WWIL (AM)

WWIL
City Wilmington, North Carolina
Slogan The Light Gospel Joy 1490
Frequency 1490 kHz
Format Gospel
Power 1,000 watts fulltime
Class C
Facility ID 20662
Transmitter coordinates 34°13′52.00″N 77°57′18.00″W / 34.2311111°N 77.9550000°W / 34.2311111; -77.9550000
Owner Carolina Christian Radio Inc
Website life905.com

WWIL (1490 AM) is a radio station broadcasting a Gospel format. Licensed to Wilmington, North Carolina, USA. The station is currently owned by Carolina Christian Radio Inc.

History

At one time, this station was called WHSL.

R. Darryl Davis was host of "Fat Man's Blues Shop" on WWIL; he later played "Blues in the Night" on WHQR.[1]

Family Radio Network Inc. purchased WWIL in 1992 from a Jacksonville church. Before that, the station was R&B. WWIL began calling itself "Family Radio" in 1993.[2] Jim Stephens worked for a Raleigh Christian station but vacationed in Wilmington. When he turned on the radio, he found no Christian stations. So he took over WWIL and struggled financially after moving to Wilmington but he got numerous cards and letters from people who enjoyed the Contemporary Christian music and nationally syndicated ministers. Stephens needed for these listeners to prove their support with cash, and they did.[3] WWIL added a 20,000 watt FM signal in 1995. As of 1999, the AM station aired "God's Country" during the day, including Ricky Skaggs, The Gatlin Brothers and traditional Southern gospel. At night and early in the morning, the station played urban gospel such as Andrae Crouch and Shirley Caesar.[2]

The station's owners (the company also owned WLSG at the time) purchased The Dove FM 89.7 and WMYT for $1.2 million, according to volunteer manager D. Chuck Langley, who had run the stations since the beginning but wanted to focus on his realty and marketing businesses.[4]

References

  1. ↑ Richard Myers, "Radio Personality: Fat Man Spins Blues As Darryl Davis Works to Help His Community; Part-Time Disc Jockey Has Consulting Firm," Star-News November 27, 1994.
  2. 1 2 Ben Steelman, "Praise Radio; It's the Gospel Truth: Christian Radio Is Gaining Popularity," Star-News, December 14, 1999.
  3. ↑ Frank Maley, "Christian Radio; He's Sending a Message," Star-News, February 19, 1995.
  4. ↑ "Christian Radio Stations Are Sold," Star-News, December 18, 2000.


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