R.I.P.: Chuck Blore, Early Top 40 Radio Programming Pioneer

The industry is mourning the passing of Chuck Blore, a programming genius who was the architect for Color Radio At Los Angeles' KFWB 980 AM back in 1958.

Chuck Blore

He was 92.

By the time Chuck Blore switched on “Color Radio” in Los Angeles, on KFWB in January 1958, Top 40 had been around for several years. It was Blore, however, who gave it a polish that elevated his stations—and those that imitated them—beyond the ultimately limited confines of a teenage audience. 

Originally a deejay and program director under Gordon McLendon—the famed Texas broadcaster known as one of the founders of Top 40 radio—Blore sought out disc jockeys with distinctive personalities who were willing to devote extensive preparation time to their duties. He added inventive contests and promotions, along with swinging, sophisticated jingles that sold his announcers as a team of “Good Guys.”

In a blog post Ken Levin writes "anyone who lived in Los Angeles from 1958-1964 can sing the KFWB Channel 98 jingle.   They were getting 50 share ratings.  Successful stations in LA today get 3 shares.

"Chuck Blore was a showman and every moment you listened to KFWB was filled with excitement, personality, and fun.  Each disc jockey had a distinctive style.

"As a kid I was mesmerized by the station.  You never knew what was going to happen next and you didn’t want to miss a minute.  The promotions were wild, the jocks were hilarious, oh… and the music was good too."  

According to Levine, "when Chuck left KFWB he started an ad agency designed to create novel campaigns meant to get your attention, sell the product, and of course — entertain.  

Levine added "he was also a true gentleman.  Very kind, very supportive, and one of those few people in your life who actually inspires you."