WQDR (AM)
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Broadcast area | |
Frequency | 570kHz |
Branding | Rock FM |
Programming | |
Format | Classic rock |
Ownership | |
Owner |
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WBBB,WKIX-FM,WKIX,WKXU,WPLW-FM,WPTF,WQDR-FM | |
History | |
First air date | October 25, 1954 | (as WMSN)
Former call signs |
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Call signmeaning | "Quadraphonicrock "(from sister stationWQDR-FM) |
Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
Facility ID | 61698 |
Class | D |
Power |
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Transmitter coordinates | 35°47′35.55″N78°45′40.02″W/ 35.7932083°N 78.7611167°W |
Translator(s) | See§ Translators |
Repeater(s) | 94.7WQDR-FM HD3(Raleigh) |
Links | |
Public license information | |
Webcast | Listen live |
Website | www |
WQDR(570kHz;"Rock FM" ) is aclassic rockAMradio station,licensed toRaleigh, North Carolina,which serves the Triangle region, includingDurhamandChapel Hill.[2]Its studios are located in Raleigh, and the transmitter is co-located at theWPTFtransmitter site inCary.WQDR's programming is also carried on twotranslator stationsin Raleigh, W225DF (92.9FM) and W262CZ (100.3 FM), as well as in Durham on W227CZ (93.3 FM), and in Chapel Hill on W228CV (93.5 FM).
History
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7d/Advertisement_for_radio_station_WMSN%2C_Raleigh%2C_North_Carolina_%28December_12%2C_1954%29.gif/275px-Advertisement_for_radio_station_WMSN%2C_Raleigh%2C_North_Carolina_%28December_12%2C_1954%29.gif)
The station was first licensed in 1954 as WMSN, with 500 watts, daytime-only, on 570 kHz. The station manager was B. H. Ingle, Sr., pastor of the First Missionary Church and owner of B. H. Ingle & Sons Roofing and Heating Company.[4]Programming was advertised as "Hillbilly, Western, and Gospel music, Associated Press news, weather reports and news of local and county interest".[5]The debut broadcast scheduled for October 17 had to be delayed by eight days due to damage fromHurricane Hazel.[6]
In late 1955 an application was made to transfer station ownership to Merchants & Farmers Radio Station WMSN Inc., for "$8,000 plus other considerations",[7]and in early 1959 the station's call sign was changed to WSHE.[8]One provision of the station sale was that B. H. Ingle would continue to have one half hour of air time each weekday from 10:30 to 11:00 a.m. for a religious program, which was later modified to the last half hour of each broadcast day. However, as of August 17, 1959, station management barred Ingle from making any further broadcasts, on the grounds that he was carrying on "an attack on many forms of organized religion, and a denunciation of laymen and ministers holding religious beliefs other than which you have".[9]
In 1962 the station was sold by Raleigh Broadcasting Corp. to the Raleigh-Durham Broadcasting Company for $180,000. The station made its debut as WLLE on February 15, 1962,[10]and became known as "Hot 57", Raleigh's home for rhythm and blues. Also known as "Wonderful Willie", WLLE playedJames Brown,Little Richard,The O'Jays,andEarth Wind & Fire,[11]and it could be heard as far away asWalkertownandWallace-Rose Hill.[12]Its DJs included Oscar "Daddy O on the Radio" Alexander, Sweet Bob Rogers, Chester "CD" Davis, J. Willie Moore, Big Bill Haywood, Prince Ike Behind the Mike, Jimmy Johnson of JJ's House Party, and Brother James Thomas.[12][11]Ray "Dr. Jocko" Henderson, who later became well known inDetroit,was popular with both black and white listeners in the 1960s. He is credited with helping Raleigh get through difficult times duringintegration of the schoolsand the death ofMartin Luther King Jr.[12]His style came fromDouglas "Jocko" HendersonofPhiladelphiaandDurham'sDr. Jive ofWSRC.[13]
WLLE was the first radio station in the state to interviewCoretta Scott Kingand the first black radio station to interview agrand dragonof theChristian Knights of the Ku Klux Klan.[11]Wallace LaCrosse Hankin bought WLLE in 1966.[14]WLLE became the station for Raleigh's black community, and it was the second most popular AM station.[15]
In 1977 theFederal Communications Commission(FCC) revoked WLLE's license, after an investigation begun in 1973 determined that the station had engaged in improper billing practices.[16]The station was allowed to continue broadcasting while it appealed this ruling, and the legal proceedings did not end until October 1979, when the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the license revocation. At this point station owner Wallace L. Hankin was given until January 27, 1980 to find a charitable or non-profit organization to assume station operations, but was unable to meet this deadline, and the station suspended broadcasting.[17]However, a short time later the Roman Catholic Diocese of Raleigh formed Faith Communications, Inc., which was granted a temporary "Interim Operation" authorization to take over the station, with most programming unchanged.[18]
In 1981 the FCC conducted competitive hearing between three applicants to acquire the station, and selected Special Markets Media, Inc., owned by Prentice J. Monroe (75%) and her husband Henry (25%),[19]who continued its well-known R&B format. In the early 1990s, "Let's Talk", hosted by Frank Roberts, aired five nights each week and dealt with the problems of blacks.[15][20]
In 1997, WLLE was purchased by Mortenson Broadcasting of Kentucky, who changed its call letters to WRDT and began airing religious talk.[21]Two years later, the station was picked up by Curtis Media and the call letters were changed once again to WDTF, continuing on with the religious talk format and adding inspirational music to the mix.
In 2003, the station changed its format to current general talk and call letters to WDNZ to match its one-time simulcast partner, Durham-basedWDNC.The station continued to air much of the same programs as WDNC, save for mornings and sports broadcasts featuring theCarolina Mudcats,even though both stations had airedCharlotte Bobcatsgames briefly. All that changed in late 2005 when WDNC broke off the simulcast to become an all-sports station with an entirely separate staff, LMAed by McClatchey Broadcasting, owners ofWRBZ,850 AM.
The general talk format continued on WDNZ after that point, with the calls changing to WDOX in September 2006. The call letters were a reference to its moniker "Home of the Docs", as it aired programming featuringDr. Laura SchlessingerandDr. Joy Browne.In addition, WDOX was also home to local and regional programming such as "State Government Radio" and "Triangle In-Touch". On weekends, the station offered "Million Dollar Music", featuring musical favorites dating back to the 1950s that were no longer played on mostoldiesformats. The music segments were hosted by longtime Triangle area radio personalities Pat Patterson and Maury O'Dell.[22]
In May 2010, the station changed its call letters to WQDR and its format toclassic countryto go along with sister stationWQDR-FM,which plays contemporary and hit country music.[23]WQDR went off the air beginning April 16, 2011, when its transmitter off South Saunders Street near downtown Raleigh was badly damaged by atornado.[24]
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/95/WFNL_Funny570_logo.png/200px-WFNL_Funny570_logo.png)
Following numerous delays in securing a new transmitter site, the station eventually returned to the airwaves on February 22, 2012, transmitting from one of the towers of sister station'sWPTFtransmitter site in Cary.[25]At that time, the station began to air an all-comedy format under the moniker "Funny 570", and its call letters were changed to WFNL, which stood for "We're Fun N Laughs".[26]The station initially served as the Triangle affiliate for Premiere Radio Networks'24/7 Comedyradio network, until it was discontinued on August 3, 2014. At that point WFNL switched to the "Today's Comedy" network feed.[27]
Beginning with the 2015 season, WFNL broadcastEast Carolina University Piratesfootball games and the weekly coaches show. The station inherited this package from sister stationWPTK,which had recently changed formats.[28]
In May 2017, WFNL dropped the comedy format, and began simulcasting full-time the news/talk programming of co-ownedWPTFin Raleigh.
On November 15, 2017, the station returned to the call letters WQDR and a classic country format, "Just Right Country", featuring songs "from the sixties to the nineties and beyond".
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/dd/WPLW_Star92.9FM_logo.png)
On June 4, 2019, WQDR flipped tohot adult contemporary,branded as "Star 92.9" (in reference toFM translatorW225DF that was acquired the previous month, and began simulcasting the new format upon launch). Also timed with the new format, the station tookcall signWPLW from its sister hit music station,WPLW-FM."Star" was the Triangle affiliate ofThe Bob and Sheri Show.[29]
On December 28, 2020, at Midnight, WPLW and W225DF flipped toclassic rockas "Rock 92.9". The first song on "Rock 92.9" was "Tom Sawyer"byRush.[30]The call sign was changed back once again to WQDR on February 9, 2021, this time referencing WQDR-FM's heritage as a rock station from 1972 to 1984.
In 2024, WQDR became "The Triangle's Rock FM" and dropped the W225DF translator, replacing it with W252EL at 98.3.[31][32]
57WLLE.net
[edit]In September 2018, Gary Antwon Williams, a former WLLE employee, started theInternet radioservice 57WLLE.net, withsoulandR&Bfrom the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, recalling the WLLE of the past. Plans call for community affairs programming.[11]
Translators
[edit]Call sign | Frequency | City of license | FID | ERP(W) | Class | Transmitter coordinates | FCC info |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
W227CZ | 93.3 FM | Durham, North Carolina | 142785 | 200 | D | 36°6′13.5″N78°57′56″W/ 36.103750°N 78.96556°W | LMS |
W262CZ | 100.3 FM | Raleigh, North Carolina | 141736 | 250 | D | 35°34′43.6″N78°26′9″W/ 35.578778°N 78.43583°W | LMS |
Call sign | Frequency | City of license | FID | ERP(W) | Class | Transmitter coordinates | FCC info |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
W228CV | 93.5 FM | Chapel Hill, North Carolina | 156986 | 125 | D | 35°52′15.5″N79°9′39″W/ 35.870972°N 79.16083°W | LMS |
W252EL | 98.3 FM | Cary, North Carolina | 157569 | 150 | D | 35°47′35.5″N78°45′37″W/ 35.793194°N 78.76028°W | LMS |
W251CA | 98.1 FM | Rolesville, North Carolina | 143057 | 250 | D | 35°46′26″N78°28′44″W/ 35.77389°N 78.47889°W | LMS |
References
[edit]- ^"Facility Technical Data for WQDR".Licensing and Management System.Federal Communications Commission.
- ^Venta, Lance (January 30, 2012)."Comedy Comes To Dallas, Raleigh & Phoenix".Radio Insight.RetrievedJanuary 31,2012.
- ^"WMSN" (advertisement),Raleigh (North Carolina) News & Observer,December 12, 1954, page 4.
- ^"New Radio Station Planned",Raleigh News & Observer,August 27, 1954, page 3.
- ^"WMSN" (advertisement),Raleigh News & Observer,October 24, 1954, page 10.
- ^"Newest Radio Station Put On Air Here",Raleigh News & Observer,October 27, 1954, page 11.
- ^"For The Record: Ownership Changes: Applications",Broadcasting,December 19, 1955, page 111.
- ^"For The Record: Existing AM Stations: Call Letters Assigned",Broadcasting,February 23, 1959, page 95.
- ^"$374,800 Suit Is Filed Against Radio Station",Raleigh News & Observer,September 10, 1959, page 7.
- ^"Stiff Warning To Stations",Broadcasting,September 17, 1962, page 52.
- ^abcd"'Willie' is back: Raleigh's WLLE station returns, but this time, it's not on the radio dial ".News and Observer.May 10, 2019.RetrievedMay 15,2019.
- ^abcSaunders, Barry (April 1, 2015)."Late disc jockey 'Dr. Jocko' spun the hits and helped keep the peace".News & Observer.RetrievedApril 16,2015.
- ^Wiltgen, Erin (January 15, 2012)."Raleigh radio icon to be recognized at MLK celebration".The News of Orange County.RetrievedApril 16,2015.
- ^"Death Notices",News & Observer,December 14, 2002.
- ^abBilly Warden, "Lending a Voice to Black Concerns",News & Observer,November 18, 1991.
- ^"Revocation of the License of WLLE, Incorporated (WLLE), Raleigh, North Carolina"(Adopted July 21, 1977; Released August 4, 1977 "),Federal Communications Commission Reports,Volume 65, Second Series, pages 774-785.
- ^"Station in Raleigh told to shut down" by Howard Troxler,Raleigh News & Observer,January 23, 1980, page 28.
- ^"Diocese seeks license to run radio station" by Tony Mace,Raleigh News & Observer,February 19, 1980, page 19.
- ^"For The Record: In Contest: FCC Decisions",Broadcasting,September 21, 1981, page 84.
- ^Mark Curnutte, "Never a Stranger to Controversy: Frank Roberts Welcomes Hot Topics on His Talk Show",News & Observer,August 30, 1992.
- ^David Menconi, "ZZU Gospel Format Right Outta the Can",News & Observer,October 27, 1997.
- ^"Pat Patterson rides again..."Raleigh Metro Magazine.February 2006.RetrievedSeptember 30,2011.
- ^Baysden, Chris (May 10, 2010)."Curtis Media converts 570 AM to WQDR AM".Triangle Business Journal.
- ^Menconi, David (April 20, 2011)."Storm victims: WQDR," Country Legends, 570-AM "".The News & Observer.RetrievedApril 22,2011.
- ^Menconi, David (August 31, 2011)."WQDR-AM will see you in November".The News & Observer.RetrievedSeptember 30,2011.
- ^Menconi, David (February 22, 2012)."Country Legends, 570-AM -- rest in peace".The News & Observer.RetrievedFebruary 22,2012.
- ^Venta, Lance (July 3, 2014)."24/7 Comedy to Cease Syndication; New Network to Launch".Radio Insight.RetrievedJuly 3,2014.
- ^Menconi, David (August 31, 2015)."850-AM drops news/talk for oldies music".The News & Observer.RetrievedAugust 31,2015.
- ^Venta, Lance (June 4, 2019)."A New Star Rises With Hot AC In Raleigh".radioinsight.RetrievedJune 4,2019.
- ^Rock 92.9 Launches in Raleighby Lance Venta, December 28, 2020 (radioinsight.com)
- ^"The Triangle's Rock FM Coverage Map".RetrievedAugust 22,2024.
- ^Venta, Lance (August 23, 2024)."Rock 92.9 & WPTF Play Translator Musical Chairs".RadioInsight.com.RetrievedSeptember 2,2024.
External links
[edit]- FCC History Cards for WQDR(covering 1980 WLLE Interim Operating Authority grant)
- Facility details for Facility ID 61698 (WQDR)in theFCCLicensing and Management System
- WQDRinNielsen Audio's AM station database
- FM translators
- Facility details for Facility ID 157569 (W252EL)in theFCCLicensing and Management System
- W252ELat FCCdata.org
- Facility details for Facility ID 156986 (W228CV)in theFCCLicensing and Management System
- W228CVat FCCdata.org
- Facility details for Facility ID 143057 (W251CA)in theFCCLicensing and Management System
- W251CAat FCCdata.org
- Facility details for Facility ID 142785 (W227CZ)in theFCCLicensing and Management System
- W227CZat FCCdata.org
- Facility details for Facility ID 141736 (W262CZ)in theFCCLicensing and Management System
- W251CAat FCCdata.org