KOOL-AM signed on the air on June 22, 1947, as a 5,000-watt station on 960 kHz, owned by Maricopa Broadcasters, Inc., with significant backing from Carl D. Haymond of Tacoma (see KMO). The station’s construction permit was granted on December 17, 1946, after a competitive hearing with Radio Phoenix, which withdrew its bid. Studios were initially located at the Hotel Adams in Phoenix, with a four-tower directional array on the Clyde Pierce ranch in midtown. The call sign “KOOL” was chosen for its catchy, ironic appeal in Phoenix’s hot climate, later inspiring the slogan “It’s KOOL in Phoenix.”
KOOL-AM launched as an affiliate of the Mutual Broadcasting System and Don Lee Network, also representing Mutual programs statewide via the “Radio Network of Arizona,” with Tucson’s KCNA as its first affiliate. By 1949, it swapped networks with KOY (550 AM) to become a CBS affiliate, a relationship that lasted for decades. Early programming included music, news, and network dramas, typical of the post-World War II radio era.
Within a year of its launch, KOOL-AM was purchased by cowboy star Gene Autry, who, with partner Tom Chauncey, transformed it into a major force in Phoenix radio. Autry’s ownership extended to television, with KOOL-TV (now KSAZ-TV, channel 10) launching on October 24, 1953, as a shared operation with KOY-TV before becoming a full-time CBS affiliate.
KOOL-FM (94.5 MHz) began broadcasting in the 1950s, initially simulcasting KOOL-AM’s programming. As one of Arizona’s early FM stations, it operated under Autry and Chauncey’s ownership, sharing studios with KOOL-AM and KOOL-TV at 5th Street and Adams by 1954. FM broadcasting was still nascent, with limited listener adoption, so KOOL-FM served as an extension of the AM station’s adult contemporary and CBS network content.
By the late 1960s, as FM gained traction, KOOL-FM began to differentiate itself. In 1971, under program director Jerry Osborne (air name Dan Coffey), KOOL-FM became the first radio station in the U.S. to adopt an all-oldies format, focusing on rock and roll hits from 1955 to 1973. Osborne supplied his personal record collection, as the station lacked an oldies library, and his “Dan Coffey Show” (Saturday and Sunday, 6 p.m. to midnight) became a ratings hit, prompting the entire station to switch to oldies by year’s end. A dedicated phone operator, Pam MacKenzie, was hired to handle the flood of listener requests.
In 1978, Autry and Chauncey sold KOOL-AM to Stauffer Communications for $2 million, separating it from KOOL-FM and KOOL-TV, which remained with Autry and Chauncey. On May 1, 1979, KOOL-AM changed its call sign to KARZ, adopting an adult contemporary format but struggling with declining ratings in a crowded Phoenix market. By 1981, KARZ flipped to country, branding as “K-960,” but failed to compete with other country stations. Chauncey repurchased KARZ in 1982 for $2 million, restoring the KOOL call sign in February 1983 and reverting to adult contemporary with CBS programming.
In January 1987, under new owner Adams Communications (which bought KOOL-AM/FM for $15 million in 1986), KOOL-AM adopted a 1950s/1960s oldies format with a focus on early rock and roll and doo-wop, distinct from KOOL-FM’s broader oldies. This format, led by general manager Jim Seemiller, was a ratings success and was syndicated 24/7, a first for radio, influencing other Adams stations nationwide. KOOL-AM also opened a retail “Radio Store” and the “KOOL Cafe,” a popular Phoenix hotspot for live music promotions, contributing to a Marconi Award win in 1991/92.
By late 1995, KOOL-AM began simulcasting KOOL-FM, abandoning its older-leaning oldies. In 1996, rapid consolidation in Phoenix radio led to Colfax Communications acquiring KOOL-AM/FM. Colfax sold KOOL-AM to Salem Communications for $1 million, and on October 4, 1996, it became KPXQ, a Christian talk station. In 2002, KPXQ became KKNT (“960 The Patriot”), adopting a conservative talk format that continues today.
KOOL-FM’s all-oldies format, pioneered by Jerry Osborne, made it a Phoenix radio leader. By the 1980s, it incorporated some 1980s hits while focusing on the late 1960s. In 1984, it briefly aired Rick Dees Weekly Top 40, which was dropped due to low ratings. After Adams Communications’ purchase in 1985, KOOL-FM continued its oldies format, supported by the KOOL Cafe and Radio Store. In 1996, Chancellor Media acquired KOOL-AM/FM but sold them to Salem Media due to ownership limits. KOOL-FM went to Infinity Broadcasting (later CBS Radio), maintaining its oldies focus. By 1999, the station added more late 1970s hits and reduced pre-1964 tracks.
In 2008, CBS Radio laid off longtime personalities like Bill Gardner, John Michaels, and Dave Shannon, despite strong ratings, to cut costs. Veterans Tom Peake, Steve Goddard, and Jeffrey T. Mason anchored the station, with Camelback Jack returning at night. KOOL-FM remained a top performer, focusing on hits from 1976 to 1990. On February 2, 2017, CBS Radio merged with Entercom (now Audacy, Inc.), which continues to own KOOL-FM.
On September 28, 2022, after 62 years as KOOL-FM, the station rebranded as Big 94.5, maintaining its classic hits format (1970s–1990s) but adopting a more up-tempo delivery. The rebranding was announced with a stunt playing sleigh bells, initially suggesting a Christmas music shift, but instead unveiled the new “Big 94.5” identity with a red logo emphasizing “’70s ’80s ’90s.” The format remains largely unchanged, competing with Riviera’s 95.1 KOAI (1960s–1980s hits).
