KWDO Achieves Legendary Status
• One Putt Broadcasting Fresno celebrated July 4th in true radio fashion, by flipping KWDO from Classic Hits to Classic Country, now rebranded as The Legend 105.5. The format features hits from the ’80s & ’90s, with a significant number of songs played every hour from the legends of country music, including Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, Reba McEntire, Alan Jackson, and Willie, Waylon & the Boys.
The Legend 105.5 is now under the command of Central Valley native Toni Marie (pictured), who formerly spent a decade about an hour or so south, working for Buck Owens‘ heritage Country outlet KUZZ/Bakersfield. Ms. Marie most recently worked for Cumulus Country WKDF/Nashville, and she’s also worked for Audacy’s KWJJ (99.5 The Wolf)/Portland and iHeartMedia’s KWNR (95.5 The Bull)/Las Vegas.
And there’s more local history at play here — Geoff Emery, who famously spent 25 years at KUZZ until retiring last year, will handle morning drive alongside another local legend – former KMJ/Fresno PD Skip Essick, who will do daily local newscasts.
Marie, who will also do afternoons on The Legend, stated, “Today’s contemporary Country has created a hole large enough to drive a tractor through. Everyone seems to miss the legends of Country music, which is what we intend to provide.” Marie added, “With apologies to Buck Owens, we’ve got a Tiger by the tail!”
In a grassroots effort to introduce the new format to several key players in the market, owner John Ostlund tells RAMP that the station chauffeured local singer/songwriter J.J. Brown around to some local agencies & advertisers for an instructive audio explanation of “Classic Country.” Brown is seen here serenading the folks at the JSA Agency.
We are told that the four-minute mash-up, which featured Hank Williams, Alan Jackson, Brooks & Dunn & Garth Brooks was well received. The Legend 105.5 will also benefit from an ambitious TV, outdoor, print & social campaign that will reach over 2 million people throughout the Valley.
