KXMX

Infobox Radio station
name = KXMX


city = Anaheim, California
area = Los Angeles
slogan = Multi-cultural Radio
branding =
frequency = 1190 kHz
repeater =
airdate =
share =
share as of =
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format = Ethnic radio
power = 20,000 watts day
1,300 watts night
erp =
haat =
class = B
facility_id = 2194
coordinates = coord|33|56|42|N|117|51|44|W|region:US_type:city
callsign_meaning =
former_callsigns = KEZY, KPZE
owner = New Inspiration Broadcasting Company
licensee =
sister_stations =
webcast = [http://www.kxmx.com/listen/kxmx.asx?proto=http Listen Live]
website = [http://www.kxmx.com/ www.kxmx.com/]
affiliations =

KXMX is a multi-ethnic, brokered time AM radio station licensed to Anaheim, California, and broadcasting at a frequency of 1190. It is owned by Salem Communications as a sister station to KFSH and KRLA.

Among the languages of shows on KXMX are Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Thai, Vietnamese, and Tagalog. It can be thought of as a radio version of KSCI television.

History

This station began as KEZY, an easy-listening station known as "K-Easy." The station later became an Orange County top 40 powerhouse featuring such personalities as Mark Denis, Mike Wagner and other disc jockeys. The station's address at the time was the same as its assigned frequency: 1190 East Ball Road.

In the late 1970s, programmer Dave Foreman dropped top-40 in favor of an adventurous semi-alternative rock format. The slogan was "Kick-Ass Rock and Roll," which contrasted with 95.9 KEZY-FM's light-rock format and a related slogan, "KEZY-FM kicks back; KEZY-AM kicks ass." After a few years the station once again changed formats, first to news (as KNWZ), then to an adult rock format known simply as "12" ("KEZY Anaheim is 12.") This format was abandoned in the early 1980s and it briefly became a top-40 station again.

Around 1984, it became KPZE (K-Praise). It featured a blend of Christian teaching–preaching programs, contemporary Christian music, and some live sports shows (Long Beach State Football and Notre Dame Football). The Program Director was Bill Gutelman, and the Operations Director was Gil Perez. Other staff–air personality included Pam Sanchez (mornings-air name Stephanie Rose), Paul Walkewicz (weekends), Bill Smith (weekends), Liz Altamirano, and former KYMS personality Bob Turnbull. Turnbull hosted an evening program called "Ministry And More," similar to his "Music and More" program on KYMS. In addition to playing music, he would have "Thoughts To End A Busy Day," and book reviews. Ollie Collins, Jr., of KTYM, Los Angeles, brokered most of the Sunday hours on KPZE. The morning consisted of a Gospel music show hosted by Collins. Most of the afternoon programs were recorded church services. A good majority of the commercials used his voice. Al Gross (formerly of KBRT AM 740), eventually hosted the morning show. His was mostly talk. He even joked one morning at 6:00 AM sign-on, as the previous program was ending with its closing theme, "The Air That I Breathe" by The Hollies, "KPZE, Anaheim, playing more music than any other talk station." Around 1988, the call letters were changed to KORG (K-Orange). It broadcast a few games of the Los Angeles Kings hockey team during conflicts with KLAC, the Kings' flagship station at the time. In fact, in one of those games (October 15, 1989), Wayne Gretzky established the National Hockey League's all-time point-scoring record. In 1987 and '88, KORG was an affiliate of RTV Sports, one of the first all-sports radio networks in America. Steve DeSaeger provided local sports updates during RTV programs, which aired seven nights a week.

In the mid-1990s, Anaheim Broadcasting, a local company that had been the owner, sold the station to Jacor, which later merged with Clear Channel Communications. In 1997, Clear Channel sold KXMX to Salem because it had exceeded the Federal Communications Commission limit as to how many stations it could own in the greater Los Angeles market. (Anaheim is still in business as the owners of FM stations KOLA and KCAL in the Inland Empire.)

The KXMX call sign was derived from KXMX, a sister adult contemporary station that was the aforementioned KEZY-FM. When that outlet became KFSH (the Fish) in 2001, the calls were re-assigned to 1190 AM. Today, KEZY can be found on 1240 AM in San Bernardino, California under separate ownership.

External links

*official|http://www.kxmx.com/
*AM station data|KXMX