#Dallas
Jackson “Peg” Moreland, who once sang over Dallas’ WFAA Radio (today’s KLIF-AM), died in 1973. Here’s a 1929 recording of him singing “When I Had But Fifty Cents:”
Here are other entries about Dallas’ KRLD-AM.
Here are other entries about KFJZ in Fort Worth and WRR in Dallas.
Here are other entries about Dallas’ WFAA-AM, today’s KLIF-AM.
Dallas’ legendary KLIF signed on in 1947. Owner Gordon McLendon flipped the station to a Top 40 format in 1953. He and radio entrepreneur Todd Storz are credited with creating the format, which combined fast-paced production with the hottest songs of the moment.
McLendon is acknowledged as a programming and promotional genius. In its heyday, the station achieved monstrous ratings, especially among younger listeners.
KLIF also had a robust local news operation. Here’s a KLIF aircheck from November 22, 1963, when President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in downtown Dallas. It gives you a good sense of the station’s sound. The first bulletin about the shooting begins around 1:09:10:
McLendon sold KLIF in 1972. As FM began to erode audiences on AM music stations, KLIF switched to an adult contemporary format in 1977. Four years later, it flipped to country. KLIF evolved to a talk format by 1986.
KLIF moved from 1190 on the dial to 570 in 1990. As of 2014, the news/talk format continues under the ownership of Cumulus Media.
Sources: DFWRetroplex.com (”Dallas-Fort Worth AM Station History”), Wikipedia (KLIF-AM)
