WFPK
Encyclopedia
WFPK is a 24-hour listener-supported, noncommercial radio station
in Louisville, Kentucky
, broadcasting at 91.9 MHz FM featuring an adult album alternative
format. The station plays national and local alternative music as well as jazz all day on Sunday.
The station was founded in 1954 by the Louisville Free Public Library
as a classical music
station. It was sister station to WFPL
.
In 1975, the station received the entire inventory of classical music recordings from WHAS-FM (now WAMZ
-FM), which had discontinued the format after a nine-year run. In 1993, the Free Public Library and the University of Louisville
's WUOL-FM
(which had inadvertently competed against WFPK for classical listeners for over 15 years) joined forces to form the Public Radio Partnership, now Louisville Public Media. At that time, WFPK adopted its current format.
WFPK is also host to the weekly series "Live Lunch," which features local and national acts performing live in front of a studio audience in the station's performance studio. Guests of Live Lunch have included Tommy Emmanuel
, Will Oldham
, Alejandro Escovedo
, The Subdudes
, Jonatha Brooke
, The Decemberists
, Over the Rhine, the Derek Trucks Band, Amos Lee
, and local Louisville bands Dangerbird
, My Morning Jacket
, The Muckrakers, and digby
. In 2007, the station released "Best of WFPK Live Vol. 1," a limited-edition CD that contained cuts from the series; the disc was given away as an exclusive premium for new members during the spring 2007 membership drive. Since then, they have released four more member-exclusive CD's containing more live songs recorded during Live Lunch.
WFPK, along with its sister stations WFPL
and WUOL
, presently broadcasts an HD radio signal.
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 Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
, broadcasting at 91.9 MHz FM featuring an adult album alternative
Adult album alternative
Adult album alternative is a radio format. A spinoff from the album-oriented rock format, its roots trace to the 1960s and 1970s from the earlier freeform and progressive formats....
format. The station plays national and local alternative music as well as jazz all day on Sunday.
The station was founded in 1954 by the Louisville Free Public Library
Louisville Free Public Library
The Louisville Free Public Library is the largest public library system in Kentucky. Officially opened in 1908, the library's main site resides south of Broadway in downtown Louisville. Additional branches were added over time, including the Western Colored Branch, which was the first...
as a classical music
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
station. It was sister station to WFPL
WFPL
WFPL is a 24-hour listener-supported, noncommercial radio station in Louisville, Kentucky, broadcasting at 89.3 MHz and focusing on news. The station is the NPR affiliate for the Louisville market. WFPL is now owned by Louisville Public Media and was originally owned by the Louisville Free...
.
In 1975, the station received the entire inventory of classical music recordings from WHAS-FM (now WAMZ
WAMZ
WAMZ is a country music-formatted radio station located in Louisville, Kentucky. The station broadcasts on 97.5 FM with an ERP of 100 kW.-Station history:Experimental W9XEK began on July 22, 1944 at 45.5 MHz...
-FM), which had discontinued the format after a nine-year run. In 1993, the Free Public Library and the University of Louisville
University of Louisville
The University of Louisville is a public university in Louisville, Kentucky. When founded in 1798, it was the first city-owned public university in the United States and one of the first universities chartered west of the Allegheny Mountains. The university is mandated by the Kentucky General...
's WUOL-FM
WUOL-FM
WUOL-FM is a 24-hour listener supported, noncommercial radio station in Louisville, Kentucky, broadcasting a classical music format. It began broadcasting in December 1976....
(which had inadvertently competed against WFPK for classical listeners for over 15 years) joined forces to form the Public Radio Partnership, now Louisville Public Media. At that time, WFPK adopted its current format.
WFPK is also host to the weekly series "Live Lunch," which features local and national acts performing live in front of a studio audience in the station's performance studio. Guests of Live Lunch have included Tommy Emmanuel
Tommy Emmanuel
William Thomas "Tommy" Emmanuel AM is an Australian guitarist, best known for his complex fingerpicking style, energetic performances and the use of percussive effects on the guitar. In the May 2008 and 2010 issues of Guitar Player Magazine, he was named as "Best Acoustic Guitarist" in their...
, Will Oldham
Will Oldham
Will Oldham , better known by the stage name Bonnie 'Prince' Billy, is an American singer-songwriter and actor. From 1993 to 1997, he performed and recorded under variations of the Palace name, including the Palace Brothers, Palace Songs, and Palace Music...
, Alejandro Escovedo
Alejandro Escovedo
Alejandro Escovedo is an American singer-songwriter.-Biography:The son of Mexican immigrants to Texas, Escovedo is from a family that boasts several professional musicians, including brothers Coke Escovedo and Pete Escovedo, and Sheila E...
, The Subdudes
The Subdudes
The Subdudes are an American roots rock group from New Orleans. Their music is a blending of American folk, swamp rock, New Orleans rhythm and blues, Louisiana blues, country, cajun, zydeco, funk, soul and gospel with harmonic vocals...
, Jonatha Brooke
Jonatha Brooke
Jonatha Brooke is an American folk rock singer-songwriter and guitarist from Illinois.Her music merges elements of folk, rock and pop, often with poignant lyrics and complex harmonies...
, The Decemberists
The Decemberists
The Decemberists are an indie folk rock band from Portland, Oregon, United States, fronted by singer/songwriter Colin Meloy. The other members of the band are Chris Funk , Jenny Conlee , Nate Query , and John Moen .The band's...
, Over the Rhine, the Derek Trucks Band, Amos Lee
Amos Lee
Amos Lee is an American singer-songwriter whose musical style encompasses folk, rock and soul. Lee has four albums on Blue Note Records and has toured as an opening act for Bob Dylan, Elvis Costello, Norah Jones, Paul Simon, Merle Haggard, Van Morrison, John Prine, Dave Matthews Band and Adele. In...
, and local Louisville bands Dangerbird
Dangerbird
Dangerbird may refer to:*Dangerbird Records, an American independent record label*Danger Bird, a song by Neil Young and Crazy Horse from the 1976 album Zuma...
, My Morning Jacket
My Morning Jacket
My Morning Jacket is an American rock band from Louisville, Kentucky.The band consists of Jim James , Tom 'Two-Tone Tommy' Blankenship , Patrick Hallahan , Carl Broemel , and Bo Koster .-History:My Morning Jacket was...
, The Muckrakers, and digby
Digby (band)
Digby is an American power pop band originally formed in January 2000 in Louisville, Kentucky. They had been known as 100 Acre Wood before that. The band is fairly popular within the city and surrounding area. During 2000, Digby released its first album, Laughing At The Trees...
. In 2007, the station released "Best of WFPK Live Vol. 1," a limited-edition CD that contained cuts from the series; the disc was given away as an exclusive premium for new members during the spring 2007 membership drive. Since then, they have released four more member-exclusive CD's containing more live songs recorded during Live Lunch.
WFPK, along with its sister stations WFPL
WFPL
WFPL is a 24-hour listener-supported, noncommercial radio station in Louisville, Kentucky, broadcasting at 89.3 MHz and focusing on news. The station is the NPR affiliate for the Louisville market. WFPL is now owned by Louisville Public Media and was originally owned by the Louisville Free...
and WUOL
WUOL-FM
WUOL-FM is a 24-hour listener supported, noncommercial radio station in Louisville, Kentucky, broadcasting a classical music format. It began broadcasting in December 1976....
, presently broadcasts an HD radio signal.