WPLW (AM)

WPLW (570 AM; "Star 92.9") is a hot adult contemporary radio station, licensed to Raleigh, North Carolina, which serves the Triangle region, including Durham and Chapel Hill.[1] Its studios are located in Raleigh, and the transmitter is co-located at the WPTF transmitter site in Cary. WPLW's programming is also carried on two translator stations in Raleigh, W225DF (92.9 FM) and W262CZ (100.3 FM). From mid-November through December, Star 92.9 plays Christmas music for the holiday season.

WPLW
CityRaleigh, North Carolina
Broadcast areaRaleigh/Durham
Research Triangle
Frequency570 kHz
BrandingStar 92.9
SloganThe Triangle's Best Variety
Programming
FormatHot adult contemporary
Ownership
OwnerCurtis Media Group
(Triangle Broadcast Associates, LLC)
Sister stationsWBBB, WKIX-FM, WPLW-FM, WPTF, WPTK, WQDR-FM, WWPL
History
First air date1962 (as WLLE)
Former call signsWLLE (1962–1997)
WRDT (1997–1999)
WDTF (1999–2003)
WDNZ (2003–2006)
WDOX (2006–2010)
WQDR (2010–2012, 2017–2019)
WFNL (2012–2017)
Technical information
Facility ID61698
ClassD
Power1,000 watts day
40 watts night
Transmitter coordinates35°47′35″N 78°45′41″W
Translator(s)92.9 W225DF (Raleigh)
100.3 W262CZ (Raleigh)
93.3 W227CZ (Durham)
93.5 W228CV (Chapel Hill)
Repeater(s)94.7-3 WQDR-FM HD3
Links
WebcastListen Live
Website929starfm.com

History

WLLE ("Wonderful Willie") played James Brown, Little Richard, The O'Jays, and Earth Wind & Fire,[2] and it could be heard as far away as Walkertown and Wallace-Rose Hill.[3] Its DJs included Oscar "Daddy O on the Radio" Alexander, Sweet Bob Rogers, Chester “CD” Davis, J. Willie Moore, Big Bill Haywood, Prince Ike Behind the Mike, Jimmy Johnson of JJ’s House Party, and Brother James Thomas.[3][2] Ray "Dr. Jocko" Henderson, who later became well known in Detroit, was popular with both black and white listeners in the 1960s. He is credited with helping Raleigh get through difficult times during integration of the schools and the death of Martin Luther King Jr.[3] His style came from Douglas "Jocko" Henderson of Philadelphia and Durham's Dr. Jive of WSRC.[4]

WLLE was the first radio station in the state to interview Coretta Scott King and the first black radio station to interview a grand dragon of the Christian Knights of the Ku Klux Klan.[2]

Wallace LaCrosse Hankin bought WLLE in 1966.[5] WLLE became the station for Raleigh's black community, and it was the second most popular AM station.[6]

In the early 1990s, "Let's Talk", hosted by Frank Roberts, aired five nights each week and dealt with the problems of blacks.[6][7]

In 1997, WLLE was purchased by Mortenson Broadcasting of Kentucky, who changed its call letters to WRDT and began airing religious talk.[8] Two years later, the station was picked up by Curtis Media and the call letters were changed once again to WDTF, continuing on with the religious talk format and adding inspirational music to the mix.

In 2003, the station changed its format to current general talk and call letters to WDNZ to match its one-time simulcast partner, Durham-based WDNC. The station continued to air much of the same programs as WDNC, save for mornings and sports broadcasts featuring the Carolina Mudcats, even though both stations had aired Charlotte Bobcats games briefly. All that changed in late 2005 when WDNC broke off the simulcast to become an all-sports station with an entirely separate staff, LMAed by McClatchey Broadcasting, owners of WRBZ, 850 AM.

The general talk format continued on WDNZ after that point, with the calls changing to WDOX in September 2006. The call letters were a reference to its moniker "Home of the Docs", as it aired programming featuring Dr. Laura Schlessinger and Dr. Joy Browne. In addition, WDOX was also home to local and regional programming such as State Government Radio and Triangle In-Touch. On weekends, the station offered "Million Dollar Music", featuring musical favorites dating back to the 1950s that were no longer played on most oldies formats. The music segments were hosted by longtime Triangle area radio personalities Pat Patterson and Maury O'Dell.[9]

In May 2010, the station changed its call letters to WQDR and its format to classic country to go along with sister station WQDR-FM, which plays contemporary and hit country music.[10] WQDR went off the air beginning April 16, 2011, when its transmitter off South Saunders Street near downtown Raleigh was badly damaged by a tornado.[11]

WFNL's logo for its "Funny 570" format.

Following numerous delays in securing a new transmitter site, the station eventually returned to the airwaves on February 22, 2012, transmitting from one of the towers of sister station's WPTF transmitter site in Cary.[12] At that time, the station began to air an all-comedy format under the moniker "Funny 570", and its call letters were changed to WFNL, which stood for We're Fun 'N' Laughs.[13] The station initially served as the Triangle affiliate for Premiere Radio Networks' 24/7 Comedy radio network, until it was discontinued on August 3, 2014. At that point WFNL switched to the "Today's Comedy" network feed.[14]

Beginning with the 2015 season, WFNL broadcast East Carolina University Pirates football games and the weekly coaches show. The station inherited this package from sister station WPTK, which had recently changed formats.[15]

In May 2017, WFNL ended its comedy programming, and began simulcasting full-time the News/Talk programming of co-owned WPTF in Raleigh.

On November 15, 2017, the station returned to the call letters WQDR and a classic country format, "Just Right Country", featuring songs "from the sixties to the nineties and beyond".

On June 4, 2019, WQDR flipped to hot adult contemporary, branded as "Star 92.9" (in reference to FM translator W225DF that was acquired the previous month, and began simulcasting the new format upon launch). Also timed with the new format, the station took call sign WPLW from its sister hit music station, now WPLW-FM. Star 92.9 is the Triangle affiliate of The Bob and Sheri Show.[16]

57WLLE.net

In September 2018, Gary Antwon Williams, a former WLLE employee, started the Internet radio service 57WLLE.net, with soul and R&B from the 70s, 80s and 90s, recalling the WLLE of the past. Plans call for community affairs programming.[2]

References
  1. Venta, Lance (January 30, 2012). "Comedy Comes To Dallas, Raleigh & Phoenix". Radio Insight. Retrieved January 31, 2012.
  2. "'Willie' is back: Raleigh's WLLE station returns, but this time, it's not on the radio dial". News and Observer. May 10, 2019. Retrieved May 15, 2019.
  3. Saunders, Barry (April 1, 2015). "Late disc jockey 'Dr. Jocko' spun the hits and helped keep the peace". News & Observer. Retrieved April 16, 2015.
  4. Wiltgen, Erin (January 15, 2012). "Raleigh radio icon to be recognized at MLK celebration". The News of Orange County. Retrieved April 16, 2015.
  5. "Death Notices", News & Observer, December 14, 2002.
  6. Billy Warden, "Lending a Voice to Black Concerns", News & Observer, November 18, 1991.
  7. Mark Curnutte, "Never a Stranger to Controversy: Frank Roberts Welcomes Hot Topics on His Talk Show", News & Observer, August 30, 1992.
  8. David Menconi, "ZZU Gospel Format Right Outta the Can", News & Observer, October 27, 1997.
  9. "Pat Patterson rides again ..." Raleigh Metro Magazine. February 2006. Retrieved September 30, 2011.
  10. Baysden, Chris (May 10, 2010). "Curtis Media converts 570 AM to WQDR AM". Triangle Business Journal.
  11. Menconi, David (April 20, 2011). "Storm victims: WQDR, "Country Legends, 570-AM"". The News & Observer. Retrieved April 22, 2011.
  12. Menconi, David (August 31, 2011). "WQDR-AM will see you in November". The News & Observer. Retrieved September 30, 2011.
  13. Menconi, David (February 22, 2012). "Country Legends, 570-AM -- rest in peace". The News & Observer. Retrieved February 22, 2012.
  14. Venta, Lance (July 3, 2014). "24/7 Comedy to Cease Syndication; New Network to Launch". Radio Insight. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
  15. Menconi, David (August 31, 2015). "850-AM drops news/talk for oldies music". The News & Observer. Retrieved August 31, 2015.
  16. Venta, Lance (June 4, 2019). "A New Star Rises With Hot AC In Raleigh". radioinsight. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
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