The History of KSHE
In this book, you will see images of KSHE’s earliest broadcasts from the basement of station founder Ed Ceries' home. You will learn how the station affected a small but loyal following after it turned to rock in 1967. There are stories from those who were there, including Richard Palmese, (whose on air name was Brother Love), Ron Elz (Johnny B. Goode) and family and friends of the late Ron Lipe (Prince Knight), the late Bob Skaggs (Big Jack Davis) and the late Lee Coffee (The Musical Pumpkin). You will become acquainted with their struggle to put this station on the map, along with outrageous moments that have almost faded into oblivion.
The book will take you backstage with Cream, Jimi Hendrix, and The Grateful Dead. You will be able to read memories from fans, groupies, record label reps, promoters, KSHE DJs and other staffers. You will witness The Who from the front row, opening up for Herman's Hermits at the Kiel Opera House in 1967, The Doors at Kiel Auditorium in 1968, as well as Pink Floyd at Kiel Auditorium and Led Zeppelin at The Arena, both in 1973. You will have an on-stage perspective of a riot that unfolded at Kiel Auditorium at a Ten Years After concert in 1971 from the KSHE DJ who was the emcee that night. But that is not all. Alongside the story is Alvin Lee captured at the show next to Prince Knight’s on-air promotion of the show shortly before his departure from KSHE.
Shelley Grafman
KSHE would not have become a legend without its former general manager, the late Shelley Grafman. His story is told through his family and many who worked at the station. They remember how he went from being a manager of an insurance firm to guiding KSHE to what it became. How he came up with an idea for the logo that would turn into an icon. How he guided and trusted those under him to work toward his vision of KSHE. How this guy who grew up playing a horn in a jazz band found joy in the rock music that surrounded him for the rest of his time at KSHE.
1970s
The 1970s emerged with KSHE going from a small part of the radio landscape to its phenomenal rise as a powerhouse in the Gateway City. The achievements that sprung to life in this brief era became institutions. This book revisits the early moments that have stayed with KSHE for decades such as the transformation of a logo: a peace symbol to a pot-smoking pig in 1972. This counterculture image turned into a pop art icon before ultimately becoming a brand. Coinciding with that inspiration was the start of news mixed with music.
Memories from artists, KSHE staff and fans recall the introduction of free concerts at drive-ins, Kite Flys and Birthday Parties. They all share the magic of those incredible shows where attendance exceeded everyone's expectations, including rock bands such as Kiss, Rush and Charlie Daniels. Perhaps the most legendary days of KSHE's past, full-page photography takes the reader back to the moment 40,000 people watched Kiss in 1974, and 80,000 people witnessed Rush and Charlie Daniels in 1975. The view of the shows are from on stage a few feet from the bands. For Kiss, your vantage point is above the band from the top of a truck trailer next to the stage. This was only one week into their first U.S. tour
Klassics
The KSHE Klassics are given their own section with stories from those who penned them such as Perry Jordan of Heartsfield and Mike Finnigan of Finnigan and Wood. There are stories of Nektar, Dave Mason, Harry Chapin, Nazareth and, of course, Ruth Hutchinson. The story unfolds of how an elderly woman became a celebrity in St. Louis and beyond with her frail voice as she announced the KSHE Klassics. And for the 1982 DJ reunion, there was a station poster with dozens of Klassic tracks written down by KSHE DJs Gary Kolander and Ted Habeck for the former DJs to view. That poster and those songs are now there for everyone to see.
The Station
Revisit the studio from those years and the studio window next to the DJs that was knocked on thousands of times. It was a pilgrimage fans made to show adulation and frequently a lot more. Artists, DJs and KSHE staff reminisce about the station how that little building was where many groups got their break. The stories are derived from the words of former and current members of bands such as Mama's Pride, Foghat, REO Speedwagon, Pavlov's Dog, Head East, The Ozark Mountain Daredevils and Sammy Hagar himself.
Sammy Hagar
The phenomenal rise of Sammy Hagar as a St. Louis icon is brought to life through his own words and the words of two of the men who helped propel his fame: Wayne Meisenholder and David Burd. Meisenholder and Burd were record label reps for Capitol who pushed Hagar’s records at KSHE and got the notice of fans with promotions that gave him such a lift he chose The Checkerdome as the staging area for the national broadcasts of his concerts. Subsequently, the same venue then hosted his 1983 MTV special. Hagar’s bond with St. Louis fans has been unwavering ever since.
1980s
As the 1980s began, the transformation of the radio and music industries was evident. Those at KSHE held a reunion in 1982 and brought back the pioneers of the radio station. That was the last time they were together on the air at the station. As the decade progressed, KSHE changed alongside the rest of the music business. The Morning Zoo was born, promotions got huge and KSHE weathered through the changes in music. At the beginning of the 1990s, Grunge appeared, giving KSHE's format a shot of adrenaline.
Told from stories by KSHE's management and staff through unprecedented access, the good and bad times are revisited. Shared are memories of the broadcasts on the riverfront at the Veiled Prophet Fair, along with the Riverport Riot and John Ulett's 1991 nuclear scare. The book covers Nirvana at Mississippi Nights, and Paul and Linda McCartney at Busch Stadium. Even the words of Pete Townshend are brought back from a 1989 backstage interview at Busch Stadium with Radio Rich Dalton and Smash.
Crazy Days
Throughout KSHE's history are bits of outrageous moments, including:
• Big Jack Davis and Prince Knight in the late 1960s summoning Denny "the Psychedelic Cabdriver" to deliver drugs from KSHE's broadcast signal through a coded message
• KSHE DJ Steve Rosen getting busted for selling pot outside the studio window
• KSHE DJ Ross Gentile inspiration to play records with “fire” as their theme while a fire burned KSHE's rival station KADI to the ground
• Former KSHE DJ John Williams recalling the riot that broke during a 1971 Ten Years After show at Kiel Auditorium
• Perry Jordan of Heartsfield playing KSHE's 7th Birthday Party and finding the stage was anything but prepared for their set
• The last night of Ron Powell's venue Concert South told from a fan who watched Slade fans renovate the interior
• AC/DC's brawl with bouncers after their first show at Mississippi Nights recounted by the man who discovered them and signed them on Atlantic Records
• Smash telling the tale of his rendition of The National Anthem at a St. Louis Blues game at The Arena and how thousands joined him on KSHE's Kazoo Night
Memories
Then there are celebrated moments. Here are a few of the highlights:
• A local girl Donna Roosman meeting Duane Allman after a Jefferson Airplane/Hour Glass show at Kiel Auditorium and spends her first night with him at the apartment of KSHE DJ Big Jack Davis. Donna and Duane began a relationship and had a daughter they named Galadrielle. This was the only child Duane would have prior to being killed in a motorcycle accident in October of 1971
• Janis Joplin and The Hour Glass performing for free at Forest Park
• KSHE morning DJ Sir Ed met his future wife, Debbie, at the window
• The Who’s performance at The Mississippi River Festival in 1971
• Michael McDonald's perspective backing Chuck Berry at the Castaway and his debut at The Ambassador Theatre when he played with Steely Dan
• Journey (prior to Steve Perry) driving from California to St. Louis to make their debut at Kiel Auditorium at KSHE's 8th Birthday
• Sammy Hagar making The Checkerdome the home for his 1979 syndicated national broadcast.
• J.C. Corcoran taking on the monolith KMOX on the riverfront in 1986 at the Veiled Prophet Fair
• Unveiling the Real Rock Museum