Frequency 1540 Format Gospel Class D | Repeater(s) 88.3 (Harrisburg) ERP 2,400 watts (daytime) | |
City Charlotte, North Carolina | ||
WOGR (1540 AM) is a radio station broadcasting a Gospel format, licensed to Charlotte, North Carolina, USA. The station is currently owned by Victory Christian Center, Inc. and features programming from Salem Communications.
Contents
Translators
In addition to the main station and WOGR-FM, WOGR (AM) is relayed by an additional translator to widen its broadcast area.
History
The station was originally constructed and owned by Risden Allen Lyon. The call letters were WRPL (the initials of Lyon's father, Robert Phillip Lyon). WRPL signed on in 1964, broadcasting with 1,000 watts during the daytime from studios in a building that Lyon owned at 1402 East Morehead Street in Charlotte. The tower was located near the intersection of Monroe Road and East 5th Street.
Over the years many people referred to WRPL as "Ripple Radio."
The earliest format for WRPL was adult popular music, by artists such as the Three Sons, Perry Como and Les Brown. During that time the station gained notoriety with its "all girl" staff and big pink bus that shuttled the staff to various events.
WRPL changed formats in the late 1960s to R&B. For several years during this format the studios were located in the White House Inn Hotel in uptown Charlotte (formerly Hotel Charlotte). The on-air personalities, among them Chattie Hattie and Rockin' Ray Gooding, were visible to passersby on the sidewalk while they were doing their shows.
WRPL moved the studios back to the original location on East Morehead Street and changed to an eclectic album oriented rock format in the early 1970s. This format found much popularity in Charlotte. Among the staff members during this period were music genius Calvin Walker and Al Cafaro, who went on to become Chairman of A&M records. A popular poster and slogan used by the station during this period showed a variety of balls with the slogan 'Radio With Balls' imposed over them. Other DJs during that period were Daniel 'This is Daniel' Brunty, Dave Bell and Edward Theodore Faircloth. Daniel went on to WQDR in Raleigh. Following 2 years in Afghanistan, where he served as a Sr NATO Advisor to the Afghan Army Communications Directorate, Edward is now a software executive with Xytech Systems in Los Angeles.
During the late 1970s, the station played a progressive rock format and jazz. In one TV commercial, a disc jockey showed a small stack of 45s and said that represented what other stations played. Then he showed a large stack of 45s and said this was what "The Ripple" played.
WRPL transitioned to a disco format in the late 1970s. That format was followed by an oldies format for a brief time. In 1979, the station changed its call letters to WQCC and began a country music format (the call letters stood for Queen City Country).
The Lyon family sold the radio station in 1983.
Charlotte-based Satellite Radio Network started a 24-hour gospel music service July 4, 1987, with hopes for 20 affiliates, and maybe as many as 75 or 100. WQCC would air the programming part-time. Satellite Radio Networks of Dallas, Texas would distribute the programming for American Gospel Network.
In the 1990s, with the call letters WOGR, the station added additional signals--WGAS in Gastonia, North Carolina on 1420 AM, and WOGR-FM in Salisbury, North Carolina on 93.3 FM.
Call sign history
The station's call letters were changed to WQCC from WRPL on 11/01/1979, and to WOGR on 03/27/1989.