Looking back on the format’s success, there are many people who deserve a great deal of credit. Classic Rock wasn’t created in a vacuum. The true pioneers and swashbucklers in the format should be noted.

Tom Bender, who has run Greater Media Detroit’s cluster for 20 years, played a huge role in shaping my thinking, and the format itself, from the very beginning. He was my conscience, and supported me when the industry thought the format wouldn’t last. In early ‘83, we signed on KRQX in Dallas – a little AM station that could. We originally picked the music for the format in Tom’s living room, literally going through album after album, trying to select just the right sound. KRQX, thanks to the belief of Marty Greenberg and a dedicated staff, proved the compellingness of the music as it actually earned solid ratings in the Metroplex – despite being an AM music station.

Then there’s Bob Ottaway and Jeff Crowe, the owner and programmer of WMMQ/Lansing respectively (then Charlotte) – my first FM client, and the station that really broke it wide open. Later, Tim Siegrist helped advance the station.

Jay Hoker who ran his own company back in the ‘80s signed on KCFX (Kansas City) in the Fall of ’85, and really provided a great sandbox for the format. Along with GM Bill Newman and PD Greg Stevens, we broke a lot of ground with this station. And of course, Gary Guthrie was up and running with his version of the format, and while our visions differed, we always had an eye on each other’s work.

Hats off to Tom Joerres, Bob Bellini, Steve Goldstein, Ed Christian, and the Saga (then Josephson) Milwaukee team that signed on KLH in ’85, and has been a huge winner ever since. KLH is arguably the most successful Classic Hits/Rock station ever, and these guys have continually innovated programmatically and promotionally.

Greater Media has been with the Classic Rock program from nearly the beginning, thanks to the foresight of Herb McCord, Frank Kabela, and Julian Breen. The company first signed on Classic Rock In L.A. with KLSX and GM Bob Moore and PD Tom Yates. And of course, right here in Detroit with WCSX, a station that has had a great run, year after year. As noted, Tom Bender is the father of CSX, a station that has had a strong group of programmers from Joe Krause to Mark Pasman to Ralph Cipolla to Bill Stedman, as well as a great staff of heritage jocks.  Greater Media President/CEO Peter Smyth has also been a long time supporter.

In those early years, Norman Wain, Bob Weiss, Steve Godofsky, and Bill Sherard from Metroplex were early supporters, first in Washington, D.C. (WCXR), and later Charlotte (WRFX), and Cleveland (WNCX). Programmers like the late Bob Kagan, Andy Beaubien, Paul Ingalls, Doug Podell, and Bob Chrysler all made strong contributions.

Cox/Chicago was the brainchild of Marc Morgan and Tim Sabean, and to this day, the company operates Classic Rock stations in many, many markets.

Ken Stevens, Andy Bloom, and Mel Karmazin (of course) took the shot at Classic Rock when we flipped the format, and brought in Howard Stern at WYSP (Philadelphia). I remember sitting in a Japanese restaurant with Ken, openly wondering on the eve of the sign-on whether the format would last a year. Ken comforted me by saying, "Fred, I’ll take one good book." Later WXRK’s Tom Chiusano signed on in New York, first with Pat Evans and later Mark Chernoff.

A variety of former AOR stations took the plunge, and made the switch to Classic Rock. They dominate in their markets today. KQRS’ Dave Hamilton has been a supporter from the get-go, as has John Hager at 97Rock (WGRF) in Buffalo. Programmers like Larry Sharp, John Larson, Clark Ryan, Dave Richards, Curtiss Johnson, Dave Moore, and Buzz Knight have been on the Classic Rock bus for years at a variety of successful stations.

Of course, there’s the Jacobs Media staff who has made huge contributions along with way.

I’m missing too many people here – the DJs, GMs, owners, and behind-the-scenes players – who made contributions to Classic Rock, and hopefully, reaped the benefits of being involved with the most successful radio format in the past 20 years. Over this period, I’ve worked with dedicated, bold programmers who have brought positive change and innovation to a format that always provided the best foundation – the music that has stood the test of time.