Rock Radio 50 Years Ago ☼ JULY 1976

Rockin’ a Red, White & Blue Radio DJ Summer!    

Of course, I have a Red-White-Blue article for you this month! How could I not? It’s such a special edition that it’s going to be offered in segments for the first couple of days. Feel free to wait ‘til it’s presented in its entirety, but either way, it’s a leisurely read. Grab a Summer libation, relax and enjoy …   

Personally, I’m a proud American and feel privileged that I and other 39ers+ experienced the 200^th anniversary of the United States in 1976 and will enjoy this month’s 250^th celebration! But I can’t help feeling a touch of sadness this year, as we slide into the most patriotic of months with so much animosity and hatred. It should be a happy time to celebrate how much we have here, and what our ancestors did to shape this country.  

Both celebrations—50 Years Ago, JULY 1976—and JULY 2026—mark years of civil unrest, political upheaval and societal struggles. The difference, is 50 Years Ago, no one doubted the democracy of America or sought to destroy it, even as they vehemently protested some of its doctrines.

Whether born-n-bred or chose to come here, I hope you share my patriotism for the best country on the planet. If you don’t, either feel free to leave, or stick around, work peacefully to make changes and quit your whining.

So, let’s get Rockin’ JULY where there is nothing more American than apple pie, Rock & Roll, and Rock Radio DJs! Let the celebration begin …

Up first, is a quick peek at Tom Peake (November 13, 1955-May 29, 2026), with a Radio Heaven tribute for this pioneering Radio DJ, who followed the music skyward on May 29^th. Contrary to being solemn and sad, let’s celebrate Tom’s stellar career in broadcasting! One of DJ/Broadcast industry's favorite sons, Tom was a beloved member of its groundbreaking hallowed ranks, as suggested by BFYP DJ Extraordinaire, Bill Gardner.

According to Bill, Tom—or Peaker, as his coworkers fondly called him—was the “heart and soul” of KOOL/94.5 Phoenix, during the nearly ten years they worked together.

All-in-all, Tom spent nearly forty years at KOOL Radio, retiring in 2019—a rare DJ occurrence, for sure. Radio-Online reported in 2016 for his 37^th year with KOOL, “Peake's history with KOOL-FM began on September 1, 1979.” They quoted Tom, ‘I honestly don't know where the time went,’ added Peake. ’Looking back over the last 37 years, I think I've been the luckiest person in radio to have spent it all at such a legendary station as 94.5 KOOL FM.’"

Tom began as a weekend host and finished his tenure as Music Director—oh, and still hosting the midday slot behind the mic. “At one radio station,” exclaimed Bill. “Unheard of.” Another KOOL anomaly Bill remembered, “ … we seemed to all like each other! I’d listen to Tom Peake on my way driving home … I recall one time he played Oliver’s ‘Good Morning Starshine,’ [1969] and warned everyone on air about every "Gliddy glub goopy, nibby nabby noopy, la la la lo lo, sabba sibby sabba, nooby abba nabba’ to expect.  :-).”

Maybe you’ll recognize more than Bill Gardner and Tom Peake in this ad feature from 2004. The lineup included: Bill Gardner, Tom Peake—who by this time had been there 20 years, Camelback Jack, Lee Bortell, and Allie Torres. As with Tom Peake, a life well-lived isn’t counted by the dollars you leave behind … it’s the abundance of fond memories and smiles that linger well after. (Image coming soon.)

There's much more to come! July 1976 News & Muse, the International Day of Rock 'n' Roll, our Featured Radio Survey and not just one, but THREE Songs of Note in July-appropriate nostalgia! Come on back later today and throughout the week while we ready for America's 250th Anniversary.   

Rock JULY 1976 and … with patriotic power!  

BFYP Book 1 (1954-1959) on Amazon         
BFYP Book 2 (Swinging ‘60s) on Amazon 
Blast from Your Past Gifts 
Share your Golden Oldies R&R fun on X: @BlastFromPastBk 

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ 

LinDee Rochelle is a writer and editor by trade, and author by way of Rock & Roll. Two books (of three planned) are published in her Blast from Your Past^TM series, available on Amazon: Book 1 – Rock & Roll Radio DJs: The First Five Years 1954-1959^TM (eBook only; coming soon in updated print edition) and Book 2 – Rock & Roll Radio DJs: The Swinging Sixties^TM (eBook & print). Coming soon-ish … Book 3 – The Psychedelic Seventies!^TM 

Note: FYI – All links in the BFYP site are personally visited, verified, and vetted. Most are linked to commonly accessed sites of reputable note. Occasionally, since I often feature real people and/or singular sources there may be an unsecured link. As with everything cyber-security, use at your own discretion and risk. This site is wholly owned by LinDee Rochelle & sponsored by PenchantForPenning.com^TM. No compensation is received for any mentions of businesses, products, or other commercial interests. *All holiday and special event days are found at Brownielocks.com’s calendar site. Enjoy! 
            RE: AI – The Blast from Your Past site has never and will never (knowingly) be written or assisted, by Artificial Intelligence. It’s just stupid ol’ “I” and I enjoy writing these articles. They soothe my soul. So why would I hand that indulgence over to an artificial, soulless entity that can’t feel pleasure?!

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Rock Radio 50 Years Ago ♪ June 1976

 You Feelin’ It? Summer’s Rockin’ Good Vibrations  

The late 1970s gave us a diverse mix of music and varieties on the Pop charts. Take your pick … Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, and Disco, blended our senses to join mainstream Pop Rock and old Rock & Roll style as Psychedelia blew our minds.

From Diana Ross to Queen, McCartney & Wings to John Travolta and Todd Rundgren, our Summer music of June 1976 heated up the airwaves and miraculously, I’m beginning my Summer with a full article ON the 1^st! Albeit, we need a few more fun images, but they’ll be along in a couple of days. In the meantime, enjoy … 50 Years Ago this Month …   

º JUNE 1976 Radio News & Muse ♪  
What was your fave DJ playing when you turned on your tinny transistor radio 50 Years Ago? Two powerhouse West Coast Radio stations ruled the SoCal music scene. You’re going to see a lot of Callie Radio charts in coming months and years.
       Yep, it’s my home and dictated what stations I was most interested in when collecting the vintage charts years before I wrote the BFYP books or began this monthly article. I will, however, lean on the stalwart ARSA collections to bring you a little variety throughout the national Radio spectrum—um, except for this month.
       Hopefully, you Rock & Roll fans east of the Rockies won’t get too bored. Perhaps compare our tastes with yours …  

June 1976 brought a variety of talent to the airwaves as well as the music. B-100 KFMB/San Diego, California, begins its rise to Rock & Roll fame with ultimate program director, Bobby Rich, attracting up-and-coming DJs like Shotgun Tom Kelly and this month, Dave Conley, just in the first two years.
       Shotgun will be featured on August ’76’s cover in that month’s article, and in our hearts, as he prepares to be inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame this October 8^th. Learn of his early rise to Rock Radio stardom in Blast From Your Past’s Rock & Roll Radio DJs: The Swinging Sixties.

B-100’s dial position, at 100.7, was originally a far cry from Rock, having soothed your senses first, with Beautiful Music before its flip to Top 40. But Top 40 was popular and in with the in-crowd. Beginning in 1975, Rock was home for nearly twenty years. The new "Better Boogie" station reportedly came to be the first FM station to reach #1 in a major media market. But times changed and so did its format—a couple of times—until now, it rests with Regional Mexican & KFBG. 

In its best days DJ Dave Conley was in full bushy-beard mode for fans of B-100/KFMB-FM, on the cover of Chart #59, June 3, 1976. He and Shotgun Tom Kelly had worked together a couple of times beginning around 1970 and is credited with contributing to Shotgun’s name fame. I could only spot bits and pieces in researching Dave’s history, apparently known as “San Diego’s Favorite Lady’s Man.” 
       Ironically, most of the comments were of him at KHJ a few years earlier. If you’d like to hear archived segments of him in action at KCBQ/San Diego (also a few years earlier), it’s available by RetroRadioJoe on Mix Cloud. Report is, Dave passed into Radio Heaven in 2005.  

Although B-100 battled for San Diego’s top spot against the legendary KCBQ in 1976, it still took second to renowned KHJ/Los Angeles. As our June 22, 1976 Featured Radio Survey, KHJ sported the infamous Machine Gun Kelly on the cover of Issue No. 572.
       Really? “Machine Gun”? And yes, it was partly in deference to the original infamous gangster, “George Machine Gun Kelly,” from the Prohibition Era. Who was DJ Machine Gun Kelly, really? Gary D. Sinclair from Ada, Oklahoma. And as an actor, just call him Michael Gary “M.G.” Kelly.
       By this time, Kelly had been behind the mic at KHJ for a couple of years and feeling its waning popularity, eventually jumping ship to rival station KTNQ in 1978.
       KHJ has had a complicated history since its 1922 inception. A lot of frequency, call sign and format switches. During the 1960s’ Boss Radio years, KHJ was instrumental in Boss Jocks’ careers that made them broadcast stars. But by 1980, their Top 40 format spun around to a boot-scootin’ Country music crowd. Ah, but wait! That only lasted six years … you may know it now, as the powerhouse classic hits station, KRTH (K-Earth 101).  

Enjoy the memories of what and who you were listening to while you sunbathed … 50 Years Ago this Month! 

June 10^th: Were you there?! Did you wait with bated breath for Paul McCartney to step on stage in the U.S. for one of his first American concerts in ten years? He broke the mold on this day in 1976 when he brought his new band, WINGS on stage in the Kingdome, Seattle, Washington. With 67,000+ fans, McCartney & WINGS grabbed the record for highest attendance in an indoor concert, to date. Whether as a Beatle, flying solo or with WINGS, McCartney is always his best on stage … 

June 17^th: Who remembers Blondie, one of the early eclectic bands of the ‘70s, known for mixing and matching music genres? Their debut single, “X Offender” released today in 1976 from their self-titled first album, had moderate success, but it wasn’t ‘til their 1979 third album that US music fans embraced them en masse, with “Heart of Glass.”

June 18^th: While this isn’t a US music milestone, it was too good to pass up. On this day, the night before King Carl XVI Gustaf, reigning king of Sweden was to marry Silvia Sommerlath and make her his queen, ABBA performed their soon-to-be hit tune, “Dancing Queen” for the first time, on Swedish television. How cool is that?! It was released in August for distribution. Anni-Frid Synni Lyngstad, a founding member of ABBA, performed the song in a cappella for the queen’s 50^th birthday in 1993.

♪ June 1976 Song of Note ♪  
♪ Good, good, good … good vibrations … ♪ Summer vibes reverberate off the SoCal ocean waves. Did we have a time warp? Are we back in the surreal surf music of after-summer October 1966? Not exactly. 1) It isn’t The Beach Boys moving “Good Vibrations” up the Radio chart, but (2) Todd Rundgren, faithfully reproducing the ultimate summer feel-good song as a force of musical nature in his own right, ten years later. June 1976 it was chugging up the chart at #18 with San Diego’s B-100 KFMB fans, topping out at #2 in early July.
       Generally, I like to find a YouTube rendition of the Song of Note, in a live performance, around the time it was popular. However, there seemed to be no live Todd Rundgren version, so hope you enjoy an original of The Beach Boys played over great ‘70s-era “day-in-the-life” pictures of a happening concert.
       An infamous Brian Wilson composition with Mike Love lyrics, “Good Vibrations” in the ‘60s was ahead of its time, taking us into the late ‘70s’ with a natural vibe of Rock, Pop and Psychedelia. The Beach Boys did the heavy lifting in creating an intricate arrangement that not many could imitate. Later, a few brave artists attempted remakes in their own style, but only Rundgren’s replication made it as another commercial success.
       At least, in the West. I spent waaaay too much time researching across the nation and could not find Rundgren’s hit version listed anywhere else on Top 40 charts. Ah well …we were either way ahead of the hits, way behind the hits, or makin’ hits on our own … and here we are, 50 Years Later …  ♪  I'm picking up good vibrations | She's giving me excitations | Good bop bop, good vibrations … ♪    

♪ June 2026 Music Events & More ♪    
We can Rock our “Good Vibrations” and dream of surf and sand in June’s International Surf Music Month! The sponsor link is to a terrific surf organization in Connecticut, and I recognize their enthusiasm for surfing and the music that surrounds it. And intellectually, I know the East Coast has its own hang-ten culture, however, I can’t help thinking that California is surf music “home.”

       We can all agree, though, that June is also a great time to reconnect with your portable Radio—perhaps on the beach—for National DJ Month! As the sponsor, Music Talkers says, “Whether broadcasting to listeners on the radio, engaging TV audiences or just setting the mood of a party … the DJ is an essential part of our culture.” I can vouch for that—and did—in two books about Rock Radio DJs’ pioneering days.

The Summer sun, surf music and your Rock’n Radio, sets the Summer mood, no matter where you are, or what digital or terrestrial Radio station you’re tuned to …

June 20^th: It’s great to see worldwide support for International Surfing Day! Wikipedia is actually the primary history link for the day, with a fun UK neighbor link. The day itself, was established by Malibu, California’s, Surfrider Foundation and the now-defunct, Surfing Magazine, a full 21 years ago, in 2005. Celebrate! Find a beach to watch the sunset surfers, or join them!   

June 25^th: This is truly, originally, a love letter from superfan, Faith Cohen, when she established Global Beatles Day in 2009. A literal lifelong advocate for the Fab Four, her effort to establish this day as a global “… love letter from the world to The Beatles,” has indeed, progressed to a global level. See what you can do with your fun and worthwhile obsessions?! Enjoy the music, the memories, and the four talented teens who changed our lives, whether we know it or not.
       I wasn’t always a Beatles fan like Ms. Cohen … but that changed when they came to San Francisco and has never waivered since. It’s been a “Long and Winding Road.” I’ll play my vintage Beatles records on the 25^th. How about you?

♪♪ BFYP Featured Radio Survey ♪♪   
June 22, 1976 ~ KHJ/Los Angeles, California, Issue No. 572 … this month’s vintage radio music chart tells you to “Get Up & Boogie,” have an “Afternoon Delight,” and if all else fails, “Kiss and Say Goodbye,” “If You Know What I Mean.” Oh, I’m just having too much fun with the hot Summer tunes of yesteryear, how’s about you? Do you recall the classically handsome and wildly popular DJ Machine Gun Kelly pictured on the cover, kicking off “The Beach Boys Weekend” … “More Summer for You Times Two on 93/KHJ”? … 50 Years Ago this Month in Rock & Roll Radio! Where were you that groovy day when your radio played … 

Rock JUNE 1976 and … Rock Out & Feel the Vibes!  

BFYP Book 1 (1954-1959) on Amazon         
BFYP Book 2 (Swinging ‘60s) on Amazon  
Blast from Your Past Gifts  
Share your Golden Oldies R&R fun on X: @BlastFromPastBk 

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ 

LinDee Rochelle is a writer and editor by trade, and author by way of Rock & Roll. Two books (of three planned) are published in her Blast from Your Past^TM series, available on Amazon: Book 1 – Rock & Roll Radio DJs: The First Five Years 1954-1959^TM (eBook only; coming soon in updated print edition) and Book 2 – Rock & Roll Radio DJs: The Swinging Sixties^TM (eBook & print). Coming soon-ish … Book 3 – The Psychedelic Seventies!^TM 

Note: FYI – All links in the BFYP site are personally visited, verified, and vetted. Most are linked to commonly accessed sites of reputable note. Occasionally, since I often feature real people and/or singular sources there may be an unsecured link. As with everything cyber-security, use at your own discretion and risk. This site is wholly owned by LinDee Rochelle & sponsored by PenchantForPenning.com^TM. No compensation is received for any mentions of businesses, products, or other commercial interests. *All holiday and special event days are found at Brownielocks.com’s calendar site. Enjoy! 
            RE: AI – The Blast from Your Past site has never and will never (knowingly) be written or assisted, by Artificial Intelligence. It’s just stupid ol’ “I” and I enjoy writing these articles. They soothe my soul. So why would I hand that indulgence over to an artificial, soulless entity that can’t feel pleasure?!

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Rock Radio 50 Years Ago ♪ MAY 1976

Happy Days Are Hopin’ the Music Never Ends!  

Some of us remember the days when TV sitcoms might have had an underlying seriousness but were still funny. Much like our radios played protest tunes, but they were still excellent music. And Radio and TV often fed off each other to emphasize great entertainment. Ahhhh, the good ol’ days!

If you’re looking for controversy, you won’t find it in our MAY 1976 Featured Radio Survey. No, this month it’s 99% lovin’ and 1% nostalgic Radio/TV crossovers. If you’re curious and impatient to know why, scroll on down toward the end. However, it’ll be a lot more fun if you just grab a cuppa something, relax, take your time and savor the news and muse from … 50 Years Ago this Month … 

 º MAY 1976 Radio News & Muse ♪  
What was your fave DJ playing when you turned on your tinny transistor radio 50 Years Ago? Off and on through Radio and TV history, popular TV shows saw their theme song hit the top of the charts. I’m sure the producers didn’t mind the extra attention for their shows. Enjoy the memories of what and who you were listening to … May 1976! 

Who recalls the scruffy “Welcome Back Kotter,” which gave us an irreverent teen, played by a preening John Travolta as Vinnie Barbarino? Or were you more nostalgic for “Happy Days” with goody-two-shoes, Richie Cunningham, in full teen angst mode, played by squeaky-clean, Ron Howard … who secretly wanted to be Arthur "Fonzie" Fonzarelli, the motorcycle riding bad boy, made infamous by Henry Winkler?
       Both shows were wildly popular, boosted by their #4 & #6 music chart status (respectively) on MAY 1976’s KTLK/Denver survey, with their musical namesakes. “Welcome Back Kotter” asked, ♪ … And what could ever lead you | Back here where we need you … ♪  while we hummed along with “Happy Days,” ♪ … Rock-n-roll with all my friends | Hopin’ the music never ends | … These Happy Days are yours and mine …  ♪ Yes, they are. 

Speaking of KTLK, you may recall a short blurb about the station back in February, with DJ John Edwards. We learned then, it became KTLK with a format flip from KBNO. It’s back this month with popular DJ Dan Alexander Rockin’ the Rockies morning show. We know Dan was there for at least a year, but not much more. For the MAY 24, 1976 Featured Radio Survey, it’s now up to Collector’s Issue No. 297, but they musta been in a hurry to print, as Dan didn’t get a cover image this time.  
       What were the Denver listeners’ top three tunes? We hit the stores with Captain & Tennille’s “Shop Around” at #3; then we “Fooled Around and Fell In Love” in Elvin Bishop’s tune crowding the top at #2; and while we’re feeling affectionate, Paul McCartney & Wings finally grabbed #1 with “Silly Love Songs.” ♪ … Love doesn't come in a minute | Sometimes it doesn't come at all | I only know that when I'm in it | Love isn't silly at all …  ♪    

May 3^rd: And if you were in love with love, you likely already knew that this date in 1976 Paul McCartney & Wings began their Wings over America Tour in Ft. Worth, Texas. It was also the first time Paul had been on a US stage since the Beatles’ 1966 SF/Candlestick Park concert.

May 19^th: Since I generally keep things light, I hesitated to remind Rolling Stones fans of the horrendous Keith Richards auto accident on this date. He apparently had family and friends in the car and it likely could have been avoided, if he hadn’t been the Stones’ bad boy that he was—being caught with drugs in the car. I mention it here, not only because he is remarkably, still alive, at a spunky 82, but by several accounts, he’s finally (nearly) rid himself of the “mad, bad, and dangerous to know” label that’s plagued him for most of the past 50 Years. Persistence pays off.  

May 31^st: Although The Who is often credited with the record for loudest Rockin’ concert of all time on this date in 1976, as with most things over time, that record is now debatable. At an ear-blowing 120 decibels, does anyone from Charlton, London, still have their hearing?! However, they haven’t lost favor with their most dedicated metalheads. Their dubious feat is still right up there in the top four according to Records Trivia.  

♪ MAY 1976 Song of Note ♪  
Who, reading this article, knows what Happy Days, the TV show was all about? 1974 may have been the first year it aired, but our youth of the 1950s and ‘60s was its core. Nostalgic and fun, we reveled in its ostensible simplicity and danced to all of its reminiscing hit tunes. But it was the MAY 1976 hit song, “Happy Days” by Pratt & McClain that endeared the show to other age groups. And the show’s originators couldn’t have chosen a more apt title.
       While the show had more than one theme song, only this one climbed the music charts to become our Song of Note, 50 Years later. At KTLK/Denver, their May 24^th survey shows “Happy Days” at #6. It also has the distinction, however, as a one-hit wonder for the songwriting duo ♪ … Sunday, Monday, Happy Days | Tuesday, Wednesday, Happy Days | Thursday, Friday, Happy Days | Saturday, what a day | Rockin’ all week with you … ♪ You betcha!   

♪ Quirky Band Name Award ♪  
I haven’t seen much to draw from on the charts for this section lately. But who could resist checking out a band name like Thin Lizzy for May’s Quirky Band Name Award? Of course, I knew of them from back in the day. Their global hit, “The Boys Are Back In Town” hit the charts this month, slowly climbing to #31 at KTLK.
       For this hard rock/blues/heavy metal Irish band, it’s all in the accent. Eric Bell, TL’s first guitarist, suggested it in 1970, playing off, “Tin Lizzie,” a robot character in a youth magazine, The Dandy. The band settled on Thin Lizzy, but acknowledged the locals’ Dublin accent which often left off the “h” anyway, in early promos.

♪ May 2026 Music Events & More ♪    
I don’t claim to be a drum solo aficionado, but some of you may be. MAY used to be National Drum Month. Nowadays, there is no link for it, and it claims the status of “International Drum Month” on some calendars. Whatever. Let’s make it fun anyway. Take a look at this month’s Featured Radio Survey and see if you can spot a great tune with an outstanding drum solo. Enjoy!

♪♪ BFYP Featured Radio Survey ♪♪   
MAY 24, 1976 ~ KTLK/Denver, Colorado. As 1970s radio music charts go, this one is disappointingly plain. But it’s all about the music, anyway, right? Love dominates all the way from Wings’ #1 “Silly Love Songs” to #40’s “Come On Over” by Olivia Newton-John. No doubt about it … Love makes the world go ‘round. Now … and then … 50 Years Ago this Month in Rock & Roll Radio! Where were you that groovy day when your radio played … 

Rock MAY 1976 and … make every day a Happy Rock & Roll Day!  

BFYP Book 1 (1954-1959) on Amazon         
BFYP Book 2 (Swinging ‘60s) on Amazon 
Blast from Your Past Gifts 
Share your Golden Oldies R&R fun on X: @BlastFromPastBk 

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ 

LinDee Rochelle is a writer and editor by trade, and author by way of Rock & Roll. Two books (of three planned) are published in her Blast from Your Past^TM series, available on Amazon: Book 1 – Rock & Roll Radio DJs: The First Five Years 1954-1959^TM (eBook only; coming soon in updated print edition) and Book 2 – Rock & Roll Radio DJs: The Swinging Sixties^TM (eBook & print). Coming soon-ish … Book 3 – The Psychedelic Seventies!^TM 

Note: FYI – All links in the BFYP site are personally visited, verified, and vetted. Most are linked to commonly accessed sites of reputable note. Occasionally, since I often feature real people and/or singular sources there may be an unsecured link. As with everything cyber-security, use at your own discretion and risk. This site is wholly owned by LinDee Rochelle & sponsored by PenchantForPenning.com^TM. No compensation is received for any mentions of businesses, products, or other commercial interests. *All holiday and special event days are found at Brownielocks.com’s calendar site. Enjoy! 
            RE: AI – The Blast from Your Past site has never and will never (knowingly) be written or assisted, by Artificial Intelligence. It’s just stupid ol’ “I” and I enjoy writing these articles. They soothe my soul. So why would I hand that indulgence over to an artificial, soulless entity that can’t feel pleasure?!

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪