The Gater as we know it descended from a long line of great music and air talent that worked on stations like "Wizard 99, WIZD" in the 1970s and early 80s and with a call letter change to WKGR as "Gourmet Rock" and later "Kick Ass Rock" through the early 90s.
Love Doctors Glenn and Rich were broadcasting on 98.7 FM in the late 80s.
The station was sold in 1990 and after much discussion was named "The Gater" spelled with an `E' specifically to avoid upsetting any 'Canes or 'Noles football fans. On January 15th 1991 at midnight DJ Peter Moon debuted "The Gater 98.7FM" to the Palm Beaches and Treasure Coast playing Rod Stewart's "Hot Legs." The morning show back then featured veteran talent Buck McWilliams (yes, he's back on The Gater's midday show today!) We were licensed to the City of Ft. Pierce with a 100,000 Watt signal that many called the best in Florida at the time. Clear and clean from south of Commercial Blvd. in Ft. Lauderdale to Cocoa Beach and almost all the way across the state to Ft. Myers. The Gater broadcast from a converted funeral home just south of Orange Avenue in Ft. Pierce. A few weeks later I showed up as the midday guy on April 13th 1991. In August of 1991 "The Gater" moved it's studios and offices to West Palm Beach. We've changed to new studios three times since then, all in Palm Beach County where we are today. In a business move that had no effect to listeners WKGR changed it's city of license to Wellington in 2010.
Andy Preston Asst. Program Director/Music Director/
Afternoon Drive Talent/Facebook Contributor
| Paul Barrere and Fred Tackett (his Little Feat bandmate) along with the awesome New Orleans Suspects played recently at the Bamboo Room in Lake Worth. It kicked off the Lake Worth Blues, Brews, and BBQ Festival. Here's our chat before the show. AP |
