WAZZ

Infobox Radio station
name = WAZZ


city = Fayetteville, North Carolina
area =
branding =
slogan = "Music & Memories"
airdate = February 18, 1948
share = 1.0, #19
share as of = Fa'07
share source = R&R [cite news |title=Fayetteville Market Ratings |work=Radio and Records| url=http://www.radioandrecords.com/RRRatings/DetailsPage.aspx?MID=88&RY=2007&RQ=4&MP=0&OTHER=2&MN=Fayetteville&MS=NC&MR=130&12P=344900&UP=1/25/2008&SU=S&BPER=33.1&HPER=&OPER=&NSD=&CE=0]
frequency = 1490 kHz
format = Adult Standards
power = 1,000 watts (unlimited)
class = C
facility_id = 72058
coordinates = coord|35|03|45|N|78|54|30|W|type:landmark
callsign_meaning =
former_callsigns = WFLB (2/18/48-3/01/97)
owner = Beasley Broadcast Group
licensee =
sister_stations = WFLB, WKML, WUKS, WZFX
webcast =
website = http://www.am1490wazz.com
affiliations = Westwood One

WAZZ (1490 AM) is a radio station in Fayetteville, North Carolina, owned by Beasley Broadcast Group.

Programming

The station currently employs an adult standards format and carries sports programming from the Campbell Fighting Camels (NCAA) and Charlotte Bobcats (NBA). The station is also an affiliate of the Atlanta Braves radio network, the largest radio affiliate network in Major League Baseball. [ cite web|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/atl/schedule/affiliates.jsp|title=Affiliate Radio Stations|work=The Official Site of the Atlanta Braves]

History

WFLB signed on February 18, 1948 with John M. Croft as general manager. WFLB was a commercial radio station in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Significant local programs produced by the station included "3-B Time," with disc jockey Bill Bowser, in 1948.

In the 1950s, the station signed on a TV outlet, WFLB-TV 18, which folded later in the 1950s.

Starting in the mid-50s, WFLB played what was called Top 40. [Michael Futch, "Fayetteville Station Passes 50 Years," "The Fayetteville Observer", February 7, 1999.]

Newsman Johnny Joyce was the leading radio news anchor in Fayetteville. He worked at WFLB (AM) until the late '70s where he joined WFAI (AM).

In the late 1970s, WFLB (AM) was a top 40 powerhouse in Fayetteville, North Carolina radio market. The station featured on air personalities Larry "Records" Cannon, Andy "Stonewall" Jackson, Debbi Tanna, and Mark McKay. Mark McKay currently is 25-year veteran sports anchor for CNN.

In 1991, station owners Henry Hoot and Rev. Gardner Altman also owned WFAI, which began playing traditional gospel artists such as 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. [David Bourne, "WFAI-AM Goes Gospel on Friday," "The Fayetteville Observer", February 28, 1991.]

WFLB switched to adult standards in December 1994.

On August 1, 1996, WFLB went off the air when Beasley Broadcast Group bought WFLB along with
WAZZ and WEWO. [Michael Futch, "Easy-Listening Station Off the Air," "The Fayetteville Observer", August 25, 1996.]

WFLB ("The Memories Station") returned to the air in February 1997, with Curt Nunnery bringing back "Curt's Coffee Club," which he had hosted for more than 30 years on WFAI. He was station manager on WFLB before 1994. [Michael Futch, "Familiar Sound Back on Radio," "The Fayetteville Observer" February 16, 1997.]

Soon after that in 1997, WFLB swapped call signs with WAZZ.

References

External links

* [http://www.am1490wazz.com/ WAZZ official website]
*
*
*