KALC

KBPI Years

On June 21, 1965, the station signed on as KBPI, airing a progressive rock music format.^[1] The owner and general manager of the station was Bill Pierson, who named KBPI for "Bill Pierson Incorporated." The station was powered at 30,000 watts, a third of its current output.

Pierson sold the station in 1974 to Sandusky Newspapers, Inc. (Radio Division), based in Ohio. Led by General Manager Toney Brooks and Program Director Frank Cody, the station adopted an album-oriented rock (AOR) format and created the slogan "KBPI Rocks the Rockies" that can still be heard on FM 107.9.^[2]

The station was later owned by WEBN's general manager, Frank Wood Jr. under the corporate name Progressive Broadcasters Incorporated, later renamed Secret Communications.^[3]

Creating "Alice"

On April 20, 1994, at 6 p.m., Secret moved KBPI and its rock format to 106.7, in place of former competitor KAZY. KALC then came on the air as the first Modern AC station, playing the adult leaning hits from the modern rock charts. It was branded as "The New Alice 106 FM."^[4][5][6] The format was created by Frank Wood Jr., Chuck Finney, and Gregg Cassidy. Wood referred to the new format as "Warped AC." The sound was a combination of modern AC hits combined with creative DJs and production.

The original KALC airstaff in 1994 included Frosty Stillwell, Jamie White and Frank Kramer in mornings, Chris Davis in middays, and Alan Kabel in afternoons, along with Music Director Jim Lawson, Creative Production Director Kelly Michaels, and Program Director Gregg Cassidy. Other on-air staff members included Jackie Selby, Cha Cha, JoJo Turnbeaugh, Tuna, Steve Weed, Shannon Stone, Patsy, Ethan, Brody Scott, Chad Steele and Mike "The Real Deal" Neil. Alice's audio was developed by Chief Engineer Jeff Garrett, while Liz Young served as Marketing Director. Other stations around the U.S. also picked up the "Alice" name and format.

Change in Ownership

Chancellor Media acquired KALC in 1996, while Chancellor itself would be acquired by AM/FM in 1998. In 2000, after Clear Channel Communications merged with AM/FM, Clear Channel was required to spin off several stations and KALC was chosen. The station was sold to Salem Communications, which in turn, sold the station to Emmis Communications. Emmis sold KALC and then co-owned KXPK to Entercom for $88 million in 2002. KXPK was spun off to Entravision shortly after the sale.

In 2003, the Alice format was modified by newly appointed Program Director BJ Harris (formerly Director of CHR Programming for Clear Channel Communications and half of the "MJ and BJ Morning Show" based at WFLZ Tampa). The station began calling itself "The All New Alice 105.9" with a new logo to accent the changes.

Personnel Changes

In early 2004, The Alice Morning Show (Gregg Thunder, Bo Reynolds and Slacker) went through several changes. Bo Reynolds took a break from radio. Shea Baker was hired to replace Bo and joined Gregg Thunder and Slacker in studio. In November, Gregg Thunder decided to move back home to his hometown of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Co-host Slacker moved to afternoons and Bo Reynolds rejoined Alice to create the "Slacker and Bo Afternoon Show". Program Director BJ Harris took over the morning show with Shea Baker and hired Howie Drummond from Cincinnati, Ohio, as another one of his sidekicks. The show was still called the "Alice Morning Show" but sometimes referred to as "The BJ, Shea and Howie Morning Show".

In early 2005, BJ stepped down as the program director of Alice. A short time later a new PD (Charese Fruge of KMXB Las Vegas) was hired. Charese then hired midday talent Sam Hill to replace departing Kevin "Koz" Koske, who left for WTMX in Chicago. Davin Fesmire replaced night show host George McFly.

The "Alice Morning Show" was ready for some changes too. Shea Baker was replaced on the show in 2005 with Denver market veteran Jennifer Wilde. At that point, the show's name became "The BJ, Howie and Jennifer Morning Show." The show was a hit with Denver listeners, often finishing top three among female listeners. In 2006, Bo Reynolds left the afternoon show, replaced by Alice veteran Steve Weed, creating the "Slacker and Steve Afternoon Show."

Dylan Sprague (formerly of WWWQ Atlanta) took over the programming of Alice 105.9 in January 2008. In November of that year, morning co-host Jennifer Wilde declined a contract renewal and left the "BJ, Howie and Jennifer Morning Show." Erica Cobb (formerly of the "Eddie and Jobo Show" on WBBM-FM Chicago) was hired to replace Wilde in January 2009. The show's name was changed to "The BJ, Howie and Erica Morning Show." Erica was replaced by former Alice morning show host Jamie White in 2012. Howie Drummond left the show in October 2012.