Infobox Radio Station
name = WHPK
area = Chicago, IL
branding =
slogan = "Pride of the South Side"
airdate = 1946
frequency = 88.5 (MHz)
format = College radio
erp = 100 watts
class = A
owner = University of Chicago
website = [http://whpk.org whpk.org]
callsign_meaning =
WHPK (88.5 FM) is a radio station based in Chicago, Illinois. In addition, this frequency is also used by several local high schools in the Chicago metropolitan area.
The University of Chicago owns the station's FCC license. WHPK is an all-volunteer community radio station staffed by both students and non-students, who are mostly on-air deejays and other program hosts and substitutes. Programming blocks are divided into formats: classical, dance, folk, jazz, public affairs, rap, and rock formats — along with a few specialty shows outside any of the formats. WHPK's station manager and program director are elected by the station's student members and must be students themselves. The station's broadcast engineer is paid by the university.
WHPK broadcasts at 100 watts. Its studios and tower are both located on the University of Chicago campus.
WHPK's slogan is "The Pride of the South Side." The letters WHPK stand for ""Woodlawn-Hyde Park-Kenwood," the Chicago neighborhoods around the university.
History
WHPK is the successor to the university's earlier carrier-current station, WUCB, which was founded in 1946 by students who had gained experience with radio serving in World War II. In 1959, WUCB's studios were relocated from Burton-Judson Courts on 60th Street to Mitchell Tower in the Reynolds Club building on the southwest corner of 57th Street and University Avenue, a space that had previously been home to the university's Radio Office. WHPK's antenna is located on the roof of Pierce Tower, a University of Chicago dormitory on 55th street and University Avenue. Its transmitter room is on the tenth floor of Pierce Tower, in Shorey House.
WHPK came into being in 1968 when the campus secret Society of the Owl and Serpent disbanded and donated its funds and Reynolds Club office space to a student radio group. WHPK also assumed the adjacent WUCB studios. WHPK started broadcasting as a 10-watt FM station at 88.3 MHz on March 22, 1968.[cite web|url=http://chronicle.uchicago.edu/951207/whpk.shtml|title=WHPK: Still spinnin' after after all these years|publisher=University of Chicago Chronicle|accessdate=2008-06-26] In 1985, WHPK upgraded to a 100-watt transmitter and moved to the current frequency of 88.5 MHz.]WHPK, mainly through the work of JP Chill and Ken Wissoker, was the first radio station in Chicago to broadcast rap music. The station has been home to many aspiring rappers throughout the years, including Common, who, in his song Nuthin' to do, stated that "HPK was the only station that would fuck with rap."
In 2008, WHPK was awarded "Best College Radio Station" by Chicago Reader.[cite web|url=http://www.chicagoreader.com/bestofchicago08/media/collegeradio/|title=Best of Chicago 2008|publisher=Chicago Reader, Inc.|accessdate=2008-06-26] ]Notable radio personalities
DJ JP Chill has had a rap and hip hop show on WHPK since 1986. It was one of the earliest rap shows in the country. WHPK's first rap show was hosted by Ken Wissoker and Patrick Moxey. JP Chill's show was added shortly thereafter.WHPK had the first hip hop show on the air in Chicago.
"News From the Service Entrance" hosted by Chicago poet and educator/activist Mario can be heard Thursday afternoons from 1:30pm - 4:00pm CST. The Chicago Journal says about News From the Service Entrance "Mario's broadcasts regularly feature angry rants, a conspiracy theorists take on current events and a schizophrenic selection of music that ranges from 70's album-oriented rock to progressive jazz to current political hip hop".
[http://erikagreen.com/whpk/ Erika, the Sultan's Favorite] does an hour long show every Thursday 6-7 p.m. CST, playing music of the Middle East.
"The Dusties Party" a 3 hour weekly program that airs every Thursday evening from 9pm - Midnight CST,playing the best in soul,jazz,blues,funk,etc;from the 60s and 70s.
The host of the long-running Saturday night "Blues Excursion", Arkansas Red, has received mainstream media attention for his eccentric mix of blues and gospel records (that he often sings over), phone calls from listeners and on-air attacks on other blues DJs.
WHPK is also the home of "Jazz in Flight" which is hosted by husband and wife team: "Re-known drummer,instructor & founder/bandleader of ZIMPROV- Zimbabu Hamilton and Phoenix Hamilton- the Ladybird of Song". The show focuses on the evolution of Jazz that took place in the 70's,& the progression that has occurred since. [http://www.jazzinflight.com The Jazz in Flight] radio show now airs twice on Sunday at 4amC & again at 8pmC on Jazz Syndicate Radio. The show is a rebroadcast of previously aired shows and is unedited.
[Tomorrow with Alex Beinstein] is a Chicago radio show on WHPK that tackles current political issues relevant to the youth. Beinstein typically discusses current issues such as Free Trade, Education and the Darfur conflict.
Generally, the show features two to three interviews per show. Guests have included Jesse Jackson, civil rights activist; Fareed Zakaria, International Editor of Newsweek; John Bolton, former US Ambassador to the UN; Mike Gravel, former Senator from Alaska and 2008 Democratic Primary candidate; Greta Van Susteren, host of On the Record; Walter Isaacson, President of the Aspen Institute; Rick Tyler, Newt Gingrich's spokesman; Nicholas Kristof, New York Times Op-ed writer; Jeffrey Sachs, author of the End of Poverty; Michael Oren, Middle East historian; and Tucker Bounds, John McCain's spokesman.
STACEY STASKUS hosts CHICAGO TESSITURA : MUSIC AND MUSINGS FROM THE OPERA CANON featuring things operatic. Opera seria, opera buffa, opera giacosa modern opera and vocal music presented by local organizations. Works performed by Lyric Opera of Chicago, Chicago Opera Theater, Da Corneto Opera Company, Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs, U of Chicago Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Company, often have representative interviewed on air to discuss their work. Opera luminaries such as Sherrill Milnes and Ana Maria Martinez and renowned scholars such as Mr. Philip Gossett have appeared on the show. Recently interviewed were Maestro Fracesco Milioto, Director Partizia Acerra, Choreographer Alka Nayyar who recently presented Bizet's Djamileh sponsored by the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs. Future programming includes more of the same with Opera and Jazz and How to Be A Supernumerary
Derick Anderson hosts the open forum political talk show The Radio Soapbox, Which features informative guests and insightful analysis of local and national issues. The Radio Soapbox airs every other Monday from 3-4 pm
References
External links
* [http://whpk.org WHPK's Website]
*fmq|WHPK
*fml|WHPK
* [http://www.jazzinflight.com Jazz in Flight Website]
*http://illinoisentertainer.com/2008/07/30/college-stations-terrastrial-radios-last-frontier/print/
