Robert Todd Storz (May 8, 1924 – April 13, 1964) is credited with being the father of the Top 40 radio format.
Storz was the grandson of Omaha brewing legend Gottlieb Storz. Growing up in the family mansion in Omaha, Storz grew to love Ham Radio while living there.
In 1949, Storz, along with his father Robert, purchased radio station KOWH in Omaha, Nebraska; Todd became the station's general manager. At the time, typical AM radio programming consisted largely of blocks of pre-scheduled, sponsored programs of a wide variety, including radio dramas and variety shows. Local popular music hits, if they made it on the air at all, had to be worked in between these segments.
Storz noted the great response certain songs received from the record-buying public and compared it to the way certain selections on jukeboxes were played over and over, which he, program director Bill Stewart, national program director and on-air personality Jim "Grahame Crackers" Richards as well as KOWH staff observed. According to Dick Fatherly's research, Storz also commissioned a study from the University of Omaha before switching KOWH to a music focused/"Top 40" format.
Yuppa tuppa ta ta
Yuppa tuppa chic ta
Do thang, do thang
Do tuppa thang cho
Rikki te tatar
Te teen tar
De dow dow
Ha, ha, ha, ha
Ha, ha, ha, ha
Yeah
Yeah please me, yeah
Easy, babe
Please me
Please, please listen to me children
Please, please listen to me children
Please, please listen to me children
Said please, please listen to me children
You are the ones who will rule the world
Listen to me children
Listen to me children
Please, please listen to me children
Please, please listen to me children
You are the ones who will rule the world, ha
You gotta please me
All night
Please, please listen to me children
Said please, please listen to me children
Please, yeah, please me
I'm askin' you
Please, please listen to me children
Please, please listen to me children
Please, please listen to me children
Please, my children
Please, children