In 1972, Mooney
Broadcasting purchased WBRC AM & FM from Taft; calls were
changed to WERC. The AM was an
established, if tawdry, full service station. The FM was automated
oldies.
I transferred to Birmingham
as Program Director of the new combo.
The influence of
playing Allman Brothers Band and other music product of the era had
its natural effect on personal appearance!
J. W. Jason, first evening rocker
on WERC-FM.
Birmingham's Vulcan statue... next
to the WERC-FM tower site on Red Mountain.
WERC FM, which later
became 107 Kicks, was one of the first half-dozen FM Top 40
stations in the US. the Bartell FM's in Miami, Detroit and St.
Louis were the first true FM CHR stations; WERC followed a few
months later in early 1972.
One of the local
effects of having a Top 40 station on FM was the decline of
AM top 40 WSGN, where morning personality Rick Dees soon
decided to move on to Memphis!
