WRFX-FM

Infobox Radio Station


name = WRFX-FM
branding = "99.7 The Fox"
slogan = Charlotte's Best Classic Rock
frequency = 99.7 (MHz)
city = Kannapolis, North Carolina
area = Charlotte/Metrolina
format = Classic rock
erp = 84,000 watts
haat = 322 meters
class = C1
facility_id = 53970
owner = Clear Channel Communications
sister_stations = WEND, WIBT, WKKT, WLYT
webcast = [http://www.wrfx.com/cc-common/streaming_new/index.html?refreshed=yes Listen Live]
website = [http://www.wrfx.com/ www.wrfx.com]
callsign_meaning = W Radio Fox

WRFX is a classic rock music station in Charlotte, North Carolina.

It is the flagship for John Boy and Billy in the Morning, the well-known morning show that is syndicated around the country.

History

The 99.7 spot on the FM dial began operations in September, 1964 as WRKB-FM, licensed to Kannapolis, North Carolina. The station was owned by former WGTL-870 Chief Engineer and Radio/TV Repair Shop owner Foy T. Hinson, who also served as General Manager and Chief Engineer.

Initially licensed with 3,000 watts on a convert|150|ft|m|sing=on tower, the station covered most of Cabarrus County, NC and Rowan County, NC, but little beyond. The station was the companion station to WRKB-1460 AM, and duplicated the AM station's daytime-only operation, only separating from the AM station to carry high school sports in the evenings.

The station's first studios were located at 101 West First Street in Kannapolis, on the second floor of a Jewelry Shop in a building owned by Cannon Mills. In 1967, the station built a convert|320|ft|m|sing=on tower and increased the FM power to 10,000 watts. The early format was Easy Listening/Block Programming and was Programmed by Bob Lee. With the additional power and tower height, the station could be heard from Charlotte in the south to Lexington in the north.

Weekday afternoons from 3:00 to 5:00pm the station played Top 40, on a program called Tunes For Teens. Early in 1969, Foy T. Hinson died from lung cancer, and his wife, Gertrude Hinson began to manage the station. Her management tenure was short-lived, and in 1971 the WRKB stations were sold to former gospel singer Bill Hefner and partner Cabarrus County judge Robert L. Warren. Upon taking control of the stations, the operating hours of WRKB-FM were extended to 1:00am nightly and the stations launched a full-time Country Music format. Popular disc jockeys during this time were Randy Whitley, Kip Yates, Tracey Hudson, George Berry and Randy Turner, the latter of whom would return to the station 15 years later as Animal R. O'Boogie.

In 1972, the night-time programming of WRKB-FM was changed to Southern Gospel music. Popular disc jockeys in this format included John Stiles, Jeannette Kenley and Sammy Oxendine.

On July 12, 1976 the stations commenced broadcasting from its studio/transmitter complex at 910 Fairview Street in Kannapolis, and WRKB-FM began operating in stereo. Less than a month later, the programming of the AM station was separated from that of the FM station. About a year later, the PTL Club brokered the overnight hours on WRKB-FM, to make it a 24-hour operation.

On May 15, 1982 the station began an Adult Contemporary format aimed at gaining new listeners in Charlotte. One month later, the station changed the call letters to WJZR. Downs Radio, Incorporated bought WJZR-FM in June 1983. New owner/General Manager Paul Downs extensively improved the station technically, and built out the station's existing construction permit for a power increase to 50,000 watts. Simultaneous with the August, 1983 power increase, the format flipped from Adult Contemporary to Top 40. The station was then known as Z-100 on the air.

In late 1985, the WJZR transmitter moved to a convert|1000|ft|m|sing=on tower near Enochville in Rowan County, and the power increased to the legal maximum 100,000 watts. The station made the change to WRFX "99.7 The Fox" and album-oriented rock in 1986 [Jeff Borden, "WJZR Trades Old Format for New Sound, Name," "The Charlotte Observer", April 15, 1986.] . Later that year John Boy and Billy were hired as morning hosts [Jeff Borden, "WRFX Radio to Reunite John Boy and Billy Team," "The Charlotte Observer", August 21, 1986.] . Over the years, the station's music has moved more in a classic rock direction. In 1996 the WRFX transmitter site moved again, this time to co-locate with WTVI-TV 42's facilities in Charlotte, North Carolina.

In the early 2000s, WRFX was the flagship station of the Carolina Panthers, an NFL football team.

References

External links

* [http://www.wrfx.com/ Official website]
* [http://www.thatwasradio.com Another Useful Site on Charlotte Radio]
*FMQ|WRFX
*FML|WRFX
*FMARB|WRFX