WLIE

WLIE (540 AM) is a radio station broadcasting a Variety format and licensed to Islip, New York.

History

WLIE signed on as WBIC in October of 1959. Bob 'Bobaloo' Lewis, who would later gain fame as one of the “All Americans” on 77 WABC Radio in New York City, was one of the Original DJ's on WBIC.

In the early 1970s, then known as WLIX, it broadcast an automated "beautiful music" format, and on Sunday mornings an Italian-American music program hosted by Joe Rotolo. Owned at that time by marketer, former Mutual Broadcasting System chairman and would-be politician Malcolm E. Smith, Jr., it occupied a Canadian clear-channel frequency, requiring it to leave the air at sundown.

Sometime in the mid-1970s, it changed to Christian programming, still as WLIX..

In 1981, this station was featured on the NBC series Real People, which was a cross between a newsmagazine and what can now be called reality television.

In 1983, it was permitted to broadcast after dark, at reduced power.

In the mid-1990s, it was WLUX with a pop standards format.