Buffalo Broadcasters Association Honors WBLK's 60th Anniversary

Just over six decades ago, legendary Buffalo disc jockey George “Hound Dog” Lorenz, who grew up on Clinton Street, decided to start his own radio station in downtown Buffalo. He wanted to allow Buffalonians to hear music they could not hear on any other station in Western New York.

Few people could have dreamed that the small station he started with $2,400 on December 10, 1964, would grow to be the powerhouse it is today.

Power 93.7 WBLK-FM is classified as a Heritage Station, having maintained the same format, call letters, and frequency since its inception in 1964. Today, WBLK stands alone as the oldest urban FM radio station in the United States and routinely leads Buffalo and Western New York in its Nielsen ratings

One of the jive expressions at the time was if you were hangin’ around the corner, you were doggin’ around. So I’d come on and say ‘Here I am to dog around for another hour.’ That’s how they got to call me the hound dog.
-George “Hound Dog” Lorenz

Over the last 60 years, so many of the best and greatest DJs have been on the Buffalo airwaves, including legendary broadcasters such as Ernie "Mr. Blues" Jones, Chuckie T., Don Allen Sr., Don Allen Jr., Lee Pettigrew, Don Robinson, Freddie Patrick, Rodney "Rockin" Lee, Doug Blakely, Debbie Sims, Magic Man Frank Dawkins, Doug Ruffin, Al Wood, Kendra G, and so many more. All those people and hundreds of others have contributed to this station's continued success over the years.

On behalf of George Lorenz, Frank Lorenz, and the Lorenz family, Benjamin L. Kulick and the Kulick family, Townsquare Media, Ed Nice, Yasmin Young, Adri V, and a countless number of folks who have made this possible, we're proud to say thank you, Buffalo, for 60 years of power, and we look forward to the next 60 years.