WTIX (AM)

Infobox Radio station
name = WTIX


city = Winston-Salem, North Carolina
area = Piedmont Triad
slogan =
branding = "Espn 980"
frequency = 980 kHz
repeater =
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format = Sports radio
power = 1,300 watts day
49 watts night
erp =
haat = 299.0 meters
class = D
facility_id = 40996
coordinates = coord|36|6|40.00|N|80|14|36.00|W|region:US_type:city
callsign_meaning =
former_callsigns =
owner = Ghb Radio
licensee =
sister_stations =
webcast =
website =
affiliations = ESPN Radio

WTIX (980 AM) is a radio station broadcasting a Sports radio format. Licensed to Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA, the station serves the Piedmont Triad area. The station is currently owned by Ghb Radio and features programing from ESPN Radio. [ cite web|url=http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/fmq?call=WTIX |title=WTIX Facility Record |work=United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division ] [cite web|url=http://www1.arbitron.com/sip/displaySip.do?surveyID=SU08&band=fm&callLetter=WTIX|title=WTIX Station Information Profile|publisher=Arbitron]

History

On October 28, 1950, white businessman Roger Page signed on WAAA-AM, the second radio station in the state (after WGIV in 1947) specifically targeting an African-American audience. [Silence: Hope Lingers for the Voice of WAAA," "Winston-Salem Journal", January 27, 2002.] [Kay McFadden, "Museum Tunes in History of Radio in the Carolinas," "The Charlotte Observer", September 21, 1997.] WAAA was believed to be the third black radio station in the United States, [Dawn Ziegenbalg, "Petition Asks Landlord to Let WAAA Back on Air," "Winston-Salem Journal", July 17, 2001.] preceded by WDIA in Memphis and WERD in Atlanta. [http://list.msu.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind9612a&L=aejmc&P=6096, retrieved on 2008/03/13.] WAAA was also the first black-owned station in North Carolina. [http://booktofilm.irun.com/m_5.asp?n=39, Retrieved on 2008/03/13.]

Oscar "Daddy-Oh" Alexander was the station's best known DJ. He was described as "a jive-talking hipster who radiated cool while spinning hits from Motown and Stax." [Lisa O'Donnell, "Radio Days - The Carolina Music Ways Festival Will Take Audiences Back to the Golden Age of Radio." "Winston-Salem Journal", October 7, 2004.]

Jazz pianist Keith Byrd, who once lived near him, described Alexander this way:

He had a voice that was like gravel going through molasses. You know what I'm saying? It was smooth and sweet. He was a good spirit, a great character and he played the hottest songs. He was almost like the black Wolfman Jack in this area. [Lisa O'Donnell, "Radio Days - The Carolina Music Ways Festival Will Take Audiences Back to the Golden Age of Radio." "Winston-Salem Journal", October 7, 2004.]

Alexander left the station in 1962 after five years. But he made quite an impression with lines such as these:

It's Hooty-Tooty your host, the one that loves you the most.

It's 24 O'Roolies past 4 Mac Vouchers.

Here in the atmospheric conditions of our universal solar system - it's clear as a bell and hot as - 98 degrees.

Stick around, don't be no clown. Listen to what I'm puttin' down. This is Hooty-Tooty, the bandit's booty. ["1 Voice: Divided City Tuned in to Daddy-Oh," "Winston-Salem Journal", February 7, 2002.]

Annie Bell Bowman played gospel music on the station. [Mary Giunca, "A Calling - Pentecostal Preacher Doesn't Use Title of 'Rev.' - Or Draw a Salary 'It's Not about Her': Pastor, 82, Focuses on Bible," "Winston-Salem Journal", March 24, 2007.] Anita "Boss Lady" Dean was a DJ for six years. [Titan Barksdale, "Giving the Glory - 'Praise Is What I Do,' Says Anita Dean about Her Radio Show 'Annointed'," "Winston-Salem Journal", May 14, 2007.]

Mutter D. Evans bought WAAA from Media Broadcasting Corp. in 1979 for $1.04 million, making her the first African-American woman to own a radio station in the United States. At the time, the station had 14 employees and was doing well financially considering its size. But in 1988 WAAA filed for Chapter 11. WAAA continued to broadcast but faced increasing competition from larger stations. But WAAA was unique in its service to the community, playing gospel music, jazz and rhythm and blues and broadcasting news, daily obituary reports, and Sunday religious programming. [Dawn Ziegenbalg, "WAAA-AM Is Locked Out of Building: Rental-Property Owner Says Station Owes Back Rent," "Winston-Salem Journal", July 12, 2001.]

On July 9, 2001, deputies locked the doors to the WAAA studios on Indiana Avenue because court documents showed rent had not been paid since 1997. Evans and the community worked to bring the station back, and a web site was introduced in January 2002. On July 5, 2002, WAAA returned to the air with new studios and a limited schedule, with Evans claiming to have solved her problems and intending to return to a full schedule as soon as possible. [Lona D. Cobb, "Owner Perseveres, Gets WAAA Back on the Air," "Winston-Salem Journal", July 11, 2002.]

As recently as 2006, WAAA sponsored Martin Luther King, Jr. Day celebrations. ["Several Events Planned for MLK Holiday," "Winston-Salem Journal", January 14, 2006.]

GHB Broadcasting has purchased the station. [http://www.marketresearch.com/map/prod/1308437.html, Retrieved on 2008/03/15.] For several years WAAA, later called WTIX, aired the programming of WIST-FM, which played adult standards and then classic country. The switch to the current format took place May 5, 2008 ["Radio Station Becomes ESPN 980," "News & Record", May 6, 2008.] .

References

External links

*AM station data|WTIX