Information

Members:: The 101.1 frequency signed on in 1947 as KTRH-FM. In 1970, "I'm Free" by The Who ushered in a new format and callsign to the 101.1 frequency and "The KLOL Legend" was born. In the early days, KLOL was known as "Mother's Family" and later "K101" and utilized what would be termed a "free form format". A major contributor to the early and ongoing success of KLOL was the laid back perennial DJ Crash. KLOL played a good dose of Rock product in the early years, but it was also possible to hear Jazz, Blues, and R & B. In the Mid 1970's the main competition to 101 KLOL was the smaller 96.5 KAUM. KAUM eventually went top 40, leaving KLOL and KILT to battle it out. By the late 1970s KLOL had transformed into a full fledged AOR (Album Oriented Rock) station and changed its moniker to 101 KLOL. KLOL achieved victory in early 1981 against format rival KILT-FM (who changed format to Country and remains so to this day). Shortly thereafter, KLOL would have another rival in 97ROCK (KSRR) and one of the fiercest AOR battles of the 1980s commenced. KLOL once again won the battle as KSRR flipped to Top 40 as KKHT in 1986 (today KHMX Mix 96.5). KLOL mellowed somewhat in the 1980s (as did many AOR's), but their playlist remained quite wide.

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, KLOL was one of the top rated AOR station in the United States. KLOL featured legendary morning men "Stevens and Pruett" who chalked up both high ratings and numerous fines from the FCC. Dayna Steele (http://www.daynasteele.com) anchored mid-days, and the "Steele-workers" were numerous. Moby (not to be confused with the musician) took afternoons, and in the evenings it was "Outlaw Radio", an Active Rock show with "a lot of attitude." KLOL was regularly in the Top 3 in that time frame.

Non-Houston ownership bought KLOL and the station began to change. KLOL started relying heavily on either Classic Rock product (KLOL would be almost all Classic Rock from 1996-1998) or current product from artists who were not selling a great many CDs. KLOL virtually ignored the exploding grunge and new rock bands from 1995 on.

In late 1998, KLOL's PD announced that KLOL would become decidedly more current. Many thought Active Rock was finally coming to 101. The Buzz had been neutered due to ownership that wanted to target the now defunct KKPN listeners, so the hole for a harder edged Active Rock station was there. Instead, decidedly more current meant songs that were almost a year old began to receive 40 plays a week.

Clear Channel became the owner of KLOL in 2000, and at the time, Clear Channel retained the Rock format. Many thought Clear Channel would bring back the legend. Instead, KLOL carried on in the same vein for another 4 years.

Rumors of a KLOL format change had been heard since at least 1999; Jammin' Oldies or Top 40 as "KISS 101" were supposed to be the result. However, the edition of the Walton & Johnson Show on KLOL informed listeners that if they wanted to keep listening, they had better learn Spanish.

On November 12, 2004, after a rerun of the Walton & Johnson Show, KLOL changed its format to Latino hip-hop. The final 6 songs that KLOL played as a Rock station were:

* "Hells Bells" - AC/DC
* "Rooster" - Alice in Chains
* "Aqualung" - Jethro Tull
* "Who Are You" - The Who
* "Sad, But True" - Metallica
* "I'm Free" - The Who (also the first song played on KLOL)

On December 15, 2008, Clear Channel and CBS Radio announced a multi-station swap: KLOL and sister station KHMX would go to CBS Radio, while CBS Radio-owned stations WQSR in Baltimore, Maryland, KBKS in Seattle, Washington, KLTH and KXJM in Portland, Oregon and KQJK in Sacramento, California would go to Clear Channel. The trade was consummated on April 1, 2009.
Genre:: Radio
Hometown:: Houston
Record Label:: Houston

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