Hubbard Classic Rock “97.1 The Drive” WDRV Chicago/96.9 WWDV Zion IL is celebrating its 20th anniversary today with a recreation of its 2001 launch.
Starting with “Lakeshore Drive” from Aliotta Haynes Jeremiah at 7am, WDRV will recreate its music logs from its first day on-air through midnight. Original morning host Steve Downes and midday host Bob Stroud, who was the first host hired, will both share memories of the early days of the station.
WDRV launched on March 15, 2001 following a month of stunting after then-owner Bonneville acquired the former Classical 97.1 WNIB.
WDRV-FM (97-1 FM, The Drive) launches a year-long, Twentieth Anniversary Celebration with a special, all-day feature this Monday, March 15th. WDRV Director of Content and Branding, Rob Cressman, explains that “in honor of what is widely recognized as the ‘first day of The Drive,’ we are excited to turn back the hands of time and relive Chicago’s soundtrack from March 15th, 2001, precisely as it came out of the speakers two decades ago. We have unearthed the music log from that special day and will endeavor to recreate much of the excitement and enthusiasm that accompanied the launch.”
Beginning at 7am Monday morning, The Sherman & Tingle Show will replicate the station’s launch by rolling the iconic “Lakeshore Drive” from Aliotta Haynes Jeremiah. From there, The Drive’s music will mirror the log from March 15th, 2001, straight through midnight. Reminiscences and nostalgia will rule the day, as Sherman & Tingle welcome WDRV’s inaugural morning host, Steve Downes, to the show for his personal look back at The Drive’s earliest days. Bob Stroud, the first voice on WDRV, will follow with his own memories of The Drive circa 2001 and the twenty years that have followed. Each hour of the day will include fun surprises, including opportunities to win limited edition, commemorative 20th Anniversary Merchandise from The Drive.
Cressman added, “We look forward not only to Monday’s musical retrospective, but also to the year ahead as we celebrate all that has made The Drive synonymous with Chicago over the past twenty years.”
