After 46 years as a mainstay in local radio, Victor resident Russ Kimble is finally calling it quits and hanging up his microphone for good. It’s not something he’s doing lightly — after all, he’s been the heartbeat of local radio on and off over the last six decades.
“I ended at 9 a.m. today,” Kimble said on Friday, August 3. “This morning I played some of my favorites that I’ve played over the last 40 years — Bobby Vinton, Kenny Rogers, Kenny G, Elvis, Lionel Richie — and I love music from the 50’s. It brings back memories. (I also played) “Through the Years’ by Kenny Rogers, and ‘The Wonder of You’ by Elvis Presley — that was the song that I played before we got married.”
By Kimble’s side was his wife of 35 years, Debbie, who has been there when each of his radio stations opened over the years. On this day she was there to support her husband and answer a flood of phone calls, which started pouring in at 6 a.m.
The year was 1966 when Kimble, just 16 at the time, started programming a nightly two-hour block of music at his father’s radio station — WCGR 1550 AM in Canandaigua . He proved to be a quick study, and soon became the station’s weekend DJ, broadcasting out of a second floor studio at 37 South Main Street, above what was then Elliott’s Appliances and is currently Artiques.
Two years later Kimble and his twin brother, George, were unexpectedly thrust into leadership when their father passed away at the age of 40 and the two bought the station and took their place at the helm. Eventually they moved the studio to County Road 10 in Canandaigua and added an FM station, WFLC.
“That’s where I developed my love for radio,” Kimble said.
In 1988 the brothers sold both Canandaigua stations and Russ Kimble purchased the Penn Yan-based AM station, WQKA, which later became WYLF AM 850. That was followed by another purchase in 1993 of an FM station in Geneva, WECQ, which later became WFLK.
With every new acquisition and development, one core passion shines through: Kimble believes in the power of radio — especially local radio.
“I’m really bullish on local news,” he said. “I just enjoy reporting it, letting people know what’s going on, where to shop, road closings, local stock market reports — it’s things you don’t get anywhere else.
After 46 years as a mainstay in local radio, Victor resident Russ Kimble is finally calling it quits and hanging up his microphone for good. It’s not something he’s doing lightly — after all, he’s been the heartbeat of local radio on and off over the last six decades.
“I ended at 9 a.m. today,” Kimble said on Friday, August 3. “This morning I played some of my favorites that I’ve played over the last 40 years — Bobby Vinton, Kenny Rogers, Kenny G, Elvis, Lionel Richie — and I love music from the 50’s. It brings back memories. (I also played) “Through the Years’ by Kenny Rogers, and ‘The Wonder of You’ by Elvis Presley — that was the song that I played before we got married.”
By Kimble’s side was his wife of 35 years, Debbie, who has been there when each of his radio stations opened over the years. On this day she was there to support her husband and answer a flood of phone calls, which started pouring in at 6 a.m.
The year was 1966 when Kimble, just 16 at the time, started programming a nightly two-hour block of music at his father’s radio station — WCGR 1550 AM in Canandaigua . He proved to be a quick study, and soon became the station’s weekend DJ, broadcasting out of a second floor studio at 37 South Main Street, above what was then Elliott’s Appliances and is currently Artiques.
Two years later Kimble and his twin brother, George, were unexpectedly thrust into leadership when their father passed away at the age of 40 and the two bought the station and took their place at the helm. Eventually they moved the studio to County Road 10 in Canandaigua and added an FM station, WFLC.
“That’s where I developed my love for radio,” Kimble said.
In 1988 the brothers sold both Canandaigua stations and Russ Kimble purchased the Penn Yan-based AM station, WQKA, which later became WYLF AM 850. That was followed by another purchase in 1993 of an FM station in Geneva, WECQ, which later became WFLK.
With every new acquisition and development, one core passion shines through: Kimble believes in the power of radio — especially local radio.
“I’m really bullish on local news,” he said. “I just enjoy reporting it, letting people know what’s going on, where to shop, road closings, local stock market reports — it’s things you don’t get anywhere else.
“You listen to satellite radio — they don’t give you the local news, the local weather, or even the local time. When they say ‘it’s ten minutes after the hour’ it’s because they’re broadcasting from (outside your time zone).
“With radio,” Kimble said, “it’s instantaneous. If there’s a fire or something, it’s nice to be able to let the public know what’s going on right away. And you don’t have to pay one penny to listen to local radio. We depend on the dollars we get from local advertisers to stay on the air.”
Kimble was also the co-owner of radio stations in Manlius, Ithaca and Dansville, and was part of a group in the 1970s that started cable TV service in the Canandaigua area. He was instrumental in the launch of the Finger Lakes Racquet Club, as well.
There have been many highlights in his career — some of which were meeting important people.
“It was exciting to shake President Bush’s hand when he was in Canandaigua,” said Kimble. “I got a kick out of being frisked by secret service. And I got to meet Jimmy Carter and shake his hand back when he was holding a news conference — before he was president.”
But his favorite part, by far, has been interacting with his listeners.
“It is just unbelievable the number of people that have told me that I have touched their lives — of course they’ve touched my life too,” Kimble said. “If you’ve been on the radio as much as I have, you’ve grown up with several generations. People used to say to me, ‘Hey — my mom listens to you.’ Now they say, ‘Hey, my grandmother listens to you.’ I love that.”
But the time has now come, Kimble said, to redirect his time and energy toward home.
In 2008 his wife of 35 years, Debbie, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. With surgery and treatment she was able to beat the odds and enjoy four years of relative good health.
“Two months ago though, Debbie’s cancer resurfaced,” said Kimble. “This is now an even bigger battle, and I need and want to be with her. I love radio and I love the listeners, but I love my wife more.”
His two radio stations, WYLF and WFLK, are now up for sale and the long-time voice of local radio will no longer be on the air.
“I thank my family, the listeners and our advertisers for allowing me to do what I truly loved for the last 46 years,” he said. “If I could do it all over again I would. I’ve lived and breathed radio for years. It’s in my blood. It’s just heartwarming to be a part of so many people’s lives, and believe me, they were a part of mine too.”
