KDDD-FM
KDDD-FM (95.3 FM) is a radio station broadcasting a classic country format. Licensed to Dumas, Texas, United States, the station serves the Dumas area. The station is currently owned by Highway 64 Radio, and features programming from ABC Radio .[1]
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City | Dumas, Texas |
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Broadcast area | Moore County |
Frequency | 95.3 MHz |
Branding | Big Country 95.3 |
Programming | |
Format | Classic country |
Affiliations | ABC Radio |
Ownership | |
Owner | PBI, LLC |
Sister stations | KDDD (AM) |
History | |
First air date | 1948 |
Call sign meaning | "I’m a Ding Dong Daddy From Dumas," a song written by Phil Baxter in the 1920s |
Technical information | |
Facility ID | 74311 |
Class | C3 |
ERP | 6,600 watts |
HAAT | 79 meters |
Transmitter coordinates | 35°51′51″N 101°55′44″W |
Links | |
Website | bigcountry953 |
In June 2006, KDDD-FM made a major update to their website. The new site includes local news stories and sports stories for the northern Texas Panhandle.[2]
KDDD AM and FM ownership
1956-1988 Ken Duke 1988-1990 George ?, Jay Spiegel, Bub Smith 1990-1997 Dick Hoff 1997-2000 Phill Halland 2000-2004 Joel Williamson 2004-2006 Eddie Tubbs and Darrell Wait 2006-2019 Darrell Wait and Darren Stallwitz 2019 Chris Lash
1956 to 1988
Until 2019 KDDD AM and FM, known as K Triple D, had its most successful years under the ownership of Ken Duke. Duke used and trademarked the popular Ding Dong Daddy from Dumas mascot, that is still used today as part of the station's logo. The trademark was lent to the Dumas Moore County Chamber of Commerce for marketing purposes for the town.
Also during this time, rock n roll history was made in 1957, when a local group known as the Rhythm Orchids, featuring Dumas residents Jimmy Bowen, and Don Lanier, both performers on K Triple D AM, teamed up with singer Buddy Knox of Happy, TX in college. At the famed Norman Petty Studios in Clovis, NM they recorded the songs "Party Doll" and I'm Sticking With You", and started the small label Triple D Records, named after the radio station.
Roulette Records in New York, bought out the Triple D Records label, and released both songs, with the Buddy Knox and the Orchids name on Party Doll. The song went to #1 on the national charts, while Jimmy Bowen singing lead on I'm Sticking With You, going to #14. The boys were instant stars.
Also during this time, Buddy Holly, friends of Knox and the Orchids, performed in concert in downtown Dumas in front of the Evelyn Theater (which still exists) on June 21, 1957. "That'll Be The Day" was climbing the charts at this time, and went to #1 in October, launching his iconic career.
KDDD AM during these years was mostly country, while KDDD FM was beautiful music and then mellow rock, known as Mellow Rock 95.3, with the call letters KMRE.
2004-2019
After struggling for years under different owners, the stations we're saved by local resident, and sports play by play man Darrell Wait. With the help of partners, including Moore County resident and farmer Darren Stallwitz, the stations were saved and made solid again. During this time period, many Dumas Demon and Demonette athletic events have been aired. For their eleven years of ownership KDDD-FM was oldies.
In 2018, they wanted to sell the stations, and found a buyer in broadcast veteran Chris Lash of Tennessee. Lash changed the FM station from its long time oldies format, to classic country, known now as Big Country 95.3 K Triple D.
Plans are now in the works for KDDD AM, which has been an all ag format, leased by a group in Floyada, TX for the past five years. KDDD AM went all Christmas music on Black Friday, 2019, and will feature a new format on December 26, 2019. KDDD AM, known in the past as the "Voice of the High Plains", has one of the larger daytime AM signals on the Panhandle of Texas.
Planned also in 2020, is a revival of the Buddy Holly concert in 1957, at the towns annual Dogie Days celebration.
Both stations stream from the website www.bigcountry953.com
References
- "KDDD-FM Facility Record". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division.
- "Wordpress Blog Post". KDDD 95.3 FM.
External links
- KDDD in the FCC's FM station database
- KDDD on Radio-Locator
- KDDD in Nielsen Audio's FM station database