KBPI

KBPI history

KBPI started at 105.9 in 1965, broadcasting from the 20th floor of the D&F Tower in downtown Denver. The owner and General manager of the station was Bill Pierson, who named KBPI for "Bill Pierson Incorporated." He sold the station in 1974.

During the 1970s and 1980s, its television commercials featured a blonde woman lip-synching with bits of popular Rock songs and DJ's voices, and the tagline "KBPI Rrrrrrrrocks the Rrrrockies!" This catchphrase is still used in advertising and for a while the campaign was used at other rock radio stations in the United States and Canada. The "blonde woman" AKA "KBPI's Remarkable Mouth" was Kelly Harmon, sister of actor Mark Harmon.

During the 70's, KBPI gained press for inviting people to bring their disco records to the station office for destruction, and this was frequently broadcast live over the air to the tune of Black Sabbath songs. This was commonplace among AOR stations who were riding the anti-Disco theme at the time. For four years, Steven B. and the Hawk ruled the Denver morning FM ratings, mixing rock music with their witty repartee and routines. As they put it, in their own words, "It really didn't matter what kind of music they played. Listeners tuned in to hear them."

Their comedic style was highlighted by a self-deprecating sense of humor, rather than "shock jock talk." The duo loved to ridicule the entertainment industry, regularly parodying movie and TV stars with their original humor. One of their favorite routines was an ongoing spoof of the soap opera genre. They even created their own ongoing series, whose titles were partially taken from the real shows that aired at the time: Edge of Guiding Days of My Children Turning Hospital. They Also did commercials featuring "Whamco" products and promotions. Don Hawkins died in Denver in November 1994, following what initially was considered routine surgery. Steven B. Williams was murdered in 2006.

On April 20, 1994, Chancellor Media would move KBPI move to 106.7 FM, which had been the home of KAZY, its long-time competitor and a former sister station to KLZ-TV and AM. Notable DJs include Willie B., DMac, Marc Stout, Scoop, Missy, Uncle Nasty, Matt Need, Double A Ron, Dan, Tim Bourke, Eddie, Joe the Russian and B Lo, among others.

106.7 history

106.7 FM signed the air on June 19, 1962 as KLZ-FM and started airing a rock format in the early 1970s. In 1977, KLZ-FM changed their call letters to KAZY and continued with a rock format until 1994, when KBPI took over the 106.7 frequency, moving from 105.9 (now KALC).

Dean and Rog hosted the KBPI Morning Show from 1991 to 1996. They were known for features like "The Birthday Scam" and "Torture Tuesday", plus crazy stunts like dropping a car off of an 8 story Parking Garage. In 1996 they and 2 other station employees were charged with misdemeanor offenses related to entering a Colorado Mosque and Playing "The Star-Spangled Banner" on a trumpet and a bugle, in an attempt to satirize NBA Player Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf's refusal to stand for the Anthem at NBA games. In July 1996 they opted to leave Denver and move to Phoenix and finally Houston, TX where they can currently be heard on 107.5 KGLK.

After more than twenty years of album rock, KBPI shifted to active rock in late 1995, calling its new format "the new music revolution." At the time KBPI's Active Rock format had an Alternative Lean or Rockternative sound. A few years latter they would bring back their old slogan "Rocks and Rockies."

In 2007, the station was nominated for the Radio & Records magazine Active Rock station of the year in a top 25 market award . Other nominees included WIYY in Baltimore, WAAF in Boston, WRIF in Detroit, WMMR in Philadelphia, and KISW in Seattle.

On December 6, 2012, Uncle Nasty (Gregg Stone) was released from the station. Clear Channel cites it as a cost cutting measure.

Current programming

Weekdays: Your Morning Show 6-10am, Dan 10am-3pm, Big Rig 3-7pm. KBPI also airs Sixx Sense with Nikki Sixx via Premiere Networks and Skratch 'N Sniff via Compass Media Networks. The station also relies on Clear Channel's Premium Choice syndicated programming to fill parts other parts its on-air lineup.