Broadcast area Denver, Colorado HAAT 524 meters Frequency 105.9 MHz Format Top 40 Area Denver Call sign meaning K ALiCe | ERP 100,000 watts Class C City of license Denver Owner Entercom Branding Alice 105.9 | |
Translator(s) 103.1 K276FK (Denver, relays HD2) First air date June 21, 1965 (as KBPI) | ||
KALC (105.9 FM, Alice 105.9) is a commercial radio station located in Denver, Colorado, United States. KALC airs a Hot AC music format branded as Alice 105.9.
History
This frequency signed on in 1965 adopting the call letters KBPI, airing a rock music format.
KALC was originally owned by Secret Communications, before being acquired by Chancellor Media. On April 20, 1994, Chancellor Media decided to move KBPI and the rock format to 106.7, in place of their former competitor KAZY. KALC came on the air with a Top 40/Pop Alternative format, branded as "Alice 106". This was the first of many Alice-branded radio stations. Alice was the brainchild of Frank Wood, Chuck Finney and Gregg Cassidy. Frank Wood referred to the radio station as "Warped AC". Wood wanted a fun-sounding AC radio station. Alice was built on personalities and not just the music.
The original airstaff in 1994 included Frosty Stillwell, Jamie White, Frank Kramer, Chris Davis in Middays, Alan Kabel in afternoon Drive. Music Director Jim Lawson, Creative Production Director Kelly Michaels, under the leadership of Program Director Greg Cassidy. Alice's unique sound was developed by Chief Engineer Jeff Garrett. Liz Young served as Marketing Director. Other on-air staff members included: Jackie Selby, Cha Cha, JoJo Turnbeaugh, Tuna, Steve Weed, Shannon Stone, Patsy, Ethan, Brody Scott, Chad Steele and "The Real Deal" Mike Neil also did afternoon drive for a time in 1995. Since then the station has seen some high-profile changes in both air staff and ownership, but the format remains unchanged.
Chancellor would be acquired by AMFM in 1998. In 2000, after Clear Channel Communications merged with AMFM, KALC was required to be divested. The station was sold to Salem Communications, who in turn, sold the station to Emmis Communications. Emmis sold KALC and then co-owned KXPK to Entercom for $88 million in 2002. KXPK was spun off to Entravision shortly after the sale.
In 2003, Alice 106 received an overhaul by newly appointed Program Director BJ Harris (formerly Director of CHR Programming for Clear Channel Communications and half of the "MJ and BJ Morning Show" based at WFLZ/Tampa, and syndicated to Jacksonville, St. Louis and Charleston, SC). "Alice 106" became "Alice 105-9" complete with a new logo to accent the changes.
In early 2004, The Alice Morning Show (Greg Thunder/Bo Reynolds/Slacker) dissolved. Bo Reynolds took a break from radio to deal with personal issues. Shea Baker was hired to replace Bo and joined Gregg Thunder and Slacker in studio. By November 2004, Greg Thunder decided to resign from Alice and move back home to Minneapolis, Minnesota. Co-host Slacker moved to afternoons and Bo Reynolds rejoined Alice to create the "Slacker and Bo Afternoon Show". At that point, Program Director BJ Harris took over the morning show in October 2004 (with Shea Baker) and hired Howie Drummond from Cincinnati, Ohio as another one of his sidekicks. The show was still called the "Alice Morning Show" but sometimes referred to as "The BJ, Shea and Howie Morning Show".
In early 2005, BJ stepped down as the program director of Alice. A short time later a new PD (Charese Fruge of KMXB/Las Vegas) was hired. Charese then hired midday talent Sam Hill to replace departing Kevin "Koz" Koske, who left for WTMX in Chicago and Davin Fesmire replaced night show host George McFly.
The "Alice Morning Show" was ready for some changes too. Shea Baker was replaced on the show in 2005 with Denver market veteran Jennifer Wilde. At that point BJ changed the name of the show to "The BJ, Howie and Jennifer Morning Show". The show quickly became a hit with Denver listeners, often finishing top 3 in all major female demos. In 2006, Bo Reynolds left the afternoon show, to be replaced by Alice veteran Steve Weed. The "Slacker and Steve Afternoon Show" quickly became a top-rated show.
Dylan Sprague (formerly of WWWQ Atlanta - now PD of Kiss 108 and Jam'n 94.5 Boston, MA) took over the programming of Alice 105.9 in January 2008. In November of that year, morning co-host Jennifer Wilde declined a contract renewal and left the "BJ, Howie and Jennifer Morning Show" to pursue other interests. Erica Cobb (formerly of the "Eddie and Jobo Show" on WBBM-FM/Chicago) was hired to replace Wilde in January 2009. The show's name was changed to "The BJ, Howie and Erica Morning Show." Erica was replaced by former Alice morning show host Jamie White in 2012. Howie Drummond left the show in October 2012.
It transmits from lookout mountain near Golden, with a backup transmitter on Ruby Hill in Denver.