WGRF
Encyclopedia
WGRF is a radio station in Buffalo, New York
, USA. The station's on air branding is "97 Rock". The station mostly plays Classic rock
from the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. Since 2006, the station has also aired numerous rock-leaning oldies
, such as songs from The Beatles
, that were displaced by the format change at sister station WHTT
.
WGRF broadcasts at 96.9 MHz.
The WGRF morning show consists of Larry Norton, Rob Lederman, Chris Klein and their Producer Russ. Other local disc jockeys include John "J.P." Piccollo, Carl Russo, John Hager, Slick Tom Tiberi, Anita West, Jeff Gordon, Cindy Chan, Megan Davis, Jim McGee, and Rick Walters. WGRF's significant local presence and history in the area has made the station nearly as much of the Buffalo culture as chicken wings.
WGRF is the flagship station of the Buffalo Bills Radio Network
, the official broadcast network of the Buffalo Bills
of the NFL
. WGRF is also the primary sponsor for the Buffalo Jills
cheerleaders.
WGRF is owned by Cumulus Media
. Previous owners included the Taft Television and Radio Company
, Rich Communications, Mercury Radio Communications (who separated the longtime combination with WGR
in 1995 when it bought WGRF from Rich Communications, who in turn retained WGR until selling it to the Sinclair Broadcast Group
two years later), and Citadel Broadcasting
(which merged with Cumulus on September 14, 2011). Its transmitter is located in Buffalo.
WGRF streamed its programming on the Internet up until 2002, when it became economically unfeasible for some stations to continue their streams given changes in licensing and royalty agreements. In March 2006, Citadel launched an initiative that provided for the streaming of many of Citadel's stations. WGRF was one of them, and was among the first commercial stations in Buffalo to resume streaming after the earlier changes.
WGRF is one of many stations that carries Arlo Guthrie
's 1967 diatribe Alice's Restaurant
every Thanksgiving
. WGRF was also affiliated with The Source and occasionally still uses taped announcements from the network, which were voiced by Don Pardo
.
, under the call sign WGRQ. It signed on in 1973 (relatively late compared to most of the other FM stations in Western New York) with a top 40 format known as "Super Q," which was rare at the time for an FM station. In 1975, the station began its best-known run as an album-oriented rock
station, rebranding as Q-FM-97. On January 5, 1985, however, WGRQ dumped its rock format and shifted to adult contemporary music
as "Lite" WRLT, firing the entire WGRQ airstaff as well. The loss of rock music in Buffalo led to stations WHTT
adopting the format in 1987, as well as the brief success of distant station WBYR in 1986. In 1988, however, WRLT change back to rock, this time to classic rock
, and rehired much of the airstaff under the name "97 Rock." (By the end of the year, WHTT would change to oldies
; WBYR to beautiful music
.) The station has remained mostly unchanged ever since.
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
, USA. The station's on air branding is "97 Rock". The station mostly plays Classic rock
Classic rock
Classic rock is a radio format which developed from the album-oriented rock format in the early 1980s. In the United States, the classic rock format features music ranging generally from the late 1960s to the late 1980s, primarily focusing on the hard rock genre that peaked in popularity in the...
from the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. Since 2006, the station has also aired numerous rock-leaning oldies
Oldies
Oldies is a term commonly used to describe a radio format that concentrates on music from a period of about 15 to 55 years before the present day....
, such as songs from The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
, that were displaced by the format change at sister station WHTT
WHTT
WHTT-FM 104.1 FM, is a commercial radio station based in Buffalo, New York United States. The station has a classic hits format and is known by the name "104.1 WHTT".WHTT is owned by Cumulus Media. Its transmitter is located in Buffalo....
.
WGRF broadcasts at 96.9 MHz.
The WGRF morning show consists of Larry Norton, Rob Lederman, Chris Klein and their Producer Russ. Other local disc jockeys include John "J.P." Piccollo, Carl Russo, John Hager, Slick Tom Tiberi, Anita West, Jeff Gordon, Cindy Chan, Megan Davis, Jim McGee, and Rick Walters. WGRF's significant local presence and history in the area has made the station nearly as much of the Buffalo culture as chicken wings.
WGRF is the flagship station of the Buffalo Bills Radio Network
Buffalo Bills Radio Network
The Buffalo Bills Radio Network is a broadcast radio network based in Buffalo, New York, the official radio broadcaster of the Buffalo Bills. The network's radio broadcasts are currently flagshipped at WGRF in Buffalo, New York, a station owned by Cumulus Media...
, the official broadcast network of the Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
of the NFL
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. WGRF is also the primary sponsor for the Buffalo Jills
Buffalo Jills
The Buffalo Jills are the cheerleading squad for the Buffalo Bills professional American football team.The Bills had cheerleaders in 1960 known simply as the Buffalo Bills Cheerleaders. At the time, they were a group of 8 Buffalo State College cheerleaders...
cheerleaders.
WGRF is owned by Cumulus Media
Cumulus Media
Cumulus Media, Inc. is the second largest Owner and Operator of AM and FM radio stations in the United States, behind Clear Channel Communications, operating 570 stations in 150 markets as of September 16, 2011. The company also owns Cumulus Media Networks...
. Previous owners included the Taft Television and Radio Company
Taft Broadcasting
The Taft Broadcasting Company, also known as Taft Television and Radio Company, Incorporated, was an American media conglomerate based in Cincinnati, Ohio....
, Rich Communications, Mercury Radio Communications (who separated the longtime combination with WGR
WGR
WGR, or WGR Sports Radio 550, is an all sports radio station in Buffalo, New York that broadcasts on 550 AM. It is the flagship station of the Buffalo Sabres and the Buffalo Bandits, and is currently the only full-time sports talk station in the city of Buffalo. Its studios are located in Amherst,...
in 1995 when it bought WGRF from Rich Communications, who in turn retained WGR until selling it to the Sinclair Broadcast Group
Sinclair Broadcast Group
The Sinclair Broadcast Group is an American telecommunications company that operates the largest number of local television stations in the United States. Headquartered in Hunt Valley, Maryland, it owns a total of 57 stations across the country in 35 primarily small and medium markets, many of...
two years later), and Citadel Broadcasting
Citadel Broadcasting
Citadel Broadcasting Corporation was a Las Vegas, Nevada-based broadcast holding company. Citadel owned 243 radio stations across the United States and was the third-largest radio station owner in the country...
(which merged with Cumulus on September 14, 2011). Its transmitter is located in Buffalo.
WGRF streamed its programming on the Internet up until 2002, when it became economically unfeasible for some stations to continue their streams given changes in licensing and royalty agreements. In March 2006, Citadel launched an initiative that provided for the streaming of many of Citadel's stations. WGRF was one of them, and was among the first commercial stations in Buffalo to resume streaming after the earlier changes.
Other programming
- The Deep End with Nick MichaelsThe Deep End with Nick MichaelsThe Deep End with Nick Michaels is a four-hour long radio show hosted by voice talent Nick Michaels that premiered in 2005. Its goal is to play music of the 1960s to the 1980s which has not been heard by the current younger generation...
- Flashback with Bill St. JamesFlashback (radio program)Flashback is an American radio show syndicated by Cumulus Media Networks . It is hosted by the "irreverent" Bill St. James , and is programmed by Tom Powell. The show is produced by Powell, Rob Frankel and Frank Guida. Guida also writes the show...
- Breakfast with the BeatlesBreakfast with the BeatlesBreakfast with the Beatles is a popular programming segment format on FM radio in cities in the USA. The segment format typically features one or more hours of programing consisting exclusively of music by or related to The Beatles...
, a local version - Little Steven's Underground GarageUnderground GarageUnderground Garage is the name shared by two related but different radio outlets, a syndicated show and a satellite radio station, both created and supervised by Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band guitarist Steven Van Zandt to present rock 'n' roll and garage rock on radio...
- Nights with Alice CooperNights with Alice CooperNights with Alice Cooper is a radio show hosted by rock and roll artist and shock rock pioneer Alice Cooper. It is syndicated by United Stations Radio Networks and broadcast on over 100 radio stations in the US, seven in Canada, and is also available in the UK , Germany , Ireland, Australia ,...
(Saturday nights only) - The Grateful DeadGrateful DeadThe Grateful Dead was an American rock band formed in 1965 in the San Francisco Bay Area. The band was known for its unique and eclectic style, which fused elements of rock, folk, bluegrass, blues, reggae, country, improvisational jazz, psychedelia, and space rock, and for live performances of long...
Hour
WGRF is one of many stations that carries Arlo Guthrie
Arlo Guthrie
Arlo Davy Guthrie is an American folk singer. Like his father, Woody Guthrie, Arlo often sings songs of protest against social injustice...
's 1967 diatribe Alice's Restaurant
Alice's Restaurant
"Alice's Restaurant Massacree" is a musical monologue by singer-songwriter Arlo Guthrie released on his 1967 album Alice's Restaurant. The song is one of Guthrie's most prominent works, based on a true incident in his life that began on Thanksgiving Day 1965, and which inspired a 1969 movie of the...
every Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving (United States)
Thanksgiving, or Thanksgiving Day, is a holiday celebrated in the United States on the fourth Thursday in November. It has officially been an annual tradition since 1863, when, during the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national day of thanksgiving to be celebrated on Thursday,...
. WGRF was also affiliated with The Source and occasionally still uses taped announcements from the network, which were voiced by Don Pardo
Don Pardo
Dominick George "Don" Pardo is an American radio and television announcer. He is best known as the voice of the long-running late night sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live....
.
History
WGRF started as the FM sister station to WGRWGR
WGR, or WGR Sports Radio 550, is an all sports radio station in Buffalo, New York that broadcasts on 550 AM. It is the flagship station of the Buffalo Sabres and the Buffalo Bandits, and is currently the only full-time sports talk station in the city of Buffalo. Its studios are located in Amherst,...
, under the call sign WGRQ. It signed on in 1973 (relatively late compared to most of the other FM stations in Western New York) with a top 40 format known as "Super Q," which was rare at the time for an FM station. In 1975, the station began its best-known run as an album-oriented rock
Album-oriented rock
Album-oriented rock is an American FM radio format focusing on album tracks by rock artists.-Music played:Most radio formats are based on a select, tight rotation of hit singles...
station, rebranding as Q-FM-97. On January 5, 1985, however, WGRQ dumped its rock format and shifted to adult contemporary music
Adult contemporary music
Adult contemporary music is a broad style of popular music that ranges from lush 1950s and 1960s vocal music to predominantly ballad-heavy music with varying degrees of rock influence, as well as a radio format that plays such music....
as "Lite" WRLT, firing the entire WGRQ airstaff as well. The loss of rock music in Buffalo led to stations WHTT
WHTT
WHTT-FM 104.1 FM, is a commercial radio station based in Buffalo, New York United States. The station has a classic hits format and is known by the name "104.1 WHTT".WHTT is owned by Cumulus Media. Its transmitter is located in Buffalo....
adopting the format in 1987, as well as the brief success of distant station WBYR in 1986. In 1988, however, WRLT change back to rock, this time to classic rock
Classic rock
Classic rock is a radio format which developed from the album-oriented rock format in the early 1980s. In the United States, the classic rock format features music ranging generally from the late 1960s to the late 1980s, primarily focusing on the hard rock genre that peaked in popularity in the...
, and rehired much of the airstaff under the name "97 Rock." (By the end of the year, WHTT would change to oldies
Oldies
Oldies is a term commonly used to describe a radio format that concentrates on music from a period of about 15 to 55 years before the present day....
; WBYR to beautiful music
Beautiful music
Beautiful music is a mostly instrumental music format that was prominent in American radio from the 1960s through the 1980s...
.) The station has remained mostly unchanged ever since.