William H. “Bill” Weaver was an innovator and pioneer in several formats, leaving his mark on Bay Area radio as co-owner and Executive Vice President of San Jose’s KLOK (AM) and KLOK-FM in San Francisco.
Weaver is generally acknowledged to have created the “oldies” format, launching it on KWIZ in Santa Ana in 1964 and KLOK two years later. Weaver later created the “Yes/No Radio” format, which was essentially programmed the station’s music by the votes of listeners. At his Fresno station KARM, Weaver tried offering different formats on different days of the week.
Weaver was also among the first to try simulcasting on two stations, with Buddy Hatton appearing on both KWIZ and KLOK. Weaver teamed Hatton with lounge singer Fran Marion for a show called Buddy and Fran.
Bill Weaver was born in Brooklyn, NY and grew up in Los Angeles. After serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II, he attended radio school in Los Angeles and found work at small-town stations in Texas and New Mexico.
A sales position in Sacramento led to Weaver’s first ownership interest, at KROY.
Weaver was an energetic figure who played a significant role in California radio in the 1960s and 70s, hiring women in key roles long before other stations were doing that.
Bill Weaver died in 1990 at the age of 71.