A Billboard Magazine Vox Jox column from April of 1967 stated: "Mel Phillips, Program Director of WRKO-FM, Boston, has been made Operations Director of the new Hot 100-formatted WRKO. The air lineup at the station now includes Al Gates, John Rode, Joel Cash, J. J. Jeffrey, Arnie Ginsburg, and Chuck Knapp."

In 1966, Phillips was hired away from daytime station WALT/1110 AM in Tampa (now WTIS, a religious station), to set up and program WRKO-FM. He turned the station into "Arkomatic," an all-automated music station robot, and after that station was successfully launched, Mel "moved upstairs" to WRKO-AM, replacing P.D. Bob Henabery in August, 1967 (Bob felt he couldn't work under Drake's policies).. Billboard magazine made the announcement in its April 15, 1967 issue. RKO General must have appreciated Mel's work, because in 1972, he was sent to light some fire under WOR-FM.  He repositioned the station as WXLO ("99X"), a high-energy Top 40 station.

Mel chats about behind-the-scenes stuff:

"The customized lead-in jingles ("Pop-Tops") were used for a period of time and I agree that some were classics. You mentioned "Suite Judy Blue Eyes" and I think my favorite was "Photograph" by Ringo Starr. Joey Reynolds who does a show on WOR in New York was involved with the production (and at least part ownership) in the company that produced those jingles."

"Given that WRKO was well on its way to becoming the #1 station in Boston at the time of Bill Drake's hiring, Bill and his associates timed their visits to Boston once the winter was over and we were scrutinized less than any other RKO station. I have nothing but the highest regard for Bill who is a very shy person despite his autocratic legend. He was tremendously effective in his formatic skills and work ethic which left an indelible mark on those programmers who became students (or clones). Not an easy person to know, his calm Southern demeanor in approaching problems and insistence on detail set him apart from the successful programmers of his time."

Two weeks after Now Radio took to the air, a union strike left WRKO engineering-less, jock-less, newsman-less, and tech-less.  So that the fledgling station cold continue to grow, WRKO was met the challenge head-on. The station ran music 24 hours a day; its control boards operated by management personnel, and Mel Phillips filled in for Al Gates. (Mel said "I had a ball.") As for 20/20 News: General Manager Perry S. Ury became a newsman, and he did a great job at that!

While the aircheck was made off the WRKO board, more than three decades and many generations of dubs have taken their toll on the quality. I've enhanced it as best I could. Note the tech (board operator) wasn't so slick...after all, it was station management filling in; a person normally used to pushing pencils not pots! Nonetheless, everyone did a fantastic job, and by the time the strike was over two weeks later, WRKO was a huge hit in Boston.

Catch up with Mel today through his very interesting blog.