WQBC

WQBC
City of license Vicksburg, Mississippi
Broadcast area Jackson, Mississippi Metropolitan Area
Branding Classic Gold & Today's Hits
Slogan The Touch AM 1420
Frequency 1420 kHz
First air date February 18, 1928 (1928-02-18)[1]
Format Best variety of Classic R&B, Soul,Blues, Gospel
Power 1,000 watts day; 500 watts night
Class B
Facility ID 60000
Callsign meaning We Quote Better Cotton
Owner Michael M. Davis[2]
(Costar Broadcast Group Inc.)
Website / AM 1420 www.wqbc.com/ AM 1420

WQBC is an AM broadcasting station licensed on 1420 kHz at Vicksburg, Mississippi. It was licensed on 18 February 1928, and makes the claim of being the oldest operating radio station is Mississippi and one of the few remaining stations that still have their original call signs.[1] It has been silent since 12 March 2010.[3]

Well-known alumni of WQBC include Blues extraordinaire Willie Dixon, and his Jubilee Singers, Adrian Cronauer, the inspiration for Good Morning, Vietnam; and Woodie Assaf, longest-serving weatherman in the United States, who began his broadcasting career at WQBC in the 1940s, before moving to 620 WJDX (AM) in Jackson, Mississippi and serving at its sister station WLBT TV 3 from sign-on in December 1953.[1][4]

History

The station was built and first operated by engineer I.R. Jones, and was originally licensed for Utica, Mississippi. It 1931, it was bought by the Cashman family, owners of the Vicksburg Evening Post, and moved to Vicksburg. When Federal Communications Commission rules banned cross ownership of newspapers and broadcast stations in the same area, WQBC was sold a Mr. Frank Hollifield, then to a Mrs. Elizabeth Owens. Mr. Bill Stanford bought the station in 1987.[1] The station was later owned by Michael Corley.[1]

Today WQBC radio is owned by Costar Broadcast Goup a Chicago IL based multi-media communications firm. The company's President is Michael M. Davis a native son of Lorman, Mississippi- the site of Alcorn State University, the first African-American land grant institution in the United States

The station lost the lease on its tower site and went silent on 12 March 2010[3] while the sale to Michael M. Davis was pending.[2] It received an extension to remain silent on 18 November 2010, pending studies for a new construction permit.[5]

References

External links