City Jackson, Tennessee Frequency 1390 kHz | Branding Willie 94 First air date 1931 (as WTJS) | |
Slogan Home of Stars and Legends Translator(s) 94.1 W231BU (East Union) | ||
WLLI (1390 AM, "Willie 94") is a radio station broadcasting a classic country format. Licensed to Jackson, Tennessee, USA, the station is currently owned by Forever South Licenses, LLC.
History
The station, under the WTJS calls, was the first radio station in Jackson, Tennessee and the entire West Tennessee area excluding Memphis and was the beacon that made Jackson, TN the center hub of what is called the Golden Circle Area. In the 1930s, people listened to WTJS for farm programming, live radio shows and the latest news updates. Being a wide-reaching advertising medium, WTJS enticed listeners from 22 counties to shop in Jackson..thus the genesis of the "Hub City."
WTJS was the starting point for many celebrities and newsmen who went on to larger markets.
Eddie Arnold appeared on the station frequently early in his career as did Carl Perkins and game-show host Wink Martindale.
Tom Butler was news director at WTJS before moving up to News Director with WPSD-TV in Paducah, Ky.
John Dancy, born in Jackson, cut his teeth in news reporting on WTJS after graduating Union University. Mr. Dancy went on to become Washington D.C. reporter for NBC. He now teaches at Duke University.
Todd Starnes, also a Union University alum, was program direct at WTJS in the early 2000s and quickly moved up be a full-time reporter for FOX Radio and frequent feature contributor for FOX NEWS.
Mike Slater's first radio job after graduating Yale was as morning show host on WTJS. During his tenure with WTJS, he became a frequent guest on Fox News, which provided greater nationwide exposure. He quickly moved up to a major market, San Diego CA, bypassing medium markets, which is an extremely rare occurrence.
On January 16, 2017, WTJS changed their call letters to WLLI and changed their format to classic country, branded as "Willie 94".