City Grand Rapids, Michigan Frequency 1570 kHz Format Religious | Branding WFUR Classic First air date 1947 | |
Power 1,000 watts (daytime)
307 watts (Nighttime) | ||
WFUR (1570 AM, "WFUR Classic") is a radio station broadcasting a religious format licensed to Grand Rapids, Michigan.
"WFUR-AM 1570 was constructed and put on the air in 1947. It was licensed as a 1000 watt, daytime only station. A trio of war veterans operated WFUR-AM from 1947-1950. The programing was typical for that time period: Weekdays playing secular music and programs and some paid church programs on the weekends. One of the paid programs was the "Hour of Praise". The "Hour of Praise" had aired weekly for about 10 years on a variety of stations throughout west Michigan. It featured live and/or recorded live hymn-sings and sermons from various area churches. Overseeing those weekly broadcasts was William Kuiper. Kuiper had a clothing store in the Grand Rapids area and did the "Hour of Praise" on a volunteer basis. After some time, the owners of WFUR suggested that perhaps William Kuiper would like to purchase WFUR-AM. Upon thinking and praying about the matter, William decided to attempt it. He had a vision for a non-denominational Christian radio station. His unique idea was that it could be supported through advertising. The few Christian radio stations on the air at that time were supported by a single church or on-air fund raising. William felt strongly that people should tithe to their church, not a radio station. Secondly, he wanted to allow various Christian groups to purchase airtime, which at that time was not the norm. Since 1950, WFUR-AM 1570 has followed those two guiding principles. Currently, it features a variety of teaching and preaching programs. Additionally, it features a variety of music. The music is a mixture of hymns and Christian classics (1960's through 1980s). WFUR-AM is 1000 watts daytime and 307 watts nighttime. In 1960 WFUR-FM 102.9(sister station)was put on the air at the same facility location. In the summer of 2013 WFUR-AM 1570 purchased an FM translator. The dial position 92.9 FM. Call letters(w225bl). Construction was completed and, it went "on air" in November. The translator antenna is mounted on the WFUR-FM tower. The 92.9 FM power is 300 watts. It covers Kent county well. The FM translator(92.9)and WFUR-AM 1570 simulcast 24 hours a day.