Comments on: End Of A Era: The Last Day For WABB 97.5

By: DR. BELLE

DR. BELLE — Tue, 06 Dec 2016 17:51:13 +0000

I WORKED FOR THE KING ON THE AM SIDE OF WABB AND SOMETIMES I WOULD SIMULTANEOUS ON THIS FM ALSO,MR.DITTMAN WAS A GREAT
RADIO OWNER HE ALWAYS PICK UP RED PHONE AND CALL IF HE HEARD
SOMETHING A LITTLE OUT OF ORDER,SOMETIME I WOUNDERED IF HE EVER
GOT ANY SLEEP.I DID 7-TO- NIDNIGHTS M-F AND CASEY KASEM ON SUN
SITTING AT MY DESK ON 12-06-16 AND WABB CAME ACROSS MY MIND.
IM DR. BELLE,PAUL FULLER I SAW IN DC SOME YEARS AGO ON A TOP 40 STAT.

By: Charles L.

Charles L. — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 01:37:14 +0000

I worked at WABB in the mid late 1980’s. I was there when the original Goofy White Boys (Paul Fuller and Bill Evans) had the morning market beat. Bernie was WABB. He invested HEAVILY in developing his audience. You were not merely listening to WABB, you were a LISTENER OF WABB and becuase of this, you were cooler than other radio staion listeners. I learned alot about promotion under this the tutelage of this legend.

By: Steve

Steve — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 13:53:39 +0000

I lived in Mobile from 1973 thru 1977. During this time WABB FM’s format of playing free form, album oriented cuts was incredible. In the span of an hour one could hear Led Zeppelin, Willie Nelson, John Prine, Todd Rundgren, War, Matthew Fisher, Randy Newman, Stevie Wonder, etc…., played. To this day I have not heard such an array of music played. I remember Peter frampton being in the studio a few years before Frampton Comes Alive hit. WABB was playing his early stuff as well as early music by the likes of Fleetwood Mac(Albatross, Bare Trees, Sail Away come to mind)years before they became mainstream hit bands. I remember a DJ stating on the air that they would be playing the entire Stevie Wonder “Fulfillingness’ First Finale” album that night and to be sure to have your tape recorders ready. I got to listen to the premiere of many albums at night. Who else would play the entire Loggins and Messina “Motherlode” album?

By: Jimbo

Jimbo — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 13:02:04 +0000

I began listening to WABB around 1977 when I’d grab a friend and drive down to the Mississippi Coast. We could pick it up just south of Hattiesburg. It was my favorite station till about 1998. I miss those days, but I don’t miss the WABB of the last few years. The radio was ALWAYS on WABB when attending MGCJC. Go Bulldogs!

By: Jason

Jason — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 06:24:41 +0000

Terrible news. I used to listen to rock wars as well. I won the first and only contest i ever won in my life calling in to the morning show. Joke of the day. It was a terrible joke but I won. Two tickets to a movie of my choice. I went to see Red Dawn. I loved it. WABB was the good and always will be a part of me. Funny the things you remember as you grow older and reflect.
:

Godspeed.

By: Alisa

Alisa — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 04:36:01 +0000

Many Fri & Sat nights spent circling Hardee’s in Flomaton in the 80’s listening to them!!!!

By: Veronica Portella

Veronica Portella — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 01:39:46 +0000

I listened as child to the very last day. My girls are big fans now too. This a sad day along the gulf coast. From the voices and personalities we grew to love to the great music over the years you will be missed. BTW, The lineup today has been great. Oh the memories this station brought back today. Thank you and wish you all the best
Veronica Portella

By: John Root

John Root — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 00:11:15 +0000

I was in a Junior Achievement company sponsored by WABB in 1977-1978.
The station was great and the DJ’s were really cool.
We had our own radio show on WABB Sunday nights for an hour. It was called Sneeker Street.
The DJ’s were Lee Stamp, Paul Fuller, Maya. Lee Moore, and then later Leslie Fram.

By: Adam R Jacobson

Adam R Jacobson — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 20:59:14 +0000

An end of an era is always bittersweet, and the Gulf Coast should appreciate all that Bernie Dittman and his family did in a 53-year timespan to make Mobile matter. As an editor at trade publication Radio & Records from 1995 until its sale to Nielsen in August 2006, I learned of the greats in radio. When it came to individuals, there was Cecil Heftel, Stan Kaplan, Jerry Lee … and Bernie Dittman. WABB was a powerhouse because of his willingness to let his employees learn and lead.
From 1480 AM and Scott Shannon at night in 1970 to the debut on FM 97.5 in February 1973 WABB became reknown across the mid-South. In the next decade WABB would gain a national reputation as a springboard for talent that includes Randy Lane, Mike McVay, Leslie Fram, Ramondo and many many others.
As WABB signs off we may not like the pop music it played over the last few years, but we must appreciate the Dittman family’s efforts and how the station was a part of Mobile.
Like the famed WAVA in Washington DC in February 1992, Christian programming is on the way. In Mobile K-Love will likely be warmly received. But the Gulf Coast is left with a large loss, as Cumulus and Clear Channel can never be as local and vibrant as WABB. Cherish the memories and remember Julian’s grandfather.

By: DJC

DJC — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 20:28:36 +0000

When I was young, my parents would let my brother and I stay up and listen to the 9 o’clock rock wars. The winning song would continue to face challengers until it got knocked of by another great song. The listeners would call in and vote on their favorite to select a winner. That was somewhere around 1981 or 82. We loved the rock wars!