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KXEL first came on the air at AM 1540 on July 14, 1942–the first radio station in America to begin its broadcasting life as a maximum 50,0000-watt clear channel station, with a signal that then-as-now reaches across the continent. Founder Joe Dumond was a native of Finchford, and came to prominence on national radio as country philosopher “Josh Higgins of Finchville”. As we celebrate our 80th birthday, KXEL’s Jeff Stein remembers special events from each year of KXEL’s history–news, music, movies, culture and more. Listen weekday mornings at 8:15 a.m. during “KXEL Live & Local” for another of these 80th anniversary memories. Podcasts of each segment will be posted below. (Segments created and produced by Jeff Stein; Copyright 2022-2023 by Totally Iowa Media)

KXEL@80--1946
The Year Was 1946-delegates to the United Nations first met in New York, the Nuremberg trials were held, and Winston Churchill delivered his "Iron Curtain" speech at a Missouri college...in music, Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys released the classic "Blue Moon of Kentucky," Ethel Merman and Ray M...
KXEL@80--2021
The Year Was 2021-Walker Hayes took the pop music world by storm with "Fancy Like," while Chris Stapleton had a crossover hit with "Starting Over," Cole Swindell sang "Single Saturday Night" and Chris Young and Kane Brown teamed up for "Famous Friends"...in the news, President Jo...
KXEL@80--1987
The Year Was 1987-new television shows included "Married with Children" and "Max Headroom"...on the big screen, "Full Metal Jacket," "The Princess Bride," "Dirty Dancing" and "Spaceballs"...on the music charts, "Time of My Life" by Bill Medley and Je...
KXEL@80--1998
The Year Was 1998-on the pop music charts, "Still the One" by Shania Twain, "How Do I Live" by Leann Rimes, Will Smith's "Gettin' Jiggy With It" and Chubawumba with "Tubthumping"...new television shows included "That 70's Show" and MTV's "Total Request Live".....
KXEL@80--2007
The Year Was 2007-movies premiering included "Juno" and "Blades of Glory"...on the pop music charts, Carrie Underwood's "Before He Cheats," "Rehab" by Amy Winehouse, Kenny Chesney's "Beer in Mexico" and "Free and Easy" by Dierks Bently...new TV shows included ...
KXEL@80--2002
The Year Was 2002-on the music charts, Sheryl Crow sang "Soak Up The Sun," Alan Jackson wrote and performed the 9/11 tribute "Where Were You When The World Stopped Turning" and the first "American Idol" winner, Kelly Clarkson, had a hit with "A Moment Like This"...new television ...
KXEL@80--1951
The Year Was 1951-on the big screen, "A Streetcar Named Desire," "African Queen" and "A Christmas Carol" with Alastair Sim...new television programs premiering included "I Love Lucy," "The Red Skelton Hour" and "The Roy Rogers Show"...in the news, Julius and E...
KXEL@80--2014
The Year Was 2014-in music, Florida Georgia Line sang "This Is How We Roll," Pharrell Williams brought us "Happy" and Miranda Lambert had a hit with "Automatic"...on the big screen, "American Sniper" and "The Fault In Our Stars" premiered...new television programs inclu...
KXEL@80--1999
The Year Was 1999-television shows premiering included "The Sopranos," "Family Guy," "The West Wing" and "Sponge Bob Square Pants"...in theaters, "Fight Club" and "Office Space" were popular...in the news, President Clinton was acquitted by the U.S. Senate in ...
KXEL@80--1982
The Year Was 1982-in the news, Britain and Argentina went to war in the Falkland Islands, Princess Grace died in an auto accident, the Vietnam Memorial was dedicated in Washington, D.C., and the Commodore 64 computer debuted...new television programs included "Late Night with David Letterman," "Newhart&q...
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