KXOK (AM)

KXOK (630 AM) was a radio station in St. Louis, Missouri, which helped pioneer the Top 40 radio format in the early-1960s. KXOK broadcast on the 630 kHz frequency with 5,000 watts of power and reached a substantial portion of eastern Missouri and southern Illinois during daytime hours. At night, the power was 5,000 watts as well, but with a more directional signal, sending a strong signal into the immediate St. Louis metro area, from KXOK's three tower site just outside Granite City, Illinois.

History

KXOK was one of several stations programmed by Todd Storz as part of the Storz family of stations (other stations in the group included WHB in nearby Kansas City, as well as WQAM in Miami, WTIX in New Orleans, KOMA in Oklahoma City, and WDGY in Minneapolis-St. Paul). During the mid-60's KXOK was one of the two dominant radio stations in the St. Louis market, along with KMOX. KXOK was so successful during this period, that its Top 40 competitor, WIL (AM 1430) dropped pop music in 1967, and switched to country music. [http://630kxok.stlmedia.net/] With the departure of key air talent like Don Pietromonaco (also known as "Don Monaco" as well as the second of the two "Johnny Rabbitt"s) and the advent of Top 40 music on FM, most notably from KSLQ (now known as KYKY), KXOK went through several format changes starting in circa 1975, including talk and oldies. As of March 2008, AM 1430 in St. Louis is referring to itself as the new KXOK, playing an oldies format.

Other uses

The call letters are not currently in use by a radio station, although they are used for a low-power television station, KXOK in Enid, Oklahoma. The frequency is now used by KJSL (AM), a Christian talk radio station since 1994.