WEMB
Encyclopedia
WEMB is a radio station
serving the Tri-Cities
region of Johnson City
/Kingsport
/Bristol
in Tennessee
and Bristol
in Virginia
. The outlet, owned by WEMB, Inc., is licensed to Erwin, Tennessee
.
In 1966, the station moved to its current location at 101 Riverview Road, just south of Erwin.
The station plays gospel music
, bluegrass music
, and country music
with programs such as "Gospel Trax" {named for the station's close proximity to Clinchfield Railroad
) the "Spivey Mountain Flour Bluegrass Hour" (named for the Spivey Mountain Boys, a group that originated in Erwin), and the "WEMB Attic", which mixes contemporary country music with country hits from 1950 through 1999.
Elvis Presley
was banned at the station for several years.
WEMB is an affiliate of the University of Tennessee
Vol Radio Network.
The Blakemores now own three stations in western North Carolina
.
WEMB, Inc. also owns its sister station, WXIS
"Jammin" 92.3/103.9, a Top 40 outlet known as "X-104" until it shifted to Rhythmic in 1999.
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
serving the Tri-Cities
Tri-Cities, Tennessee
In Tennessee and Virginia the name "Tri-Cities" refers to the region comprising the cities of Kingsport, Johnson City and Bristol and the surrounding smaller towns and communities in Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia...
region of Johnson City
Johnson City, Tennessee
Johnson City is a city in Carter, Sullivan, and Washington counties in the U.S. state of Tennessee, with most of the city being in Washington County...
/Kingsport
Kingsport, Tennessee
Kingsport is a city located mainly in Sullivan County with some western portions in Hawkins County in the US state of Tennessee. The majority of the city lies in Sullivan County...
/Bristol
Bristol, Tennessee
Bristol is a city in Sullivan County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 26,702 at the 2010 census. It is the twin city of Bristol, Virginia, which lies directly across the state line between Tennessee and Virginia. The boundaries of both cities run parallel to each other along State...
in Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
and Bristol
Bristol, Virginia
Bristol is an independent city in Virginia, United States, bounded by Washington County, Virginia, Bristol, Tennessee, and Sullivan County, Tennessee....
in Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
. The outlet, owned by WEMB, Inc., is licensed to Erwin, Tennessee
Erwin, Tennessee
Erwin is a town in and the county seat of Unicoi County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 5,610 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Johnson City Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is a component of the Johnson City–Kingsport–Bristol, TN-VA Combined Statistical Area...
.
History
The call letters EMB stand for Elvia Meadows Blakemore, wife of Max Blakemore, who built the station over his Erwin pharmacy, Clinchfield Drug on Main Avenue, in 1957.In 1966, the station moved to its current location at 101 Riverview Road, just south of Erwin.
The station plays gospel music
Gospel music
Gospel music is music that is written to express either personal, spiritual or a communal belief regarding Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music....
, bluegrass music
Bluegrass music
Bluegrass music is a form of American roots music, and a sub-genre of country music. It has mixed roots in Scottish, English, Welsh and Irish traditional music...
, and country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
with programs such as "Gospel Trax" {named for the station's close proximity to Clinchfield Railroad
Clinchfield Railroad
The Clinchfield Railroad was an operating and holding company for the Carolina, Clinchfield and Ohio Railway . The line ran from the coalfields of Virginia and Elkhorn City, Kentucky, to the textile mills of South Carolina...
) the "Spivey Mountain Flour Bluegrass Hour" (named for the Spivey Mountain Boys, a group that originated in Erwin), and the "WEMB Attic", which mixes contemporary country music with country hits from 1950 through 1999.
Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
was banned at the station for several years.
WEMB is an affiliate of the University of Tennessee
University of Tennessee
The University of Tennessee is a public land-grant university headquartered at Knoxville, Tennessee, United States...
Vol Radio Network.
The Blakemores now own three stations in western North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
.
WEMB, Inc. also owns its sister station, WXIS
WXIS
WXIS is a Rhythmic Top 40 music formatted radio station serving the Tri-Cities region of Johnson City/Kingsport/Elizabethton/Bristol in Tennessee and Bristol in Virginia. The WEMB, Inc...
"Jammin" 92.3/103.9, a Top 40 outlet known as "X-104" until it shifted to Rhythmic in 1999.