WHYI

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

WHYI
City of license	Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
Broadcast area	Miami-Ft. Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, Florida
Branding	Y-100
Slogan	The Hit Music Channel
First air date	1960
Frequency	100.7 MHz
Format	Top 40
ERP	100,000 watts
Class	C
Callsign meaning	The Y in WHYI is used in branding: Y100
Owner	Clear Channel Communications
Website	www.y100online.com

WHYI-FM, better known as Y-100, is a heritage FM Top 40 CHR (contemporary hit radio) station that broadcasts at 100.7 MHz. Its official city of license is Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Y-100 broadcasts at an effective radiated power of 100,000 watts from its 1,005 foot transmitter, which is located on the Miami-Dade side of the Miami-Dade / Broward County line near U.S. 441 and County Line Road. On a typical day its signal can generally be received north to Fort Pierce, southwest past Key Largo, and west deep into the Everglades. Its signal has even been known at times to go as far east as the Bahamas and as far south into Cuba.

Contents 1 History 1.1 Pre Y-100 1.2 Y-100 Signs-On 1.3 Y-100 - The Early Years 1.4 Former Y-100 Deejays (In Alphabetical Order By Last Name) 2 References 3 Footy 3.1 Sonny & Footy 3.2 Bobby & Footy 3.3 Footy & The Chix @ Six 3.4 Kenny & Footy 3.5 Footy - The Final Months 4 Current Programming 5 References 6 External links

[edit] History

Y-100 has been broadcasting continuously with various forms of contemporary hit music since August 3, 1973. It signed on at 6AM with new call letters WLQY and was originally to be known as "Lucky 100". Roby Yonge was the first morning man. He had once worked for WABC in New York, NY, where he speculated that Paul McCartney had died. [1]. Legend has it he was fired during his first airshift for leaving the control room to go use the bathroom. Y-100 became the station's new name during a staff meeting with consultant Buzz Bennett at the suggestion of the first airstaff. Y-100 adopted new call letters "WHYI" several months after signing on, because of complaints from crosstown competitor WMYQ at 96.3FM that the call letters were too similar and would create confusion. Y-100 is currently the longest-running Top 40 CHR station in both the United States and North America with the same call letters and nickname.

[edit] Pre Y-100

The 100.7 FM frequency was signed-on in early 1960 as a religious station with the call letters WMFP. It was owned by Percy Crawford from 1960 to 1962.

From 1962 to 1973, it was known as a beautiful music station with the call letters of WMJR. During the latter portion of 1966, the station's studios(located in the Kenann building, a round building on the corner of US1 and Oakland Park Blvd. in Fort Lauderdale, FL), tower, and signal coverage were greatly upgraded from 56,000 watts to 100,000 watts by engineering guru and entrepreneur Ron Crider, who would later sell the station in 1973 to former Hawaii congressman Cecil Heftel for $1,500,000 , a record price for a station at the time.

Cecil Heftel was highly respected by the Y-100 programming people. Many say Cecil is the person who really made Y-100 the great station that it was in its early days.

[edit] Y-100 Signs-On

The first song ever played on Y-100 was "Diamond Girl" by Seals and Crofts. Y100 was the first station in the country to have a $50,000 big money giveaways (the first winner was Mrs. Jack Bray of Hollywood, FL. When they first went on the air as a Top 40 CHR station, their first major promotion was "When your phone rings don't say hello. Say "I listen to the new sound of Y-100", and you could win $50,000!".

[edit] Y-100 - The Early Years

Ronnie Grant became the first PD, the start of Y-100's climb to legendary status. The original line-up included Roby Yonge and John Emm in mornings, Larry McKay (McKabe) in middays (McKay became morning person when Yonge was fired after day one), Don Cox in afternoons, Davey O'Donnell for nights, Eric Rhoads (called HYMN) late nights. Weekends included Bill Christie and Kevin Malloy. John Rook was the second program director. Rook hired midday personality Bill Tanner who was later hired as Assistant Program Director. He became Program Director when Grant was fired. Tanner then moved to the morning show and brought in Jim Reihle, who was Tanner's former partner at WJDX in Jackson, MS. Y-100 ushered in the era of the big money contests and aggressive promotional strategy that made the station one of the fastest-growing FM stations in the country during the 1970's. Two years later in 1975, Y-100 was the first station in South Florida to broadcast live during the world famous street party known as "Calle Ocho". As Program Director, Bill Tanner hired the personalities who became so familiar to South Florida listeners including sports reporter Athlete's Foot (later abbreviated to Footy), newsman Jim Reihle, traffic reporter "Captain Y" (Glen Logan), midday host, the late Cramer Haas (originally hired for overnights and also from WJDX), Jay Marks(From WJDX) and later Rick Eliott for afternoons, Robert W. Walker and Don Cox from crosstown WMYQ, Batt Johnson, Tom Birch, Dave Dunaway(From WJDX) and Earl "The Pearl" Lewis(From 13-Q/Pittsburgh), who replaced original late night personality Eric Rhoads (who worked for the station two times), now publisher of Radio Ink and late night/overnight guy Mark "In The Dark" Shands(From WJDX). Shands also served as music director during part of his time at the Y and was substitute newsman on Tanner's show. John Hartman was music director during the early 70's. Colleen "The Vinyl Queen" Cassidy (Now National Music Director for Jerry Clifton's New World Communications) became music director/research director in 1978, moving in from Bob Pittman's station in Chicago, WMAQ. Cassidy started Y-100's first call-out research department. She now is a music consultant for Miami's Power 96 and about 15 other stations.

That was the time known as Y-100's "#1 Era".

Heftel sold Y-100 to Metroplex Communications in 1976. Metroplex partners Norman Wain, Robert Weiss, and David Ross continued the successful operation of the station from 1976 until 1994, when they sold their group of stations to Clear Channel Communications.

On Sunday August 27, 1989, Y-100 celebrated its "Sweet 16th" birthday celebration with an 8-hour concert at the Sunrise Musical Theatre in Sunrise, Florida. The featured acts for the show were Bandera, K.C. & The Sunshine Band, Roxette, Cyndi Lauper, Michael Damian, and Buster Poindexter.

[edit] Former Y-100 Deejays (In Alphabetical Order By Last Name)

A - Jade Alexander, Jackson Armstrong

B - Willie B., Tony Banks, Adam Bomb, Joey B., Tom Birch, The Late Fast Bobby

C - Cami, Al Chio, Dennis Constantine, The Late Don Cox, Kid Curry, Cathy Cruise, Taylor Cruz, Bill Christie

D - Harley Davidson, Mike Van Driver III, Doug Dunbar, Dave Dunaway, Davey O'Donnell

E - Stuart Elliott, Rick Eliott, John Emm

F - Fay, Ferarri, Footy, Sonny Fox

H - The Late Cramer Haas, Ron Hersey, DJ Holiday, Hymn (the original air name used by Eric Rhoads)

J - Michael Jamrock, Batt Johnson

K - Katie, JoJo Kincaid, Stevie Knox, Kory, Bruce Kelly (96X PD), Shahab Khalilahmadi

L -Glen Logan(AKA Captain Y), Blake Lawrence, Lourdes Leon, Paco Lopez, Earl "The Pearl" Lewis, Gino Latino, Kym Landers, Bob Logan

M - The Madame(AKA Joann Maeder Weitz ), Tina Malave, Chris Marino, Jay Marks, Larry McKay, Quincy McCoy, Alan Michaels, Donnie Michaels, Bobby Mitchell, Rick Martin(AKA Slim Sosa) Banana Joe Montione, Dean Mitchell, Tia Maria, Scott Marker, Dan Mason(DJ and PD), Kevin Malloy

N - Nikki, Nikki Nite, Tony Novia, Nudge

R - Eric Rhoads, Danny Rivera,The Late Rich Rodriguez, Rob Roberts(PD and DJ), Jake Redman, Larry Rogers

S - Samantha(Sam), Mark "In The Dark" Shands, Rick Stacy (P.D.), Bill Steadman, Shadow Stevens (aka JoJo Morales)

T - Bill Tanner, Suzy Tavarez, Johnny Torres

V - Johnny Summer (AKA Johnny Velchoff)

W - J.J. Walker, Kenny Walker, Robert W. Walker, The Late Tramonte Watts

Y - The Late Roby Yonge, Steve Young

[edit] References

[edit] Footy

Footy (previously known as "Athlete's Foot") was a presence on the locally produced morning show for a record 32 years running from 1974 to 2006, thus holding the record of longest Top 40 CHR DJ in North America. He was well known for hosting the "Y-100 Wing Ding" , a charity event where all of the proceeds went to help fight drug abuse. This weekend event was held at various parks and fairgrounds around South Florida, including Hollywood's Young Circle. It brought local and national musical acts to the local stage.

[edit] Sonny & Footy

From 1983 to 1988, Footy co-hosted the morning show with Sonny Fox. Sonny is now the Program Director for XM Satellite Radio's two comedy channels; XM Comedy (Channel 150), and Laugh USA (Channel 151). He is also the on-air host of Channel 150, the world's first totally uncensored radio station.

[edit] Bobby & Footy

From 1988 to 1998 Footy was teamed-up with Bobby Mitchell for the "Y-100 Morning Zoo" (later renamed the "Y-100 Morning Show"). Popular contributors during this highly-rated show included "Captain Y" and "Mike Van Driver III". Bobby and Footy co-hosted a very traditional type of "Morning Zoo" show for South Florida as they incorporated the news, sports, weather, and traffic of the morning with prize giveaways, guest interviews, funny phone calls, wacky comedy bits, song parodies, background sound effects, and the current hit music of the time. Some of the more popular phone bits on the show included impersonations of President George H.W. Bush, Roseanne, and Sean Connery calling in on a regular basis to offer their take on the current events of the day. "President Bush" opened all of his telephone calls with, "Hello Bobby? You've got Bush on the line!". "Roseanne" opened all of her telephone calls with, "Is This The Zoo? Hi Bobby Mitchell!". "Sean Connery" had great difficulties pronouncing any word with the letter "S" in it. Those words would suddenly become "SH". For a brief period of time during the run of this show, it was simulcast on both video and audio on then TV station WAMI-TV Channel 69 in Miami (now known as Telefutura 69). Bobby left Footy and South Florida in 1998 to head back home to Texas. He joined the on-air staff of KPLX-FM "99.5 The Wolf" , a country music station in Dallas , as their new morning show host. Its a position that he would hold until his contract was not renewed in May of 2006.

[edit] Footy & The Chix @ Six

In 1998, the morning show was renamed "Footy & The Chix @ Six", and Footy co-hosted the show with several female personalities, including Jade Alexander (who later left Y-100 for an on-air reporter and anchor position at WFOR-TV CBS-4), Tina Malave, and Fay C.

[edit] Kenny & Footy

On Monday June 18, 2001 ,a new era in the morning show began as Footy was paired-up with popular afternoon drive time deejay Kenny Walker for "The Y-100 Early Morning Show". A few months later, in January 2002, the show was renamed "Kenny & Footy In The Morning". Kenny brought his popular "Candid Phone" routine over from afternoon drive to the morning show. Later during the run of the show "War Of The Roses" emerged as one of the most popular and most talked-about features. It was done on Thursday mornings, and it was a variation of "Candid Phone" in which Kenny would call the husband, wife, boyfriend, or girlfriend of a Y-100 listener, disguise his voice as the owner of a start-up flower shop or restaurant and offer that person a dozen roses or a free meal to the one person in his or her life that he or she wanted to give them to. The person usually did not make the right choice, and this would usually begin an argument back-and-forth on the telephone with all of Y-100's listeners listening in on it over the air. Kenny and Footy's executive producer was Froggy. He joined the show from WFLZ-FM in Tampa.

On Tuesday January 31, 2006 after 10 years with the station, Kenny Walker was released from Y-100, at the expiration of his contract which was not renewed.^[1]

On Thursday, August 24, 2006 ,it was announced that Kenny Walker would start a new morning show in Miami on Sports Radio 560 WQAM, along with Kim "Bo" Bokamper starting Monday, August 28,2006.

[edit] Footy - The Final Months

In February, March, and April of 2006 Footy co-hosted the show with two popular afternoon and evening deejays - first Adam Bomb and then Michael Yo.

On Monday "May Day" of 2006 Footy announced his retirement from Y-100. It was actually his last in-studio show. He then took the show on the road for the next four days to Miami Lakes (Tuesday), Ft. Lauderdale (Wednesday), Coral Gables (Thursday), and Weston (Friday). The final weeks worth of shows included special guests and former co-workers calling in or visiting Footy in person, classic highlights and comedy bits, and Y-100 jingles from the past. His retirement was official as of the end of his Friday May 5, 2006 broadcast.

[edit] Current Programming

Elvis Duran & The Morning Zoo (simulcast from sister station WHTZ Z-100 in New York City) currently airs weekday mornings from 6 to 10 AM. It began airing on Y-100 on Monday May 22, 2006 , just 17 days after legendary morning show host "Footy" retired. Froggy, Footy's morning show co-host and producer during his last four years on the air is currently the only live and local South Florida voice of Y-100 during the show.

Currently there is a rotating mix for the midday talent from 10 AM to 3 PM.

Michael Yo is the afternoon DJ from 3pm-7pm (he has been with the station since 2002 and originally started out as the night jock). Yo is joined by co-host Nina, and producer Nick. The Michael Yo Show features "The World Famous Yes, No Game" everyday at 5PM. You can also hear the "Phone Tap Replay" every night at 6:20p.m. Michael also calls his "Mama Yo" frequently. Michael Yo can also be seen on WTVJ NBC-6 on the "South Florida Today" show as an entertainment consultant and reporter.

The nightime DJ on Y-100 is known simply as "J-Niice", and he's on from 7pm-12am. J-Niice comes to Y-100 from WAKS-FM Kiss 96.5FM. J-Niice has brought the segments "Tell A Joke Tuesday" and "Check the Rhyme" to his night show.

The weekend DJ's vary on Y-100, but usually Ashley (voicetracked from Tampa's 93.3FLZ only for Saturday mornings 6-10AM), Chris Cruz (Overnights & weekends),Yanesita(overnights),Nick(overnights), Buster(weekends and fill-ins, Eddie E. (Sundays) ,Rodney P. (weekends), and DJ Cato K. play the hits.

Every day at 10AM, 3PM, & 7PM, Y-100 presents the Top 20 Countdown, the most-requested songs based on the listeners votes.

American Top 40 with Ryan Seacrest currently airs on Sunday mornings from 7AM to 11AM.

[edit] References

1. ^ WTVJ NBC-6 article - http://www.nbc6.net/news/6632533/detail.html

[edit] External links

• Contains photos from the early days of Y-100
• WHYI website
• Query the FCC's FM station database for WHYI-FM
• Footy "Retires" From Y-100 After 32 Years, from South Florida Radio News, May, 2006