WGLD FM in Oak Park, Illinois switched to a full time progressive rock format in January 1970. Terry Hemmert who had a long career at WXRT began her professional career at the station. The first clip above features Digby Welsh from Feb 6, 1971, during the station’s progressive era.
WGLD switched to oldies and the second clip is from the oldies era and features Ross Brooks from Oct 25, 1973. A relatively early example of the oldies format on the radio.
These excellent examples of Chicago radio from the early 1970’s were contributed to the site by Tom Konard.
Javed, I’m not sure if you know, and if you don’t, I’m sorry to break the news, but Tom Konard passed away last week in Belgium, according to his Facebook page.
That’s sad. I did not know. Had not been in touch with him for some time. He did great work and maintained a huge library of air checks.
Yes, he did. He had a collection on REELRADIO, and I bought maybe a dozen airchecks from him over the space of a year 4-5 years ago. He was always great to deal and to correspond with.
I remember in the afternoon WGLD had a “Top Five at 5” segment. I can remember a couple songs from one I listened to after coming home from school, I was a sophomore at New Trier in Winnetka – All the Young Dudes by Mott the Hoople, Rock and Roll Soul by Grand Funk Railroad, not sure the rest on that one though. Must have been around ’73 but you say they went to oldies in ’73, I thought they still played rock then. Could have been fall of ’72.
Bill, also Reeling in the Years I think. Wow great memories.
Do you remember “Righteous Bob Rudnick” of the Kokaine Karma Kids, who got fired in early 1970 for his radical White Panther rants? Happy to hear what anyone recalls of his broadcasts.
Who remembers D.J.s Scorpio and Gwen?