THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, January 7, 1996 TAG: 9601040137
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 14 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: John Harper
LENGTH: Medium: 87 lines
Change marked the Outer Banks radio market in 1995.
Two longtime general managers, Jim Lackey of WRSF and Mary Ann Williams of WVOD, moved on. Hampton Roads radio veteran Paul Katabian replaced Williams at WVOD.
You love him, you hate him, but you can't ignore him: Howard Stern joined the Outer Banks morning radio wars when his syndicated show was picked up by Hampton Roads station WKOC, the Coast, in October.
In July, legendary disc jockey Wolfman Jack died of a heart attack at his home in Belvidere. He had just returned from a tour promoting his autobiography, ``Have Mercy.'' About 400 fans, friends and relatives said goodbye to the Wolfman at a memorial service held at his plantation home. In his eulogy, televangelist Robert Schuller said, ``Wolfman should be remembered as a man who always had love in his heart.''
Hatteras Island finally got its own radio station. WYND, 97.1, The Wind, signed on in September.
Veteran Outer Banks newsman Greg Clark left WOBR after 14 years. He later resurfaced at WNHW in Nags Head. Lee Lovingood also jumped ship, moving from WOBR to the operations director post at WVOD. He replaced Gem Meyer, who now serves as newsman/sidekick to Bill Ray on WCXL's morning show.
Here's my list of the radio highs and lows of 1995.
Best Radio Station: WVOD, WNHW (It's a tie) - Both stations sound like the Outer Banks.
Best Morning Show: Ken Mann, WNHW - Mann's mix of music, interviews, news and features sounds just right for the Outer Banks. His morning show is relatively free of the tired radio slogans, focusing more on providing useful information. No bells and whistles, just a radio man who loves what he's doing, and it shows.
Best coverage of Hurricane Felix: Ken Mann and Greg Clark, WNHW - These two guys know storms, and more importantly, know the area. Honorable Mention: Kain Blandford, WVOD, and Gary Dean, WOBR.
Best Feature: ``Sunday Classics'' on WVOD - It's part of my Sunday morning ritual: Classical music, a cup of coffee and the newspaper.
Most Improved: WOBR - The station continues to struggle with its identity, but at least it's slowly weaning itself from the satellite service.
Worst broadcast moments: Car dealership remotes, particularly some spots on WCXL, rife with inside jokes and dialogue that sounds like someone left open the door to a boys' locker room in a junior high school. Come on guys, you can do better.
Best song heard on local radio: ``Breakfast at Tiffany's,'' by Deep Blue Something - It has all the elements of a good pop song: catchy melody, jangly guitars, multi-part harmony singing and an upbeat message.
Worst song heard on local radio: ``Can I Touch You There?'' by Michael Bolton - The only thing I touched was another button on my car radio. MEMO: John Harper covers Outer Banks entertainment for The Carolina Coast.
Send comments and questions to him at P.O. Box 10, Nags Head, N.C.
27959.
ILLUSTRATION: It was a mixed year
for radio on the
Outer Banks.
It saw the exit
of legendary disc jockey
Wolfman Jack.
He died of a
heart attack at his home
in Belvidere.
And notorious DJ
Howard Stern
made his entry
into the market.
Stern joined the
morning radio wars
when his syndicated
show was picked up
by Hampton Roads
station WKOC, the Coast,
in October.
File photos
Howard Stern
Wolfman Jack
by CNB