KFAT (defunct)

KFAT (94.5 FM) was an eclectic freeform country music station which also featured a mix of blues, rock music, bluegrass, Hawaiian music, and other genres. KFAT was on the air from 1975 until January 17, 1983. The station was co-founded by Laura Ellen Hopper (1950-2007). Though KFAT is long-gone as a broadcast station, its legacy lives on via Santa Cruz area station KPIG, as well as a few tribute sites and even a streaming webcast station.

KFAT was the origin of what is now known as Americana music. Known for its wildness, disregard of convention and unpredictability, its listeners were rabidly loyal, and it exists today as on online site, which plays tapes of the station. KFAT memorabilia are still traded today on sites such as eBay, with literature and CD's available around the station's history and format.

After the demise of KFAT, a new station was born on 94.5, as KWSS took to the air with a Top 40 format. KWSS was a popular station for many years until March 1991, when it switched its format to classic rock as KUFX ("94.5 The Fox").

In December 1997, KBAY, KBRG, and KUFX were involved in a three-way frequency swap, which saw KUFX moving to 104.9 and later to 98.5 FM. KBAY moved to 94.5, and KBRG getting the coveted 100.3 signal and studios. 104.9 eventually became KCNL.

External links

* [http://www.kfat.com/ Tribute to KFAT and online station]
* [http://fatchance.org/ Another KFAT tribute site]
* [http://www.okay.com/kfat/index.html A few KFAT airchecks]