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When
the FM band started gaining popularity in the late 60’s and early 70’s it
became a place where experimentation and free form was the dominant format. Almost
every genre of music could be heard and there were virtually no restrictions.
Eventually competition for listeners and advertising dollars lead to the use of
consultants who would institute a format with set playlists, no personality, and
no motivation to take chances.
By
the early ‘70’s most New York ”Progressive Rock” stations had already
evolved into the safer “album oriented rock” format when WLIR-FM switched
from “beautiful music” to rock in 1970. Adelphi
University student and part time announcer Michael Harrison convinced owner John
Rieger to take a chance as the station wasn’t making money and no one was
listening anyway. He and Richard
Neer created one of the nation’s legendary FM stations with a true free form
format in the sub-basement of the Garden City Hotel.
DJ’s played pretty much anything they liked and were not hampered by
playlists, formats, corporations, sponsors, or arbitrons.
WLIR
is “World Famous” mostly for the 80’s and “New Wave” format. ‘LIR
was already adding cuts from Blondie, Talking Heads, and the Ramones to the
latest Rolling Stones or Neil Young album cuts in the late ‘70’s In
early 1980 the Screamers of the Week (best new song as voted by the listeners)
included new songs by the Kinks, Hall and Oats, Bruce Springsteen, and even
Manfred Mann, along with emerging artists such as the Clash, Joan Jett, and
Elvis Costello.
It
became apparent there was a new music scene and enough artists that were being
ignored by traditional radio to build a new format. In 1982 program director
Denis McNamara decided WLIR would be the first station in the nation to be the
outlet for all of this “new wave” of music. WLIR was the only place to hear
the Police, the B-52’s, Duran Duran, the Cure, and many others. Listener
response was sensational and WLIR became the birthplace of careers.
Many
of these artists, such as the Police, the Pretenders and U-2 eventually forced
their way into the mainstream. But
the ‘LIR listener is familiar with so much more of their catalog that never
became “hits”. WLIR was even the first station to play Madonna, George
Michael, and Prince, artists who went on to make their mark in other formats.
Live
broadcasts were also a hallmark of the radio station. From 1972 through 1987
over 2200 performances were broadcast from legendary clubs; My Father’s Place,
Malibu, The Ritz, and many more. The list of performers, a veritable Who’s Who
of the music business, includes the Allman Brothers, Billy Joel, Bruce
Springsteen, Bob Marley, The Police, Elvis Costello, and so many more. For many
artists these broadcasts were their first radio exposure in the U.S.
During
the 80’s as other new wave stations sprang up around the country WLIR became a
force in the music industry as it was tracked by all the trades as the leader in
discovering and breaking new music. While
a few other New York stations flirted with the format, none had the deep catalog
or intimate knowledge of the music. You could only hear the Smiths, Depeche
Mode, or the Clash on WLIR.
In
1987, after a lengthy battle for the 92.7 license, under the new ownership of
the Morey Organization, the call letters were changed to WDRE, but the air staff
and the focus was the same; “New Music First”.
In
1991 new program director Tom Calderone took “the Cutting Edge of Rock” in a
different direction introducing Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins, Pearl Jam, and a
more guitar oriented sound. WDRE was still the leader in the alternative
The
decision was made in 1996 to return to the WLIR call letters that mean so much
to people who grew up in New York. Alternative was becoming a narrow format with
an almost exclusive guitar edge. The new WLIR created a modern rock sound mixing
established heritage and alternative music with current emerging artists.. Also
revived at this time was a commitment to live music. The Morey Organization
purchased the Vanderbilt concert hall and presented over 200 concerts and events
featuring many of the heritage artists such as
Squeeze, The Cult, Midnight Oil, and upcoming new artists including Dido,
Michele Branch, and Good Charlotte, to name a few.
In
the past few years artists such as Moby, William Orbit, and Fatboy Slim added an
alternative dance edge as the format continued to evolve.
Throughout
the years, despite many changes, WLIR has had a tremendous effect on the
artists, jocks, employees, and its loyal listeners. It is truly a phenomenon the
effect one radio station has had on so many lives.
On
January 9th, 2004 at 12 noon Univision completed its purchase of the
92.7 frequency and began simulcasting its Spanish language station WCAA.
WLIR continues to broadcast on 107.1 in Hampton Bays on eastern Long
Island.
From
the free form rock of the 70’s, the new wave of the 80’s, alternative grunge
guitar 90’s, to the pop, electronica, and dance of today, 92.7 was always the
frequency to find “Songs You Can’t Hear Anywhere Else”.
Plans
are in the works to find another outlet for the current “classic LIR” format
which still introduces new artists mixed with the heritage music that made
‘LIR World Famous. Hopefully our listeners in the metropolitan area will be able
to find WLIR on-line, on satellite, or even somewhere on the FM dial soon.
Bob
Wilson
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