KENZ
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
KENZ, branded as 101.9 The End is a Salt Lake City, Utah-based radio station. Owned by Citadel Broadcasting Corporation, the station airs an adult album alternative format on 101.9 FM.
Contents |
[edit] History
KENZ first signed on as 107.5 The End January 1st 1996 with R.E.M. (band)'s "It's the End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)." Originally owned by The Slaymaker Group, the station was sold to Citadel Broadcasting in 1998. Most of the original staff came from now cross town rival KXRK, X96. Jimmy Chunga, a weekender and morning show producer at X96 was hired to lead the morning show. He was joined by Marcus shortly after the station went on the air. Andrea was hired away from X96 to work the midday shift. Biff Raff returned to the Salt Lake market after spending time in Austin, TX and Denver, CO to be the program director. He also did an afternoon on-air shift. Dom Casual was the station's first music director and afternoon drive jock. Barb Thomas worked the night shift.
In 1999, the KENZ morning show "Chunga and Marcus" hosted a contest titled "The Cruise of Dreams," afterwhich Marcus did not return to the show. Shortly after the departure of Marcus, Mister West joined the morning show as Chunga's partner. This was a role reversal of sorts as Chunga had been West's partner on the "Saturday Night Cold Case," a request show during West's weekend shift dating back to their days at X96.
At the end of 2005 Citadel Broadcasting moved the station from the 107.5 FM frequency to the stronger and farther reaching 101.9 FM frequency. Even though they were no longer at the "end" of the dial they retained the name.
[edit] Airstaff
- Jimmy Chunga - Morning Show (1996 - present): Had been the morning show producer and a weekender at X96 before being offered his own morning show when KENZ was starting up. After a few years teamed up with Marcus, he tapped Mr. West to be his co-host. Does voice over work on the side as well as some acting ("Singles Ward"). Older brother to Jon Smith.
- Mister West - Weekender/Morning Show co-host (1996 - present): A weekender at X96 and then at The End, West had done a weekly request show with Chunga before being asked to replace Marcus in 1999.
- Producer Casey - Morning Show Producer (1998 - 2006):
- Announcer Boy - Production (1996 - 2004): Sassy on-air comic foil to Chunga.
- Biff Raff - Program Director/Afternoons (1996 - present): Program Director and afternoon jock. PD for KBER 101 as well as The End. Biff (aka Bruce Jones) announced his retirement in August of 2006.
- Parker - Program Director/Afternoons (2007-present): Originally from New York replaced Biff Raff.
- Wendi - Afternoon co-host/intern (2007-Present):
- Dom Casual - Music Director/Afternoons (1996 - 1999): Had been part of the original X96 morning show with Bill Allred. Left The End to PD a station in Spokane, Washington. Once there he hired Kari Bushman who had been doing weekend shifts at X96. Returned to the Salt Lake market to work at the new incarnation of KJQ.
- Andrea - Music Director/Middays (1996 - 2000): Another former X96 jock. Hosted the weekly advice call-in show "Bitch & Moan" with various co-hosts. She left KENZ after landing her own morning show in Pennsylvania. Returned to Salt Lake and worked for a time at the new KJQN.
- Kari Bushman - Music Director/Middays (2000 - present): Had been a weekender at X96 before taking a job in Spokane, Washington working for Dom Casual. Returned to Salt Lake to take the midday shift vacated by Andrea.
- Norm Church - Promotions & Marketing Director (1996 - 1997)
- Little Ricky - Promotions & Marketing Director (1997 - 2001)
- Cort Johnson - Promotions and Marketing Director/Morning Show Producer (2000 - present)
- Jon Smith - Weekender/Nights (1999 - 2004): Younger brother of Jimmy Chunga. After weekends and nights at KENZ did afternoon drive at KJQN. Jon left the Salt Lake City market in 2005 to program KPLD 94.3 The Planet (alternative) in St. George, Utah.
- Barb Thomas - Nights/Afternoons (1997 - 2002):
- Mike Lindsay - Weekender/Nights (1997 - 2002):
- Vince Klortho - Weekender (1996 - 2003):
- Jay Johnson - Weekender (2000 - present?):
- Tysen - Weekender/Production (1998? - Present):
- Marcus - Morning Show co-host (1996 - 1999): Chunga's first co-host. Left amid circumstances that have yet to be made public. Went on to work at KQMB and The Blaze.
[edit] Jimmy Chunga
"Jimmy Chunga" is the popular pseudonym for Brett Smith, one of the morning disc-jockeys on KENZ. Mr. Smith had worked previously at X96 as a Radio From Hell producer and a week DJ.
"Chunga" debuted on the morning show "Chunga and Marcus." However, in 1999 the show hosted a contest entitled "The Cruise of Dreams," after which Marcus did not return to the show. The actual events of the cruise remain unannounced to the public. Shortly after the departure of Marcus, Mister West joined the morning show as Chunga's partner. This change placed Chunga with his former partner from "Saturday Night Cold Case" which had previously aired on X96.
[edit] Chunga Trivia
 |
The factual accuracy of this article or section is disputed. Please see the relevant discussion on the talk page. |
While performing a cannon-ball into a shallow swimming pool, he broke his leg in 5 places. This prevented him from accepting the offer to appear in Pirates of the Caribbean 3. He had been cast as a pirate, and was celebrating with his son at the pool when the accident occurred.
Following principal photography for the film "Church Ball", Fred Willard had to undergo hip surgery. This unplanned event made it impossible for Fred to perform his "A.D.R." (voice looping). Chunga stepped in and impersonated Fred's voice for several scenes in the finished product.
Studied character voice acting with legendary voice actor June Foray. June is best known for providing the voices of "Rocky" and "Natasha". She is also "Granny" on Looney Tunes
On March 31, 2006 Mr. Smith gave a stand-up comedy performance at the Wise Guys Comedy Club in West Valley, Utah. He was opening for famed comedian Lewis Black, who was working out some material previous to an HBO special. A summary of Mr. Smith's performance can be seen on this blog
Bill Allred of X96 claims to have bestowed the "Jimmy Chunga" moniker on Mr. Smith. Allred claims that he had previously said that, if he were to ever use a radio name, he would use "Jimmy Chunga." When Smith was to debut on the radio, he asked Allred if he could use the name, and was given permission.
[edit] Station Features
Regular features over the years have included...
- Gender Wars
- Chunga Community College
- Soft Rock and Adult Alternative
- Spit it Out
- What's Happenin' Hot Stuff
- Laugh Your End Off Lunch
- My Three Songs
- All-Request Lunch
- Bitch & Moan
- 80's Remixed
- Saturday Night Cold Case
- Minor League Mornings
- Mister's House of Retro Pleasure
- All Request Hour
- 9 O'Clock News
- Stupid News
- Birthday Brain Buster Game
- The Onion Radio News
[edit] External link
By frequency: 88.1 | 88.3 | 88.7 | 89.1 | 90.1 | 90.5 | 90.9 88.7 | 89.1 | 90.1 | 90.5 | 90.9 91.5 | 91.7 | 92.1 | 92.5 | 92.7 | 92.9 | 93.3 | 94.1 | 94.5 | 94.9 | 95.5 | 95.9 | 96.3 | 96.7 | 96.7
97.1 | 97.5 | 97.9 | 98.3 | 98.3 | 98.7 | 99.1 | 99.5 |100.3 | 100.7 | 101.1 | 101.5 | 101.9 | 102.3 | 102.7 | 103.1 | 103.5 | 103.9 | 103.9 | 104.3 | 104.7 | 104.7 | 105.1 | 105.3 | 105.7 | 106.1
106.5 | 107.5 | 107.9
By call sign: KAUU | KAWZ | KBEE | KBER | KBLQ | KBMG | KBYU | KBZN | KCPW | KDUT | KEGA | KEGA | KENZ | KGNT | KHTB | KJMY | KJQN | KKAT | KKEX | KMGR | KNKL
KOAY | KODJ | KOHS | KOSY-FM | KQMB | KRCL | KRSP | KSFI | KSL | KSOP | KTCE | KUBL | KUDD | KUDE | KUER | KUSU | KUUU | KVFX | KWCR | KXRK | KXRV | KYFO | KYLZ
KYMV | KZHT
