WLCY
Encyclopedia
WLCY is a country music
formatted radio station
serving Indiana
, Cambria
, Jefferson
, Armstrong
and Westmoreland
Counties in Pennsylvania
. This station broadcasts in a similar style to rival WFGI-FM
with playing throwback country hits and current hits.
The County 106.3 FM format began in February 2006. The station was originally called Cat Country 106.3, but the "Cat" was dropped in 2010.
On air personalities are Chuck Clark on mornings, Jim DeCesare on afternoons, and Derek Brenzinski on evenings. Syndicated programming includes "CMT's Country Music Countdown USA" with Lon Helton, "American Country Countdown", "America's Grand Ole Opry Weekend", and "Racing Country USA".
WLCY is the voice of the Blairsville High School sports. WLCY has broadcast every Bobcat football game since 1980. The station also broadcasts various Bobcat basketball games.
The station broadcast from a two-story wood-framed house at the intersection of Routes 22 and 119 in Burrell Township, just outside of the Blairsville borough limits. The ground floor housed the on-air and production studios, with sales and administrative offices on the top floor.
During these early years, the station broadcast a locally-produced polka show, hosted by Mark Bertig, a Grammy-award winning polka musician who led the band "The Polish Friends" from the late 70's to early 80's. He would leave in 1985, only to return in 2002 to manage this station and three of its competitors under subsequent purchases by its present owner.
general manager Ray Gusky (dba WNQQ, Inc.), who rebranded the station with the call sign WNQQ-FM and adopted an AC
format. Billed as "Wink-FM," the station added specialty programming, such as "Jukebox Saturday Night with D.P. McIntire" on Saturdays and "C'eol N'harran," a Sunday program featuring Irish folk music.
Transfer of the station's control went from Gusky to Jeff Dean (dba Pennsylvania Broadcast Associates) in December 1987.
-AM in Latrobe. Signing an agreement with the former Drake Chenault Radio Network (now Jones Radio Network), the station signed on as "Lucky 106.3", with the new WLCY call letters (once assigned to an AM-FM-TV combination in Tampa-St. Petersburg, Florida) and a soft adult contemporary format.
Not long after acquiring the station, the station was renovated. The front porch of the studio building was enclosed, moving the on-air functions near the newly-built entrance. The building, known as "The House", was demolished in 2001 under eminent domain
as part of PennDot's Route 22 and 119 widening project. Station functions were moved to Latrobe with sister AM station WCNS
, but a small sales office was maintained in downtown Blairsville.
Through aggressive promotion, WLCY started to see growth with office listeners in Indiana and Westmoreland Counties.
of almost two years.
In need of additional studio space to accommodate four radio stations (WDAD
, WCCS
, WLCY, WQMU
), Renda Broadcasting acquired the former Gatti Pharmacy building at the corner of 9th and Philadelphia Streets in downtown Indiana, where the four stations and its business operations occupy the first and second floors.
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...
formatted 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...
serving Indiana
Indiana County, Pennsylvania
-Government and politics:As of November 2008, there are 58,077 registered voters in Indiana County .* Democratic: 26,653 * Republican: 24,159 * Other Parties: 7,265 -County commissioners:*Rodney Ruddock, Chairman, Republican...
, Cambria
Cambria County, Pennsylvania
Cambria County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. It comprises the Johnstown, Pennsylvania, Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010, the population was 143,679....
, Jefferson
Jefferson County, Pennsylvania
Jefferson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. In 2010, its population was 45,200. It was established on March 26, 1804, from part of Lycoming County and named for then-President Thomas Jefferson. Its county seat is Brookville...
, Armstrong
Armstrong County, Pennsylvania
Armstrong County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the population was 68,941. It is located northeast of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County. Armstrong County was added to the Pittsburgh Metropolitan Statistical Area in 2003.The county seat is Kittanning...
and Westmoreland
Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 369,993 people, 149,813 households, and 104,569 families residing in the county. The population density was 361 people per square mile . There were 161,058 housing units at an average density of 157 per square mile...
Counties in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. This station broadcasts in a similar style to rival WFGI-FM
WFGI-FM
WFGI-FM, known as "Froggy 95 FM", is a Froggy branded Country music formatted radio station in Pennsylvania serving the Johnstown area. The station is owned and operated by Forever Broadcasting, LLC....
with playing throwback country hits and current hits.
The County 106.3 FM format began in February 2006. The station was originally called Cat Country 106.3, but the "Cat" was dropped in 2010.
On air personalities are Chuck Clark on mornings, Jim DeCesare on afternoons, and Derek Brenzinski on evenings. Syndicated programming includes "CMT's Country Music Countdown USA" with Lon Helton, "American Country Countdown", "America's Grand Ole Opry Weekend", and "Racing Country USA".
WLCY is the voice of the Blairsville High School sports. WLCY has broadcast every Bobcat football game since 1980. The station also broadcasts various Bobcat basketball games.
Beginnings as WCQO
The 106.3 license originally signed on as WCQO-FM ("CQO" being the initials of station founder Ada Ottie's daughter Constance Quinn) with a "Music of Your Life" format featuring music of the 1930s and 40's.The station broadcast from a two-story wood-framed house at the intersection of Routes 22 and 119 in Burrell Township, just outside of the Blairsville borough limits. The ground floor housed the on-air and production studios, with sales and administrative offices on the top floor.
During these early years, the station broadcast a locally-produced polka show, hosted by Mark Bertig, a Grammy-award winning polka musician who led the band "The Polish Friends" from the late 70's to early 80's. He would leave in 1985, only to return in 2002 to manage this station and three of its competitors under subsequent purchases by its present owner.
As "Wink FM"
In 1985, the station was purchased by former WAMO-FMWAMO-FM
WAOB-FM, formerly WAMO-FM, is a radio station serving the Pittsburgh area. It is currently owned by St. Joseph Missions, a Catholic-based organization based in Pittsburgh. WAOB-FM is licensed to Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, broadcasts at 106.7 MHz...
general manager Ray Gusky (dba WNQQ, Inc.), who rebranded the station with the call sign WNQQ-FM and adopted an AC
Adult contemporary music
Adult contemporary music is a broad style of popular music that ranges from lush 1950s and 1960s vocal music to predominantly ballad-heavy music with varying degrees of rock influence, as well as a radio format that plays such music....
format. Billed as "Wink-FM," the station added specialty programming, such as "Jukebox Saturday Night with D.P. McIntire" on Saturdays and "C'eol N'harran," a Sunday program featuring Irish folk music.
Transfer of the station's control went from Gusky to Jeff Dean (dba Pennsylvania Broadcast Associates) in December 1987.
As "Lucky FM"
John Longo, who started as a disc jockey in 1959, purchased WNQQ for $485,000 in November 1989, ten months following his purchase of WCNSWCNS
WCNS is a commercially licensed AM radio station, licensed to Latrobe, Pennsylvania. WCNS broadcasts at the federally assigned frequency of 1480 kilohertz, with a daytime power output of 500 watts, and a nighttime power of 1,000 watts...
-AM in Latrobe. Signing an agreement with the former Drake Chenault Radio Network (now Jones Radio Network), the station signed on as "Lucky 106.3", with the new WLCY call letters (once assigned to an AM-FM-TV combination in Tampa-St. Petersburg, Florida) and a soft adult contemporary format.
Not long after acquiring the station, the station was renovated. The front porch of the studio building was enclosed, moving the on-air functions near the newly-built entrance. The building, known as "The House", was demolished in 2001 under eminent domain
Eminent domain
Eminent domain , compulsory purchase , resumption/compulsory acquisition , or expropriation is an action of the state to seize a citizen's private property, expropriate property, or seize a citizen's rights in property with due monetary compensation, but without the owner's consent...
as part of PennDot's Route 22 and 119 widening project. Station functions were moved to Latrobe with sister AM station WCNS
WCNS
WCNS is a commercially licensed AM radio station, licensed to Latrobe, Pennsylvania. WCNS broadcasts at the federally assigned frequency of 1480 kilohertz, with a daytime power output of 500 watts, and a nighttime power of 1,000 watts...
, but a small sales office was maintained in downtown Blairsville.
Through aggressive promotion, WLCY started to see growth with office listeners in Indiana and Westmoreland Counties.
Sale to Renda Broadcasting
Longo decided to sell the station in 2002 to Pittsburgh-based Renda Broadcasting Corporation for $900,000, following an LMALMA
LMA may refer to:* Laryngeal mask airway, a mask used in anaesthesia and emergency medicine.* Leaf Mass per Area* League Managers Association, an organization representing managers of English football clubs....
of almost two years.
In need of additional studio space to accommodate four radio stations (WDAD
WDAD
WDAD is a radio station in Indiana County, Pennsylvania, serving Indiana, Cambria, and Westmoreland counties. It is owned and operated by Renda Broadcasting. The station broadcasts on AM 1450. Its slogan is "Classic Hits."-History:...
, WCCS
WCCS
WCCS is a commercially licensed AM radio station, licensed to Homer City, Pennsylvania, about 50 miles northeast of Pittsburgh, and 25 miles northwest of Johnstown, Pennsylvania. WCCS operates at the federally assigned frequency of 1160 kHz with a maximum daytime power output of 10,000 watts, and...
, WLCY, WQMU
WQMU
name = WQMU| image = | area = Indiana, Pennsylvania / Pittsburgh | branding =U-92| slogan = "Today's Best Music"| airdate = August 14, 1968| frequency = 92.5 | format = Adult Contemporary erp = 3,000 watts| class = A| owner = St...
), Renda Broadcasting acquired the former Gatti Pharmacy building at the corner of 9th and Philadelphia Streets in downtown Indiana, where the four stations and its business operations occupy the first and second floors.
DJs
- Chuck Clark - Weekdays from 6am-Noon
- Jim DeCesare - Weekdays from Noon-5pm
- Derek Brenzinski - Weeknights from 5pm-9pm
Morning News Staff
- Todd Marino - Weekday morning news updates
- Jack Benedict - Weekday morning sports updates
Off-Air Management
- Mark Bertig - Vice President and General Manager
- Jason Hill - General Sales Manager
- Jim DeCesare - Program Director
- Lori LeBlanc - Business Manager
- Travis Williams - Traffic Director
- Todd Marino - Production Director
- Keith Reiter - Assistant Traffic Director