WBFJ
Encyclopedia
WBFJ is a radio station
broadcasting a Christian Talk and Teaching format. Licensed in Winston-Salem, North Carolina
, USA, it serves the Piedmont Triad area and is currently owned by Word of Life Broadcasting, INC..
and light classical
format first before becoming the area's first country music
station in 1963. In October 1966, Suburban Radio Group of Belmont, North Carolina
bought WPEG and changed its letters to WFCM. After its 1971 sale to Rev. Robert A. Mayer, Pastor D.W. Long of Thomasville, North Carolina
became manager and WFCM became Southern Gospel
and preaching
. In 1979, WBFJ-AM moved its studios to Trenwest Drive in Winston-Salem and began playing a mix of Contemporary Christian music
(CCM) and Christian teaching & talk. In the early 1990s, WBFJ-AM moved its studios to their current location on North Trade Street and began broadcasting in AM stereo. In September 1994, sister station WBFJ-FM signed on the air with a CCM format, and the AM assumed an all-teaching-and-talk format, keeping its AM stereo signal.
The station was previously owned by Forsyth Broadcasting and Quality Media.
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 Christian Talk and Teaching format. Licensed in Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Winston-Salem is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina, with a 2010 population of 229,617. Winston-Salem is the county seat and largest city of Forsyth County and the fourth-largest city in the state. Winston-Salem is the second largest municipality in the Piedmont Triad region and is home to...
, USA, it serves the Piedmont Triad area and is currently owned by Word of Life Broadcasting, INC..
History
The station began broadcasting in 1960 from a transmitter and studios on Northwest Blvd. with the call letters WPEG (based on the name of then-owner Nick Reisenweiver's wife, Peggy). The theme song was "Peg O' My Heart". The station broadcast a popular musicPopular music
Popular music belongs to any of a number of musical genres "having wide appeal" and is typically distributed to large audiences through the music industry. It stands in contrast to both art music and traditional music, which are typically disseminated academically or orally to smaller, local...
and light classical
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
format first before becoming the area's first country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
station in 1963. In October 1966, Suburban Radio Group of Belmont, North Carolina
Belmont, North Carolina
Belmont is a small suburban city in Gaston County, North Carolina, United States, located about west of uptown Charlotte, North Carolina and east of Gastonia. The population was 8,705 at the 2000 census. Once known as Garibaldi, the city named in honor of August Belmont, a prominent New York banker...
bought WPEG and changed its letters to WFCM. After its 1971 sale to Rev. Robert A. Mayer, Pastor D.W. Long of Thomasville, North Carolina
Thomasville, North Carolina
Thomasville is a city in Davidson County in the U.S. state of North Carolina. The population was 21,354 at the 2010 census. The city is notable for its furniture industry as are its neighbors of High Point and Lexington. This Piedmont Triad community was established in 1852 and hosts the state's...
became manager and WFCM became 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...
and preaching
Christian ministry
In Christianity, ministry is an activity carried out by Christians to express or spread their faith. 2003's Encyclopedia of Christianity defines it as "carrying forth Christ's mission in the world", indicating that it is "conferred on each Christian in baptism." It is performed by all Christians...
. In 1979, WBFJ-AM moved its studios to Trenwest Drive in Winston-Salem and began playing a mix of Contemporary Christian music
Contemporary Christian music
Contemporary Christian music is a genre of modern popular music which is lyrically focused on matters concerned with the Christian faith...
(CCM) and Christian teaching & talk. In the early 1990s, WBFJ-AM moved its studios to their current location on North Trade Street and began broadcasting in AM stereo. In September 1994, sister station WBFJ-FM signed on the air with a CCM format, and the AM assumed an all-teaching-and-talk format, keeping its AM stereo signal.
The station was previously owned by Forsyth Broadcasting and Quality Media.