Trisha Shetty (Editor)

KXPT

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City
  
Las Vegas, Nevada

Branding
  
97.1 The Point

Frequency
  
97.1 MHz

Broadcast area
  
Las Vegas, Nevada

Slogan
  
"#1 For Classic Rock"

First air date
  
1961 (as KORK-FM)

KXPT

KXPT is a commercial radio station located in Las Vegas, Nevada, broadcastiing on 97.1 FM. KXPT airs a classic rock music format branded as "97.1 The Point". Its studios are in the unincorporated community of Spring Valley in Clark County and its transmitter is on Potosi Mountain southwest of the Las Vegas Valley.

History

Through the 1970s 97.1 was known as KORK-FM and aired a mostly instrumental easy listening format. In 1983 they changed call letters to KEER. A year later in 1984 they switched formats to Top 40 KYRK Y-97. In the late 1980s & early '90s they used the slogan "POWER 97". Some of the KYRK DJs included Pat Garret, Anthony Miles, Shaun St John, "Wild Child" Johnny West, Don "Action" Jackson, Harmon and Holiday, " The Dr."Jerry Thomas, Greg Spin, " James and The J Man. The station was also famous for the "Tookie-Tookie bird" which was their cue to call in and win prizes. The bird appeared at local events, and was mocked on an episode of Cheap Seats which featured the mascot appearing at a 1986 International Roller Derby event televised by ESPN at the Showboat Hotel & Casino.

In 1993 Lotus Broadcasting purchased the station and switched call letters and format to KXPT (The Point). For the first four and a half years the Point aired a AAA format, originally breaking artists like Sheryl Crow, Dave Matthews Band, Blues Traveler, Jewel and many more now contemporary artists. Original Point DJs included Chris Foxx, Mike Fox, Rob Landry and JD (from Lotus' KOMP, "JD Pig") Other notable personalities throughout the years have included: Byrd (WLUP Chicago, now with WDRV Chicago), Lark Williams, Dusty Street (KROQ), Randy Morrison (KNAC) and Mike O'Brian (now at crossstown 96.3 KKLZ). In 1997 they shifted to the Classic Hits format and in 2005 they officially became a Classic Rock format. In 2007 they became the only Classic Rock station in the Las Vegas Metro as KKLZ changed to the Classic Hits format.

Current DJs of the station include Chris Foxx and Steph Mackenzie (FOXX AND MACKENZIE IN THE MORNING) along with Ken Johnson, once of the crosstown team "Johnson & Tofte" (mornings), Kim Kelly (formerly of the now-defunct KFBI and KKLZ when they were a classic rock station) (mid-day), Lorrin Bond (afternoons), Todd Fowler and Gretchen (share the night duties), Derek Roy aka The Amazing Doctor Feedback ( overnights ) Mike Culotta, formerly of KOMP (another Lotus station) was a mid-day shift DJ on the station until his death in December 2010 (though he didn't appear on the air in the months prior to his passing.) On Wednesday nights the Point broadcasts ROCKLINE w Bob Coburn. On Saturday nights, The Amazing Doctor Feedback (Formerly The Groovy Doctor of the now-defunct 103.5 the Edge) hosts "Classic Rock Live!" and on Sunday nights, "Nights with Alice Cooper" is broadcast.

The signal was once rebroadcast on a low power translator at 98.9 out of Henderson with the call sign K257VU, but this translator now rebroadcasts KWWN.

References

KXPT Wikipedia