WLRH-FM
Encyclopedia
WLRH is a National Public Radio-affiliated radio station
in Huntsville, Alabama
. It primarily features news
and classical music programming on weekdays and news, humor, and other musical genres on weekends. WLRH serves the northern counties of Alabama
and several counties in southern middle Tennessee
. WLRH is the state's oldest public radio station.
The station maintains studios on the campus of the University of Alabama in Huntsville
, although UAH is not its licensee; the Alabama Educational Television Commission rents a building from the university for that purpose. WLRH's signal, which is transmitted from a tower on Monte Sano Mountain (on the WHIQ-TV
tower) travels in about a 60-mile radius.
installation, NASA
's George C. Marshall Space Flight Center and contractors. Many of these individuals were responsible for organizing an unusually high-quality performing arts scene for such a small city in the 1960s. These were among factors that led to Huntsville receiving Alabama's first public radio license, and broadcasts began on October 13, 1976 from the Huntsville Times Building on Holmes Avenue. The state's largest city, Birmingham, followed suit two months later when WBHM
-FM started in December.
The station was originally owned by the Huntsville Madison County Public Library
. However, within a few months, the library realized that it had gotten in over its head with operating a full-service radio station. The Alabama Educational Television Commission (AETC) stepped in and bought the station in December 1977, and still owns it today. The station carried, as was customary for public stations during that era, mostly classical music programming, with jazz late nights and on weekends. In 1987, after significant listener growth, UAH offered the AETC use of a newly-constructed facility on its campus, several miles to the west of downtown; WLRH took the offer and remains at that location today.
In the early years, the station carried some unusual programs, most notably a weekly hour-long German-language news and features show for the benefit of several natives of that land who worked in Huntsville's aerospace and defense industry. It also was the home of northern Alabama's first call-in radio talk show, which had a very different flavor than those found on commercial stations today (in fact, when the format's popularity exploded elsewhere in the 1990s, WLRH dropped the show).
Mrs. Watters is the sole remaining announcer from the station's beginning 35 years ago. For many years in the 1980s and 1990s, she and husband Harry Watters, Sr. hosted the Saturday morning feature show "Sundial", remembered by many residents of the Tennessee Valley
for its gentle humor, listener participation games and unusual musical selections. Mrs. Watters discontinued the program when her husband died. Mrs. Watters is the mother of jazz
trumpeter Ken Watters
and trombonist Harry Watters
, Jr.
Ms. Norwood is an animal savior, a singer, and a visual artist. She performed with the Huntsville Opera Theater for several years until its dissolution. The Flying Monkey Arts Gallery in Huntsville, Alabama, is home to several of her current interests in art, both static and performance.
network.
One distinctive programming practice of WLRH is its frequent announcements throughout the broadcast day of underwriting day sponsorships made by individuals or families, in addition to the usual businesses and non-profit organizations. Usually, these messages honor birthdays or wedding anniversaries.
George Dickerson, a former South Bend, Ind.
television news anchor, served as the only general manager in WLRH's entire history from its 1976 inception until his retirement in early 2007. It is believed that Dickerson's tenure was the longest ever for a manager of an American public radio station (and perhaps all public broadcasting), exceeding 30 years.
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 Huntsville, Alabama
Huntsville, Alabama
Huntsville is a city located primarily in Madison County in the central part of the far northern region of the U.S. state of Alabama. Huntsville is the county seat of Madison County. The city extends west into neighboring Limestone County. Huntsville's population was 180,105 as of the 2010 Census....
. It primarily features news
News
News is the communication of selected information on current events which is presented by print, broadcast, Internet, or word of mouth to a third party or mass audience.- Etymology :...
and classical music programming on weekdays and news, humor, and other musical genres on weekends. WLRH serves the northern counties of Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
and several counties in southern middle Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
. WLRH is the state's oldest public radio station.
The station maintains studios on the campus of the University of Alabama in Huntsville
University of Alabama in Huntsville
The University of Alabama in Huntsville is a state-supported, public, coeducational research university, located in Huntsville, Alabama, United States, is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award baccalaureate, master's and doctoral degrees, and is organized in five...
, although UAH is not its licensee; the Alabama Educational Television Commission rents a building from the university for that purpose. WLRH's signal, which is transmitted from a tower on Monte Sano Mountain (on the WHIQ-TV
Alabama Public Television
Alabama Public Television is a state network of Public Broadcasting Service member non-commercial educational Public television stations serving the US state of Alabama. The television stations are licensed by the Alabama Educational Television Commission, which was created by the Alabama state...
tower) travels in about a 60-mile radius.
History
Although Huntsville is only the state's third-largest city, it has boasted for many years a large population of highly-educated, affluent professionals such as technicians, engineers, and entrepreneurs, mostly associated with the U.S. Army's Redstone ArsenalRedstone Arsenal
Redstone Arsenal is a United States Army base and a census-designated place adjacent to Huntsville in Madison County, Alabama, United States and is part of the Huntsville-Decatur Combined Statistical Area...
installation, NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
's George C. Marshall Space Flight Center and contractors. Many of these individuals were responsible for organizing an unusually high-quality performing arts scene for such a small city in the 1960s. These were among factors that led to Huntsville receiving Alabama's first public radio license, and broadcasts began on October 13, 1976 from the Huntsville Times Building on Holmes Avenue. The state's largest city, Birmingham, followed suit two months later when WBHM
WBHM
WBHM is a radio station broadcasting a News Talk Information format during the daytime and mostly classical music overnight. Licensed to Birmingham, Alabama, USA, the station serves the Birmingham area and through repeater WSGN also serves the Gadsden area. The station is licensed to the...
-FM started in December.
The station was originally owned by the Huntsville Madison County Public Library
Huntsville Madison County Public Library
The Huntsville-Madison County Public Library is a public, Carnegie library in Huntsville, Alabama. Founded in 1818, when Alabama was still a part of the Mississippi Territory, it is the oldest continuing library in the state....
. However, within a few months, the library realized that it had gotten in over its head with operating a full-service radio station. The Alabama Educational Television Commission (AETC) stepped in and bought the station in December 1977, and still owns it today. The station carried, as was customary for public stations during that era, mostly classical music programming, with jazz late nights and on weekends. In 1987, after significant listener growth, UAH offered the AETC use of a newly-constructed facility on its campus, several miles to the west of downtown; WLRH took the offer and remains at that location today.
In the early years, the station carried some unusual programs, most notably a weekly hour-long German-language news and features show for the benefit of several natives of that land who worked in Huntsville's aerospace and defense industry. It also was the home of northern Alabama's first call-in radio talk show, which had a very different flavor than those found on commercial stations today (in fact, when the format's popularity exploded elsewhere in the 1990s, WLRH dropped the show).
Local hosts
- Ginny Kennedy—Morning EditionMorning EditionMorning Edition is an American radio news program produced and distributed by National Public Radio . It airs weekday mornings and runs for two hours, and many stations repeat one or both hours. The show feeds live from 05:00 to 09:00 ET, with feeds and updates as required until noon...
- Judy Watters, Beth Norwood—morning classical music
- Bobby Milk—All Things ConsideredAll Things ConsideredAll Things Considered is the flagship news program on the American network National Public Radio. It was the first news program on NPR, and is broadcast live worldwide through several outlets...
- Joe Cook—Weekend EditionWeekend EditionWeekend Edition is the name given to a set of American radio news magazines produced and distributed by National Public Radio . It is the weekend counterpart to Morning Edition. It consists of Weekend Edition Saturday and Weekend Edition Sunday , each of which airs for two hours, from 8 a.m. to 10...
Mrs. Watters is the sole remaining announcer from the station's beginning 35 years ago. For many years in the 1980s and 1990s, she and husband Harry Watters, Sr. hosted the Saturday morning feature show "Sundial", remembered by many residents of the Tennessee Valley
Tennessee Valley
The Tennessee Valley is the drainage basin of the Tennessee River and is largely within the U.S. state of Tennessee. It stretches from southwest Kentucky to northwest Georgia and from northeast Mississippi to the mountains of Virginia and North Carolina...
for its gentle humor, listener participation games and unusual musical selections. Mrs. Watters discontinued the program when her husband died. Mrs. Watters is the mother of jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
trumpeter Ken Watters
Ken Watters
Ken Watters is an American jazz trumpeter residing in Atlanta, Georgia. He is the brother of noted jazz trombonist, Harry Watters. Ken is a member of several noted performing groups, including Tabou Combo, , Natalie Cole Band, , the Magic City Jazz Orchestra, and the W. C. Handy Jazz All-Stars...
and trombonist Harry Watters
Harry Watters
Harry Watters is a noted jazz trombonist. He has performed across the United States with many jazz artists including Al Hirt, Pete Fountain, Shirley Jones, and many others. He has performed as a featured trombone soloist with the United States Army Orchestra, the West Virginia Symphony...
, Jr.
Ms. Norwood is an animal savior, a singer, and a visual artist. She performed with the Huntsville Opera Theater for several years until its dissolution. The Flying Monkey Arts Gallery in Huntsville, Alabama, is home to several of her current interests in art, both static and performance.
Local programming
- Reelin' in the Years--hosted by former WAAY-TVWAAY-TVWAAY-TV is the ABC-affiliated television station for the Tennessee Valley area of North Alabama that is licensed to Huntsville. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 32 from a transmitter at its Monte Sano Boulevard studios on top of Monte Sano Mountain. Calkins Media owns...
sports anchor Bob Labbe, this Friday-night show features songs from the host's extensive collection of 45 R.P.M.Gramophone recordA gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
records, covering popular music from the 1950s through the 1980s. - Brass, Reeds, and Percussion--the longest-running specialty show on the station, dating from the late 1970s. Darryl Adams, a retired engineer and amateur band musician, plays concert and marching band numbers on this program, which may be the only one of its kind in the entire country. The program is heard early Saturday afternoons.
- Talkin' the Blues--a one-hour examination, heard Saturday evenings, of various aspects of blues music, hosted by a blues musician himself, "Microwave Dave" Gallaher. Gallaher, who has a band that plays nightclubs throughout the Southeastern U.S., in fact began the program while performing during a pledge drive for the station once. Gallaher also does this show for Huntsville's other public station, WJABWJABThe Big JAB is a network of sports radio stations in southern Maine, owned by Atlantic Coast Radio. It is on 1440 AM and 96.3 FM...
, the Alabama A&M University NPR outlet. - The Invisible City--two hours of alternative rockAlternative rockAlternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
music, hosted by Brad Posey, and heard Friday evenings, with a repeat on late night Saturdays.
Operations
WLRH is the Alabama Educational Television Commission's only radio property; that state government agency is better known as the operator of the Alabama Public TelevisionAlabama Public Television
Alabama Public Television is a state network of Public Broadcasting Service member non-commercial educational Public television stations serving the US state of Alabama. The television stations are licensed by the Alabama Educational Television Commission, which was created by the Alabama state...
network.
One distinctive programming practice of WLRH is its frequent announcements throughout the broadcast day of underwriting day sponsorships made by individuals or families, in addition to the usual businesses and non-profit organizations. Usually, these messages honor birthdays or wedding anniversaries.
George Dickerson, a former South Bend, Ind.
South Bend, Indiana
The city of South Bend is the county seat of St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States, on the St. Joseph River near its southernmost bend, from which it derives its name. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a total of 101,168 residents; its Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 316,663...
television news anchor, served as the only general manager in WLRH's entire history from its 1976 inception until his retirement in early 2007. It is believed that Dickerson's tenure was the longest ever for a manager of an American public radio station (and perhaps all public broadcasting), exceeding 30 years.