The hits are back, at least those from the 1970s, on KCPX (FM-105.7). And now the station is bringing back some of the DJs from the original KCPX of 25-30 years ago in a weekend of special programming today through Sunday.
Lynn Lehmann, "Skinny" Johnny Mitchell, Jordan Mitchell, John Benson, Paul St. John, Kent Norton and newsman Joe Lee will each have a turn on KCPX again this weekendThis nostalgic, anniversary special will feature Lehmann doing a countdown of the top songs of the '70s, plus a look at the Lynn Lehmann Lemon Awards and other nostalgia. Current KCPX program director Keith Abrams made the special a reality.
Lehmann was at KCPX for about a decade doing mornings, and Mitchell did evenings for about six years. Lee, who did news on KCPX, was at the station longer than anyone.
Gary "Woolly" Waldron was too busy to participate, and Jerry Bee, who did middays at the old KCPX, could not be located.
Norton might be one of the most interesting former DJs because for more than 20 years he has firmly established himself as weekend weathercaster on KSL-TV -- he's known now as a "TV guy."
If you were a teenager along the Wasatch Front in the late 1960s or 1970s, this special programming should be well worth checking out.
The nicknames of the old KCPX were "K-Pix" and "The Big 13 Team" because the station was at AM-1320 before moving to FM-98.7. The station has been gone for many years. A few years agoFM-105.7 was able to resurrect the old format and reclaim the inactive call letters.
Here's a look at this weekend's programming highlights:
Friday, April 7:
7 p.m.-midnight -- Jordan Mitchell
Saturday, April 8:
10 a.m.-2 p.m. -- Lynn Lehmann, with newsman Joe Lee; top hits of '70s
3-7 p.m. -- "Skinny" Johnny Mitchell
7 p.m.-midnight -- Paul St. John
Sunday, April 9:
noon-4 p.m. -- John Benson
4-8 p.m. -- Kent Norton
NEW RADIO CHARITY -- The seven Salt Lake Clear Channel stations -- KNRS, KALL, KZHT, KURR, KKAT, KODJ and KWLW -- have combined to form the Clear Channel Children's Fund of Utah.
This nonprofit group is a chance for listeners to better the lives of Utah children. The group will sponsor various events in the future.
Check out the group's Web site at www.clearchannelchildrensfundofutah.cc.
"Sunny 93.5" (KSNN) in St. George outdid Salt Lake radio stations last month by having one of the strangest radio contests in Utah history. Four contestants lived in a 1999 Volkswagen Bug car around the clock, except for a 10-minute break every three hours, in the station's "Live in It to Win It" event.
These contestants were narrowed down from the 93 who started out in pre-competition events. When it was all over in late March, Cyndee Spilker outlasted the other three finalists by enduring just over two weeks in the car.
"Cano and the KAT Morning Crew" on KKAT had another big stunt -- a Playboy magazine burning event on March 27. Many listeners brought copies of the men's magazine for the bonfire.
The Utah Humanities Council, Bluff Broadcasting and KUER (FM-90.1) have combined efforts to work to bring the University of Utah's public-radio signal to southern San Juan County. A translator will located near Bluff and should be operational by the spring of 2001.
KIQN (AM-1010) is airing a new 60-minute show, "Your Estate Matters," on Tuesday nights from 6-7 p.m. The program is hosted by Randy Holmgren and Matt Mitton of the Salt Lake law firm of Holmgren & Mitton.
I missed this live, but "Fisher, Todd and Erin" on KISN did a "Hair Harvest" recently, with Todd cutting and selling his long ponytail to benefit the station's charity for needy children. He's had it for at least 14 years. Check out the station's Web site for a photo of how different Todd looks now at www.kisn971.com.
Deseret News radio editor Lynn Arave can be reached by e-mail at lynn@desnews.com or by phone at 237-2168.