#680 memphis

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Memphis Composite: 56 WHBQ, 68 WMPS & 1070 WDIA | Summer, 1972

All-NEW Classic Aircheck: Memphis Composite: 56 WHBQ, 68 WMPS & 1070 WDIA | Summer, 1972

Who knew that WMPS shared a similar sound and set of jingles with WLS Chicago? They even use the line “Mid-America’s new city!” What the heck? And during this time period, in my opinion, WHBQ sounds old and tired compared to WMPS. And then there’s WDIA. WDIA uses the “Soul Power” positioning statement.

Read more below. To listen, click the BIG BLUE BUTTON BELOW!

AND NOW THIS MESSAGE

Each month,…

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Rob Grayson: 45 Years in 5 Minutes

Rob Grayson: 45 Years in 5 Minutes

Rob Grayson, a long time ago…

Description by Steve West

I don’t know if this was intended to be a demo or not, but longtime Memphis radio personality Rob Grayson recently put together this really fun piece, condensing his radio career down from his early radio beginnings in the 1970s right up to just about current, as of this writing.

While there’s really no way to include all the great moments…

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Composite: WHBQ, WMPS, WDIA Memphis | 1972

Composite: WHBQ, WMPS, WDIA Memphis | 1972

This runs almost 24 minutes and may be somewhat confusing. Listen carefully because this is presented as one or two breaks from one station, then flips to another for a few breaks, etc.

Other than being a somewhat muddy sounding recording – the tape is 42 years old after all, this is an excellent representation of the state of popular music radio in Memphis in the early 1970s. Don’t be fooled,…

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Mitch Craig, 68 WMPS Memphis | Spring, 1973

Mitch Craig, 68 WMPS Memphis | Spring, 1973

“From the Gateway to Mid-America!…”

The WMPS Top hour legal ID says it all. A Broadcast service of Plough, Incorporated, WMPS put up stiff competition to RKO General’s 56 WHBQ and for a while they even seemed to trade jocks! Mitch Craig is heard doing Afternoons. This is short and much of it was scoped before we got it in the Airchexx studio, but you will hear Casey Casem voice a full commercial…

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Donnie Brooks, 68 WMPS Memphis | Spring, 1973

Donnie Brooks, 68 WMPS Memphis | Spring, 1973

It’s a Friday night at “Super 68″ and Donnie Brooks is at the controls of Plough’s superstation! WMPS is doing its best to imitate Chicago’s WLS, and by the sounds of this aircheck, it’s working. Note the WLS type jingles, such as the cut “The Rock of the River“, set to the tune of WLS’ “The Rock of Chicago“.

Note the full length commercial for Wrigley Spearmint Gum, and some historic Memphis…

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