It’s unclear when KSTP started playing rock ‘n’ roll. In late 1953 there were shows called “Saturday Date” and “Rhythm at Random,” but what they played is anyone’s guess. Shows in 1954 included Saturday Juke Box, Jack Horner’s Corner, Record Rack, and Clubtime.
On October 3, 1955, an ad boasted that the station would play more music and had a new record library. The shows were identified by the name of the DJs, which included Morris, Rodger Kent, Riley, Valentine, and Bill Ingram.
In July 1956 the station stopped playing all night country & western, with Harry Zimmerman playing an hour of jazz, and hour of show tunes, and two hours of country.
It’s the Christmas season in 1965. DJ Don DuChene is keeping his night owl listeners company with Christmas songs and news.
In January 1957 the station claimed that classical music had doubled its nighttime ratings in a matter of weeks. At that time the station was also playing show tunes, Lawrence Welk, and shows like “Dragnet,” Bob Hope, and “The Great Gildersleeve”. Harry Zimmerman was playing the “Sweetest Music in Town.”
Something happened on January 14, 1957, but the ads weren’t clear. “It’s a NEW concept in news coverage!” “Scientifically Designed Entertainment” “$100,000 worth of better listening” “Big Big Big 40,000!”...
In August 1957 the station claimed to be “first with Twin Cities Housewives” based on a telephone poll of 388 people.
In September/October 1957 it announced “new programming,” with “more music, more news, more often.” By October it was a big-time rock ‘n’ roll station, at least until that December, with DJs Rog Kent, Don Hawkins and Harry Zimmerman. The station’s music survey was Top 15 Teen Tunes, and included 5 Top “Comers” selected by a High School Panel of Experts. Those songs were not rock ‘n’ roll.
Standing L to R: Steve Shannon, Ed O’Brien. Middle: Steve Hatley, Cosmic Cowboy a/k/a Terry Roberts, Chuck Knapp & Charlie Bush. Front: John Hines and Larry Carolla.
Jumping to 1970, management implemented big changes at the station, and shook up a major part of on air personnel.
In the summer of 1973 they entered the top-40 competition “with rapid-fire disk jockeys playing records in uninterrupted clusters. The jocks shouted, snarled and chanted the KSTP slogan that was spilling from billboards and buses all over town,” according to a 1977 Strib article. Jack Nugent said they went from 13th in the market to 2nd in 105 days.
The competition clobbered WDGY, which switched to country music the following year, and totally succumbed in 1977. The competition would eventually shake itself out, with outrageous rocker WYOO dropping out after being sold in 1976. In 1973-75 Chuck Knapp and Charlie Bush in the morning, Machine Gun Kelly and others livened things up. The slogan was “15 KSTP–THE MUSIC STATION.”.
Chuck Knapp in the Morning during the Summer of 1973. [ LISTEN ]
Chuck Knapp & Charlie Bush April 5, 1974. [ LISTEN ] (1:13:03)
A sample of what the station sounded like in 1979 with John Hines, Charlie Bush, Len Russell, Mike McNeil, Doug Silver, Greg Austin and Jim Summers. [ LISTEN ] (17:29)
Commercials heard include a 1974 Dodge Monaco spot, Alex Dryer doing a F&M (Farmers & Mechanics) Bank spot, a couple of 1st National Bank of St. Paul Red Carpet Card spots done in the style of May West and Humphrey Bogart. This is a Yamaha Bike spot with the jingle "Won't You Fly Me Away"
March 14, 1971 AdThis is a 1973-1974 aircheck composite [ LISTEN ].
A wonderful collection of disc jockeys and each daypart on the Twin Cities’ Top 40 giant! Among the great voices you’ll hear is Charlie Bush with news, Knapp in the Morning, M.G (Machine Gun) Kelly, and more.
November 26, 1973 with Tom Jones. [ LISTEN ] (9:22). Catman in the mid-70s. [ LISTEN ] (7:09). It's February 1974 and Machine Gun Kelly is on-the-air. Includes a brief segment with Charlie Bush. Commercials include Trollhaugen, Team Electronics, Clearasil, International World of Wheels, The Seven-Ups (film) and North Central Florists. [ LISTEN ] (13:06).
May 19, 1974 with Machine Gun Kelly. Includes newscast with Rod Trongard and commercials for Northwestern Bell, Gokey's, Burger King, STP, Countryside VW.
[ LISTEN ]. 1975 airchecks featuring Chuck Knapp, Steve Hatley, Ed O'Brien, and the Cosmic Cowboy.
May 19, 1974 with Machine Gun Kelly. Includes newscast with Rod Trongard and commercials for Northwestern Bell, Gokey's, Burger King, STP, Countryside VW.
[ LISTEN ]. 1975 airchecks featuring Chuck Knapp, Steve Hatley, Ed O'Brien, and the Cosmic Cowboy.
John Hines replaced Knapp in about 1975, and Rob Sherwood arrived in 1976, after U100 was sold. He stayed until February 1978. In November 1977 the Insider reported that the station was “working around from Top 40 programming to the album rock format.”
KSTP went from a tight Top 40 format to adult rock in 1978, to adult contemporary in 1979, to evolving into adult contemporary by 1980 and to talk by 1982. Most Top 40 rock music, by this time, had moved to the FM band.
WHO WORKED AT KSTP? Here is the list: Catman Tom Barnard, Bob Berglund, Larry Carolla, Dr. Grady Brock, Dick Ervasti, John Grimes, Mark Driscoll, Tommy Graham, Smokin' Joe Hager, Tom Jones, Machine Gun Kelly, Chuck Knapp, Big Ed O'Brien Rob Sherwood, Bob Yates, Dan Donovan, Dick Ervasti, and Tommy Graham.
Some materials found on this page were originally published by the following: Airchexx, Radio Tapes, Twin Cities Radio Airchecks.
