Online!
If this story is true, I'll be really interested in hearing this station online.
XEPRS is a Mexico-based radio station that broadcasts to San Diego, California at 77,000 watts. It was one of those legendary border blasters back in the day, and I think I even got it once or twice in Toronto DXing on 1090 AM.
Now a story says the station is apparently about to shift format to oldies, but it's not the music that's making headlines. It's the people introducing it. Not only are some of them legends of the airwaves, they also share one other thing in common - they all passed on years ago.
The line-up, which should be amazing to listen to, will feature digitally remastered versions of Wolfman Jack's old syndicated show, as well as The Real (maybe now unreal?) Don Steele and Charlie Tuna, both deceased and both long ago L.A. based superstars. I can only imagine their voices are being taken from old airchecks, but what a weird (and potentially wonderful) on air presentation that will be.
It's not immediately clear when the new format will be in place. So far, a check on the station over the web indicates it's still doing all Spanish Christian. But Radio Online insists it's happening. As of this posting, they're the only ones making this claim.
San Diego's XEPRS Revamps as Oldies with Wolfman Jack
Offline
Thats an interesting idea, I hope it works for them.
Online!
I agree, but how long can they keep it going? Do they repeat the same shows - and songs - over and over? Yes, it's an oldies station, so lot of repeats can be expected. But hearing the same schtick and jokes from recorded announcers as opposed to the same classic songs may get a bit tedious after a while.
Still, I'll be interested to hear it if/when the change takes place.
Offline
Could those old airchecks be run through some AI program that could then emulate the sound and style of the jocks? Then they could do "fresh" bits.
This is assuming AI can do anything at this point...people would certainly have you believe it can.
Offline
I would not be surprised if AI ends up in this formula, as in sampling the deceased DJs voices and taking it from there, which I still find a bit creepy.
Online!
Could be. But AI will never be able to recreate Wolfman or Steele. They were true originals and imitating their voices is one thing - but no computer will be able to compose the kind of material they did.
Online!
A second source confirms the change, saying it will be using digitally remastered recordings of the jocks to program the station. Still can't find them online, though. I'd love to hear this.
Wolfman Jack Is Back On A Baja California Border Blaster
Offline
Offline
Both Steele and Tuna did syndicated music programs for years as well, so like Wolfman, XEPRS may be using those.