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KZEL-FM (96.1 FM) is a commercial radio station in Eugene, Oregon. The station airs a classic rock/adult album alternative hybrid music format.
KZEL-FM can also be heard on the following translators:
[edit] History
KZEL-FM was founded and funded in 1969 by a George Tirebiter Zellner. KZEL's glory days were under the leadership of Jay West in the 1960s and 70's. The format was free form, the location was Glenwood, just outside of Springfield, Oregon, and the master of free form radio was John Napier. Any given moment, you could always count on Napier to arc off onto a "rant" about how 'I think someone's watching me...." and then drift off and segue into something by Gil Scot-Heron or maybe a little, Little Feat. Other DJs during the heyday included Gary 'The Wasted Potato' Palmatier, Stan 'Harry 'Til 6' Garrett, Michael Waggoner, Sleepy John (Cuthbertson),JET, Tom Krumm, Chris Kovarik ,Magic Mike, Peyton Mays...Anyone remember "Jaimie"?... KZEL was known for doing basically, whatever it wanted to do....Remember the time the legendary FIRESIGN THEATRE took over the afternoon drive news and did it all impromptu? Or how about those live concert broadcasts from "The Place" (could you believe you heard PATTI SMITH live...in Eugene...in fact Patti recorded those shows, and has released the KZEL show on several b-sides. Additionally, KZEL distinguished itself with its alternative news presence with the long-form story format of "Daybreak" in the morning and "News & Information" in the afternoon. Notable news anchors included Melinda Coates,Rosemary Reed, Cal Turlock (real name Phillip Johnson) and Bryce Zabel.
KZEL-FM is currently owned by Cumulus Broadcasting, a major owner of radio stations across the country. In Spring 2006, the program director, Mark Raney, locked himself in the station's control room for ten days in protest of the station's management's decision to scrap KZEL's classic rock format and replace it with a country station. Raney, with support of its listeners, was able to persuade the station's management to keep KZEL and its classic rock roots.
KZEL-FM has been slowly evolving from a classic rock format into an adult album alternative music format, adding music like Coldplay, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Jack Johnson to the playlist.
[edit] Personalities
- Mark Raney, mornings
- Jeff Clarke, mid-days
- Cyd Salpino, afternoons
- Emma, evenings
- Ray Wilson and Geoff Taylor, weekends
[edit] External links
