WZKX
Encyclopedia
WZKX is a hot country music
formatted radio station
based in Gulfport
–Biloxi
-Bay Saint Louis, Mississippi. The station is owned by Coast Radio Group, Inc., and they broadcast with a ERP of 100,000 watts.
Just like the plot in the 1978 movie "FM", management brought in tapes and playlists and by 1982 free form AOR disappeared (along with some talent like late night's DJ Jeff Davis, though Mark "In the Middle" McGraw remained.)
In 1987, WZKX started broadcasting at its 1400 feet (426.7 m) tower in McHenry, Mississippi
, and became a Top 40 hits outlet as Power 108 for South Mississippi until a 1994 switch to country as Kicker 108.
The original Power 108 airstaff was Brian Rhodes mornings, with the late Dave Melton, Sr. doing news, Mark McCraw doing middays (Mark in the Middle), P.D. The Real Rick James doing afternoons, and Mark ("The Top Gun") Gunn doing nights. Reverend Red (Collins Powell) did late nights.
, west to New Orleans, Louisiana
, and north to Laurel, Mississippi
.
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...
based in Gulfport
Gulfport, Mississippi
Gulfport is the second largest city in Mississippi after the state capital Jackson. It is the larger of the two principal cities of the Gulfport-Biloxi, Mississippi Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the Gulfport-Biloxi-Pascagoula, Mississippi Combined Statistical Area. As of the...
–Biloxi
Biloxi, Mississippi
Biloxi is a city in Harrison County, Mississippi, in the United States. The 2010 census recorded the population as 44,054. Along with Gulfport, Biloxi is a county seat of Harrison County....
-Bay Saint Louis, Mississippi. The station is owned by Coast Radio Group, Inc., and they broadcast with a ERP of 100,000 watts.
History
In the early 1980's WZKX was one of the only AOR radio stations on the Gulf Coast. With the station located in Orange Grove - just north of Gulfport Mississippi, many of the "redneck rockers" relied on "Rock 107" to play heavier album tracks from Boston to Rush. A "Power Rock Song" at the top of the hour was the only requirement for most of the FM Air personalities.Just like the plot in the 1978 movie "FM", management brought in tapes and playlists and by 1982 free form AOR disappeared (along with some talent like late night's DJ Jeff Davis, though Mark "In the Middle" McGraw remained.)
In 1987, WZKX started broadcasting at its 1400 feet (426.7 m) tower in McHenry, Mississippi
McHenry, Mississippi
McHenry, Mississippi, is an unincorporated community in southern Stone County. It is situated approximately 10 miles south of Wiggins and 3 miles north of Saucier. The community is part of the Gulfport-Biloxi metropolitan area....
, and became a Top 40 hits outlet as Power 108 for South Mississippi until a 1994 switch to country as Kicker 108.
The original Power 108 airstaff was Brian Rhodes mornings, with the late Dave Melton, Sr. doing news, Mark McCraw doing middays (Mark in the Middle), P.D. The Real Rick James doing afternoons, and Mark ("The Top Gun") Gunn doing nights. Reverend Red (Collins Powell) did late nights.
Signal
WZKX's upgraded 1500 feet (457.2 m) tower with a 100,000-watt signal can reach east to Mobile, AlabamaMobile, Alabama
Mobile is the third most populous city in the Southern US state of Alabama and is the county seat of Mobile County. It is located on the Mobile River and the central Gulf Coast of the United States. The population within the city limits was 195,111 during the 2010 census. It is the largest...
, west to New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
, and north to Laurel, Mississippi
Laurel, Mississippi
Laurel is a city located in Jones County in Mississippi, a state of the United States of America. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 18,393 although a significant population increase has been reported following Hurricane Katrina. Located in southeast Mississippi, southeast of...
.