According to a September 1981 article in the Free-Lance Star from Fredericksburg, Virginia, WEER was a "cross-sectional music station that predominantly featured progressive rock but ranged from blues, jazz and bluegrass to big band music." Sounds interesting....and like something you'd almost never hear from a commercial radio station today. WEER was licensed to Warrenton, VA.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
WEER
According to a September 1981 article in the Free-Lance Star from Fredericksburg, Virginia, WEER was a "cross-sectional music station that predominantly featured progressive rock but ranged from blues, jazz and bluegrass to big band music." Sounds interesting....and like something you'd almost never hear from a commercial radio station today. WEER was licensed to Warrenton, VA.
"The Oasis of Music in Northern Virginia" I jocked there in 78-79 along with Jeff Harper, Elva , John Hall, Bob Meyer, Bernie O'Brien, Pinky, et. al. Mr. Kirby would play one Nat King Cole song every morning.
ReplyDeleteRon, I remember working with you.
DeleteI listened to WEER over a cable service starting in 1979 while I was a 2nd-year student at the University of Virginia. I enjoyed it immensely because it was so much like progressive station WHFS 102.3 FM up the road in Bethesda, MD. Of course, by then WHFS had started its slow, steady decline (courtesy of the New Wave), so it was nice to have discovered another progressive music source.
ReplyDeleteI started listening to the station when I was about ten years old. (I grew up in Culpepper, Virginia) So I guess one could say I grew up with it. WEER was where I first heard some many great musicians: Joan Armitrading, Bob Marley, Jimmy Cliff, Little Feat, Hendrix, and bunch of protopunk and early New Wave bands, and the list goes on and on.
ReplyDeleteThanks for bringing back the memories. B-)
Here it is Aug 19,2020 and I was trying to think of the name of this station today, so I posted on FB. A friend came in and told me that it was WEER Radio and that he has a recording of it's last show. A truly great station and like one person said, it was in the mold of WHFS in Bethesda, MD. I remember that WEER went off the air at dusk and would always have the long version of Iron Butterfly's Ina Gada Da Vida as their signature sign off on Saturdays.
ReplyDeleteI began listening to WEER in 1978-79. it was truly a great alternative/progressive station in such a small market. I have tried to remember the names of some of the personalities but can't remember much. one guy in particular was Bill .....(can't remember last name). I spoke to him a few times and found out he was a drummer and had a set to sell so my friend and I(both of us wanna be drummers) went to his house to see the set. He lived in Fairfax City in the Fairfax Villa community. Several months later my friend and I ran into him at the Bill Bruford show at Louie's Rock City in Bailey's Crossroads. I also remember another personality Lorraine Rapp who totally blew my mind as I was sitting in my office and all of a sudden on comes The Nazz's "If That's the Way You Feel". I had to call the station immediately and asked who in the world would be playing that obscure song in Warrenton VA. I am originally from Philly and was a big Nazz fan. Great station and good memories! I would love to hear that recording of the last show!
ReplyDeleteWorked at WEER in sales early 70’s for Mr Kirby. Always great music, and fun staff. Nothing else like it!
ReplyDeleteI am sitting in the parking lot of where the station used to broadcast from (15-29 and Lovers Lane) and it looks abandoned. The tower that used to have the call letters is now a cell phone transmitter. Oh well, those were the days. WEER was a great station.
ReplyDeleteYeah, looks pretty sad last time I saw it. But it truly was an oasis, and I’m so glad it was part of my life. Elva
DeleteCan anyone put me in touch with the person ( a friend of Jesse Rusesell ) to hear or get a copy of the last WEER show? I would be happy to again hear "The Oasis of Music in Northern Virginia".
ReplyDeleteJim Maglione Culpeper VA.