Tracy Janowski Todaro of Orchard Park with Q-FM-97 DJ Jim Santella, 1979.
We’re celebrating the 40th anniversary of Q-FM-97, which signed on February 10th 1975. And we asked you if you had any memories or stories of the original Q-FM (from 1975 to 1980 before we became 97 Rock). Here are just a few of your recollections from our early days!
Your station gave out Q-FM-97 ‘TURN ON A FRIEND’ stickers (like the one your website today), I put that sticker on my Firebird side window and all my friends loved it ! Happy 40th Q-FM-97 / 97ROCK !!!
Don Stachowiak/West Seneca
An old girlfriend gave me a photo she found of our High School friend , Mark Henning, and ALL the rest of your DJ’s, posing naked, in your studio , holding those iconic Q FM 97 tee shirts over their nether regions in the first shot, then over their faces in the second shot. This was back in the seventies when they were all still on the radio ……… Back then, Mark and another DJ would go into this routine of hilarious ad-lib banter when we were out drinking that was SO funny I would have to leave the bar to stop laughing so hard that I could not breath !!! Too bad you couldn’t put THAT on the air !
Dan/U.B.
I had that sticker in my bedroom window for years.I picked it up getting concert tickets or something in the 70’s.
David Zogaria/Buffalo
In 1979 I worked third shift stocking shelves with a handful of guys. We always had Q-fm blasting all night long. One night Cindy Chan, (the Zeppelin Fan) was giving away the Triumph album, “Just a Game”. We kept calling and over the course of the night, all four of us that were working that shift each one a copy of the album. I still have mine, with a Q-FM-97 sticker on the cover. When the last guy won, we all got on the phone to tell her what happened.
Scott Johnson/Tonawanda
Tell us any memories you have of Q-FM-97: Ah ’75! Was 21, listening to Q FM while wrenching during the day and driving back and forth to UB biz school at night. Usually wound up blasting the Q tuneage instead of studying!
Ed Shaffer/Clarence
I have been to practically every Summerfest you had at Rich Stadium. I was at Pennn State from 1974 – 1978 and had a Q FM 97 bumper sticker on my big chest that I used to use for collehe to keep important stuff locked up. All the Pennsylvania kids would always comment on my Buffalo station and all the great concerts I used to talk about!
Doug Kellner/Cheektowaga
Q FM 97 was giving away prizes for the premiere of Star Wars. Trivia questions were asked about the movie and I was lucky enough to call in and answer the question correctly. I remember winning the movie soundtrack on a record album. I still have that record too! I am still a loyal listener and I would love to win a t-shirt also. Keep Rockin.’
Mark Carney/Lancaster
David Khan/Chan…played whole albums.
Curt Nighswander/Lockport
My First Rock station I listened to as was just becoming a teenager, remeber listening to now classics Kiss r&R All nite, Aerosmith, Fleetwood Mac, War Low Rider, and even David Essex and Rock On. Wasn’t one of the catch phrases “You can call us the Q”?
Jerry Bergum/Alden
What can’t you say. QM was a great station back then. Santella, Rivers and the music! Awesome music then. Remember Santella MCing concerts (especially, memorable) the smaller ones at the theatres, likeSheas, Loews Tech and who could forget the Century Theatre. The balcony would shake, when the crowd got into it. I think I may still have a Tom Petty tux(somewhere) from back in the day. Dont get me started on the Rich stadium Summerfest series!
Mark Schanbacher/Lake View
I remember the final “john & mary” show on the air as I was driving. They played Bob Seeger’s Main Stret, and I cried knowing that the show was over. It was the greatest.
Chris Howland/Orchard Park
Hanging out at the Ridge on “The Strip”, everyone had their trunks open with Q-FM blasting from every car their … can still see all the cars going by smokin’ their tires as we were drinking beer and cheering them on, always a good time with Q-FM-97!
Greg Sobilo/Hamburg
I have an old QFM shirt that I won which has Charlie Daniels autograph.
John D. Rusin/Lancaster
Tracy Janowski Todaro of Orchard Park shared this photo in front of the Q-FM back door
Being spotted by Jim Santillo at the Seneca Mall wearing Q Stickers on my ass and then winning front row tickets with a limo ride to the Cheap Trick concert in my freshmen year of high school-Sept 79. Then meeting Rick Nielson in person with Jim and being told we had back stage passes after the concert to meet everyone with Cheap Trick. This was a memory of a life time-photos to follow.
Tracy Janowski Todaro/Orchard Park
Ah ’75! Was 21, listening to Q FM while wrenching during the day and driving back and forth to UB biz school at night. Usually wound up blasting the Q tuneage instead of studying!
Ed Shaffer/Clarence
Once QFM 97 aired it never went off of my radio. When it could be listened to, it was! Jim Santella was one of my all time favorite dj’s. I was heartbroken when they took the station off the air, but elated when they started rebroadcasting on my brother’s birthday! What a great present for him! I still have an original black and white bumper sticker numbered 0179! I also still have the yellow and blue ‘Turn a friend on’ sticker too.
Sandy Boczar
I remember coming to the old station down on Franklin Street. It was more like a clubhouse/frathouse than a business. It was so crazy! The DJ’s were all pioneers and icebreakers for the next generation of what we have today. Classic rock- classic jock. If you didn’t live through it , you’ll never understand the connection. Rock On !!!!
Bob Krolczyk/Cheektowaga
As a young teen in the Jamestown, NY area I didn’t find any local radio stations playing to my demographic. There was a mindset then that there was AM radio programming and FM radio programming with FM being reserved for Bach and Beethoven not Led Zeppelin and Rolling Stones. I searched out Buffalo FM stations and found WGRQ. My father was appalled at the type of music being played on FM. I started listening before it was Q FM 97 enjoying the antics of Rufus Coyote and Super Shannon. When it became Q FM 97 I was excited and at an age where it would shape my taste in music for years to come. I had a small mono radio / cassette unit, I would record the National Lampoon radio hour every week and always listened to Santella and You. I remember the contest to design the logo, I tried to come up with a Roger Dean Yes album cover inspired design, but I was no artist. My greatest memory from the early years was being able to call in and talk to Roger Hodgson of Supertramp, spring of ’77 I think.
Don Scott/Dunkirk
Way too many memories. I cut my teeth on this music. I especially remember the contests – winning albums & concert tickets. The best prize of all was winning front-row seats, limo, dinner with the band and backstage passes for the Outlaws at Kleinhans in 1979. Irv Goldfarb hosted us.
Nick Zelasko/Cheektowaga
I am 47 years old and Q-FM-97 is the first radio station I remember listening to. I’m the youngest of the family and shared a bedroom with my three sisters when I was little. They are 4, 7, and 8 years older than me. Every night I went to sleep listening to Q-FM-97 thanks to my older sisters. In return I raised my children listening to 97 Rock! Rock on…
Jody M Grenier/West Seneca
I remember Q-FM-97 well. I was one of the drummers at Uncle Sam’s at the time. We did promotions for Q-FM and I wore my Q-FM-97 T-Shirt proudly. Obviously I no longer have it. I’ve been listening to 97 Rock ever since, except for that short period when you went to the soft rock format.
Dick Lydo/Cheektowaga
I remember the great Summer Fest concerts at Rich stadium. The Rolling Stones,Yes, Emerson Lake and Palmer,Edgar Winter and many more.
Tom Lons/Lancaster
Jim Santella was the best. Playing early Stevie Wonder, Michael Oldfield, Robin Trower and Gino Vanelli. It was great to hear Live Bullet, Chicago II, Dave Mason’s Certified Live, Thick as a Brick, Frampton Comes Alive played in entirety.
Ron Kasprzak/Grand Island
I was a guest DJ on 3/23/77 ! John McGann (sorry for the spelling) called me in Daytona Beach when I was on spring break to tell me I was chosen. Matt Riedy was my mentor that night. It was awesome. My friend made a cassette of the show, which was subsequently eaten by my girlfriend’s cassette player. How I’d love to get that tape back, but a t-shirt would be awful nice!
David Szczesny/Lancaster
My best memory was submitting a character drawing of the Q fm kangaroo for a t shirt logo design .. i think i got 2nd place dinner at some restaurant, forget which. i attended kenmore west at the time.
Barbara Henderson/Kenmore
I was born with the love of rock n roll the day Q-FM-97 aired for the first time. I was so addicted to the station, I actually began recording certain shows on 8-Track. To this day I still have those tapes in good working condition. I would be honored to own a Q-FM-97 T-Shirt. Thank you for the memories…
Mike Sposato/Jamestown
The first song I heard on Q FM was Radar Love. My friend said “you have to hear this new station on FM she had a transister radio , one of few at the time.
Donna Fucina/Lackawanna
I remember day 1 and the 1st 5 years just like they were yesterday, I also rememnber when you went off the air, My favorite station was gone. could not figure out who to isten to so I bought alot of8 track tapes, and just listened to my own Q-FM-97 eoither in my room, or my car. I waited 9h anticipation when I heard that the ststion was coming hack o0n the air, I even had a blank 8 track tape in my sterio eciever and recorded the beginning of the return of the station like I said I remember like it was yesterday.It was freekin’; genious playing tje excert from the wizard of OZ. truly= there is NO PLACE LIKE HOME!!!THANKS TO EVERYONE AT 97 r)OCK FOR THE COUNTLESS YEARS OF ENTERTAINMENT LISTENING TO ALL OF YOU. I t-ake a 3 or 4 x but comfortably 5x is best, If I am chosen for a shirt just give me the largest you have, thanks again loyal listener, Big Tom Wilczak ps on facebook carl russo is a fiend of mine have him show you my profile
“Big Tom” Wilczak/Gardenville
I remember at the age 0f 14 sneaking in to my parents bedroom while they were away. They had the only FM radio in the house. I came across Q fm and instantly was hooked . it was the music that I lived for then as it is the music I still live for.
Randy Toth/St. Catherines
I was 11 then , my older brother has a stereo set up in our room, I listened all the time- he was never home. My sister was in my basement bar the other day looking at all my collectibles and said she saw no 97 Rock stuff, until I pointer out the Q-FM-97 button I have displayed. I also have a ad (full page from the National lampoon mag…….Rock on!
Eric T. Grupp/Lancaster
I remember Q 97 had a logo design contest, and my older brother entered a design, and I think he was one of the runners up, we listened to this station endlessly , I also rember taping king biscuit flower hour, every sunday night, the varity of music was so expansive back then. Awesome station.
Mark Hanover/Buffalo
I remember most about Q-FM was the contest for the new Q-Fm logo design,was an entry but didn”t win…
Brian Zacher/Niagara Falls
When Q_FM first started they had a contest to design the new Logo. I sent one in but alas, didn’t win. God, was this a blast from the past!!
Paul Szeluga/Cheektowaga
I was working at Denton Cartier and Daniels in the musical instrument department. Q-FM was having a contest for their new logo. I don’t remember the winner’s name but he was awarded with a Martin 12 string guitar. Yes, I’ve been listening ever since then. Thank you for the great classics.
Paul Zimmer/Hamburg
I remember first listening to Q-FM-97 when I was a junior at Dunkirk High School. Our Industrial Arts teacher, my Uncle John, let us listen to the radio while we were working on our technical drawings and building our architectural models. Today, I am a Technology Education teacher (Industrial Arts morphed into Technology Education) at Fredonia High School. I’ve followed in my uncle’s shoes. I became a teacher just like him and we listen to 97 Rock during my classes.
Greg Haase/Dunkirk
I can remember the guest DJ’s they used to have, in fact I have a casette tape of Charlie Daniels being the guest DJ one night. Kept it all these years.
Jan Seaver/Corfu
I remember hearing Supertramp’s Bloody Well Right and School for the first time on Q=FM.They blew me away and the next day I was telling everyone I knew about them.I remember it was very hard trying to explain the type of music they played because I never heard anything like them before.I have listened to 97 Rock ever since.
Douglas Bodack/Buffalo
I have a Q.FM.97 /Album Rock/Pepsi Sticker on my closet door. After all these years!
Sharon Walter/Tonawanda
I was home on leave from the Navy and attended the Fourth of July Stones concert. I remember getting a yellow Q-FM Tux Ego Promotional Sports Coat from the radio station at the concert and wore it the entire show and after the show I went to my Aunts house where a family party was being held. I was the hit of the party wearing this Q-FM Stones Sports Coat. I landed up giving the coat to my 16 year old cousin that night since I left to go back to the Navy the next day. To this day I ask my cousin where is the sports coat. It would be worth something. She can’t remember what she did with it. I sure wish she would of kept it. I still listen to 97 Rock every morning on the way to work and of course after work and anytime I’m driving in my car
David M Lisowski/Lakeview
I remember getting the “tuxedo jackets” that they used to give out for the concerts. Everything about this radio station was great!
Michele Papaj/Tonawanda
My husband has a Ted Nugent Tuxedo jacket from 1977. (pictured above)
Diane Coughlin/Lockport
I still have my Ted Nugent Tux Jacket (cat scratch fever) – from a Rich stadium concert – with the QFM logo on it. Great memories guys – thanks .
Donald Degnener/Buffalo
Those years of WGRQ was the only thing I listened to on the radio in my cars. The Cars, Queen, Aerosmith, Bowie, were some of my favs to sing on the road!
Don Moskal/West Seneca
The year I earned my drivers license,,,Cruising in my ’66 Triumph Spitfire, jammin’ to QFM 97!!!!!!!
Joe Boylin/Blasdell
I was only 15, but remember switching from WKBW to Q-FM for things like Pink Floyd, Moody Blues, Van Halen, Yes,…. It was a refreshing change with music that I still love.
Lou Stahl/West Seneca
My friends told me of a great new radio station and I had to plead with my dad to buy me an FM radio. He did!
Tom Huebert/Orchard Park
Jim Santella, the only DJ to work every year the station was Q-FM
In the 1970s, I was working the 4-midnight shift at the Buffalo Airport parking lots. We called Jim Santella for a request and he played “Fly Me to the Moon.” How appropriate! We listened then and we listen now!
Carol Adler/Amherst
Jim Santella as a great DJ.
Al Kraft/Tonawanda
Jim Santella was the BEST
Pat”Radar” Dean/Hamburgh
Spending an evening that began at 424 Franklin Street where I met Jim Santella and joined him for a “mystery” limo ride that turned out to be the VSOP (very special one time performance) of a few great musicians and after the show we ended up back at the studio for a few adult beverages. Reminds me of just how much fun Buffalo Radio is and why 97 Rock is the KING of Buffalo radio then and now!
Kevin OBrien/Amherst
Listening to Pat Felbald and Jim Santella and King Biscuit Flower Hour.
Kenneth DiPasquale/Kenmore
I used to look so foreword to Sunday nights when I would lay in my bed with the earphone plugged into my transistor radio so I could listen to King Biscuit Flower hour to hear all the outstanding music and concerts that were showcased on the show.
David P. Britt/Gowanda
It was summer of 79. I was 17 and drove a 77 Malibu Classic with QFm-97 license plates! It was a riot! Most people would honk, hoot, and holler! Especially at Como Park, strangers would even invite me to their party at their shelters. Thank you for those good times 36 years ago, and for today’s classic rock on my 53rd birthday! Oh the memories.
William Duquette/Cheektowaga
I went down to the station on the day of a Ted Nugent show about 1976-After his on-air interview, we got shots with Ted near his white limo-A highlight of my teens!
Paul Miller/Snyder
I remember first listening to Q-FM-97 when I was a junior at Dunkirk High School. Our Industrial Arts teacher, my Uncle John, let us listen to the radio while we were working on our technical drawings and building our architectural models. Today, I am a Technology Education teacher (Industrial Arts morphed into Technology Education) at Fredonia High School. I’ve followed in my uncle’s shoes. I became a teacher just like him and we listen to 97 Rock during my classes.
Greg Haase/Dunkirk
Here are a couple of pictures of the Ted Nugent Pinball machine that was won through the radio station. Thought I would share them with the you on your Q 97 Weekend. I was not the one who won the pinball machine but I have had it since about 1989.
VaughnKeller/Grand Island
I was lising to Q-FM-97 at work everyday the best radio station on air they played all the music I love to here the Doors ,Pink Floyed ,Bob Seger ,ZZ Top ,B.B King just to name a few this was the greates station.
Ann Marie Seward/Clarence Center
I loved the in studio interviews the station had with rock stars of the day. David Gilmour’s interview, just around the time of his About Face tour, was the best. Especially when the on air dj interviewing him called him Roger Waters! LOL.
Darren Tucci/North Tonawanda
Listening to QFM while spending quality time with my girlfriend in the back of my van
Dan Bartkowski/Fredonida
I always knew my father to be a country music fan. As a junior at West Seneca West Senior High, we all started listening. Finally a place to hear all the music we were buying. One day dad comes home with an album, says he won it listening to a radio station, Q-FM. Who could possibly have known that even our parents would listen.
Mike Bartz/West Seneca
It was a great station to listen to all hours of the day for all types of rock and roll artists. Went to the Stones concert depicted on the t-shirt way back then. Had a great time and still listen every day.
Eric Johnson/Kenmore
My first memories of Q-FM, were in 1979, and I was 9 years old. Not sure if it was still QFM at that point. It was a Sunday in Winter. I think Cindy Chan Chan was on. My Sharona by the Knack was new, and I think Children of the Sun by Billy Thorpe was brand new. She talked about the song and the intro in particular.
Randy Bogucki/Bridgeville
I was in Mr. Harris’s seventh grade class at Herbert Hoover on February 11th 1976 around 1pm when Q FM first went on the air. I was nominated to persuade the teacher to let us listen to the first few songs, I Heard it on the X, Tush, and Smoke on the Water.
Andy Anstett/West Valley
I had 2 older sisters so I was forced to listen to whatever they listened to. One of the best things my sisters ever did for me was introduce me to Q-FM and subsequently 97 Rock. Loved listening to the concert re-plays because I was too young to go to the shows LOL. Happy Anniversary and Keep on Rockin’!
Sandy Fantauzzo/Buffalo
Those were the best days of my teen yrs for all the concerts that Q-FM put on. I’d love to go back in time and do it all over and change nothing.People were so mellow back then. No anger, guns or killing for sneakers or wearing red or blue. Sad times nowadays.
Ken Bak/Buffalo
I remember hearing Super Shannon, Jim Santella and some other DJ’s on Q-FM-97. I loved the music they played, was really good, lots of favorite songs too. Good classic rock and it was great hearing it in the backyard even my neighbors were playing them! But they were Rockin’! I miss that!
Ginny Petrillo/Kenmore
Although I was 14-15 when I started listenning I remember coming in on a cold winter day having a nice warm lunch listening to Q FM I liked the chimes you played in the background when the DJ’s were talking. loved the album oriented rock you guys played back then.
Stephen Darmstedter/Lackawanna
I remember having to get an amfm converter in order to listen to the Q.
Jim Carrig/Buffalo
I fell asleep one night with my headphones on listening to the Q (as per usual). I woke up early in the morning and you were playing a Beatles song but it was sung in German or something. I thought I had lost my ability to understand English. I didn’t know what was going on until the DJ came on and said something in English. Needless to say, I had to give up Goldschläger and mushrooms after that!
Erik Schultz/Williamsville
I remember back in the blizzard of 77 the Q got me through and also remember winning concert tickets from you guys through Harvey + Corky , the great thing is i still listen to this day ROCK ON
Edward Reichard/Tonawanda
Have Q-FM memory?… tells us below.
%%MOD_START%%{“module_reference_id”:”1682″,”display_mode”:”default”,”module_id”:”33″,”module_instance_id”:”4022″}%%MOD_END%%
