WCDZ
Encyclopedia
WCDZ is a radio station
broadcasting a "Kool Gold
" format. Owned by Thunderbolt Broadcasting of Martin, Tennessee, USA, WCDZ serves the Dresden, Tennessee area. It began broadcasting in 1991 as WJZK; the original owner was John Latham of Camden, Tennessee.
. The network DJs were Richard Burton, Scott Manning, Susan Carr, Chuck Nasty, and Bruce Carey; Tracy Sharp and Ray Garrett were the local DJs. The programing consisted of The Floyd Fix (40 minutes of Pink Floyd
music), Sci-Fi 60s (psychedelic rock of the 1960s) Iron Butterfly's In A Gadda Da Vida in its full 17 minute form starting the show, CD Side Saturday (six hours of the best CD sides), The Dead Zone (one hour of Grateful Dead
concert material), and Naked Rock (Sunday mornings a show devoted to Acoustic Rock), with The Long Distance Run Around (all request show) and The Long Distance Runaround Count Down on Sunday nights, as well as Friday Night Live (a full hour of live concert material from Classic Rock's best).
The station was the first in the West Tennessee area to broadcast digitally 24 hours a day.
The station's format changed on March 1, 1992, to a 24-7 Southern Gospel
format, changing its callsign to WGNN.
Thunderbolt Broadcasting bought the station on February 28, 1994, and changed the call letters to WCDZ. The station changed formats again, to Country
. The morning DJs were Stewart Byars and Ray Garrett. The station carried the Jones Radio Network's CD Country then added broadcasts from the Atlanta Braves and Tennessee Vols sports.
In 1998, the station changed to oldies
from the Jones Radio Network. That change proved to be very successful for the station. On October 8, 2010, WCDZ modified its programming to classic hits
and is now called "Star 95.1."
. The station's studio is co-located with WCMT (AM 1410) and WCMT-FM (101.3 FM) at 1410 North Lindell Street in Martin, Tennessee
. WCDZ-FM, WCMT-FM, and WCMT are a part of the Thunderbolt family, which also includes WYVY-FM and WQAK-FM in Union City, Tennessee
.
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...
broadcasting a "Kool Gold
Kool Gold
Kool Gold is a 24-hour music format produced by Dial Global. Its playlist is composed of oldies music from the mid 1960s to mid 1980s, from artists such as Billy Joel, The Beach Boys, The Supremes, Rod Stewart and dozens more artists mainly targeted at listeners 45-54...
" format. Owned by Thunderbolt Broadcasting of Martin, Tennessee, USA, WCDZ serves the Dresden, Tennessee area. It began broadcasting in 1991 as WJZK; the original owner was John Latham of Camden, Tennessee.
History
WCDZ went on the air on November 18, 1991 as WJZK. The original format was Lee Abrams' Classic Rock from the Satellite Music NetworkSatellite Music Network
Satellite Music Network was the first satellite delivered network to provide complete live 24-hour a day music programming to local stations, under several different formats...
. The network DJs were Richard Burton, Scott Manning, Susan Carr, Chuck Nasty, and Bruce Carey; Tracy Sharp and Ray Garrett were the local DJs. The programing consisted of The Floyd Fix (40 minutes of Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
music), Sci-Fi 60s (psychedelic rock of the 1960s) Iron Butterfly's In A Gadda Da Vida in its full 17 minute form starting the show, CD Side Saturday (six hours of the best CD sides), The Dead Zone (one hour of Grateful Dead
Grateful Dead
The Grateful Dead was an American rock band formed in 1965 in the San Francisco Bay Area. The band was known for its unique and eclectic style, which fused elements of rock, folk, bluegrass, blues, reggae, country, improvisational jazz, psychedelia, and space rock, and for live performances of long...
concert material), and Naked Rock (Sunday mornings a show devoted to Acoustic Rock), with The Long Distance Run Around (all request show) and The Long Distance Runaround Count Down on Sunday nights, as well as Friday Night Live (a full hour of live concert material from Classic Rock's best).
The station was the first in the West Tennessee area to broadcast digitally 24 hours a day.
The station's format changed on March 1, 1992, to a 24-7 Southern Gospel
Southern Gospel
Southern Gospel music—at one time also known as "quartet music"—is music whose lyrics are written to express either personal or a communal faith regarding biblical teachings and Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music...
format, changing its callsign to WGNN.
Thunderbolt Broadcasting bought the station on February 28, 1994, and changed the call letters to WCDZ. The station changed formats again, to Country
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...
. The morning DJs were Stewart Byars and Ray Garrett. The station carried the Jones Radio Network's CD Country then added broadcasts from the Atlanta Braves and Tennessee Vols sports.
In 1998, the station changed to oldies
Oldies
Oldies is a term commonly used to describe a radio format that concentrates on music from a period of about 15 to 55 years before the present day....
from the Jones Radio Network. That change proved to be very successful for the station. On October 8, 2010, WCDZ modified its programming to classic hits
Classic hits
Classic hits is a radio format which generally includes rock and pop music from 1964 to 1989. The term is sometimes erroneously used as a synonym for the adult hits format, but is more accurately characterized as a contemporary style of the oldies format...
and is now called "Star 95.1."
Technical information
WCDZ's tower site is located in Dresden, TennesseeDresden, Tennessee
Dresden is a town in and the county seat of Weakley County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 2,855 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Dresden is located at ....
. The station's studio is co-located with WCMT (AM 1410) and WCMT-FM (101.3 FM) at 1410 North Lindell Street in Martin, Tennessee
Martin, Tennessee
Martin is a city in Weakley County, Tennessee, United States. Martin is the home of the University of Tennessee at Martin. The population was 10,515 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Martin is located at ....
. WCDZ-FM, WCMT-FM, and WCMT are a part of the Thunderbolt family, which also includes WYVY-FM and WQAK-FM in Union City, Tennessee
Union City, Tennessee
Union City is a city in Obion County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 10,876 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Obion County. The name comes from its location at the union of two railroads, one running roughly east-west and the other roughly north-south...
.