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History of WSJC & WKNZ
- Thread starter NLWMEDIA1
- Start date
> Does anyone know the accurate history of WSJC AM/FM in Magee
> including all owners, dates, formats, etc? Also, anyone know
> about the old Country KNZ in Collins?
>
> Thanks for your help.
I can give you partial help. IIRC, WSJC-FM may've had a CHR and later a country format, or it could've been a combination of both (like the former WVRD Belzoni and WNDC Hazlehurst had--country in the morning, CHR at night). The 107.5 frequency it had been on was moved to Jackson in 1988, where it became AC WMJW (Majic 107 FM) and is now WKXI-FM.
I seem to recall WKNZ having an oldies format at one time and later became country. I think that transition was in the early 90s. In 1994, WKNZ moved from 101.7 to 107.1. A few months after the frequency change, the format changed to classic rock (via satellite) under the name Zoo 107. WKNZ has had several format changes since then: jammin' oldies, AC, modern AC and the current K-Love Christian music format.
Sorry I'm short on dates and ownership info you asked, but I'm sure others can fill in the blanks.<P ID="signature">______________
"...and the countdown continues until the neanderthals that govern college football do something about their pathetic postseason."--Tim Brando, Sporting News Radio</P>
> including all owners, dates, formats, etc? Also, anyone know
> about the old Country KNZ in Collins?
>
> Thanks for your help.
I can give you partial help. IIRC, WSJC-FM may've had a CHR and later a country format, or it could've been a combination of both (like the former WVRD Belzoni and WNDC Hazlehurst had--country in the morning, CHR at night). The 107.5 frequency it had been on was moved to Jackson in 1988, where it became AC WMJW (Majic 107 FM) and is now WKXI-FM.
I seem to recall WKNZ having an oldies format at one time and later became country. I think that transition was in the early 90s. In 1994, WKNZ moved from 101.7 to 107.1. A few months after the frequency change, the format changed to classic rock (via satellite) under the name Zoo 107. WKNZ has had several format changes since then: jammin' oldies, AC, modern AC and the current K-Love Christian music format.
Sorry I'm short on dates and ownership info you asked, but I'm sure others can fill in the blanks.<P ID="signature">______________
"...and the countdown continues until the neanderthals that govern college football do something about their pathetic postseason."--Tim Brando, Sporting News Radio</P>
> Does anyone know the accurate history of WSJC AM/FM in Magee
> including all owners, dates, formats, etc? Also, anyone know
> about the old Country KNZ in Collins?
WSJC really only had one owner prior to the sale to CSB Comm. in 1988. The Mathis family had operated that station from its inception, and various upgrades.
I had the honor of dealing with Ms. Mathis during/after the sale. She struck me as a truly gracious, Southern woman. If you need some of the blanks filled in, I might be able to help.
As far as 'KNZ, I worked there in the middle 80s, and flipped the station to full-time country in late '83. Prior to that, it had been block formatted -- county in the morning with, among other folks, Mike Gatlin (not sure whatever happend to him) then AC/CHR afternoons and nights. Of course, earlier its its life, the Blakeney brothers had occupied the station, working for their uncle Ottis.
Ahh... a walk down Amnesia Lane.
DE
> including all owners, dates, formats, etc? Also, anyone know
> about the old Country KNZ in Collins?
WSJC really only had one owner prior to the sale to CSB Comm. in 1988. The Mathis family had operated that station from its inception, and various upgrades.
I had the honor of dealing with Ms. Mathis during/after the sale. She struck me as a truly gracious, Southern woman. If you need some of the blanks filled in, I might be able to help.
As far as 'KNZ, I worked there in the middle 80s, and flipped the station to full-time country in late '83. Prior to that, it had been block formatted -- county in the morning with, among other folks, Mike Gatlin (not sure whatever happend to him) then AC/CHR afternoons and nights. Of course, earlier its its life, the Blakeney brothers had occupied the station, working for their uncle Ottis.
Ahh... a walk down Amnesia Lane.
DE
> > Does anyone know the accurate history of WSJC AM/FM in
> Magee
> > including all owners, dates, formats, etc? Also, anyone
> know
> > about the old Country KNZ in Collins?
> >
> > Thanks for your help.
>
> I can give you partial help. IIRC, WSJC-FM may've had a CHR
> and later a country format, or it could've been a
> combination of both (like the former WVRD Belzoni and WNDC
> Hazlehurst had--country in the morning, CHR at night). The
> 107.5 frequency it had been on was moved to Jackson in 1988,
> where it became AC WMJW (Majic 107 FM) and is now WKXI-FM.
>
> I seem to recall WKNZ having an oldies format at one time
> and later became country. I think that transition was in the
> early 90s. In 1994, WKNZ moved from 101.7 to 107.1. A few
> months after the frequency change, the format changed to
> classic rock (via satellite) under the name Zoo 107. WKNZ
> has had several format changes since then: jammin' oldies,
> AC, modern AC and the current K-Love Christian music format.
>
>
> Sorry I'm short on dates and ownership info you asked, but
> I'm sure others can fill in the blanks.
>
WSJC AM had mostly a block format in the 70's. It had some country and gospel in the mornings and they played pop in the afternoon. They had black music at night after they had cut the power. I think it was RnB at night but later on went to black gospel . It eventually morphed into all southern gospel and preachers. For a while it was talk radio, but mostly Chuck Harder's Sun Radio/Peoples radio network stuff with lots of black helicopter talk. If I'm not mistaken the station was originally on a different frequency on the upper end of the band but moved to 810 when it went 50kw<P ID="edit"><FONT class="small">Edited by Pat2 on 04/08/06 03:42 AM.</FONT></P>
> Magee
> > including all owners, dates, formats, etc? Also, anyone
> know
> > about the old Country KNZ in Collins?
> >
> > Thanks for your help.
>
> I can give you partial help. IIRC, WSJC-FM may've had a CHR
> and later a country format, or it could've been a
> combination of both (like the former WVRD Belzoni and WNDC
> Hazlehurst had--country in the morning, CHR at night). The
> 107.5 frequency it had been on was moved to Jackson in 1988,
> where it became AC WMJW (Majic 107 FM) and is now WKXI-FM.
>
> I seem to recall WKNZ having an oldies format at one time
> and later became country. I think that transition was in the
> early 90s. In 1994, WKNZ moved from 101.7 to 107.1. A few
> months after the frequency change, the format changed to
> classic rock (via satellite) under the name Zoo 107. WKNZ
> has had several format changes since then: jammin' oldies,
> AC, modern AC and the current K-Love Christian music format.
>
>
> Sorry I'm short on dates and ownership info you asked, but
> I'm sure others can fill in the blanks.
>
WSJC AM had mostly a block format in the 70's. It had some country and gospel in the mornings and they played pop in the afternoon. They had black music at night after they had cut the power. I think it was RnB at night but later on went to black gospel . It eventually morphed into all southern gospel and preachers. For a while it was talk radio, but mostly Chuck Harder's Sun Radio/Peoples radio network stuff with lots of black helicopter talk. If I'm not mistaken the station was originally on a different frequency on the upper end of the band but moved to 810 when it went 50kw<P ID="edit"><FONT class="small">Edited by Pat2 on 04/08/06 03:42 AM.</FONT></P>
Re: History of WSJC (Magee) / WKNZ (Collins)
I've had the great priviledge of working for both WSJC -Magee and WKNZ-Collins during the 70's and 80's . I'll start with WSJC : WSJC AM would start out with Jimmy Luckey playing country in the mornings "Wake Up Dixie " show . This would last till around 10 am . Then Randy Blakeney played Southern Gospel till 12 noon. After that Larry Cockrell played more country along with doing "The Swap Shop " at 1 pm (This was local items for sale or trade ) . At 3pm came Sandy Lee (WSJC's Afternoon Delight ) she played Top 40 pop / rock until 7 pm . Then it was James Levell "Comin To Ya In The Night Time , Cause You Know It's The Right Time " with pop and a whole lot of soul . So as you can see WSJC-AM the 50kw giant played a little of everthing in the 70's and 80's . WSJC - FM was mostly country, esp at night with Bob Becker playing the hits .
When I worked at WKNZ , it was then located on Hwy 84 east of Collins . The Blakeney brothers were at the helm and WKNZ was listed Mississippi's Most Award Winning Radio Station at the 1982 MAB convention . WKNZ played a block format then , country in the mornings , lite pop and country in the afternoon and pop at night . Some of the announcers were : Jay Kelly ( a.k.a. John Gatlin) , Mike Gatlin , Chris Kelly , Lee Adams , Phil O'Brien . Don Walker and Tom Brooks worked week-ends .
I've had the great priviledge of working for both WSJC -Magee and WKNZ-Collins during the 70's and 80's . I'll start with WSJC : WSJC AM would start out with Jimmy Luckey playing country in the mornings "Wake Up Dixie " show . This would last till around 10 am . Then Randy Blakeney played Southern Gospel till 12 noon. After that Larry Cockrell played more country along with doing "The Swap Shop " at 1 pm (This was local items for sale or trade ) . At 3pm came Sandy Lee (WSJC's Afternoon Delight ) she played Top 40 pop / rock until 7 pm . Then it was James Levell "Comin To Ya In The Night Time , Cause You Know It's The Right Time " with pop and a whole lot of soul . So as you can see WSJC-AM the 50kw giant played a little of everthing in the 70's and 80's . WSJC - FM was mostly country, esp at night with Bob Becker playing the hits .
When I worked at WKNZ , it was then located on Hwy 84 east of Collins . The Blakeney brothers were at the helm and WKNZ was listed Mississippi's Most Award Winning Radio Station at the 1982 MAB convention . WKNZ played a block format then , country in the mornings , lite pop and country in the afternoon and pop at night . Some of the announcers were : Jay Kelly ( a.k.a. John Gatlin) , Mike Gatlin , Chris Kelly , Lee Adams , Phil O'Brien . Don Walker and Tom Brooks worked week-ends .
Re: History of WSJC (Magee) / WKNZ (Collins)
> I've had the great priviledge of working for both WSJC
> -Magee and WKNZ-Collins during the 70's and 80's . I'll
> start with WSJC : WSJC AM would start out with Jimmy Luckey
> playing country in the mornings "Wake Up Dixie " show . This
> would last till around 10 am . Then Randy Blakeney played
> Southern Gospel till 12 noon. After that Larry Cockrell
> played more country along with doing "The Swap Shop " at 1
> pm (This was local items for sale or trade ) . At 3pm came
> Sandy Lee (WSJC's Afternoon Delight ) she played Top 40 pop
> / rock until 7 pm . Then it was James Levell "Comin To Ya
> In The Night Time , Cause You Know It's The Right Time "
> with pop and a whole lot of soul . So as you can see WSJC-AM
> the 50kw giant played a little of everthing in the 70's and
> 80's . WSJC - FM was mostly country, esp at night with Bob
> Becker playing the hits .
>
>
Glad you remember all that. I remember listening to all those people when I was a kid, but couldn't remember anyones name. I used to love the old WSJC jingles, the one with the gun shooting and the one that had the guy hitting the low note on "W", I wish I had some tape of that stuff. You just don't hear things like that anymore. And any station that plays "Dixie" when they sign off is just way too cool.
> I've had the great priviledge of working for both WSJC
> -Magee and WKNZ-Collins during the 70's and 80's . I'll
> start with WSJC : WSJC AM would start out with Jimmy Luckey
> playing country in the mornings "Wake Up Dixie " show . This
> would last till around 10 am . Then Randy Blakeney played
> Southern Gospel till 12 noon. After that Larry Cockrell
> played more country along with doing "The Swap Shop " at 1
> pm (This was local items for sale or trade ) . At 3pm came
> Sandy Lee (WSJC's Afternoon Delight ) she played Top 40 pop
> / rock until 7 pm . Then it was James Levell "Comin To Ya
> In The Night Time , Cause You Know It's The Right Time "
> with pop and a whole lot of soul . So as you can see WSJC-AM
> the 50kw giant played a little of everthing in the 70's and
> 80's . WSJC - FM was mostly country, esp at night with Bob
> Becker playing the hits .
>
>
Glad you remember all that. I remember listening to all those people when I was a kid, but couldn't remember anyones name. I used to love the old WSJC jingles, the one with the gun shooting and the one that had the guy hitting the low note on "W", I wish I had some tape of that stuff. You just don't hear things like that anymore. And any station that plays "Dixie" when they sign off is just way too cool.
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