KDKB

On October 20, 1968, 93.3 first signed on the air as the sister station to 1510 AM (now KFNN). Originally, the station was KMND, broadcasting an easy listening music format branded as "Command Radio".

"At noon on Monday, August 23, 1971, I went into what would become the main production studio of KDKB in the old Safeway building (Jim, the engineer, had not yet completed work on our master control room, the “engine room” as we called it.)

This was the day appointed for us to unveil the new station in all of its glory. I shut the door to the studio and placed “On The Way Home” on the turntable. I said a little prayer and turned off the ocean sounds. The Buffalo Springfield sang, “When the dream came, I held my breath with my eyes closed. I went insane like a smoke ring...when the wind blows.” KDKB was born. And I was the luckiest person on the face of the Earth."

- C. Dwight Tindle

On August 23, 1971, the format was changed to Progressive Rock. In many respects, this format was a continuation of the freeform format of KCAC, a daytime-only station that was going bankrupt. According to KDKB co-owner Dwight Tindle, he and KCAC program director, William Edward "Bill" Compton, "invented KDKB" and its air sound. Moreover, Compton and several of KCAC's DJs were hired to staff KDKB.

KDKB-FM's rock format was simulcast on 1510 KDKB (AM). In 1978, the AM simulcast was broken and 1510 changed formats to oldies. The AM call letters were changed to KDJQ "The Golden Rock" with program director Robert M. Chenault and morning DJ Griffin Gary "Toad Hall" Kinsey followed later by Bruce "Brother" Baumbush. In 1980, the format on KDJQ changed to new wave music for a brief time, with Jonathan "Johnny D." Dixon as the program director and Jonathan L as assistant program director, music director, and evening personality. 1510 is now broadcasting a Financial/Business News format as KFNN.

Throughout the 1980s, KDKB evolved into more of an adult-leaning direction focusing on the classic rock artists.

Here is a pair of airchecks from the one and only KDKB circa 1976.
[ PART ONE ] (40:42) [ PART TWO ] (46:13)

Featured in the first segment is the Beatles psychedelic classic "Tomorrow Never Knows" from their Revolver album.

Nina with Herbie Hancock.

She came from Vermont and got her start in Arizona radio on KWFM in Tucson – a year later she was hired by Bill Compton and joined the staff of the underground KDKB.

Her name was Nina Joy, Arizona’s celebrated first lady on FM radio. As one of the early female rock radio air talents, her distinctive style quickly garnered her a faithful following and earned her the status of “radio legend”.

“A TRIBUTE TO NINA JOY”
[ LISTEN ] (1:43:04)

In March 1989, KDKB was anchored in mornings by the "Tim & Mark" show. The show proved to be one of the most popular in Phoenix radio history, lasting through 2005.

The show featured regular segments like "Helium Hilarity" and "Rump Ranger." Annual anniversary shows were held at venues like the Tempe Improv and the Celebrity Theater. The duo also contributed hundreds of thousands of dollars to local charities through their self-formed "Tim & Mark Charities," which was funded via sales of their annual "Best Of Tim & Mark" CDs.

On September 5, 2006, KDKB began playing full-length albums of classic rock artists without the use of any on-air personalities. On September 15, 2006, KDKB returned to its Mainstream Rock format with the new slogan, "93.3 KDKB Everything That Rocks!" including a larger variety of Rock artists along with special programming features including '80s themed weekends.

In mid 2010, the station initiated the slogan, "93.3 KDKB Rocks Arizona!", and retooled the entire on-air lineup. In the fall of 2013, the station changed its lineup and featuring Shmonty & Conklin in the mornings, Ruby Cheeks midday, KDKB's Program Director and DJ Paul "Neanderpaul" Marshall in afternoons, and Mike Gaube at night. In 2013, Sandusky Radio sold its stations in Phoenix and Seattle to Hubbard Broadcasting, including KDKB.

Best of the Love Workshop on KDKB. The Love Workshop was normally a 15-minute comedy show aired on KDKB from 1974 to 1976.

Mexican Top 40 [ LISTEN ] (4:29)...Unemployment Fashions [ LISTEN ] (4:18)...
Letter [ LISTEN ] (0:54)...Editorial [ LISTEN ] (3:09)... Rocky Point [ LISTEN ] (9:23)...Vatican [ LISTEN ] (3:26)... Rape Victim [ LISTEN ] (3:19)... Joan Embry [ LISTEN ] (0:56)... Pima Gymnastics [ LISTEN ] (4:34)

Bill Andres and John Giese in the 1980s.

On September 17, 2014, at 10 am, KDKB dropped its Rock format after 43 years and moved it to its HD2 sub-channel. It then began stunting as "93.3 The Cheese" playing songs by jazz-lounge cover artist Richard Cheese. At Noon, 93.3 flipped to Alternative Rock as "Alt AZ 93.3". The last song on "KDKB" was Living After Midnight by Judas Priest (promoting a November 2014 concert at Gila River Arena by the group), while the first song on "Alt AZ" was Come With Me Now by Paradise Valley-founded band KONGOS. This move is to let Hubbard keeping their "Wall of Rock" intact, while eliminating all overlaps between KDKB and sisters Classic Rock KSLX-FM and Active Rock KUPD.

KDKB TV spots from the 70s (and mostly 80's).

Some materials found on this page were originally published by the following: Free Form Radio, Radio Free Phoenix, Phoenix New Times, History Adventuring.