WCAO-AM

AM 60 – The station converted to a Top-40 format in 1956, going on to become Baltimore’s top-rated Top-40 station during the ‘60s and ‘70s. In its’ heyday during the ’60s WCAO would routinely get a 20 share in the Arbitron ratings! Johnny Dark’s show sometimes got as high as a 40 rating share! That’s 40 per cent of the radio audience at a given time – unheard of ratings in this day and age!

The WCAO line-up in the late ‘50s included Lee Parker, Les Alexander, Ed Graham, Bob Dahlgren, Vance Randolph, Alan Drake, Bob Larimer, and Ray Moffett. Bob Granger hosted a 1950s program “Midnight Serenade.”

Above: 1959 WCAO lineup – L-R: Les Alexander 9 AM to 12 noon, Alan Drake 6 to 9 PM, Ray Moffett 9 to midnight

Some of the WCAO ‘Good Guys’ personalities in the ‘60s and ‘70s included Jack Edwards, Johnny Dark, Bob Foster, Frank Luber (later with WJZ-TV and WCBM talk radio), Alan Field, Bid Causey, Alan Bishop, Bob Koolage, Mike Barry, Stan Major, Harv Morgan, Bob Roberts, Larry Monroe, Steve Wade, Kerby Scott, Paul Rodgers, Donn Keller, Bill Sanders, Gene Creasy, Robert C. Allen III, Frank Young, John Harding, Bill Winters, Tony Mann (‘72-), Dave Mackay, Lou Roberts, ‘Brother Jack’ Sheridan, Brother Love (from WFIL, Philadelphia), Don Cox, Bill Campbell, Dick Shannon, Scott Richards (later known as Bill Worthington ‘76-80s), Kevin Finnessey (‘77-80), Randy Daniels, Lisa Kay, Larry Hall… News team of the early ‘70s included Ernie Boston (ex-WEBB), Ted Jaffe (ex-WITH), Bob Bartel, Alan Berrier.

Announcer Alan Field joined the station in 1960. He was a prolific songwriter / arranger / producer for local bands throughout the ‘60s. Some of his compositions can be heard on records by the Uptowns, Brenda & the Sentries, Donna Marie, Stratfords, Jimmy Jordan, Jimmy Velvet, Tangiers & the Jetsons… including using the alias John McGruder as songwriter for the Stratfords. Field also hosted teen dances featuring local bands at the Glen Burnie Armory, Owings Mills Fire Hall, Baltimore Civic Center…

Paul Rodgers joined the station in 1963. He had been a childhood friend of Kerby Scott (see bio) back in Williamsport, PA, and came to WCAO by way of WSBA, York, PA. ‘Emperor’ Rodgers was the morning man. He usually ended his radio program with the phrase “…yats esool!” (stay loose backwards). Paul ‘The Jolly Rodgers’ was also very active with promoting local music throughout the ‘60s and early ‘70s. Paul and Kerby hosted events at Eudowood Gardens. They secured a recording contract for Donna Marie with Decca Records. Paul and Frank Luber held teen dances and battles of the bands at the Ellicott City Armory featuring some of the area’s top local groups. Paul also sponsored dances at Owings Mills Fire Hall, and weekly events at the Pikesville Armory. Many nationally known stars performed at these events. Paul set up auditions for Mitch Ryder, who had heard about a lot of great musicians in Baltimore and wanted to form a replacement band for his Detroit Wheels. A date was set for the Pikesville Armory where at least six bands played. Of the individuals that Ryder chose, four of them committed to play with his new band. Additionally, Rodgers was an agent for B.O.F. Talent, representing groups such as Bob Brady & the ConChords, Denny & the Hitchhikers, Froggy & the Gremlins, and many others. Paul and Kerby went on to own and operate a string of radio stations throughout the east coast and south eastern states.

Gene Creasy was originally from Akron, Ohio. He attended school in Lynchburg, Virginia and began his radio career as a play-by-play sports announcer. After a stint in the service and radio jobs in Richmond, Norfolk, and Boston he came to Baltimore in late 1965 and became WCAO’s program director. Creasy also had an on-air slot on weekdays from 10AM to noon. He was voted one of the nation’s Top-10 Program Directors of 1966.

Les ‘The Beard’ Alexander hosted weekly teen dances throughout the area including the Owings Mills Fire Hall shows in the late ‘60s.

WCAO was represented in the “Cruisin’” record series. Announcer Johnny Dark was featured recreating the 1968 radio sound complete with hit records, commercials, and station jingles.

Robert C. Allen III had previously worked at Philadelphia stations WFIL and WIBG where he was known as Bob Allen. In the ‘00s he could be heard on WWLG-AM, Baltimore.

(Photos above by Robert Barvoets from “An Album of WCAO Solid Gold“)

DJ / Program Director Ron Riley came to Baltimore from WLS-Chicago in 1971. Ron also hosted TV channel 11’s “Bowling for Dollars” show from 1974-79. Later he became a weatherman on Channel 8 in D.C. where he continued to work into the ‘00s.

Newsman Ted Jaffe had previously worked for 12 years at WJZ-TV, and as news director at WITH before joining the WCAO staff where he earned two “Peabody News Awards.”

Many high schools during the ‘60s-70s-80s would rely on the “WCAO Good Guys” to come to their school and challenge the faculty to basketball games to raise funds.

In the ‘70s Louie and the Bear (Lou Roberts and Alan Berrier) hosted the popular morning show. Mid-’70s featured among others, Kevin Fennessey, Bill Worthington (aka Scott Richards), and Jack Sheridan who took over the all-night show in December 1973 also moonlighted as a mobile DJ for teen dances.

Somewhere along the way FM radio became the preferred choice among music listeners and the radio market eventually splintered to cater different styles of music. WCAO later switched its format to Country music. Personalities included Brenda Bissett who also worked at WPOC. In 1991 the station switched again, this time to Gospel music. Johnny Dark, a 30-year veteran of the station along with the entire staff were let go to make room for the new format.

In the ‘00s, WCAO AM-600 became “Heaven 600,” becoming the top Gospel station in Baltimore. Nathaniel Rice (see bio) aka “The old man rapper” was host of his “Please Help the Children” radio program on Heaven 600.

Johnny Dark could be heard in the ‘00s on D.C.’s oldies station WBIG-FM. Alan Field was an announcer on WLG 1360AM.