Bill Text: NY K00694 | 2019-2020 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Commending WOUR 96.9 FM upon the occasion of celebrating its 50th Anniversary on October 20, 2019

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2020-01-22 - adopted [K00694 Detail]

Download: New_York-2019-K00694-Introduced.html

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Assembly Resolution No. 694

BY: M. of A. Buttenschon

        COMMENDING  WOUR  96.9  FM  upon  the  occasion of
        celebrating its 50th Anniversary on October 20, 2019

  WHEREAS, The State of New York takes great pride in the  success  of
radio  stations and their ability to effectively communicate with a wide
range of citizens and bring us together through the sounds of music; and

  WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to commend WOUR  96.9
FM  upon  the  occasion  of its 50th Anniversary to be celebrated with a
concert at Utica Memorial Auditorium, in the Adirondack Bank Center,  on
Sunday, October 20, 2019; this event will feature members from both Blue
Oyster  Cult and Creedence Clearwater Revival in an act called Creedence
Clearwater Revisited; and

  WHEREAS, WOUR, which first aired in 1969 was in danger of being shut
down due to its odd mix of oldies, jazz, christian music and news; and

  WHEREAS, In 1973, a group of Syracuse University  Alumni  approached
Rudy Bunkfeldt, owner of the radio station WOUR at 96.9 FM in Marcy, New
York,  and the group made him an offer, to play rock music and only rock
music; and

  WHEREAS, Jerry Kraus, who is affectionately  known  as  The  Doctor,
started  at  the  station  in  1978  and had grown up listening to radio
personalities from the original group which included Peter Hirsch,  Tony
Yoken,  and  Tom  Starr;  others  such as John Bunkfeldt, the son of the
original owner, and Jeff Chard, were behind the scenes; and

  WHEREAS, WOUR's switch to a rock station was  revolutionary  due  to
the  fact  that,  at the time, only a handful of true rock stations were
scattered across the country in places such as  Rochester,  Chicago  and
Boston; and

  WHEREAS,  Four  Acres  in Utica, New York, was a popular venue where
bands and musicians such as Peter Gabriel, Stevie Ray Vaughn, the Allman
Brothers, Van Halen and the Doobie Brothers came to perform; the station
hosted concerts at 96 cents  per  ticket  in  homage  to  the  station's
frequency (96.9); and

  WHEREAS,  In  1979,  Four  Acres  hosted  a concert led by an up and
coming artist who went by the name Johnny Cougar, who had just  recently
put  out  his  first  album,  later  known  by his full name John Cougar
Mellencamp; and

  WHEREAS, In addition, WOUR tried to give a voice to local artists by
helping produce three editions of The Rock of  Central  New  York,  with
live recordings and concerts featuring local bands; and

  WHEREAS,  In  an  era  of  frequent  staff  changes at various media
organizations, WOUR has maintained a staff with deep ties to the station
and to the region and should be met with praise for being  a  pillar  to
their community; now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED,  That  this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend WOUR,  96.9  FM  upon  the  occasion  of  celebrating  its  50th
Anniversary on October 20, 2019; and be it further

  RESOLVED,  That  a  copy  of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to WOUR, 96.9 FM.