WFLB
Encyclopedia
WFLB is an adult hits
radio station located in Fayetteville, North Carolina
owned by Beasley Broadcasting Group.
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 station received a power increase to 100,000 watts to reach Fayetteville. Later, Durham Life Broadcasting bought the stations.
In 1999, WSTS dropped religious programming and became CHR WMXF "Mix 96" Dale O'Brian, former Program Director/Morning host at WKSI in Greensboro was hired as Program Director of MIX 96. He brought in talent from the Greensboro market and the station did very well. The airstaff was arguably the best in the market. The lineup included Dale O'Brian and Tank Sherman on mornings, Leah Scott on Mid-days, Pete Moss in Afternoons, Joe Mama Nights and Sammy Simpson late nights. The station created great street buzz and was very visible in the Fayetteville market. The WSTS
letters and a similar format moved to a station in Fairmont
. Durham Life sold its radio stations, and Curtis once again owned the 96.5 frequency, as well as other Durham Life stations.
On April 1, 1993, WMXF began playing "Louie, Louie" by The Kingsmen
over and over, changing the station's name temporarily to "Louis 96.5." The real format turned out to be "Oldies
96.5," and the call letters changed to WAZZ.
Beasley Broadcasting bought WAZZ in the mid-90s, along with WFLB
, the former Top 40 station in Fayetteville. Beasley gave WAZZ and WFLB each other's call letters.
On December 30, 2005, Oldies 96.5 changed to classic hits
as 96.5 the Drive. Program director Dave Stone described the difference this way: oldies included Buddy Holly
and Elvis Presley
, while classic hits focuses on the 70s and artists such as the Eagles and the Doobie Brothers.
On March 14, 2011 WFLB changed their format to adult hits, branded as "Bob FM
" The final song as 96.5 The Drive was R.E.M.
's "Losing My Religion
".
Adult hits
Adult hits is a radio format, popular in the early 2000s, that does not adhere to a specific music genre, but instead draws from a wider playlist...
radio station located 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 Broadcasting Group.
History
WEWO-FM began in LaurinburgLaurinburg, North Carolina
Laurinburg is a mid-sized city in Scotland County, North Carolina, United States. It is the county seat of Scotland County. Located in southern North Carolina near the South Carolina state border, Laurinburg is southwest of Fayetteville and is home to St. Andrews Presbyterian College...
in the late 1940s, a sister station to 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...
. Don Curtis
Don Curtis
Don Curtis, legally changed from Don Beitelman, , was an American professional wrestler, best known for his tag team with Mark Lewin in the 1950s and 1960s. During his teaming with Lewin they won the NWA World Tag Team Championship...
purchased the stations in 1968, and WEWO-FM became a Christian radio
Christian radio
Christian radio is a category of radio formats that focus on transmitting programming with a Christian message. In the United States, where it is more established, many such broadcasters play popular music of Christian influence, though many programs have talk or news programming covering...
station called WSTS, The station received a power increase to 100,000 watts to reach Fayetteville. Later, Durham Life Broadcasting bought the stations.
In 1999, WSTS dropped religious programming and became CHR WMXF "Mix 96" Dale O'Brian, former Program Director/Morning host at WKSI in Greensboro was hired as Program Director of MIX 96. He brought in talent from the Greensboro market and the station did very well. The airstaff was arguably the best in the market. The lineup included Dale O'Brian and Tank Sherman on mornings, Leah Scott on Mid-days, Pete Moss in Afternoons, Joe Mama Nights and Sammy Simpson late nights. The station created great street buzz and was very visible in the Fayetteville market. The WSTS
WSTS
WSTS is a radio station broadcasting a Southern Gospel format. Licensed to Fairmont, North Carolina, USA, it serves the area. The station is currently owned by Davidson Media....
letters and a similar format moved to a station in Fairmont
Fairmont, North Carolina
Fairmont is a town in Robeson County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 2,604 at the 2000 census.-History:Fairmont was originally founded on the site of the Ashpole Institute, a small private academy, and was chartered in 1899 as Ashpole, then Union City and lastly as Fairmont...
. Durham Life sold its radio stations, and Curtis once again owned the 96.5 frequency, as well as other Durham Life stations.
On April 1, 1993, WMXF began playing "Louie, Louie" by 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...
over and over, changing the station's name temporarily to "Louis 96.5." The real format turned out to be "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....
96.5," and the call letters changed to WAZZ.
Beasley Broadcasting bought WAZZ in the mid-90s, along with WFLB
WAZZ
WAZZ is an adult standards radio station in Fayetteville, North Carolina, owned by Beasley Broadcast Group, playing "Radio the way it WAZZ".-Programming:...
, the former Top 40 station in Fayetteville. Beasley gave WAZZ and WFLB each other's call letters.
On December 30, 2005, Oldies 96.5 changed 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...
as 96.5 the Drive. Program director Dave Stone described the difference this way: oldies included Buddy Holly
Buddy Holly
Charles Hardin Holley , known professionally as Buddy Holly, was an American singer-songwriter and a pioneer of rock and roll...
and 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"....
, while classic hits focuses on the 70s and artists such as the Eagles and the Doobie Brothers.
On March 14, 2011 WFLB changed their format to adult hits, branded as "Bob FM
Bob FM
Bob FM is the on-air brand of a number of FM radio stations in Canada and the United States. The Bob FM format features a mix of classic 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s and 1990s hits with some current hot adult contemporary singles....
" The final song as 96.5 The Drive was R.E.M.
R.E.M.
R.E.M. was an American rock band formed in Athens, Georgia, in 1980 by singer Michael Stipe, guitarist Peter Buck, bassist Mike Mills and drummer Bill Berry. One of the first popular alternative rock bands, R.E.M. gained early attention due to Buck's ringing, arpeggiated guitar style and Stipe's...
's "Losing My Religion
Losing My Religion
"Losing My Religion" is a song by the American alternative rock band R.E.M. The song was released as the first single from the group's 1991 album Out of Time. Based around a mandolin riff, "Losing My Religion" was an unlikely hit for the group, garnering heavy airplay on radio as well as on MTV due...
".