In the golden era of radio, when stations battled for the attention of millions, one man stood out as a true architect of sound—Ken Draper. A programm
In the golden era of radio, when stations battled for the attention of millions, one man stood out as a true architect of sound—Ken Draper. A programming genius and innovator, Draper helped define what Top 40 radio could be, leaving a mark that resonates to this day.
After programming successful stations for Westinghouse Broadcasting in the 1960s, including KEX in Portland and KYW in Cleveland, Draper took on a monumental challenge. In 1965, he moved to Chicago to program and manage WCFL, then owned by the Chicago Federation of Labor. At the time, WCFL was fighting to gain ground in a market dominated by heavyweights like WLS.
Draper didn’t just aim to compete; he aimed to transform. Drawing on his sharp instincts and experience, he created a stellar lineup of on-air personalities: Jim Runyon, Dick Williamson, Joel Sebastian, Jim Stagg, Barney Pip, and Ron Britain. He also brought future legends Larry Lujack and Dick Orkin to Chicago. Orkin’s creation of the iconic “Chickenman” series became a cultural phenomenon, while Draper worked closely with Chuck Blore on WCFL’s unforgettable jingles, solidifying the station’s signature sound.
WCFL quickly became one of the most talked-about and revered Top 40 stations in the Midwest. Draper’s mix of personality DJs, Mini-spins, Countdowns, features like Chickenman and innovative promotions made the station essential listening for a generation of fans.
Hear Jim Hampton interview Ken about his days at WCFL.
But Draper’s influence didn’t stop there. In the early 1970s, he partnered with Chuck Blore, legendary programmer and producer, to form Programming db, a syndication and radio consulting firm based in Los Angeles. Together, they consulted major stations like WPIX FM in New York, WCAR in Detroit, and KFWB in Los Angeles. Draper was also a trailblazer in automation, creating some of the first “voice-tracked” 24-hour formats such as Olde Golde, Big Country, and Rock Unlimited, which aired on hundreds of stations nationwide.
In the mid-1970s, Draper took on another pioneering role as Executive Editor of KFWB in Los Angeles. Drawing on his Top 40 expertise, he crafted the station’s groundbreaking “You give us 22 minutes, we’ll give you the world” format—the first of its kind for all-news radio. This innovative approach set a new standard for concise, rapid-fire news delivery.
Ken Draper’s legacy is one of creativity, risk-taking, and an unerring sense of what listeners wanted before they even knew it. WCFL may no longer rule the dial, but Draper’s brilliance ensured that its sound—and his influence—will echo through radio history forever.
Ken Draper passed away in August of 2022.
