WKEW
 | |
| City | Greensboro, North Carolina |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Piedmont Triad |
| Slogan | The Light 1400 |
| Frequency | 1400 kHz |
| Repeater(s) |
Translator W242CD 96.3 WPOL 1340 AM |
| First air date | February 6, 1942 |
| Format | Gospel music |
| Power | 1000 Watts |
| Class | C |
| Transmitter coordinates | 36°04′N 79°48′W / 36.067°N 79.800°W |
| Owner | Truth Broadcasting Corporation |
| Sister stations | WPOL |
| Website | lightthetriad.com |
WKEW (1400 kHz) is a commercial AM radio station broadcasting a Gospel music radio format. Licensed to Greensboro, North Carolina, USA, the station is owned by Truth Broadcasting Corporation. In Greensboro and nearby communities, WKEW can also be heard on an FM translator at 96.3 MHz, for listeners who prefer FM radio. It is also simulcast on sister station 1340 kHz WPOL in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
It runs the Yolanda Adams nationally syndicated morning show as well as other syndicated and local gospel and religious shows aimed at the African-American community.
History
WGBG ("We're Going to Beat Germany") signed on 10 months before the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, playing such artists as Glenn Miller and Artie Shaw.[1]
Disc jockey Rick Dees began his career at WGBG, which was called "Top Gun Radio". Another student at Grimsley High School dared him to audition, and he succeeded.[2][3][4]
Dusty Dunn began his 44-year career at WGBG "when The Beatles were the next big thing." In the early 1980s, he returned to the station (which was WKEW by that time) to do a four-hour morning talk show. Open Line, Greensboro's first talk show hosted by Ken Karns moved to WKEW in November 1986 when WBIG 1470 signed off.[5]
In 1980, Bill Mitchell bought WGBG and changed its letters to WKEW. The station also became the first full-time news/talk station in Greensboro.[6]
On September 4, 1998, WKEW changed to Radio Disney, a radio format designed for children.[1]
Truth Broadcasting bought WKEW in 2000.[7] In January 2001, Radio Disney moved to 1320 WCOG and WKEW began simulcasting the same programming as WPOL in Winston-Salem.[8][9]
References
- 1 2 Jeri Rowe, "A Mouse in the House - WKEW , Greensboro's Longtime News-Talk Station, Will Become a Radio Disney Affiliate Today," Greensboro News & Record, September 4, 1998.
- ↑ http://sd.pikes.org/607/SD607_E.pdf, Retrieved on 2009-03-24.
- ↑ http://www.comicgenius.com/DISCOFEVER/disco_profiles/rick_dees/rick_dees_profile.htm, Retrieved on 2009-03-24.
- ↑ "NAB Award Winner--Rick Dees" (PDF). Radio Journal (Special NAB Convention Issue). April 2007. Retrieved 24 March 2009.
- ↑ Jeri Rowe, "Greensboro's Voice Is Signing Off," Greensboro News & Record, May 29, 2008.
- ↑ Jeri Rowe, "'King' of Local Radio Dies at Age 78 - Radio Pioneer Bill Mitchell Helped Introduce Rock 'N' Roll to the City," Greensboro News & Record, December 6, 2000.
- ↑ "Lorillard Starts Governmental Section," Greensboro News & Record, August 10, 2000.
- ↑ "Dillon Fence Reunites for N.C. Performances," Greensboro News & Record, December 21, 2000.
- ↑ "Gospel Music AM Station Is Catching On," Greensboro News & Record, August 2, 2001.
External links
- Query the FCC's AM station database for WKEW
- Radio-Locator Information on WKEW
- Query Nielsen Audio's AM station database for WKEW
- Query the FCC's FM station database for W242CD
- Radio-Locator information on W242CD
- Query Nielsen Audio's FM station database for W242CD