KWSS was born on January 17, 1983 when Gilroy’s legendary gonzo station KFAT disappeared into radio history. The new Las Vegas-based owners, Western Cities Broadcasting, had paid $3.6 million to buy KFAT and install a new “hot hits” music format under general manager Palmer Pyle.
Only one disc jockey made the transition from KFAT to KWSS: Steven Seaweed (BARHOF 2012).
Within a year, KWSS had raised to the second spot in the San Jose Arbitron ratings, besting every other South Bay station and trailing only San Francisco-based KGO.
Bill Kelly and Al Klein (“Kelly and Klein”) held down the morning shift for six years, departing in 1989.
In March 1991, KWSS became KUFX (“K-Fox”) and shifted its music mix to “classic rock”.
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