WRDU

Infobox Radio Station
name = WRDU


city = Wilson, North Carolina
area = Rocky Mount, North Carolina
Research Triangle Area of North Carolina
branding = "Rooster Country 106-1"
slogan = "Today's Country and the Legends"
airdate =
frequency = 106.1 (MHz)
format = Country
erp = 100,000 Watts
class = C0
haat = 416 meters
facility_id = 73936
coordinates = coord|35|45|36|N|78|11|4|W|type:landmark
callsign_meaning = W Raleigh DUrham
sister_stations = WDCG, WKSL-FM, WRVA-FM
owner = Clear Channel Worldwide
website = http://www.roostercountry1061.com|

WRDU (106.1 FM), known as "106.1 the Rooster" is a country music formatted radio station that serves the Raleigh-Durham market of North Carolina. It is owned and operated by Clear Channel Worldwide. Sister stations include G105, 93.9 KISS-FM, and 100.7 the River. Its call letters were once associated with Channel 28 (now WRDC-TV) from 1968 to 1978 when it was an NBC affiliate.

Even though its studios are located at Smoketree Court in Raleigh, its city of license is in Wilson and its signal also covers a considerable chunk of the Eastern North Carolina market.

History

WVOT/WXYY

The station began as WVOT-FM in the early sixties. It shared a studio / transmitter building on Herring Avenue in Wilson with its AM sister, WVOT 1420 AM. That building burned in 1992. WVOT-AM is now operating from an old house on Jackson Street. In the early days, both WVOT AM & FM largely simulcasted a MOR, full service format until the duo was acquired by Century Communications in the mid 70's. The FM was renamed WXYY and switched to an automated "Super Rock" format. The AM was named "14VOT" and was quite a hit locally with teenagers, playing a tightly-rotated top 20 lineup.

By 1980, WXYY had switched to country but was still automated. In 1983, the stations were purchased by Voyager Communications. A new tower, which would allow a much better signal into Raleigh, was built west of Wilson in Middlesex. New studios were set up in Raleigh.

Move to the Triangle/WRDU-FM

In August, 1984, WXYY went dark in Wilson and came back up from Raleigh as "WRDU 106." The station signed on Labor Day weekend of 1984, playing the Rolling Stones' "Start Me Up" as its first song. Many of the first on-air personalities migrated over from WQDR, including Bob Walton, Gayle Rancer, Bob Robinson (who was the only original 'RDU staffer still with the station when it went country in 2006) and Tom Guild (who was on the air the night of sign-on). WQDR, after 11 years as an album-oriented rock (AOR) institution, made the switch to a country format a few days after WRDU's debut.

WRDU's early format was AOR-based, with some Hot AC artists such as Cyndi Lauper, Lionel Richie, and the Pointer Sisters added in, probably to soften the sound a bit in anticipation of a duel with crosstown powerhouse WRAL-FM. By the late 80's, the AC tunes were gone and WRDU 106, bolstered by high ratings for its "Reynolds & Silva" morning show, dominated the Triangle ratings. Arguably, the pinnacle of WRDU's success came in the early 90s when it won the "Rolling Stone" Reader's Poll as "best station of the year" for several straight years starting in 1989. Other airstaff members who worked at the station during the late 80's and early 90's were Donna Reed (Nights); Eric Curry (News), Ron Phillips, (Rock & Roll Classics), Tom Gongaware, Lizz Wall & Paul Jackson.

Ownership Changes

The Telecommunications Act of 1996 brought about many changes to radio, including WRDU. Purchased initially by Hicks, Muse, Tate, & First, radio consolidation brought about by the Act would see it pass through the hands of SFX Broadcasting, AM-FM Communications, and Capstar Broadcasting. When the dust settled in 1999, WRDU was in the hands of Clear Channel Worldwide. Their Raleigh holdings also included sister stations WDCG, WTRG(now WRVA-FM), and WRSN.

After the initial purchase of the station by SFX broadcasting, the long slow demise of WRDU began. WZZU, also a classic rock station, was brought into the fold when Prism Broadcasting Partners was purchased. With no need for two rock stations in the stable, WZZU was flipped to lite AC as Sunny 93.9 (WRSN). WRDU Program Director Tom Guild was moved to WTRG programming, while former WZZU Program Director Bob Edwards assumed those duties for WRDU. The Silva and the Blade morning show was replaced by the John Boy and Billy Radio Network (From 'ZZU mornings). Bob Robinson (AKA Bob The Blade) was moved to afternoons replacing Brian McFadden. Kevin Silva was fired. Mid-day personality Kitty Kinnin was also released, and replaced by former traffic reporter Mary Lou McGregor. 'ZZU staffer Ted McKay replaced "Mark the Shark" for overnights. A few months later, "Danger Boy" would find himself replaced by WZZU nighttimer Mark Arsen.

Downfall of 106.1RDU

On July 4, 2001, the station would shake-up again, flipping from classic rock to mainstream rock. Faltering morning show "John Boy and Billy" would be replaced by "The Bob and Tom Show." Mid-dayer Mary Lou would be replaced, ironically, by traffic reporter Ali Davidson. Bob the Blade would retain his position on afternoon drive. The two most shocking changes were the replacement of APD/Night talent Mark Arson with voice tracked air talent. Overnights were handled by Program Director Bob Edwards, while nights were handled by WXTB afternoon jock "Big Rig", pre-recorded and transferred via computer from his home station in Tampa, Florida.

The mainstream rock "experiement" lasted just over one year. Late September 2002 WRDU flipped back to classic rock, and the numbers climbed significantly.

Program Director Bob Edwards left WRDU March 2003 for Entercom owned active rock KQRC/Kansas City. He later would become the Operations Manager for the entire cluster.

Jimmy Tidwell, Music Director for Clear Channel rock WKLS/Atlanta, was named the new WRDU Program Director July 2003. WRDU's numbers were still very respectable, top 3 Men 25-54 and Bob and Tom were doing very well.

Then, Clear Channel Raleigh-Durham got a new Market Manager in Ken Spitzer, inbound from CC Rochester. Later a new Operations Manager, Jon Robbins (October 2003), would take WRDU in a more classic hits direction, which would prove to be the wrong decision for this heritage rock station.

The next few years were not kind to WRDU as its owners, Clear Channel, watched ratings slide into the abyss. The station suffered in a heated ratings war with rival rock station WBBB-FM, whose studios were located across the street from Clear Channel's Raleigh-Durham compound.

106.1 the Rooster

On Friday, October 6, 2006, Clear Channel changed the station's format to country. The station is now known as "106.1 The Rooster". Syndicated duo John Boy and Billy have returned to the Raleigh-Durham market to do mornings on the new station.

On Monday, November 20, 2006, Bob the Blade briefly returned to afternoons on WRDU. However, on November 28, 2006, he abruptly resigned on-air, stating in essence that he couldn't be a country DJ. He then played a Who song, and reportedly walked out of the studio and left the building. The song ("The Song Is Over") was pulled off the air within about 90 seconds, and regular country programming resumed.

Until the 2006 change, WRDU hosted a yearly all-request fund raiser on Thanksgiving day to benefit the Food Bank of North Carolina. Beginning in 1986, the all-day event collected donations in return for playing song requests, some years raising more than $14,000. The high points of the events were the playings of Alice's Restaurant by Arlo Guthrie, each of which brought in several thousand dollars.

A radio station with the call letters WRDU is depicted as "The Voice of the Durham Bulls" in the 1988 film "Bull Durham", for which the real WRDU-FM helped recruit extras in crowd scenes.

Beginning Summer 2008, 106.1 the Rooster began hosting "Bobby J's White Trash Country" featuring Bob Dumas of G105 as "Bobby J." Other guests include Mike Morse (Bubba Jr. Jr.) and Creepy John (Tater). The program airs from 7-10pm on Thursdays, consisting of classic country tunes and comedic "redneck" vignettes.

External links

* [http://www.roostercountry1061.com WRDU official website]
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* [http://www.geocities.com/rdurw/wrdu.html WRDU fan website]
* [http://www.ncradio.net NCRADIO.NET]