WAZZ
Encyclopedia
WAZZ is an adult standards
radio station
in Fayetteville, North Carolina
, owned by Beasley Broadcast Group
, playing "Radio the way it WAZZ".
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
.
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.
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, John Braxton 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.
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
.
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.
Soon after that in 1997, WFLB swapped call signs with WAZZ.
Adult standards
Adult standards is a North American radio format heard primarily on AM or class A FM stations.Adult standards is aimed at "mature" adults, meaning mainly those persons over 50 years of age, but it is mostly targeted for senior citizens...
radio station
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
in Fayetteville, North Carolina
Fayetteville, North Carolina
Fayetteville is a city located in Cumberland County, North Carolina, United States. It is the county seat of Cumberland County, and is best known as the home of Fort Bragg, a U.S. Army post located northwest of the city....
, owned by Beasley Broadcast Group
Beasley Broadcast Group
Beasley Broadcast Group, Inc. , based in Naples, Florida, is an owner/operator of radio stations in the United States. As of January 2011, the company owned 17 AM stations and 28 FM stations. -History:...
, playing "Radio the way it WAZZ".
Programming
The station currently employs an adult standardsAdult standards
Adult standards is a North American radio format heard primarily on AM or class A FM stations.Adult standards is aimed at "mature" adults, meaning mainly those persons over 50 years of age, but it is mostly targeted for senior citizens...
format and carries sports programming from the Campbell Fighting Camels
Campbell Fighting Camels
The Campbell University Fighting Camels and Lady Camels are the nicknames of the school's 18 teams that compete at the Division I level of the NCAA.-Sports teams:*Men's sports**Baseball**Basketball**Cross country**Football**Golf**Soccer...
(NCAA) and Charlotte Bobcats
Charlotte Bobcats
The Charlotte Bobcats is a professional basketball team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They play in the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association. The Bobcats were established in 2004 as an expansion team, two seasons after Charlotte's previous NBA...
(NBA). The station is also an affiliate of the Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
radio network, the largest radio affiliate network in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
.
History
WFLB signed on February 18, 19481948 in radio
The year 1948 saw a number of significant events in radio broadcasting.-Events:*22 March: The Voice of Firestone becomes the first radio program to be aired on both AM and FM radio stations....
with John M. Croft as general manager. WFLB was a commercial radio station in Fayetteville, North Carolina
Fayetteville, North Carolina
Fayetteville is a city located in Cumberland County, North Carolina, United States. It is the county seat of Cumberland County, and is best known as the home of Fort Bragg, a U.S. Army post located northwest of the city....
. Significant local programs produced by the station included 3-B Time, with disc jockey
Disc jockey
A disc jockey, also known as DJ, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, "disc" referred to phonograph records, not the later Compact Discs. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium.There are several types of disc jockeys...
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.
Newsman Johnny Joyce was the leading radio news anchor in Fayetteville. He worked at WFLB (AM) until the late '70s where he joined WFAI
WFAY
WFAY is a radio station licensed to serve Fayetteville, North Carolina, USA. The station is owned by CRS Radio Holdings Inc. WFAY broadcasts a Sports radio format that serves the Fayetteville area.-History:WFAI signed on in 1947....
(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, John Braxton and Mark McKay. Mark McKay currently is 25-year veteran sports anchor for CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
.
In 1991, station owners Henry Hoot and Rev. Gardner Altman also owned WFAI
WFAY
WFAY is a radio station licensed to serve Fayetteville, North Carolina, USA. The station is owned by CRS Radio Holdings Inc. WFAY broadcasts a Sports radio format that serves the Fayetteville area.-History:WFAI signed on in 1947....
, which began playing traditional gospel artists such as Shirley Caesar
Shirley Caesar
Shirley Ann Caesar is an American Gospel music singer, songwriter and recording artist whose career has spanned six decades...
, Willie Neal Johnson and The Gospel Keynotes, and the Rev. James Cleveland
James Cleveland
The Reverend Dr. James Cleveland was a gospel singer, arranger, composer and, most significantly, the driving force behind the creation of the modern gospel sound, bringing the stylistic daring of hard gospel and jazz and pop music influences to arrangements for mass choirs...
, while WFLB would play The Kingsmen
The Kingsmen
The Kingsmen is a 1960s garage rock band from Portland, Oregon, United States. They are best known for their 1963 recording of Richard Berry's "Louie Louie", which held the #2 spot on the Billboard charts for six weeks...
, Chuck Wagon Gang and The Bishops.
WFLB switched to adult standards in December 1994.
On August 1, 1996, WFLB went off the air when Beasley Broadcast Group
Beasley Broadcast Group
Beasley Broadcast Group, Inc. , based in Naples, Florida, is an owner/operator of radio stations in the United States. As of January 2011, the company owned 17 AM stations and 28 FM stations. -History:...
bought WFLB along with
WAZZ
WFLB
WFLB is an adult hits radio station located in Fayetteville, North Carolina owned by Beasley Broadcasting Group.-History:WEWO-FM began in Laurinburg in the late 1940s, a sister station to WEWO. Don Curtis purchased the stations in 1968, and WEWO-FM became a Christian radio station called WSTS, The...
and WEWO
WEWO
WEWO is a radio station broadcasting a Gospel format. Licensed to Laurinburg, North Carolina, USA. The station is currently owned by Service Media, Inc...
.
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.
Soon after that in 1997, WFLB swapped call signs with WAZZ.