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WGSP (AM)
Encyclopedia
WGSP 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.
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 1970's. 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
stationand 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
.
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
radio station
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...
in Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
, known as Pepe Charlotte. The programming is also aired on WXNC
WXNC
WXNC in Charlotte, North Carolina is a Spanish language station known as "Pepe Charlotte", also heard on WGSP at 1310 AM.-History:For many years WMAP was a 1000-watt station in Monroe, North Carolina. The station added an FM frequency at 102.3, but later separated from that station and eventually...
, at 1060 AM, along with other frequencies in various locations as of 2008.
History
WKTC played country musicCountry 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...
in the 60s. During that time, DJ Johnny Jacobs demonstrated that a person could live in a fallout shelter
Fallout shelter
A fallout shelter is an enclosed space specially designed to protect occupants from radioactive debris or fallout resulting from a nuclear explosion. Many such shelters were constructed as civil defense measures during the Cold War....
for a long period of time (which people during the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
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
WHVN
WHVN is a radio station broadcasting a Christian radio format. Licensed to Charlotte, North Carolina, USA, it serves the area. The station is currently owned by WHVN Inc...
, 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
Oldies
Oldies is a term commonly used to describe a radio format that concentrates on music from a period of about 15 to 55 years before the present day....
stations playing a wide variety of standard pop hits and "beach music
Beach music
Beach music, also known as Carolina beach music, is a regional genre which developed from various musical styles of the forties, fifties and sixties. These styles ranged from big band swing instrumentals to the more raucous sounds of blues/jump blues, jazz, doo-wop, boogie, rhythm and blues,...
." In 1985, with no other area stations playing classic rock
Classic rock
Classic rock is a radio format which developed from the album-oriented rock format in the early 1980s. In the United States, the classic rock format features music ranging generally from the late 1960s to the late 1980s, primarily focusing on the hard rock genre that peaked in popularity in the...
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 1970's. 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
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....
stationand 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
WGSP-FM
WGSP-FM is a radio station licensed to the community of Pageland, South Carolina, and serving the greater Charlotte, North Carolina, area. The station is owned by Norsan Broadcasting of Atlanta, Georgia. It airs a Tropical music / Latin Pop format.-History:WCPL-FM was located in Pageland, South...
, at 102.3 FM. Programs included "La Voz del Immigrante" ("The Voice of the Immigrant"). WGSP has simulcast the La Tremenda Network with WXNC
WXNC
WXNC in Charlotte, North Carolina is a Spanish language station known as "Pepe Charlotte", also heard on WGSP at 1310 AM.-History:For many years WMAP was a 1000-watt station in Monroe, North Carolina. The station added an FM frequency at 102.3, but later separated from that station and eventually...
.