95YNF History Tampa Bay's Home of Rock & Roll
Before 95YNF became known throughout Tampa Bay as the Home of Rock & Roll, the station had already gone through several different names, formats and owners. The story of 95YNF is the story of Tampa Bay radio, rock and roll and the personalities who made the station legendary.
From WYNF and Y95 to 95 WYNF and eventually 95YNF, the station became one of the most recognizable rock radio stations in the Tampa Bay area.
The Beginning WYNF and Y95
In 1976, Tampa Bay automated Top 40 station WLCY-FM, owned by Rahall Communications, changed its call letters to WYNF and adopted the Y95 identity. The station was positioned to compete with Q105, WRBQ, and became part of the changing Tampa Bay radio landscape.
At the time, Rahall Communications owned WYNF-FM 94.9, WLCY-AM 1380 and WLCY-TV Channel 10. The studios were located at the Rahall Communications Center on Gandy Boulevard in St. Petersburg.
From Top 40 to Rock & Roll
In 1978, Rahall Communications sold WLCY-TV Channel 10, and WYNF-FM 94.9 moved to the former WLCY/WTSP building.
In 1980, Rahall Communications sold WYNF-FM 94.9 to Taft Broadcasting. The station moved to 504 Reo Street in Tampa, where Taft's 1250 WDAE was also located.
WYNF changed from a Top 40 format to AOR, or album oriented rock, and began calling itself "The New 95." The station was later re-branded as 95YNF.
95 WYNF The Home of Rock & Roll
In 1985, Great American Broadcasting sold the 100,000-watt 95 WYNF to CBS Radio, also known through Infinity Broadcasting. The station relocated to 4th Street North in St. Petersburg at the Koger Executive Center.
From there, the rest was rock and roll history.
95YNF became a dominant force in Tampa Bay rock radio. The station's combination of aggressive rock music, memorable personalities and a distinctive Tampa Bay identity made 95YNF unlike anything else on the dial.
95YNF was known by names including "The Home of Rock N Roll," "Tampa Bay's Rock N Roll Pirates" and "95YNF Kick Ass Rock N Roll."
The Personalities of 95YNF
The personalities were a huge part of what made 95YNF special. The morning show featuring Ron Diaz and Ron Bennington, known as Ron and Ron, became one of the most memorable morning shows in Tampa Bay radio.
Along with Ron and Ron, the 95YNF air staff included some of the most recognizable radio personalities in Tampa Bay, including Russ Albums, Charlie Logan, Scotty Phillips, Robert Reed, Don Capone, and Nick Van Cleve with Jeff Jensen.
Program Director Carey Curelop and General Manager Shawn Portmann were also part of the leadership behind the station during its legendary rock radio years.
The Final Years of 95YNF
95YNF had long been a major player in Tampa Bay rock radio, but the competitive radio landscape began to change.
During the 1990s, corporate CBS Radio changed the station's strategy and pushed 95YNF toward competing more directly with WRBQ Q105, which at the time was playing a mixture of rock and Top 40 music.
Many people inside 95YNF believed the new direction was a mistake. The air staff and programming people understood the station's core rock audience, but corporate decisions ultimately determined the direction of the station.
The departure of the number-one-rated Ron and Ron morning show was another major turning point. At the same time, WKRL-FM changed its call letters to WXTB-FM and the new 98ROCK emerged with a more aggressive rock format focused on the core AOR audience.
The Tampa Bay rock radio landscape was changing quickly, and the end of 95YNF was approaching.
The Day the Music Died
In 1993, CBS Radio sold 95YNF to Cox Radio. For longtime listeners, it was the end of an era.
The final broadcast of 95YNF remains one of the most memorable moments in Tampa Bay radio history. Don Capone, who delivered the final broadcast on 95YNF, remembers hundreds of people gathered in the station parking lot, holding up lighters and candles in tribute as the station's rock and roll era came to an end.
The station that had been Tampa Bay's Home of Rock & Roll was gone, replaced by a completely different radio direction under Cox Radio.
But the station's identity never really disappeared. For the listeners who grew up with 95YNF, the music, the personalities, the attitude and the memories remained.
95YNF Lives On
The station may be gone, but 95YNF remains part of Tampa Bay rock and roll history.
For former listeners, 95YNF isn't simply a call sign or a radio frequency. It represents a time when Tampa Bay radio had larger-than-life personalities, powerful rock music and a station that proudly called itself the Home of Rock & Roll.
The music stopped in 1993. The memories didn't.
The People of 95YNF
Behind every great radio station are the people who make it happen. The following names represent the air personalities, management, promotions, production and other people who were part of the 95YNF family during its years on the air.
Ron Diaz, Ron Bennington, Fez Whatley, Russ Albums, Charlie Logan, Scotty Phillips, Robert Reed, Don Capone, Nick Van Cleve, Jeff Jensen, Jon Volmar "Hot Tub Jonny", Walt Bob Marsicano, George Sosson, Shawn V. Portmann, Mark Larsen, Carey Curelop, Tom Marshall, Steve Downes, Becky "Flash" Gorden, Marsha Longo, J.J. Lee, Marla Stone, Stephen McCreery "The Helpful Guy", Diamond Jim Reed, Mike Bacchus, Bryan Sykes, Amy Newman, Zoltan Koppany, Billy The Phone Freak, Fast Eddie Yarb, Flipper, John Stewart, Jack Strap, Chris Volpe, Joe Corbett, Joe Young, Kyle Roberts, Julie Follman, Morgan Prue, Mike BanSavage, Greg Winters, Nobie Wheeler, Marge Smelt, Doc Martin, Bruce Campbell, Kira Kincade, Dana Brown, Don "McKenzie" Reigle, Max Sitero, Roz Clark, John Darling, Jim Dixon, AJ, Mary Farrel, Susan Larkin, Lynda Johnson, Patti Palmer, Don Marion, Steve Fluker, Bill Burnett, Grego, Austin Keyes, 95YNF Angels, Matt West, Loretta Ford, Chris Tailor and Greg Stevens.
These are the people who helped make 95YNF part of Tampa Bay radio history.