WTKS-FM 104.1
Cocoa Beach

Original Call Letters: WRKT

Originally Licensed: May 8, 1962

Original City of  License: Cocoa Beach

Original Frequency: 104.1

Origin of Call Letters: 

Original Power: 30,000 watts 

Original Location: 

Original Format: Talk


Network Affiliation(s):


Owner(s):

1962-C. Sweet Smith
1968-Bucks County Radio News
1981-Guy Gannett Broadcasting Services, Inc.
1992-Paxson Communications Corp ($18.6 Million with WWNZ-AM 740, WINZ-AM 940, WZTA-FM 94.9 Miami)
1993-Press Broadcasting ($5 million-Gannett Broadcasting)
1996-Paxson Broadcasting ($25 million)
1997-Clear Channel Communications, Inc.
2007-Aloha Station Trust, LLC, as Trustee

History Of Call Letters and Formats:

WRKT-1962-Jazz   (Bonneville Automated)
WKPE-1970-Progressive Rock     "Cape Radio" 
WRKT-1977-Top 40   "Rocket 104"
WRKT-1980-Adult Contemporary
WSSP-1981-Country    "Brevard's Stereo Country 104"
WSSP-1985-Beautiful Music  "WSSPer 104" 
WZTU-1992-Hot Adult contemporary  "U-104.1"
WHVE-1992-Top 40   "One Hundred Four Point One, The Wave" 1
WHVE-1992-Talk-simulcast of WWNZ-AM 740 
WWNZ-1993-Talk  "Real Radio"
WTKS-1993-Talk   "Real Radio 104.1"
WTKS-1997-Talk, Modern Rock on weekends "Real Radio 104.1"


WTKS History
From Brian Douglas

"...WKIS-FM was on 100.3, not 104.1 (first as WORZ-FM and later as WKIS-FM).  This station was an AM/FM simulcast in mono until the FM became Solid Gold WDIZ:..." When Press Broadcasting bought WVRI, they started simulcasting the News/Talk format of WWNZ (740 AM) on 104 as WWNZ-FM. In 1993, when Press acquired 104.1, they changed the calls to WTKS, and launched "Real Radio". The original lineup included Guy Kemp in the mornings, G. Gordon Liddy (syndicated) middays, and Jim Philips in the afternoons, with '80s/'90s music on the weekends, evolving to alternative.  Howard Stern was picked up for mornings,  Ed Tyll was brought in for middays and Philips remained on afternoons."
More from Rich Kennedy. "...Other early evening shows included Ms. B and Bill Cross.  10p-12mid was the wildly successful "Passion Phones" with Erin SommersRich Kennedy produced (as "Fluffy The Gay Producer") all of these shows. "Passion Phones" moved to WIOD in Miami and was simulcast unsuccessfully. Russ and Bo moved to middays (replacing Ed Tyll, on his way to Los Angeles) and became the "Monsters of the Midday". Rich continued to produce the Monsters of the Midday until leaving for sister station Magic 107.7 in November of 1999.

Interns serving during this time included Defoe, "E.T.", Pickleboy and ReTodd "Roger That Russ" McClernan. Rich was replaced by Defoe at Christmas 1999. Former Drew Garabo and Ed Tyll producer Daniel Dennis was brought back to Real Radio to produce the Monsters in 2000. 

Walt Sabo was the original consultant. Karen Kjos was station and sales manager. Chris Kampmeier (aka: "T.C. DOOLEY" from his WBJW days) has been PD/OPS guru since 1998.

Program Directors at Real Radio included: Jay Clark (former PD at WABC, now VP Talk at Sirius) and Harry Valentine (became GM at WIOD, now with Sabo). Creative Services guru Rich Boerner (KSLX Los Angeles Creative Services) convinced management to switch to alternative "Real Music" weekends, which he programmed to great success. Rob Frazier (Production Director KSLX Los Angeles) was one of the most creative production directors ever to hit Orlando.

Melissa Foxx handled morning duties as producer/news for (the syndicated) Howard Stern (show). She also anchored 
"The News Thang" early mornings. Carol Dedman originally handled producing Stern, before becoming assistant PD.


WTKS Personalities


Clive Thomas
Biography

Moira
-
(Lynn Levine)-Member of the Philips Phile


Jim Philips
Biography
  A "Jim on a stick" 
Oddo-1994-2009-Member of the Philips Phile
After 15 years Oddo was let go from the Phile by Clear Channel             
2009-Oddo becomes a co-host on the BS show as well as host of "Odds On You"-Saturdays at 1PM on WYGM-AM 740

Ms.B!
-
(Leslie Brewington) Biography
Mike Wiley-"Patriot Radio Network"
Ed Hartley-Host of "Cryin' Lovin' & Leavin'"
Ed Tyll-1993-1997
2005-Edward Tyll is doing "stand up" throughout New York and New Jersey.
Ed Tyll and Jennie Sue Rhodes of Paxson Communications
Rich Kennedy-1993-1998 ("Fluffy" The Gay Producer)
MonsterPromo2001.jpg (102511 bytes)Biography
"Monsters"-Russ Rollins, "Dirty" Jim, Bubba "WhoopAss" Wilson,
the sexy Savannah, Jeff Howell, Daniel Dennis, Black Bean (Carlos Navarro), Whopper Jr.
Thanks to Rich Kennedy for more on "the Monsters". "...The original name when the show began on "Real Radio" was... "The Russ and Bo Show with Dirty Jim".  The show aired from 7-10pm, replacing Mike Wiley who made a run for the U.S. Senate as the libertarian candidate."
1998-E.T., "Brother Man From the Other Land''
-is fired after lying about how the Polk County Sheriff's Office detained him along I-4.
1998-Producer Rich Kennedy, known as "Fluffy" on the midday Russ & Bo Show, leaves 104.1 work as overnight jock at sister station WMGF-FM 107.7
1998-"Dafoe" (Thomas Carley) replaces Rich Kennedy as producer. Dafoe moved from Erik Dennison's overnight program back to The Russ and Bo Show with Dirty Jim", where he once worked as an intern.
1999-"Dafoe" (Thomas Carley) was fired after being arrested and charged with lewd and lascivious assault on a 13-year-old girl he met through his job at the station.
1999-Bo Rhodes-
is let go after being suspended.
2000-2009-Tuddle (Patrick Fowler)-Joins the Monsters 
1-10 Tuddle was fired by Clear Channel
2002
-"The Monsters" were syndicated live on stations in West Palm, Ft. Myers, Sarasota and Augusta, Georgia. The show is now simulcast on XM satellite radio.

2004
- "The Monsters" are moved to mornings after Clear Channel removes the Howard Stern Show from 6 of it's stations including WTKS
2004
-"The Monsters" add "Drunky the Bear" to crew.
2005-"The Sexy Savannah" leaves The Monsters and joins the Shannon Burke show.  
2006-"The Sexy Savannah" leaves the Shannon Burke show.     
2006-Tiffany joins the Monsters
2007
-"Black Bean" (Carlos Navarro) leaves the show.
2009-Bubba "WhoopAss" Wilson was fired in the latest Clear Channel purge.
 
               
Guy Kemp-1993 Biography
Peter Rocchio-1992-1993 
William Robert Milford III (Rob Williams)-1993-Morning news-Press Broadcasting
"Flounder'' (Stew Williams)-1993-1994-11AM-3PM-Press Broadcasting
Wanda Roland-1993-"Passion Phones"-Press Broadcasting
Susie Cerone-(Aug)1993-(Nov)1993-"Passion Phones"-Press Broadcasting
Erin Sommers
-1993-1996-
"Passion Phones"-9PM-Midnight-Press Broadcasting

Boodreauxx

Soul Brother Kevin
Melissa Foxx-"The News Thang"
Robert Segal
Bailey Quarters-Traffic (Kathryn Adkins) Biography


Drew Garabo
Biography
Mandy-1996-1998-Drew Garabo Show Producer/Co-host
Melanie
Bill Cross-1993-1994-host of "Cross Talk"-7PM-9PM/1994-Mornings


Bethann Shaffer
-News
Robert William Milford III (Rob Williams)-1993

Shannon Burke
(Eddie Burke)-2004-
Shannon takes over the mid-day slot, leaving WFLF-AM 540 mornings
Shannon was let go by Clear Channel in 2009, after his arrest for shooting his dog and wife.
Steadman-Producer of the Shannon Burke Show
El Heffe (Dro Hinojosa)-2005-2006-co-host of "The Hideout"
J Dubbs
-2005-2006-co-host of "The Hideout"
J. Moore
-5AM-6AM weekdays
Cathy Taylor
-
News Director 
Rick Morgan-1993-''inside Entertainment''-Noon to 3PM-Press Broadcasting


Kevin Baldinger
-Traffic
Biography
                                   

Buckethead (Jason Bailey)-2008-Nights-2009-Mid-days
Courtesy MyFox Orlando and WTKS-FM 104.1
 See Buckethead Saves a Life


(Michael) Wanzie-Co-host
of "Wanzie and Doug's Monday Movie Review" during the Philips Phile
Doug-Co-host of "Wanzie and Doug's Monday Movie Review" during the Philips Phile

Cabin Boy
-Producer-Shannon Burke Show/Co-host of 2 Guys, 1 Sports Show with Jack Bradshaw


Michelle Court (Michelle Betancort-Lugo)
-Traffic

Other Names In WTKS History
Joe Arnold-1994-Operations Manager-Press Broadcasting
Rob Frazier-1994-Production Director-Press Broadcasting
Jay Clark--Program Director-Paxson Broadcasting
Harry Valentine-1996-Program Director-Paxson Broadcasting
Bill Wise-1997-Program Director-Clear Channel Communications, Inc.
Dan Stone-1997-Creative Director-Clear Channel Communications, Inc.

Other Programs In WTKS History
G. Gordon Liddy-Jun 1993-Sep 1993-syndicated by Unistar Radio Network


Howard Stern-1994-2004-syndicated
Tom Olsen-"Olsen On Law"
Robert Vincent Sims-"The Garden Rebel"
XFL Football-Marc "the Freak" Lloyd of WQTM-AM 740-play-by-play with Jack Bradshaw of "The Philips Phile" and Dirty Jim as sideline reporters


W
hat's New    Biographies    In Memory    Sounds    Misc.    Links    Chronology    What's News?