WFAY

Infobox Radio station
name = WFAY


city = Fayetteville, North Carolina
area = Fayetteville
branding =
slogan = La Tremenda
airdate =
frequency = 1230 kHz
format = Regional Mexican
power = 1,000 watts
erp =
haat =
class = C
facility_id = 72055
coordinates = coord|35|4|20.00|N|78|52|26.00|W|region:GB_type:city
callsign_meaning = W FAYetteville
former_callsigns =
owner = Norsan Consulting And Management, Inc.
licensee =
sister_stations =
webcast =
website =
affiliations =

"For the TV station in Fayetteville, North Carolina, see WFPX."

WFAY (1230 AM) is a radio station broadcasting a Regional Mexican format. [ cite web|url=http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/fmq?call=WFAY |title=WFAY Facility Record |work=United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division ] Licensed to Fayetteville, North Carolina, USA, the station serves the Fayetteville area. The station is currently owned by Norsan Consulting And Management, Inc. [ cite web|url=http://www.arbitron.com|title=Station Information Profile |work=Arbitron ]

History

WFAI signed on in 1947.

At one time, WFAI was a CBS Radio affiliate carrying Arthur Godfrey, Art Linkletter and Ma Perkins.
Jack Lee bought WFAI in 1960, and his "Open Mike" may have been the first talk show in Fayetteville. Danny Highsmith hosted "Talk Back" in the 1970s. Lee had worked with Joy Pyne in Delaware, and her show was on WFAI at one time. [Michael Futch, "Recalling the First Call-in," "The Fayetteville Observer", March 18, 2001.] Curt Nunnery hosted "Curt's Coffee Club" from 1960 to 1991, later moving the show to WFLB. [Michael Futch, "Familiar Sound Back on Radio," "The Fayetteville Observer" February 16, 1997.]

On March 1, 1991, WFAI changed from music of the big band era to traditional gospel music targeting African-American listeners. Station owners Henry Hoot and Rev. Gardner Altman also owned WFLB, which played more contemporary gospel music. WFAI would play Shirley Caesar, Willie Neal Johnson and The Gospel Keynotes, and the Rev. James Cleveland, while WFLB would play The Kingsmen, Chuck Wagon Gang and The Bishops. Station manager Rosa "Lady Gospel" Freeman said the station's announcers would be Don Reid, Bob Gay, Omega Sutton, Danny Davis and Dwayne Collins, and that WFAI would also have area ministers. [David Bourne, "WFAI-AM Goes Gospel on Friday," "The Fayetteville Observer", February 28, 1991.]

Jeff Andrulonis and Colonial Radio Group bought WFAI from Altman in 1995 and changed it to news/talk. At the time, it had Spanish language broadcasts at night.Michael Futch,"Radio Station to Go Spanish," "The Fayetteville Observer", June 22, 2002.] The station began airing Michael Reagan and Oliver North, "Fayetteville's Morning News," and sports broadcasts including the Carolina Panthers, North Carolina State, and college and professional basketball playoff games. [Michael Futch, "New Owner Has Big Ideas for Small Station," "The Fayetteville Observer", March 1, 1996.] After a year, "The Fort" made changes to de-emphasize "political" talk. Gary Burbank was added and Reagan and Pete Rose were dropped. [Michael Futch, "WFAI Owner Is Changing Station's Tune," "The Fayetteville Observer", December 8, 1996.] WFAI later added The Fabulous Sports Babe and G. Gordon Liddy. [Author: Michael Futch,"WFAI Radio to Carry Liddy Show, "The Fayetteville Observer", September 7, 1997.]

Madeleine Raymond hosted a controversial, often sexually-oriented talk show from 1997 to 1999, with a target audience that included men on the nearby military bases. [Michael Futch, "Talk Show Host Leaves 'The Fort'," "The Fayetteville Observer", March 28, 1999.]

WFAI became WFAY and dropped the "Fort" name in 2000 as part of an image change, though the station kept its talk format. [Michael Futch, "Kiss Makes Its Niche with Love Songs," "The Fayetteville Observer" May 21, 2000.]

In 2001, WFAY added a full-time sports talk station, WCIE. [Michael Futch, "Local Sports Talk Station May Be Near," "The Fayetteville Observer", January 14, 2001.] Allen Smothers, news director for WFAY and WCIE, started Fayetteville's first local sports talk show in June 2001. [Michael Futch, "WFAY to Begin Sports Talk Show," "The Fayetteville Observer", June 10, 2001.]

WFAY changed to mostly ESPN Radio in 2002 when WCIE went Spanish.

In January 2006, Norsan Consulting and Management applied to buy WFAY from Colonial Radio group. [Michael Futch, "AM Station WFAY Sold to Hispanic Radio Group," "The Fayetteville Observer", January 27, 2006]

References

External links

*AMQ|WFAY
*AML|WFAY
*AMARB|WFAY

Fayetteville Radio