Their FCC license for clear channel 1020 KHz gave them the right to be on the air while KDKA Pittsburgh was off the air for weekly transmitter maintenance — midnight to 5:00 a.m. Eastern time Monday morning. Presumably, if they were not on the air then, they could lose that right. But, it is hard to imagine any Manager ever forseeing any money to be made by being on the air then.
It is also hard to see any money to be made running a 50KW daytime-only station in a major market. Like KGBS, most had simulcast FM stations that did not have to sign off at sunset, but the minority of Americans who did own FM receivers in 1969 usually had only one, and it was located in the living room. But, better times were coming soon for KGBS: the teaming of Bob Hudson and Ron Landry on mornings. Two of their comedy bits hit the Billboard Hot 100 in 1971 and ’72.
As Mike mentions, this weekly time slot was heard far and wide, making KGBS well known among long distance radio listeners. It undoubtedly drew more mail than all the rest of the station’s programming put together.
[Uncle Ricky adds: Mike Lundy produced radio programming for Japanese stations in the ’80’s and ’90’s. He also managed Ted Randal Enterprises (an early consulting company) in the ’70’s and hired Bob Wilson at KAFY in the 60’s; in short, he was actively involved in Top 40 radio before and after this aircheck. As of 2002, Mike is “anchoring and writing every shift imagineable at KFWB while trying to figure out what I want to do with my life when I grow up.” We thank Mike for visiting the Repository and helping us update this exhibt.]