KTUX
Encyclopedia
KTUX is a radio station
licensed to Carthage, Texas
, and serving the Shreveport
area. It plays the album-oriented rock
format
. The station is currently owned by Townsquare Media.
KTUX began life on April 1, 1985, debuting as a contemporary hit radio
station, "Fun Radio Tux 99." The week before Tux 99 officially debuted, the 98.9 frequency continuously played the 1966 novelty song by Napoleon XIV
"They're Coming to Take Me Away, Ha-Haaa!" The first official song played on Tux 99 was "When Doves Cry
" by Prince
. The KTUX studios were originally located in Carthage, Texas, and the station targeted the Carthage-Longview
-Marshall
market. Within the bounds of Top 40 hits, the station occasionally altered the ratios of its playlist through the early 1990s. The Napoleon XIV novelty song was occasionally played on normal rotation as well, acting as a sort of theme song for the station.
Around 1993 the station underwent a drastic format and branding change. This format switch was to a wide-ranging rock format, with an alternative rock
or "grunge
" influence. This format soon yielded to a more traditional album-oriented rock format, accompanied by a stunting event which featured Billy Idol's "Rebel Yell
" on repeat, in anticipation of the station's new "The Rebel Rocker, 99X" slogan. It was around this time that KTUX moved its studios and most of its operations to Shreveport, and began targeting the Shreveport-Bossier City
market, even though the city of license remained Carthage. During the 1990s, KTUX mixed several different rock formats, ranging from AOR to active rock
, alternative rock
, and even classic rock
.
Around 2000 the station featured yet another change. While the format stayed the same, the name of the station was changed to "Rock 99." This name lasted only for a few years, in which it was switched back to "99X," what it currently is today.
In 2006 and 2007, Nick and Drew were Radio & Records nominees for Best Active Rock Show/Personality.Both Nick and Drew were named Edison Media Research's Top 30 Under 30 in radio.
The station's lineup in the 1980s included morning DJ "Shotgun" Ken Shepherd, notable as the father of blues guitarist Kenny Wayne Shepherd
.
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
licensed to Carthage, Texas
Carthage, Texas
Carthage is a city in Panola County, Texas, United States. The population was 6,664 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Panola County, and is situated in East Texas near the Louisiana state line.-Geography:...
, and serving the Shreveport
Shreveport, Louisiana
Shreveport is the third largest city in Louisiana. It is the principal city of the fourth largest metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana and is the 109th-largest city in the United States....
area. It plays the 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...
format
Radio format
A radio format or programming format not to be confused with broadcast programming describes the overall content broadcast on a radio station. Radio formats are frequently employed as a marketing tool, and constantly evolve...
. The station is currently owned by Townsquare Media.
KTUX began life on April 1, 1985, debuting as a contemporary hit radio
Contemporary hit radio
Contemporary hit radio is a radio format that is common in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia that focuses on playing current and recurrent popular music as determined by the Top 40 music charts...
station, "Fun Radio Tux 99." The week before Tux 99 officially debuted, the 98.9 frequency continuously played the 1966 novelty song by Napoleon XIV
Napoleon XIV
Napoleon XIV was the pseudonym of the American singer-songwriter and record producer Jerry Samuels , who achieved one-hit wonder status with the Top 5 hit novelty song "They're Coming to Take Me Away, Ha-Haaa!" in 1966. Samuels also wrote The Shelter of Your Arms, a top 20 hit for Sammy Davis, Jr...
"They're Coming to Take Me Away, Ha-Haaa!" The first official song played on Tux 99 was "When Doves Cry
When Doves Cry
A hit cover version by R&B singer Ginuwine was produced by Timbaland in 1996 for Ginuwine's The Bachelor album, Ginuwine's cover uses actual dove sound effects as texture for its jungle music-inspired instrumental track.-Charts:-Other cover versions:...
" by Prince
Prince (musician)
Prince Rogers Nelson , often known simply as Prince, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Prince has produced ten platinum albums and thirty Top 40 singles during his career. Prince founded his own recording studio and label; writing, self-producing and playing most, or all, of...
. The KTUX studios were originally located in Carthage, Texas, and the station targeted the Carthage-Longview
Longview, Texas
Longview is a city in Gregg and Harrison Counties in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 80,455. Most of the city is located in Gregg County, of which it is the county seat; only a small part extends into the western part of neighboring Harrison County. It is...
-Marshall
Marshall, Texas
Marshall is a city in Harrison County in the northeastern corner of Texas. Marshall is a major cultural and educational center in East Texas and the tri-state area. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the population of Marshall was about 23,523...
market. Within the bounds of Top 40 hits, the station occasionally altered the ratios of its playlist through the early 1990s. The Napoleon XIV novelty song was occasionally played on normal rotation as well, acting as a sort of theme song for the station.
Around 1993 the station underwent a drastic format and branding change. This format switch was to a wide-ranging rock format, with an alternative rock
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
or "grunge
Grunge
Grunge is a subgenre of alternative rock that emerged during the mid-1980s in the American state of Washington, particularly in the Seattle area. Inspired by hardcore punk, heavy metal, and indie rock, grunge is generally characterized by heavily distorted electric guitars, contrasting song...
" influence. This format soon yielded to a more traditional album-oriented rock format, accompanied by a stunting event which featured Billy Idol's "Rebel Yell
Rebel Yell (song)
"Rebel Yell" is the first song on the Billy Idol album of the same name. When first released in 1984, it charted outside the UK Top 40, but a re-issue in 1985 reached #6. It did not fare as well in the US, only reaching #46...
" on repeat, in anticipation of the station's new "The Rebel Rocker, 99X" slogan. It was around this time that KTUX moved its studios and most of its operations to Shreveport, and began targeting the Shreveport-Bossier City
Bossier City, Louisiana
Bossier City is a city in Bossier Parish, Louisiana, United States.As of the 2010 Census, the city had a total population of 61,315. Bossier City is closely tied to its larger sister city Shreveport, located on the western bank of the Red River. The Shreveport-Bossier City metropolitan area is the...
market, even though the city of license remained Carthage. During the 1990s, KTUX mixed several different rock formats, ranging from AOR to active rock
Active rock
Active rock is a radio format used by many commercial radio stations across the United States and Canada. Active rock plays contemporary rock artists with a mix of songs common in the classic rock radio format.-Format background:...
, alternative rock
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
, and even 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...
.
Around 2000 the station featured yet another change. While the format stayed the same, the name of the station was changed to "Rock 99." This name lasted only for a few years, in which it was switched back to "99X," what it currently is today.
On Air Personalities
- Mornings- Bob & Tom 5-9 A.M.
- Middays- Gabe 9-2 P.M
- Afternoons- Kayla Keyes 2-7
- Nights- Nick and Drew
- Weekends- Stu, Rockin' Rick,J, Jade, and John Clay WolfeJohn Clay WolfeJohn Clay Wolfe is an American radio personality and entrepreneur, who resides in Fort Worth, Texas.Wolfe also hosts syndicated radio car show The Real Deal, broadcast each Saturday morning in Dallas Rock station , Houston's ESPN , Amarillo JackFM , Wichita Falls both , Austin, Texas The big...
In 2006 and 2007, Nick and Drew were Radio & Records nominees for Best Active Rock Show/Personality.Both Nick and Drew were named Edison Media Research's Top 30 Under 30 in radio.
The station's lineup in the 1980s included morning DJ "Shotgun" Ken Shepherd, notable as the father of blues guitarist Kenny Wayne Shepherd
Kenny Wayne Shepherd
Kenny Wayne Shepherd is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He has released several studio albums and experienced a rare level of commercial success both as a blues artist and a young musician.-Biography:Shepherd graduated Caddo Magnet High School in Shreveport, Louisiana...
.