WXGI

Infobox Radio station
name = WXGI

|Corporate logo of ESPN 950]
city = Richmond, Virginia
area = Richmond
branding = ESPN Radio 950
slogan = "Richmond's Home of the Redskins"
airdate =
frequency = 950 kHz
format = Sports Talk
power = 5000 Watts
erp =
haat =
class = D
facility_id =
coordinates = coord|37|30|52|N|77|30|28|W
callsign_meaning =
former_callsigns =
owner = Red Zebra Broadcasting
licensee =
sister_stations =
webcast =
website = http://www.espn950am.com/
affiliations = ESPN Radio, Washington Redskins

WXGI (950 AM) is a radio station broadcasting a sports talk format. Licensed to Richmond, Virginia, USA, it serves the Richmond area. The station is currently owned by Red Zebra Broadcasting as an ESPN Radio affiliate. Along with ESPN content, it broadcasts Washington Redskins and Washington Nationals games, as well as University of Richmond sports and the Colonial Athletic Association Tournament.

History

This station was signed on in the late 1940s by some ex World War II serviceman, which resulted in the call letters WXGI, as the station was founded by "ex-GIs" .

The country years

Throughout the 1950s, 60s, and 70s, and early eighties the station was a popular country music station. George "Pops" Popkins and Johnny Gee were some of the better known DJs on WXGI.

The death of Johnny Gee

In 1979 the station was dealt a blow when one of its most popular DJs, Johnny Gee, was kidnapped and murdered by the infamous Briley Brothers outside of a nightclub his band was playing at when he caught them attempting to break in his car. His body was later found washed up on the shore of the James River. The brothers were later executed for that and other murders in the early eighties.

Changes in the 80s

The station went through hard times in the eighties due to increased FM competition from two powerful FM country stations, WTVR-FM and WKHK. At first they tried going head to head with the FMs as "I-95". In the mid eighties they adopted an adult contemporary format as "Bright 95" but due to an outcry by longtime country music fans returned to the country format by 1989, this time featuring more classic country that the FMs stations had abandoned and calling themselves "The Legend". Some of the DJ who were on WXGI during this period were "Big" John Trimble, David Holt, Gretchen Hart, Bill James, Gary Micheals, and Eric Slater.

The transition to sports

The station continued with the classic country format through the nineties and into the early 2000s, but then added a sports talk morning show with former WRNL-AM Morning host "Big" Al Coleman. Finally in 2004, the station abandoned music altogether for an all sports format adding programming from ESPN Radio.

In 2006, the station was purchased by Red Zebra Broadcasting, which is owned by Washington Redskins owner Daniel Snyder. ESPN Radio 950 is part of the Redskins Radio Network, which carries all Redskins games throughout the season.

ESPN Radio 950 Schedule

Monday-Friday

All times Eastern Time

External links

* [http://www.espn950am.com/ Official Website]
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