KSSK (AM)

KSSK (590 kHz) is an adult contemporary formated AM radio station, licensed to Honolulu, Hawaii and owned by iHeartMedia, Inc. Studios are located in the Kalihi neighborhood of Honolulu, and the transmitter site is located a mile from the studios. KSSK serves as Hawaii's primary AM station entry point for the Emergency Alert System, with KRTR-FM providing PEP capabilities on FM.

KSSK
CityHonolulu, Hawaii
Branding"AM 590 & 92-3 KSSK"
SloganHawaii's Best Variety
Frequency590 kHz
First air dateMarch 15, 1930
FormatAdult contemporary
Power7,500 watts full-time
ClassB
Transmitter coordinates21°19′26″N 157°52′32″W
Call sign meaningPhonetically similar to "kiss"[1]
Former call signsKGMB (1930–1980)
Former frequencies1320 kHz (1930–1940)
OwneriHeartMedia, Inc.
(Capstar TX LLC)
Sister stationsKUBT, KUCD, KDNN, KHVH, KIKI, KSSK-FM
WebcastListen Live
WebsiteKSSK FM92.3 and AM590

KSSK's programming is simulcast with KSSK-FM in Waipahu, Hawaii. As is the case with many other iHeartMedia adult contemporary stations, KSSK-AM-FM play all Christmas music beginning each year in mid-November, and return to their regular format on December 26.

Programming

KSSK AM and -FM are home to the popular "Perry & the Posse" morning show. They are also heard on Oceanic Time Warner Cable digital channel 867 for the entire state of Hawaii,[2] via the DishHD satellite TV service in Taiwan,[3] and also USEN's Sound Planet satellite radio service in Japan.[4]

The stations use the slogan, "Hawaii's Favorite." Nielsen consistently ranks KSSK-AM-FM as Honolulu's most listened-to radio station. KSSK's jingle melody was adapted from that of WPLJ in New York City. KSSK-AM-FM used WPLJ's jingle packages until TM Century created a jingle package for KSSK, known as "Big Time Honolulu."

History

KSSK was first authorized in December 1929, with the sequentially issued call sign of KGMB, to the Honolulu Broadcasting Company. It was initially licensed for operation with 500 watts on 1320 kHz,[5] and after a short period of testing made its debut broadcast on March 15, 1930.[6] In 1940 KGMB moved to 590 kHz,[7] where it has been ever since.

Prior to the December 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor, KGMB was asked to broadcast music in order to provide long-range guidance to a flight of Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses on their way to Hawaii from the mainland. Ironically, the Japanese aircraft picked up the same transmissions and used them for guidance while they approached the islands. During the attack, KGMB dispatched reports to CBS Radio, which in turn were cited on-air by John Charles Daly, who anchored the network's coverage of that day's news.

On Valentine's Day, February 14, 1980, the call letters were changed to KSSK, for "Kiss Radio".[1] For many years the station was home to Hal "J. Akuhead Pupule" Lewis, better known as Aku. After his death in 1983, the station moved afternoon personality Michael W. Perry to the morning slot and paired him with morning show substitute (while Aku was ill) Larry Price, a former National Football League player and head coach of the University of Hawaii Rainbow Warriors football team. The duo were known as "Perry & Price".

In 1993, New-Tex Communications bought both 590 KSSK and FM station KXPW for $7.5 million, and changed the FM station's call letters to KSSK-FM.[8] At the time, 590 KSSK was the market's #1 station and the new owners wanted to capitalize on that success, especially as music listening was shifting to FM. KSSK-FM began simulcasting part of the day with KSSK, including the top-rated "Perry & Price" morning show. Eventually the simulcast was expanded to a 24-hour operation.

In 2000, Clear Channel Communications acquired KSSK-AM-FM. In 2014, the company was renamed iHeartMedia, Inc.

Notable former on-air staff
This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

Some notables who have passed through KGMB/KSSK include:

  • Earl McDaniel (General Manager credited with putting the station on top)
  • Hal Aku Lewis (deceased)
  • George "Granny Goose" Groves
  • Don Lamons
  • Dave Lancaster
  • Susan Cruz (who was actually Noland Cruz though while on air as Susan Cruz, he was never a female impersonator. The only link to being female was his name that was given to him by the General Manager)
  • Ruth Ann "Hana Ogi" Ogata
  • Shawn Sweeny
  • Cliff Richards (deceased)[9]
  • Myk Prosatiowell
  • Mike Murray
  • Harvey Weinstein (deceased)[10]
  • Kimo Kahoano
  • Jim Peters
  • Jim Collins
  • Shawnee (Smith)
  • Noel Grey
  • Terry Rosati (News)
  • Terry Rosati
  • Alan Zukercorn
  • Wild Bill Logan
  • Steve Carpenter
  • Michael Shishido
  • Maxwell the night guy (kris sereno)
  • Erika Engle (news)
  • Dave Curtis (news)
  • Maureen Borromeo (Pescaia)-(news)
  • Brad Barrett, Director of Programming
  • Dick Wainwright
  • Denny McPhee
  • Jim Erickson
  • Lisa D
  • Steve Kelly
  • Jim Parker
  • Skip Baszler

References
  1. "Kiss Radio" (station advertisement), Honolulu Advertiser, February 14, 1980, page A-11.
  2. Digital Cable Program Guide / Lineups Archived 2011-02-25 at the Wayback Machine - Oceanic Time Warner Cable (accessed March 20, 2011)
  3. "lyngsat.com's dish hd listing (accessed May 31, 2011)". Archived from the original on April 25, 2011. Retrieved May 31, 2011.
  4. "lyngsat.com's sound planet listing (accessed May 31, 2011)". Archived from the original on August 31, 2011. Retrieved May 31, 2011.
  5. "New Stations", Radio Service Bulletin, December 31, 1929, page 4.
  6. "KGMB Opening Scheduled For 6 P. M. Today", Honolulu Star-Bulletin, March 15, 1930, page 4 (newspapers.com)
  7. "It's 590 For KGMB Beginning At 5 Tonight", Honolulu Star-Bulletin, November 16, 1940, page 7.
  8. "Stations in the U.S: Hawaii: Waipahu", Broadcasting Yearbook (1995 edition), page B-113.
  9. "Hawaii Radio & Television Guide Archive". Archived from the original on 2011-07-11. Retrieved 2011-10-18.
  10. "Honolulu FM radio pioneer dies", March 2, 2009 (starbulletin.com)
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