'El Double O', Loo Katz joined the station in 1980 as the utility fill in guy, often substituting for Scott Woodside in morning news. When Elliott & Woodside departed early in 1982 for Q107 he did morning news for an extended period of time.

He later became the Promotions Director for WPGC before departing in 1983 for a Program Director gig in New Haven. Returning a year later he became the Asst. Program Director but left again in 1984 for WAVA where he did middays for several years. Eventually he spent 10 years in PM drive at MIX107. Today he does mornings at WASH-FM.

The battle with Q107 had raged on for almost two years at the time of this aircheck. With the addition of Don Geronimo at night, WPGC righted itself and by the end of 1980 had regained the Top 40 crown, billing itself as 'Washington's #1 Contemporary Music Station'. The statement was factual but included the combined numbers for both the AM as well as the FM.

One of the most striking aspects of this period was the lingering shock & disbelief in the tragic assassination of John Lennon less than a month before. With 'Starting Over' a virtual instant #1 record, other facets of his career emerged including his last recorded concert appearance from Thanksgiving 1974 at Madison Square Garden with Elton John. Their duet on 'I Saw Her Standing There' is poignantly included herein.

Competitive pressures being what they were, contesting at the time was at full speed with a Datsun 280ZX up for grabs along with a seemingly endless supply of loot for listeners to win.

Likewise, the More-Music battle with Q107 was evident with streamlined breaks in and out of commercial sets. 30 Minute Music Sweeps, though commonplace today were a new programming innovation in 1980.

As for the commercials themselves, virtually all were agency produced, including one for Dr. Pepper sung by the Statler Brothers who were riding the wave of the Urban Cowboy fad. Afternoon guy, JJ Jackson is heard on the spot for Zippers while morning man, Jim Elliott is on the one for Sprite. A movie spot for Neil Diamond's latest venture, The Jazz Singer is also contained on this tape.

Station identifiers in use included, 'The Hot One' and 'Where the Music Sounds Best'. Jingles are from JAM and include imaging stagers for music sweeps with 'Whisper Drops' ordered that year by Program Director, Scott Shannon.

 

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