Branding Pepe 1310/1060 AM Format Regional Mexican | Frequency 1310 kHz | |
 | ||
City Charlotte, North Carolina First air date September 26, 1958 (license granted) Power 5000 watts (day)
240 watts (night) | ||
WGSP (1310 AM) is a Spanish language radio station in Charlotte, North Carolina, known as Pepe Charlotte. The programming is also aired on WXNC, at 1060 AM, along with other frequencies in various locations as of 2008.
History
WKTC played country music in the 60s. During that time, DJ Johnny Jacobs demonstrated that a person could live in a fallout shelter for a long period of time (which people during the Cold War feared they would have to do), spending a week there and contacting the station by phone.
1310 AM became Charlotte's first full-time Christian station, WHVN, in the 70s. When the 1240 frequency became available early in the 80s, allowing 24-hour broadcasts, WHVN moved from 1310, which only allowed a daytime signal.
WGSP ("Great Sounds of the Past") returned to the air as one of Charlotte's first oldies stations playing a wide variety of standard pop hits and "beach music." In 1985, with no other area stations playing classic rock this small AM station became one of the first in the country to shape a format around vintage rock and roll from the 1960s and 1970s. WGSP became the second most listened to AM station in the market. At its peak, the WGSP air staff included Program Director Paul Ingles, Rick Ballew, Fielding Spicer, David Appleford, Phil England and Darby James. After a couple of years of growth by WGSP, other FM stations in the region adopted the "Classic Rock" format and, with their better signals, WGSP lost audience and was sold to religious broadcasters.
WGSP became a gospel station and this format continued until 2004, when the switch was made to the current format. During 2006 and 2007, WGSP's programming aired on WGSP-FM, at 102.3 FM. Programs included "La Voz del Immigrante" ("The Voice of the Immigrant"). WGSP has simulcast the La Tremenda Network with WXNC.