KRFE
| City | Lubbock, Texas |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area |
Lubbock, Texas Levelland, Texas |
| Slogan | "The Station That Listens To Lubbock" |
| Frequency | 580 kHz |
| Format | News/Talk/Sports |
| Power |
500 watts day 290 watts night |
| Class | B |
| Facility ID | 60804 |
| Affiliations | CBS Radio News, Motor Racing Network, KLBK-TV |
| Owner | KRFE Radio, Inc. |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | http://wilkesradio.com/ |
KRFE is a radio station licensed to Lubbock, Texas, broadcasting on 580 AM. The station presently airs a News/Talk/Sports format after dropping its long-time format of easy listening music & local talk shows on October 24, 2016. Local hosts include Wade Wilkes, Jim Stewart, Cliff Wilkes and Jay Leeson.
KRFE AM in its history previously used the call signs of KDAV AM, KRLB AM and KJBX AM.
Previous formats have included full-service Country, Pop, ABC Stardust, R&B/Rap, Hot A/C, and a hybrid of Easy Listening Music & local talk shows (reminiscent of KAAM-AM's former format in Dallas/Ft. Worth).
In 1953, KDAV was a 500 watt daytimer on 580 kHz that began at 66th and Quirt Avenue (today known as 6602 Martin Luther King). That station was founded by Elmore, Worley and David Pinkston. KDAV 580 became KRLB in 1979. It added an FM at 99.5 (KWGO-FM, then KRLB-FM, then KCRM-FM, now KQBR-FM).
Ownership of this station changed many times over the decades, various partners came and went. In 1975, 49% of the station was sold to "Mexican American Services,Inc" for 60,000 dollars. A couple of years later (1977) the other 51% was sold for another 60,000 dollars. The former 99.5 KWGO, now KQBR, was sold to KRLB, Inc (Ed WIlkes, owner of AM 580 KRLB) in 1980 for 380,000 dollars. In 1983 KRLB Inc. was sold to Ken Dowe. Dowe owned several stations throughout Texas, and had made himself a name in radio during 20 years with Gordon McClendon's KLIF 1190 in Dallas. Dowe continued co-ownership of KRLB AM/FM (KRLB AM LATER KJBX AM, then KRFE AM) until the mid '90s (1993 or 1994) when it was sold to South Plains Broadcasting (owner of KFMX-FM & KKAM-AM) through a bankruptcy auction. At that time South Plains Broadcasting had no interest in retaining AM 580 and would sell the station back to "Big" Ed Wilkes, who was a prior owner. Wade Wilkes is the current owner of KRFE AM Inc. and Cliff Wilkes serves as general manager.
External links
- KRFE's website
- Query the FCC's AM station database for KRFE
- Radio-Locator Information on KRFE
- Query Nielsen Audio's AM station database for KRFE
Coordinates: 33°32′00″N 101°49′14″W / 33.53333°N 101.82056°W