KYZZ
Encyclopedia
KYZZ is a commercial radio station
in Salinas, California
, broadcasting to the Santa Cruz
-Monterey
-Salinas, California
, area. KYZZ airs a Classic Hits
music format.
, in the early 1980s. The last three letters of the call sign YZZ was used as their advertising slogan FM stereo Y-22. The station relinquished the call letters in the late 1980s to become KTYZ. In 1992 KTYZ-FM relinquished the call letters to join the 1450 AM sister station and is now called KVCK-FM
.
Original calls were assigned to D.H. Carver Corporation based in San Angelo, Texas in 1995. A movement to bring a full-time "Tejano" format was realized by a local group and Dwight Carver, a radio engineering veteran. The 100.1 FM MHz station first broadcast Tejano and mainstream country beginning in August 1995 with only an 18 hour broadcast day at 3,000 watts ERP in Concho Valley. In 1998, management changed programming to strictly "Tejano", a south Texas-based blend of German Polka, cumbia and Latin rhythms. Past program directors include Gerardo Trevino, Edward Contreras, Celestino Garcia and Jason Meza.
Between 1998 and 2000, control was transferred to sister Audrey Carver Luna following the deaths of both Dwight and his wife Carolyn Carver. Subsequently, power was boosted to 35 kW. Under this direction, the station flourished in attempts to unite Hispanics in the community of Concho Valley and the large Hispanic population in the Salinas Valley
and became well known for service to the public including opera broadcasts, local sports broadcasts, music festivals and community programming.
In 2004, the station was sold to Foster Communications in San Angelo, Texas under a deal that kept the station "Tejano". Studios were moved to 2824 Sherwood Way, transmitter was relocated and power boosted to 100 kW. After an unsuccessful flight of one year, the station was flipped to KCLL "Cool 100" and KYZZ was relinquished.
Notable past DJ's include: Jason "El Lobo" Meza, Farrah "La Reina", C.J.D, Juan "Candleman" Vela, Teresa Luna, B-Town Boy, Spanky, Roland Ybarra, Tony "G", Nikki B. Martinez, Jesse "G-Man" Garces, Tejano Kidd, "Fast" Eddie, "Speedy J", "Jumpin" Jerry Trevino, Mike Garcia, Abel "Tiger" Tarin, Eugenio "Reno" Garcia, Orlando "D.J. 69" Cardenas, and Eddie G.
In July 2002, 97.9 became "97.9 En Fuego" - a Latino-leaning CHR/Rhythmic station. Included was music by Lil' Rob, Nightowl, N.O.R.E. and other Latino hip-hop artists. Voiceovers were by Angie Martinez; the slogan was "Blazin' Hip Hop y Mas" (Blazing Hip Hop and More). The format was launched prior to the Reggaeton phenomena, and subsequently did not have enough variety or promotional power to compete with crosstown heritage CHR/Rhythmic KDON-FM.
Notable Djs/Turntablist & Radio personalities of the former 97.9 En Fuego include the (SQRATCHAHOLIX) Alias, B-Klepto, Earwax, Neato, Romezee, & Fizzle.
In 2003, the station switched back to Spanish contemporary.
In July 2005, the station switched again - this time to "EXA-FM... The Orange Station." "EXA" is short for "Exitos" or Hits in Spanish. The station featured a bilingual CHR/Rhythmic mix with Reggaeton
, Mexican artists such as Fey and Moenia, and American hip-hop tracks. The format was also not very successful, and morphed into a more Raeggaeton-leaning station by Fall 2005.
In Late 2005, 97.9 FM was sold to Buckley Broadcasting, owners of crosstown KWAV-FM and KIDD-AM. Prior to the sale, all EXA-FM
programming was moved to Wolfhouse's 93.9 FM frequency.
On January 3, 2006, 97.9 FM began broadcasting as CHR/Top 40 "Z-97.9" with new calls KYZZ. It became the first Mainstream Top 40 radio station in the Monterey Bay since the early 1990s. Artists included All-American Rejects, Green Day, Fort Minor, Nelly Furtado, Pussycat Dolls, James Blunt, Juelz Santana, Kelly Clarkson, Nelly, and Gwen Stefani. Also included were more Latino-based artists such as Pitbull, Frankie J, and Daddy Yankee. Programming on the station was under the direction of OM Bernie Moody and consulted by Rene Roberts, Freeze was brought in as APD/MD.
After two unsuccessful ratings books, "Z-97.9" flipped to CHR/Rhythmic "Jammin' 97.9" in Early November 2006. Freeze quit, but much of the airstaff remained. The new format is again Latino-leaning, and also includes numerous "Hyphy" songs by E-40, The Federation, The Team, and Mistah F.A.B. Current ratings show very little change from the former CHR/Top 40 format. Notable jocks of the former Jammin 97.9 include Amy, Fredo on the Radio, and the World Famous DJFM. Local disc jockeys were also included in broadcasts, such as: DJ AJ BEE, DJ Jigar, DJ Luis Aldama, and DJ A-Z.
On February 1, 2010 Jammin 97.9 switched formats from CHR/Rhythmic to hits of the 60s and 70s, as Z 97.9.
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...
in Salinas, California
Salinas, California
Salinas is the county seat and the largest municipality of Monterey County, California. Salinas is located east-southeast of the mouth of the Salinas River, at an elevation of about 52 feet above sea level. The population was 150,441 at the 2010 census...
, broadcasting to the Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz, California
Santa Cruz is the county seat and largest city of Santa Cruz County, California in the US. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, Santa Cruz had a total population of 59,946...
-Monterey
Monterey, California
The City of Monterey in Monterey County is located on Monterey Bay along the Pacific coast in Central California. Monterey lies at an elevation of 26 feet above sea level. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 27,810. Monterey is of historical importance because it was the capital of...
-Salinas, California
Salinas, California
Salinas is the county seat and the largest municipality of Monterey County, California. Salinas is located east-southeast of the mouth of the Salinas River, at an elevation of about 52 feet above sea level. The population was 150,441 at the 2010 census...
, area. KYZZ airs a Classic Hits
Classic hits
Classic hits is a radio format which generally includes rock and pop music from 1964 to 1989. The term is sometimes erroneously used as a synonym for the adult hits format, but is more accurately characterized as a contemporary style of the oldies format...
music format.
History of "KYZZ"
KYZZ call letters were assigned to 92.7 FM frequency in Wolf Point, MTWolf Point, Montana
Wolf Point is a city in and the county seat of Roosevelt County, Montana, United States. The population was 2,621 at the 2010 census. It is the largest community on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation. Wolf Point is the home of the annual Wild Horse Stampede, held every year during the second weekend...
, in the early 1980s. The last three letters of the call sign YZZ was used as their advertising slogan FM stereo Y-22. The station relinquished the call letters in the late 1980s to become KTYZ. In 1992 KTYZ-FM relinquished the call letters to join the 1450 AM sister station and is now called KVCK-FM
KVCK-FM
-External links:*...
.
Original calls were assigned to D.H. Carver Corporation based in San Angelo, Texas in 1995. A movement to bring a full-time "Tejano" format was realized by a local group and Dwight Carver, a radio engineering veteran. The 100.1 FM MHz station first broadcast Tejano and mainstream country beginning in August 1995 with only an 18 hour broadcast day at 3,000 watts ERP in Concho Valley. In 1998, management changed programming to strictly "Tejano", a south Texas-based blend of German Polka, cumbia and Latin rhythms. Past program directors include Gerardo Trevino, Edward Contreras, Celestino Garcia and Jason Meza.
Between 1998 and 2000, control was transferred to sister Audrey Carver Luna following the deaths of both Dwight and his wife Carolyn Carver. Subsequently, power was boosted to 35 kW. Under this direction, the station flourished in attempts to unite Hispanics in the community of Concho Valley and the large Hispanic population in the Salinas Valley
Salinas Valley
The Salinas Valley lies south of San Francisco, California.The word "salina" is spanish for salt marsh, salt lake or salt pan.-Geography:The Salinas Valley runs approximately south-east from Salinas towards King City. The valley lends its name to the geologic province in which it's located, the...
and became well known for service to the public including opera broadcasts, local sports broadcasts, music festivals and community programming.
In 2004, the station was sold to Foster Communications in San Angelo, Texas under a deal that kept the station "Tejano". Studios were moved to 2824 Sherwood Way, transmitter was relocated and power boosted to 100 kW. After an unsuccessful flight of one year, the station was flipped to KCLL "Cool 100" and KYZZ was relinquished.
Notable past DJ's include: Jason "El Lobo" Meza, Farrah "La Reina", C.J.D, Juan "Candleman" Vela, Teresa Luna, B-Town Boy, Spanky, Roland Ybarra, Tony "G", Nikki B. Martinez, Jesse "G-Man" Garces, Tejano Kidd, "Fast" Eddie, "Speedy J", "Jumpin" Jerry Trevino, Mike Garcia, Abel "Tiger" Tarin, Eugenio "Reno" Garcia, Orlando "D.J. 69" Cardenas, and Eddie G.
History of 97.9 FM
97.9 FM was owned by Wolfhouse Broadcasting until late 2005. Under Wolfhouse's tenure, 97.9 had many formats. Originally, the programming was Spanish contemporary music.In July 2002, 97.9 became "97.9 En Fuego" - a Latino-leaning CHR/Rhythmic station. Included was music by Lil' Rob, Nightowl, N.O.R.E. and other Latino hip-hop artists. Voiceovers were by Angie Martinez; the slogan was "Blazin' Hip Hop y Mas" (Blazing Hip Hop and More). The format was launched prior to the Reggaeton phenomena, and subsequently did not have enough variety or promotional power to compete with crosstown heritage CHR/Rhythmic KDON-FM.
Notable Djs/Turntablist & Radio personalities of the former 97.9 En Fuego include the (SQRATCHAHOLIX) Alias, B-Klepto, Earwax, Neato, Romezee, & Fizzle.
In 2003, the station switched back to Spanish contemporary.
In July 2005, the station switched again - this time to "EXA-FM... The Orange Station." "EXA" is short for "Exitos" or Hits in Spanish. The station featured a bilingual CHR/Rhythmic mix with Reggaeton
Reggaeton
Reggaeton is a form of Puerto Rican and Latin American urban and Caribbean music. After its mainstream exposure in 2004, it spread to North American, European and Asian audiences. Reggaeton originated in Puerto Rico but is also has roots from Reggae en Español from Panama and Puerto Rico and...
, Mexican artists such as Fey and Moenia, and American hip-hop tracks. The format was also not very successful, and morphed into a more Raeggaeton-leaning station by Fall 2005.
In Late 2005, 97.9 FM was sold to Buckley Broadcasting, owners of crosstown KWAV-FM and KIDD-AM. Prior to the sale, all EXA-FM
KEXA
KEXA is an American radio station licensed by the Federal Communications Commission to serve the community of King City, California, which is in Southern Monterey County...
programming was moved to Wolfhouse's 93.9 FM frequency.
On January 3, 2006, 97.9 FM began broadcasting as CHR/Top 40 "Z-97.9" with new calls KYZZ. It became the first Mainstream Top 40 radio station in the Monterey Bay since the early 1990s. Artists included All-American Rejects, Green Day, Fort Minor, Nelly Furtado, Pussycat Dolls, James Blunt, Juelz Santana, Kelly Clarkson, Nelly, and Gwen Stefani. Also included were more Latino-based artists such as Pitbull, Frankie J, and Daddy Yankee. Programming on the station was under the direction of OM Bernie Moody and consulted by Rene Roberts, Freeze was brought in as APD/MD.
After two unsuccessful ratings books, "Z-97.9" flipped to CHR/Rhythmic "Jammin' 97.9" in Early November 2006. Freeze quit, but much of the airstaff remained. The new format is again Latino-leaning, and also includes numerous "Hyphy" songs by E-40, The Federation, The Team, and Mistah F.A.B. Current ratings show very little change from the former CHR/Top 40 format. Notable jocks of the former Jammin 97.9 include Amy, Fredo on the Radio, and the World Famous DJFM. Local disc jockeys were also included in broadcasts, such as: DJ AJ BEE, DJ Jigar, DJ Luis Aldama, and DJ A-Z.
On February 1, 2010 Jammin 97.9 switched formats from CHR/Rhythmic to hits of the 60s and 70s, as Z 97.9.