WLBJ
Encyclopedia
WLBJ was the first commercial
radio station
in Bowling Green, Kentucky
, signing-on in June, 1940. The station operated at 1410 kilohertz for much of its existence. Among the more significant local programs it produced were the 4 O'Clock Special, hosted by disc jockeys G. W. Boyum in 1947 and Brad Taylor in 1950, The Smilemaker, a morning and afternoon drive program featuring cuts from comedy albums by popular comedians, and Opinion Line, an Associated Press
award-winning local public affairs program hosted by newscaster Mike Green in the 1980s.
In its early days, the station's studios were located in downtown Bowling Green and would later relocate both the studios and transmitter to its final location of 1410 Scott Lane, now known as Indian Ridge Subdivision, adjacent to the Indian Hills Country Club.
In later years, the station was well known as a favorite among country music
fans in South Central Kentucky
and North Central Tennessee
, as it had an effective daytime power of 5,000 watts (1,000 watts directional at night). One of the station's most popular programs was the 1981 launch of the Wrangler Country Showdown, a live-broadcast country music talent search which preceded such current programs as "American Idol" by some 20 years.
The station was also known as one of the earliest and longest-running affiliates of the now-defunct Mutual Broadcasting System
and also carried Mutual's The Larry King
Show, which was broadcast overnight during the early 1980s, making the station Bowling Green's first 24-hour radio operation.
The station was an affiliate of Cincinnati Reds
baseball and the University of Kentucky
football/basketball networks. The station was also known for live broadcasts of horse racing events at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington.
The station also became well known for using their cowboy "boot" (Kentucky Kountry King)logo and 30-second jingle in television advertisements which aired on WBKO-TV. In return, 30-second spots advertising WBKO's evening news stories were aired over the radio station.
During the 1970s and early 1980s, the call letters were also assigned to sister station WLBJ-FM, operating at 96.7 megahertz under the brands "Natural 97" (Album-Oriented Rock
) under the program direction lead of Jay Preston, Greg Pogue & later Dean Warfield, and later an automated "BJ 97" (Adult Contemporary). The call letters of the FM station were changed in the mid-1980s to WCBZ, which reflected ownership of both stations through much of their later history by Bahakel Communications
of Charlotte, North Carolina
. Today, the 96.7 frequency is owned and operated by Bowling Green-based country music station, WBVR.
In recent years, the iconic call letters were reassigned to an AM station operating at 1570 kilohertz in the Louisville suburb of New Albany, Indiana
. That station has since changed its call letters.
Commerce
While business refers to the value-creating activities of an organization for profit, commerce means the whole system of an economy that constitutes an environment for business. The system includes legal, economic, political, social, cultural, and technological systems that are in operation in any...
radio station
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...
in Bowling Green, Kentucky
Bowling Green, Kentucky
Bowling Green is the third-most populous city in the state of Kentucky after Louisville and Lexington, with a population of 58,067 as of the 2010 Census. It is the county seat of Warren County and the principal city of the Bowling Green, Kentucky Metropolitan Statistical Area with an estimated 2009...
, signing-on in June, 1940. The station operated at 1410 kilohertz for much of its existence. Among the more significant local programs it produced were the 4 O'Clock Special, hosted by disc jockeys G. W. Boyum in 1947 and Brad Taylor in 1950, The Smilemaker, a morning and afternoon drive program featuring cuts from comedy albums by popular comedians, and Opinion Line, an Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
award-winning local public affairs program hosted by newscaster Mike Green in the 1980s.
In its early days, the station's studios were located in downtown Bowling Green and would later relocate both the studios and transmitter to its final location of 1410 Scott Lane, now known as Indian Ridge Subdivision, adjacent to the Indian Hills Country Club.
In later years, the station was well known as a favorite among 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...
fans in South Central Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
and North Central Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
, as it had an effective daytime power of 5,000 watts (1,000 watts directional at night). One of the station's most popular programs was the 1981 launch of the Wrangler Country Showdown, a live-broadcast country music talent search which preceded such current programs as "American Idol" by some 20 years.
The station was also known as one of the earliest and longest-running affiliates of the now-defunct Mutual Broadcasting System
Mutual Broadcasting System
The Mutual Broadcasting System was an American radio network, in operation from 1934 to 1999. In the golden age of U.S. radio drama, MBS was best known as the original network home of The Lone Ranger and The Adventures of Superman and as the long-time radio residence of The Shadow...
and also carried Mutual's The Larry King
Larry King
Lawrence Harvey "Larry" King is an American television and radio host whose work has been recognized with awards including two Peabodys and ten Cable ACE Awards....
Show, which was broadcast overnight during the early 1980s, making the station Bowling Green's first 24-hour radio operation.
The station was an affiliate of Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
baseball and the University of Kentucky
University of Kentucky
The University of Kentucky, also known as UK, is a public co-educational university and is one of the state's two land-grant universities, located in Lexington, Kentucky...
football/basketball networks. The station was also known for live broadcasts of horse racing events at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington.
The station also became well known for using their cowboy "boot" (Kentucky Kountry King)logo and 30-second jingle in television advertisements which aired on WBKO-TV. In return, 30-second spots advertising WBKO's evening news stories were aired over the radio station.
During the 1970s and early 1980s, the call letters were also assigned to sister station WLBJ-FM, operating at 96.7 megahertz under the brands "Natural 97" (Album-Oriented Rock
Album-oriented rock
Album-oriented rock is an American FM radio format focusing on album tracks by rock artists.-Music played:Most radio formats are based on a select, tight rotation of hit singles...
) under the program direction lead of Jay Preston, Greg Pogue & later Dean Warfield, and later an automated "BJ 97" (Adult Contemporary). The call letters of the FM station were changed in the mid-1980s to WCBZ, which reflected ownership of both stations through much of their later history by Bahakel Communications
Bahakel Communications
Bahakel Communications is a Charlotte, North Carolina-based communications company that owns radio and television stations in the United States...
of Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
. Today, the 96.7 frequency is owned and operated by Bowling Green-based country music station, WBVR.
In recent years, the iconic call letters were reassigned to an AM station operating at 1570 kilohertz in the Louisville suburb of New Albany, Indiana
New Albany, Indiana
New Albany is a city in Floyd County, Indiana, United States, situated along the Ohio River opposite Louisville, Kentucky. In 1900, 20,628 people lived in New Albany; in 1910, 20,629; in 1920, 22,992; and in 1940, 25,414. The population was 36,372 at the 2010 census. The city is the county seat of...
. That station has since changed its call letters.
On-air staff
Former on-air staff- Carol Birge
- Otis Blanton
- James Bunch
- Gary Cannon
- Pat Collins "PattyAnne" - (actual name Rachel C. Rosenfeld) first female broadcast personality in Southern Kentucky.
- Donna Dee
- Rick Dubose (General Manager)
- Janelle Finn McGee
- Lee Giles
- Tom Slayton (Evening DJ Feb 1976 Until May 1978)
- Jim Grant (actual name Jim Fletcher) who went on to serve as meteorologist and mid-day talk show host on WBKO -TV.
- Mike Green
- Dick Hanchette
- Jim Holton
- Dean Howlett
- Randy Johnson
- Brandon Kelley
- Joe Larkins
- Dean Maggard, Chief Engineer and General Manager for many years. Maggard succumbed to lung and heart disease at age 77, on July 8, 2009.
- Michael Patrick McNay
- Rick Mitchell
- James Parnell
- Don Pierson, DJ/music director & hosted a Sunday afternoon Bluegrass show (before Bluegrass was COOL!)
- Greg Pogue
- Jay Preston, served as DJ, music director & later program director of both WLBJ & WLBJ-FM/"Natural 97FM"
- Bob Proctor, First Voice of the WKU Hilltoppers on the Ashland Oil Sports Network, master station WLBJ.
- Steve Reeves
- Tracy Reynolds
- Keith Richards
- Chuck Scoggins
- Roxanne Siler
- Bill Stamps
- Sid Starks
- Johnathan Stone
- Boyce (Buddy) Tate
- Jim Taylor
- Don Tiddle
- Beth Tucker
- Dean Warfield
- Joe White
- Barry Williams
- Tommy WomackTommy WomackTommy Womack is an American Singer-songwriter, musician and author.Womack has a long history as a songwriter and as a musician with many bands and recording artists/acts, both defunct and active. His recordings span multiple genres: folk, rock, country, alt-country, and indie music all being...
- Del WoodDel WoodPolly Adelaide Hendricks Hazelwood , known professionally as Del Wood, was an American pianist.-Biography:...