Radio News of the Kennedy Era

Perhaps not since World War II was there a more romantic time for young people than the early 1960s, otherwise known as the Kennedy Era and later dubbed; Camelot. While the 1950s were technically no more, they were still part of the national scene throughout these years. The Fifties Fun Songs of Doo Wop were still popular along with the advent of Surfer Music. Remember, the British Invasion was not to happen until 1964.

Unlike now where one media conglomerate owns a majority of the radio stations in the country or we can just listen to our favorite podcasts today, there used to be media markets that broadcast their local talent giving way to a different flavor of radio in every region. What you were listening to in Cleveland, Ohio was possibly totally different than what was heard in Los Angeles, California.

Just in the Akron, Ohio media market alone you listened to such favorites as Howie Chizek, Stan Piatt, and Matt Patrick. What started out as an era of great promise in November 1960 ended with great tragedy in November 1963 and just six days before Thanksgiving when John F. Kennedy was assassinated.

Take a trip back in time to what today seems like a much simpler time; even though it really wasn’t; the early 1960s.

See also: AFVN, Great Radio Stations of the 1960s, Airchecks of the 1970's, Airchecks of Great Radio Stations, and DJ Madness.