Just checking the Vulcan website today and pulled up the "Listen Live" stream. The description on the page read "WVVB-AM player". I pulled up the FCC site, and AM 960 is now WVVB, as of 2/15.
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WERC-AM is no more
- Thread starter passtheword
- Start date
So news/talk WERC/960 has completed its shift to FM at 105.5, and "The Vulcan" (on the 103.1 translator which used to rebroadcast WJOX/690) has got an AM to rebroadcast the type of music that it used to have before news/talk took over, making talk on FM and music on AM, and the 960/690 thing is just a coincidence. 
What did I miss? Something tells me it's not over yet...
What did I miss? Something tells me it's not over yet...
The Vulcan in B-ham is a carbon copy of The Gump in, well, The Gump.
People are figuring out this whole Alternative rock thing is a perfect fit for AM/Translator setups...
I'm waiting for the day when it will no longer be a fringe format. All the music during the Super Bowl (except the half-time show) was a play-list taken right out MediaBase's top 30. Turn on the TV during prime-time and you'll here it there too.
Hey radio station owners, how are those Country, "Classic Hits", and Classic Rock numbers doing for ya?
The people who were once "too young" to matter, are now 29+ years old...
People are figuring out this whole Alternative rock thing is a perfect fit for AM/Translator setups...
I'm waiting for the day when it will no longer be a fringe format. All the music during the Super Bowl (except the half-time show) was a play-list taken right out MediaBase's top 30. Turn on the TV during prime-time and you'll here it there too.
Hey radio station owners, how are those Country, "Classic Hits", and Classic Rock numbers doing for ya?
The people who were once "too young" to matter, are now 29+ years old...
So, thus ends 39 years of the same call letters on one station. How many other stations in Alabama have had the same call letters on the their station since before 1972?
In Birmingham:
WAPI: 1927(??)---
WJLD: 1941
WATV: 1958
WDJC-FM: 1968
In Mobile:
WABB AM/FM (not sure of the dates)
Any others in smaller markets?
In Birmingham:
WAPI: 1927(??)---
WJLD: 1941
WATV: 1958
WDJC-FM: 1968
In Mobile:
WABB AM/FM (not sure of the dates)
Any others in smaller markets?
In Mobile? 710 840 1270 1360 1410 have all had several call changes. WGOK 900 has been the same since 1958. WABF in Fairhope same calls since 1961, WHEP Foley unchanged since 1953.
Don't know the specific dates but in Anniston WHMA and WDNG have held steady for a long time.
Although this station has changed its format many times, this station has kept the same ones since their start in the early 1900s. We're talking about the one and only WHBB 1490 AM, in my hometown.
Another station that has kept its calls since they started up is WALX. They've only had three formats during their years of broadcasting. I find that to be very impressive indeed.
The newer stations like WAPR, WRNF, WAQU and WBFZ have kept their calls since they signed on too.
WDXX has kept their calls since 1989. Before then they were WHBB FM and then WTUN.
WJAM has its start in Marion. Those calls found their way to 97.3 FM in Selma, back in 1993. Later on this station moved to 107.9 FM and then to the AM 1340/96.3 FM simulcast back in 2009.
Before moving to Shorter, WMRK had their calls on AM 1340 from 1978 to 2009.
One other tidbit of history. From the 60s till they went dark in 1996, WTQX kept the same calls. Impressive isn't it Mr. J Alex Bowab?
R.D.P. <><
Another station that has kept its calls since they started up is WALX. They've only had three formats during their years of broadcasting. I find that to be very impressive indeed.
The newer stations like WAPR, WRNF, WAQU and WBFZ have kept their calls since they signed on too.
WDXX has kept their calls since 1989. Before then they were WHBB FM and then WTUN.
WJAM has its start in Marion. Those calls found their way to 97.3 FM in Selma, back in 1993. Later on this station moved to 107.9 FM and then to the AM 1340/96.3 FM simulcast back in 2009.
Before moving to Shorter, WMRK had their calls on AM 1340 from 1978 to 2009.
One other tidbit of history. From the 60s till they went dark in 1996, WTQX kept the same calls. Impressive isn't it Mr. J Alex Bowab?
R.D.P. <><
As far as I know, Troy's WTBF has had the same calls since they signed on in 1947. And the calls for WHEP in Foley aren't the only thing unchanged since the 50's — with the exception of some satellite programming, it sounds like a small town station from 50 years ago.
In Anniston, WHMA's calls date back to the early 40's, although it was on a different frequency at the time. I think it found its way to 1390 in the early 60's, possibly in 1959. The year WHMA moved to 1390, 1450 became WDNG and it's been that ever since.
In Anniston, WHMA's calls date back to the early 40's, although it was on a different frequency at the time. I think it found its way to 1390 in the early 60's, possibly in 1959. The year WHMA moved to 1390, 1450 became WDNG and it's been that ever since.
RDP: WTQX was not the ORIGINAL call sign. 1570 Selma was WRWJ in the 50s and into the 60s... believe it was the initials of the then-owner. Next owner, Stutts, probably was the one who changed it to WTQX. His son-in-law managed it for many years; he was also one of my high school buddies.
WHEP - yes it is an enigma. Came on 1953, sold to Stewart a few years later. Stewart died some years ago, but his voice is still heard on some intros, promos, etc ... believe his son still runs it. One of their announcers was a retired senior citizen when I met him in 1985; can't imagine how old he is now.
WHEP - yes it is an enigma. Came on 1953, sold to Stewart a few years later. Stewart died some years ago, but his voice is still heard on some intros, promos, etc ... believe his son still runs it. One of their announcers was a retired senior citizen when I met him in 1985; can't imagine how old he is now.
I DXed ex WERC 960 last night in Jackson, MS. I used to listen to the Birdman ( I think thats what they called him) at night on 96ERC back in the 70's. It was a hot little station back in the day. It was rather odd hearing rock and roll on the station again. The signal in central Mississippi has never been great because of the other stations drowning it out, but some nights it comes in pretty good. I don't know how long they will be keeping the rock format, but I might listen in from time to time. I noticed that 960AM was not mentioned on the air, even though I assume that the FM is actually a low power translator. Do they deny the main stations existence?
BTW: Who is The Birdman, and whatever became of him?
BTW: Who is The Birdman, and whatever became of him?
To Mr. Bowab,
Thanks for the info. I do remember seeing those calls, in some old Phone books my mother collected.
At the time of those original calls, the phone book(s) had them located on Dallas Avenue. When I was tuning in, this station was located on Franklin Street and then on Valley Creek Circle, just before they went dark.
It was in the 1980s when I discovered this station. During that time, a black fellow from the Muscle Shoales area was running it.
Just thinking about this station does bring back many memories for me.
R.D.P. <><
P.S. The Birdman I knew of worked for WHHY AM/FM, in Montgomery, for years. He died not too long ago.
Thanks for the info. I do remember seeing those calls, in some old Phone books my mother collected.
At the time of those original calls, the phone book(s) had them located on Dallas Avenue. When I was tuning in, this station was located on Franklin Street and then on Valley Creek Circle, just before they went dark.
It was in the 1980s when I discovered this station. During that time, a black fellow from the Muscle Shoales area was running it.
Just thinking about this station does bring back many memories for me.
R.D.P. <><
P.S. The Birdman I knew of worked for WHHY AM/FM, in Montgomery, for years. He died not too long ago.
OK---either I got bored or my curiosity just got the best of me. I went to www.davidgleason.com and checked the scans of old Broadcasting Yearbooks and pulled up the one from 1971. I found that there were surprisingly more unchanged call signs and frequencies from 40 years ago than most of us would have thought. Not surprising, though, is that most of them are in small towns across Alabama. Here is what I found, and enjoy:
WAVU-Albertville (630 AM)
WQSB-Albertville (105.1 FM)
WDNG-Anniston (1450 AM)
WHMA-Anniston (1390 AM)
WRAB-Arab (1380 AM)
WAUD-Auburn (1230 AM)
WAPI-Birmingham (1070 AM)
WATV-Birmingham (900 AM)
WDJC-Birmingham (93.7 FM)
WJLD-Fairfield/Birmingham (1400 AM)
WVSU-Birmingham (Samford University) (91.1 FM)
WBSA-Boaz (1300 AM)
WEBJ-Brewton (1240 AM)
WBYE-Calera (1370 AM)
WCOX-Camden (1450 AM)
WBIB-Centreville (1110 AM)
WHOS-Decatur (800 AM)
WDRM-Decatur/Huntsville (102.1 FM)
WXAL-Demopolis (1400 AM)
WAGF-Dothan (1300 AM)
WOOF-Dothan (560 AM/99.7 FM)
WTVY-Dothan (95.5 FM)
WELB-Elba (1350 AM)
WULA-Eufaula (1240 AM)
WABF-Fairhope (1220 AM)
WQLT-Florence (107.3 FM)
WHEP-Foley (1310 AM)
WAAX-Gadsden (570 AM)
WGEA-Geneva (1150 AM)
WGYV-Greenville (1380 AM)
WGSV-Guntersville (1270 AM)
WTWX-Guntersville (95.9 FM)
WJBB-Haleyville (1230 AM)
WERH-Hamilton (970 AM)
WAHR-Huntsville (99.1 FM)
WRSA-Holly Pond/Huntsville (96.1 FM)—city of license change from Decatur
WABB-Mobile (1480 AM) (According to the 1971 Broadcast Yearbook, WABB-FM wasn’t on the air yet).
WMFC-Monroeville (99.3 FM)
WLAY-Muscle Shoals (1450 AM)
WCRL-Oneonta (1570 AM)
WAMI-Opp (860 AM)
WOAB-Ozark (104.9 FM)
WFHK-Pell City (1430 AM)
WPID-Piedmont (1280 AM)
WVSM-Rainsville (1500 AM)
WRMG-Red Bay (1430 AM)
WELR-Roanoke (1360 AM {FM was on 95.3 at the time, now on 102.3})
WHBB-Selma (1490 AM)
WFEB-Sylacauga (1340 AM)
WNUZ-Talladega (1230 AM)
WJDB-Thomasville (630 AM)
WTBF-Troy (970 AM)
WTBC-Tuscaloosa (1230 AM)
WVNA-Tuscumbia (1590 AM)
WVSA-Vernon (1380 AM)
WAVU-Albertville (630 AM)
WQSB-Albertville (105.1 FM)
WDNG-Anniston (1450 AM)
WHMA-Anniston (1390 AM)
WRAB-Arab (1380 AM)
WAUD-Auburn (1230 AM)
WAPI-Birmingham (1070 AM)
WATV-Birmingham (900 AM)
WDJC-Birmingham (93.7 FM)
WJLD-Fairfield/Birmingham (1400 AM)
WVSU-Birmingham (Samford University) (91.1 FM)
WBSA-Boaz (1300 AM)
WEBJ-Brewton (1240 AM)
WBYE-Calera (1370 AM)
WCOX-Camden (1450 AM)
WBIB-Centreville (1110 AM)
WHOS-Decatur (800 AM)
WDRM-Decatur/Huntsville (102.1 FM)
WXAL-Demopolis (1400 AM)
WAGF-Dothan (1300 AM)
WOOF-Dothan (560 AM/99.7 FM)
WTVY-Dothan (95.5 FM)
WELB-Elba (1350 AM)
WULA-Eufaula (1240 AM)
WABF-Fairhope (1220 AM)
WQLT-Florence (107.3 FM)
WHEP-Foley (1310 AM)
WAAX-Gadsden (570 AM)
WGEA-Geneva (1150 AM)
WGYV-Greenville (1380 AM)
WGSV-Guntersville (1270 AM)
WTWX-Guntersville (95.9 FM)
WJBB-Haleyville (1230 AM)
WERH-Hamilton (970 AM)
WAHR-Huntsville (99.1 FM)
WRSA-Holly Pond/Huntsville (96.1 FM)—city of license change from Decatur
WABB-Mobile (1480 AM) (According to the 1971 Broadcast Yearbook, WABB-FM wasn’t on the air yet).
WMFC-Monroeville (99.3 FM)
WLAY-Muscle Shoals (1450 AM)
WCRL-Oneonta (1570 AM)
WAMI-Opp (860 AM)
WOAB-Ozark (104.9 FM)
WFHK-Pell City (1430 AM)
WPID-Piedmont (1280 AM)
WVSM-Rainsville (1500 AM)
WRMG-Red Bay (1430 AM)
WELR-Roanoke (1360 AM {FM was on 95.3 at the time, now on 102.3})
WHBB-Selma (1490 AM)
WFEB-Sylacauga (1340 AM)
WNUZ-Talladega (1230 AM)
WJDB-Thomasville (630 AM)
WTBF-Troy (970 AM)
WTBC-Tuscaloosa (1230 AM)
WVNA-Tuscumbia (1590 AM)
WVSA-Vernon (1380 AM)
flytrap said:
The Birdman was the on-air name for Bill Thomas. Unfortunately, he passed away in the mid-'90's. He had been doing morning drive on WODL-FM (Oldies 106.9) in Birmingham. Ironically, he had also spent some time on Kicks 106 in Birmingham in the late '70's and early '80's when it was the FM sister station to WERC.
flytrap said:
The Vulcan FM is a translator (W276BQ), rebroadcasting WQEN HD2. AM 960 isn't mentioned on the air, except in the legal TOH ID.
Thanx for the list. However, you must have gotten interrupted when you got to Montgomery (It happens to all of us...
)...Anyway, here are the Montgomery stations from the 1971 yearbook:
WAPX/1600 (May,1947)
WBAM/740 (1953)
WCOV/1170 (Feb. 15, 1939)
WCOV-FM/93.3 (July 15, 1969)
WAJM-FM/103.3 (July 9, 1961)
WHHY/1440 (Apr. 30, 1930)
WHHY-FM/101.9 (Sep. 15, 1964)
WMGY/800 (Mar., 1944)
WQTY/1000 (Oct. 1, 1963)
WFMI-FM/98.9 (Jan. 1, 1961)
WRMA/950 (May 8, 1953)
Out of the above list, WHHY-FM and WMGY are the only ones with the same calls (and frequency) as in 1971.
C
cd637299
Guest
I don't live in Birmingham, but I do have a question.....
Was it WERC/Vulcan I was hearing last month, around the King holiday, that was stunting with nothing but different versions of "Let It Snow" & "Winter Wonderland", at least overnights? I caught this in north Florida.
I had no clue until last week what happened w/ WERC.....now, this would make sense, that it was them that I heard. Was it Birmingham?
I thought the N/T format would be there for quite some time!
cd
Was it WERC/Vulcan I was hearing last month, around the King holiday, that was stunting with nothing but different versions of "Let It Snow" & "Winter Wonderland", at least overnights? I caught this in north Florida.
I had no clue until last week what happened w/ WERC.....now, this would make sense, that it was them that I heard. Was it Birmingham?
I thought the N/T format would be there for quite some time!
cd
trusty said:
Thanx for the list. However, you must have gotten interrupted when you got to Montgomery (It happens to all of us...
Anyway, here are the Montgomery stations from the 1971 yearbook:
WAPX/1600 (May,1947)
WBAM/740 (1953)
WCOV/1170 (Feb. 15, 1939)
WCOV-FM/93.3 (July 15, 1969)
WAJM-FM/103.3 (July 9, 1961)
WHHY/1440 (Apr. 30, 1930)
WHHY-FM/101.9 (Sep. 15, 1964)
WMGY/800 (Mar., 1944)
WQTY/1000 (Oct. 1, 1963)
WFMI-FM/98.9 (Jan. 1, 1961)
WRMA/950 (May 8, 1953)
Out of the above list, WHHY-FM and WMGY are the only ones with the same calls (and frequency) as in 1971.
WMGY would probably be the only one in that list which had the same calls (since '71). WHHY-FM changed their calls to WJCC for a brief period of time in the mid to late 90's. Has AM 800 been WMGY since it came on the air in '44?
WHHY 1440 was originally WSFA, the AM station that spawned the channel 12 TV station. I think the change occured between 1959 and 1962.
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