WPET
Encyclopedia
WPET is a radio station
broadcasting a religious format. Licensed to Greensboro, NC, USA, it serves Piedmont North Carolina. The station is currently owned by Entercom Communications
.
In the late 1950s, WPET was Greensboro's first rock and roll station.
For a few years starting in 1954, "Merrill the Pearl" Watson hosted a gospel music show on WPET, but many of his listeners didn't realize that he was also host of "Sugarfoot's Rhythm and Blues
Express."
In 1967, under the Ownership of MIDO Communications and Station Manager (and part owner), Mr. Tom Armshaw, WPET began airing Southern gospel
music full-time.
After WKEW
became a Radio Disney
affiliate in 1998, WPET hired WKEW's Andy Durham as its sports director. Durham started a local sports talk show, and WPET began airing high school football and basketball. Starting with the 1999 season, WPET began airing the games of Greensboro's minor league baseball
team, then known as the Bats. Later, UNCG basketball and minor league hockey were added.
While WPET is still active with evening and weekend sports programming, WPET takes great pride in continuing the Gospel in song and word. In 2007, WPET received a certificate of Congressional recognition for outstanding and invaluable service to the community, signed by Congressman Howard Coble.
Dave Compton, who came to work at WPET in 1978 at age 19, remains with the station now, with over 30 years of service. Dave serves as station Program Director, while Jim Scott heads up sports programming,
Bahakel Communications
sold WPET and WKSI
to Entercom in 2001.
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 religious format. Licensed to Greensboro, NC, USA, it serves Piedmont North Carolina. The station is currently owned by Entercom Communications
Entercom Communications
Entercom Communications Corporation is the fourth-largest broadcasting company in the United States. As of November 2009, Entercom operates 110 radio stations in 23 markets across the United States....
.
History
Wayne Nelson put WPET on the air, in June of 1954.In the late 1950s, WPET was Greensboro's first rock and roll station.
For a few years starting in 1954, "Merrill the Pearl" Watson hosted a gospel music show on WPET, but many of his listeners didn't realize that he was also host of "Sugarfoot's Rhythm and Blues
Rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
Express."
In 1967, under the Ownership of MIDO Communications and Station Manager (and part owner), Mr. Tom Armshaw, WPET began airing 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...
music full-time.
After WKEW
WKEW
WKEW is a radio station broadcasting a Gospel music format. Licensed to Greensboro, North Carolina, USA, the station is currently owned by Truth Broadcasting Corporation.-History:...
became a Radio Disney
Radio Disney
Radio Disney is a radio network based in Burbank, California and headquartered out of the Disney Channel headquarters on West Alameda Ave., from where it has been based since November 2008. Prior to that, the network was based in Dallas, Texas...
affiliate in 1998, WPET hired WKEW's Andy Durham as its sports director. Durham started a local sports talk show, and WPET began airing high school football and basketball. Starting with the 1999 season, WPET began airing the games of Greensboro's minor league baseball
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
team, then known as the Bats. Later, UNCG basketball and minor league hockey were added.
While WPET is still active with evening and weekend sports programming, WPET takes great pride in continuing the Gospel in song and word. In 2007, WPET received a certificate of Congressional recognition for outstanding and invaluable service to the community, signed by Congressman Howard Coble.
Dave Compton, who came to work at WPET in 1978 at age 19, remains with the station now, with over 30 years of service. Dave serves as station Program Director, while Jim Scott heads up sports programming,
Bahakel Communications
Bahakel Communications
Bahakel Communications is a Charlotte, North Carolina-based communications company that owns radio and television stations in the United States...
sold WPET and WKSI
WSMW
WSMW is a Variety Hits station licensed to Greensboro, North Carolina and serves the Piedmont Triad region, including High Point and Winston Salem. The Entercom outlet broadcasts at 98.7 MHz with an ERP of 100 kW .-History:On January 9, 1958, WMDE signed on at 98.5...
to Entercom in 2001.