KBLX
Encyclopedia
KBLX-FM is an Urban Adult Contemporary
radio station that broadcasts from San Francisco
. The station is licensed to Berkeley, California
, and is owned by Inner City Broadcasting Corporation
.
's programming. In 1979, it was relaunched as KBLX. It was one of the first true radio stations with an adult contemporary format, hybrid with an Urban Contemporary
format to focus on The Quiet Storm
R&B subgenre era at the time. At first, even though the call letters stand for Blacks per se the target audience, KBLX marketed the station as an adult contemporary format, rather than urban in order to attract a wider audience.
Throughout the 1980s, the station played an eclectic mix of R&B, jazz
and soft pop, reflecting the diverse music culture of the Bay Area
. KBLX was the inspiration for for the creation and launch of various adult contemporary radio formats across the country, from Smooth Jazz
to soft rock AC to Urban AC (R&B), the latter which KBLX modified its format to years later. (The Urban AC terminology did not exist until 1988). Even then, for some time the station played mostly smooth R&B, rarely playing any uptempo R&B, current or old school. This was done to establish the station's own identity apart from competition from now-defunct Urban stations KSOL and KDIA, or its current competitors KMEL
, KYLD and KISQ
. But the station's musical selection was also forged by its intense competition with smooth-jazz arch-rival KKSF
.
Even when KBLX modified its format to Urban AC in the 1990s, the station continued to play jazz music in rotation—and this practice of mixing R&B and jazz songs on radio playlists has occurred on few Urban AC radio stations in some markets. However, KBLX played more R&B songs than jazz; the end result was a gradual phasing out of jazz from its playlist in recent years. From then on, KBLX has evolved into a true Urban AC station today (much like its New York sister station, WBLS
and stations in other markets) -- playing current and old school R&B, as well as uptempo R&B songs to match its competitors. Despite the changes, it still advertises itself as a "Smooth R&B" station, reflecting its "Quiet Storm" heritage handle —- although the station did re-integrate jazz vocals into its overall sound after KKSF switched from smooth jazz to rock in June 2009.
KBLX and its AM sister station, KRE (now KVTO
), are the Bay Area's only African-American-owned and operated commercial radio stations. From its inception in 1979, KBLX simulcasted on KRE (later KBLX-AM) until 1994, when the AM station was re-launched as KVTO, with a World Ethnic format, primarily serving the San Francisco Bay Area's Asian community. KVTO is an affiliate of the Sing Tao Chinese Radio network and broadcasts in Chinese, Korean, Tagalog and Hindi.
Chris Lewis,
BK Kirkland,
Kevin Nash,
Leslie Stoval,
Chris James,
Clifford Brown Jr.,
Talaya Trigueros,
Les Williams,
Steve Collins,
Belle Nolan,
Ed McClune,
John Chung,
Ed Lee :
Roy Lee Freeman,
Rob Singleton,
Rick Holmes,
Doug Lee
Bob Jones
Urban Adult Contemporary
Urban adult contemporary is the name for a format of radio music, similar to an urban contemporary format. Radio stations using this format usually would not have rap music on their playlists. The format was designed by Barry Mayo when he, Lee S. Simonson and Bill Pearson organized Broadcast...
radio station that broadcasts from San Francisco
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
. The station is licensed to Berkeley, California
Berkeley, California
Berkeley is a city on the east shore of the San Francisco Bay in Northern California, United States. Its neighbors to the south are the cities of Oakland and Emeryville. To the north is the city of Albany and the unincorporated community of Kensington...
, and is owned by Inner City Broadcasting Corporation
Inner City Broadcasting Corporation
The Inner City Broadcasting Corporation is an American media company based in New York City. ICBC is notable for being one of the first broadcasting companies wholly owned by black people...
.
About KBLX
On February 14, 1949, KRE-FM signed on simulcasting KREKVTO
KVTO is a radio station broadcasting a World Ethnic format. Licensed to Berkeley, California, USA, the station serves the San Francisco Bay Area...
's programming. In 1979, it was relaunched as KBLX. It was one of the first true radio stations with an adult contemporary format, hybrid with an Urban Contemporary
Urban contemporary
Urban contemporary is a music radio format. The term was coined by the late New York DJ Frankie Crocker in the mid 1970s. Urban contemporary radio stations feature a playlist made up entirely of hip hop/rap, contemporary R&B, pop, electronica such as dubstep and drum and bass and Caribbean music...
format to focus on The Quiet Storm
Quiet storm
Quiet storm is a late-night radio format, featuring soulful slow jams, pioneered in the mid-1970s by then-station-intern Melvin Lindsey at WHUR-FM, in Washington, D.C. Smokey Robinson's like-titled hit single, released in 1975 as the title track to his third solo album, lent its name to the format...
R&B subgenre era at the time. At first, even though the call letters stand for Blacks per se the target audience, KBLX marketed the station as an adult contemporary format, rather than urban in order to attract a wider audience.
Throughout the 1980s, the station played an eclectic mix of R&B, jazz
Smooth jazz
Smooth jazz is a genre of music that grew out of jazz fusion and is influenced by R&B, funk, rock, and pop music styles ....
and soft pop, reflecting the diverse music culture of the Bay Area
San Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a populated region that surrounds the San Francisco and San Pablo estuaries in Northern California. The region encompasses metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, along with smaller urban and rural areas...
. KBLX was the inspiration for for the creation and launch of various adult contemporary radio formats across the country, from Smooth Jazz
Smooth jazz
Smooth jazz is a genre of music that grew out of jazz fusion and is influenced by R&B, funk, rock, and pop music styles ....
to soft rock AC to Urban AC (R&B), the latter which KBLX modified its format to years later. (The Urban AC terminology did not exist until 1988). Even then, for some time the station played mostly smooth R&B, rarely playing any uptempo R&B, current or old school. This was done to establish the station's own identity apart from competition from now-defunct Urban stations KSOL and KDIA, or its current competitors KMEL
KMEL
KMEL is an Urban Contemporary-formatted radio station located in San Francisco, California, and owned by Clear Channel Communications....
, KYLD and KISQ
KISQ
KISQ is a radio station licensed to San Francisco that features the Urban Oldies format on the 98.1 FM frequency. It is owned by Clear Channel.- History :As KABL...
. But the station's musical selection was also forged by its intense competition with smooth-jazz arch-rival KKSF
KKSF
KKSF, known as "Oldies 103.7", is a classic hits radio station in San Francisco, California. The station is owned and operated by Clear Channel Communications.-History:...
.
Even when KBLX modified its format to Urban AC in the 1990s, the station continued to play jazz music in rotation—and this practice of mixing R&B and jazz songs on radio playlists has occurred on few Urban AC radio stations in some markets. However, KBLX played more R&B songs than jazz; the end result was a gradual phasing out of jazz from its playlist in recent years. From then on, KBLX has evolved into a true Urban AC station today (much like its New York sister station, WBLS
WBLS
WBLS is an urban adult contemporary FM radio station in New York City, operating on 107.5 MHz. WBLS is owned by Inner City Broadcasting Corporation along with sister station WLIB...
and stations in other markets) -- playing current and old school R&B, as well as uptempo R&B songs to match its competitors. Despite the changes, it still advertises itself as a "Smooth R&B" station, reflecting its "Quiet Storm" heritage handle —- although the station did re-integrate jazz vocals into its overall sound after KKSF switched from smooth jazz to rock in June 2009.
KBLX and its AM sister station, KRE (now KVTO
KVTO
KVTO is a radio station broadcasting a World Ethnic format. Licensed to Berkeley, California, USA, the station serves the San Francisco Bay Area...
), are the Bay Area's only African-American-owned and operated commercial radio stations. From its inception in 1979, KBLX simulcasted on KRE (later KBLX-AM) until 1994, when the AM station was re-launched as KVTO, with a World Ethnic format, primarily serving the San Francisco Bay Area's Asian community. KVTO is an affiliate of the Sing Tao Chinese Radio network and broadcasts in Chinese, Korean, Tagalog and Hindi.
Current
- Kevin Brown - morning show host and KBLX program director
- Kimmie Taylor - KBLX music director, morning show producer, weekend host
- Joe McConnell - morning traffic
- Nikki Thomas - morning news director
- Antoine Davis - midday jock
- Sterling James - afternoon jock
- Bobby JonesBobby Jones (singer)Bobby Jones is a Grammy Award–winning Gospel music singer and television host from Nashville, Tennessee and the host and executive producer of several cable television's gospel music program including Bobby Jones Gospel.-Career:Jones has produced programs for BET since 1980...
- BETBetBet or BET may refer to:* A wager in gambling* Basic Economics Test * Bet , the second letter in many Semitic alphabets, including Aramaic, Hebrew, Phoenician and Syriac* Brunauer-Emmett-Teller isotherm. See BET_theory...
personality and gospelUrban contemporary gospelTraditional black gospel is music that is written to express either personal or a communal belief regarding Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music...
show syndicate host - Donnie McClurkinDonnie McClurkinDonald Andrew McClurkin, Jr. is an American gospel music singer and minister. He has won three Grammy awards, ten Stellar awards, two BET awards, two Soul Train awards, one Dove award and one NAACP Image award for his work....
- syndicated gospel show host - Harvey Stone - General Manager
- Barry Rose - Vice President and General Sales Manager
Past
...Chan Barry,Chris Lewis,
BK Kirkland,
Kevin Nash,
Leslie Stoval,
Chris James,
Clifford Brown Jr.,
Talaya Trigueros,
Les Williams,
Steve Collins,
Belle Nolan,
Ed McClune,
John Chung,
Ed Lee :
Roy Lee Freeman,
Rob Singleton,
Rick Holmes,
Doug Lee
Bob Jones