KWKH
Encyclopedia
KWKH is a classic country
music radio station serving Shreveport, Louisiana
. The 50-kilowatt station broadcasts at 1130 kHz. Formerly owned by Clear Channel Communications
and Gap Central Broadcasting, it is now owned by Townsquare Media.
KWKH is the flagship station for the Shreveport Sports
and the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs
. KWKH is also the local affiliate of the New Orleans Saints
and the LSU Tigers
. A 50,000-watt clear-channel station, KWKH can be heard across much of the central portion of North America at night.
, a native of Bastrop
, Louisiana, often sparred with the Federal Radio Commission
over his profanity-laced rants against chain store
s and the United States government. Henderson's family came to Shreveport in the 1890s. The broadcaster initially enjoyed the patronage of Governor Huey P. Long, Jr., whose son, Russell B. Long
, was born in 1918 in Shreveport. Ultimately, the outspoken Henderson lost Long's support and his radio license as well.
In the mid-1950s, KWKH was one of the first radio stations to feature the music of Elvis Presley
on its long-running Louisiana Hayride
program.
W.K. Henderson's son, William Carter Henderson, was one of the founders of KSLA-TV
, the CBS
affiliate in Shreveport. W.K.'s grandson, William C. "Bill" Henderson (January 30, 1940–March 10, 2010), was active in real estate
management for his family's Henderson Properties Company.
Prior to 1952, the station was owned by the family of newspaper
publisher John D. Ewing
of Shreveport.
The station carried games for the Shreveport Steamer
during the 1974 World Football League
season. Larry King
was the color commentator for the Steamer games.
Lloyd E. Lenard
, later a member of the Caddo Parish Commission and a past president of the Americanism Forum, hosted the KWKH public affair program Party Line during the 1960s. He also spoke before various civic clubs and schools on themes of patriotism and history.
Barney Cannon
(1955–2009) was until his death at the age of fifty-three the program director and morning deejay
on KWKH. He was also considered a source authority on Country music
. During his time there, KWKH carried America's Trucking Network
on the overnights, stemming back to when the show was hosted by "the Truckin' Bozo
." KWKH was the last station to carry the show in syndication, and dropped it in early 2010.
Classic country
Classic country is a music radio format that specializes in playing mainstream country hits from past decades.This genre generally follows one of two formats: those specializing in hits from the 1920s through the early 1970s, and focus primarily on innovators and artists from country music's Golden...
music radio station serving Shreveport, Louisiana
Shreveport, Louisiana
Shreveport is the third largest city in Louisiana. It is the principal city of the fourth largest metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana and is the 109th-largest city in the United States....
. The 50-kilowatt station broadcasts at 1130 kHz. Formerly owned by Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications, Inc. is an American media conglomerate company headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. It was founded in 1972 by Lowry Mays and Red McCombs, and was taken private by Bain Capital LLC and Thomas H. Lee Partners LP in a leveraged buyout in 2008...
and Gap Central Broadcasting, it is now owned by Townsquare Media.
KWKH is the flagship station for the Shreveport Sports
Shreveport Sports
The Shreveport-Bossier Captains are a professional baseball team based in Shreveport, Louisiana, in the United States. The Captains are a member of the South Division of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball...
and the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs
Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs
The Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs were a professional ice hockey team which played in the Bossier City-Shreveport metropolitan area of Louisiana. From 1997 to 2001 the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs were members of the Western Professional Hockey League, until the a 2001 merger between the WPHL with the...
. KWKH is also the local affiliate of the New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
and the LSU Tigers
LSU Tigers
The LSU Tigers are the athletic teams of Louisiana State University. They participate in the NCAA's Division I, in the Southeastern Conference. It fields teams in 14 varsity sports . Its official team nickname is the Fighting Tigers and the school mascot is Mike the Tiger...
. A 50,000-watt clear-channel station, KWKH can be heard across much of the central portion of North America at night.
History
KWKH has a colorful history. Its founder, William Kennon Henderson, Jr.W. K. Henderson
William Kennon Henderson, Jr., usually known as W.K. Henderson , was a pioneer in the radio industry who in 1922 acquired WGAQ in Shreveport, Louisiana, expanded it, and renamed the call letters after himself as KWKH....
, a native of Bastrop
Bastrop, Louisiana
Bastrop is a city in and the parish seat of Morehouse Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 12,988 at the 2000 census. It is the principal city of and is included in the Bastrop, Louisiana Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the Monroe-Bastrop, Louisiana Combined...
, Louisiana, often sparred with the Federal Radio Commission
Federal Radio Commission
The Federal Radio Commission was a government body that regulated radio use in the United States from its creation in 1926 until its replacement by the Federal Communications Commission in 1934...
over his profanity-laced rants against chain store
Chain store
Chain stores are retail outlets that share a brand and central management, and usually have standardized business methods and practices. These characteristics also apply to chain restaurants and some service-oriented chain businesses. In retail, dining and many service categories, chain businesses...
s and the United States government. Henderson's family came to Shreveport in the 1890s. The broadcaster initially enjoyed the patronage of Governor Huey P. Long, Jr., whose son, Russell B. Long
Russell B. Long
Russell Billiu Long was an American Democratic politician and United States Senator from Louisiana from 1948 until 1987.-Early life:...
, was born in 1918 in Shreveport. Ultimately, the outspoken Henderson lost Long's support and his radio license as well.
In the mid-1950s, KWKH was one of the first radio stations to feature the music of Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
on its long-running Louisiana Hayride
Louisiana Hayride
Louisiana Hayride was a radio and later television country music show broadcast from the Shreveport Municipal Memorial Auditorium in Shreveport, Louisiana, that during its heyday from 1948 to 1960 helped to launch the careers of some of the greatest names in American music...
program.
W.K. Henderson's son, William Carter Henderson, was one of the founders of KSLA-TV
KSLA-TV
KSLA, virtual channel 12, is the CBS-affiliated television station for Shreveport, Louisiana and the Ark-La-Tex region. Owned by Raycom Media, it broadcasts its digital signal on UHF channel 17. The sole transmitter is located in Mooringsport, Louisiana...
, the CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
affiliate in Shreveport. W.K.'s grandson, William C. "Bill" Henderson (January 30, 1940–March 10, 2010), was active in real estate
Real estate
In general use, esp. North American, 'real estate' is taken to mean "Property consisting of land and the buildings on it, along with its natural resources such as crops, minerals, or water; immovable property of this nature; an interest vested in this; an item of real property; buildings or...
management for his family's Henderson Properties Company.
Prior to 1952, the station was owned by the family of newspaper
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
publisher John D. Ewing
John D. Ewing
John Dunbrack Ewing, Sr. , was a Louisiana journalist who served as editor and publisher of both the Shreveport Times and the Monroe News-Star-World from 1931 until his death. He was also affiliated with radio station KWKH in Shreveport, the seat of Caddo Parish in northwestern Louisiana...
of Shreveport.
The station carried games for the Shreveport Steamer
Shreveport Steamer
The Shreveport Steamer were a professional American football team in the World Football League. The franchise began the 1974 season in Houston, Texas, as the Houston Texans, who are in no way related to the current NFL team of the same name, playing their home games at the Houston Astrodome...
during the 1974 World Football League
World Football League
The World Football League was a short-lived gridiron football league that played in 1974 and part of 1975. Although the league's proclaimed ambition was to bring American football onto a worldwide stage, the farthest the WFL reached was placing a team – the Hawaiians – in Honolulu, Hawaii. The...
season. Larry King
Larry King
Lawrence Harvey "Larry" King is an American television and radio host whose work has been recognized with awards including two Peabodys and ten Cable ACE Awards....
was the color commentator for the Steamer games.
Lloyd E. Lenard
Lloyd E. Lenard
Lloyd Edgar Lenard was an American businessman from Shreveport, and a former Caddo Parish commissioner, author, United States Navy officer, civic leader, and a pioneer in the establishment of the two-party system in his native Louisiana.-Family, education, military:Lenard was born to James Lenard...
, later a member of the Caddo Parish Commission and a past president of the Americanism Forum, hosted the KWKH public affair program Party Line during the 1960s. He also spoke before various civic clubs and schools on themes of patriotism and history.
Barney Cannon
Barney Cannon
Floyd Keith Cannon, known as Barney Cannon , was an American radio personality. He was a DJ on radio station KWKH-AM in Shreveport, Louisiana, who was considered an authority on country music. When asked to name his favorite country singer, Cannon told his listeners that he liked all of the...
(1955–2009) was until his death at the age of fifty-three the program director and morning deejay
Deejay
A deejay is a reggae or dancehall musician who sings and toasts to an instrumental riddim .Deejays are not to be confused with disc jockeys from other music genres like hip-hop, where they select and play music. Dancehall/reggae DJs who select riddims to play are called selectors...
on KWKH. He was also considered a source authority on Country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
. During his time there, KWKH carried America's Trucking Network
America's Trucking Network
"Steve Sommers" redirects here. Not to be confused with Steve Somers, a New York radio host.America's Trucking Network is a nightly terrestrial and satellite radio broadcast based in Cincinnati, Ohio that was formerly syndicated across the United States...
on the overnights, stemming back to when the show was hosted by "the Truckin' Bozo
Dale Sommers
Bruce Dale Sommers , known by his nickname "The Truckin' Bozo", is an American radio personality, best known for his long-running country music show geared toward truck drivers...
." KWKH was the last station to carry the show in syndication, and dropped it in early 2010.