WRFX

WRFX is a classic rock music station in Charlotte, North Carolina. Owned by iHeartMedia, Inc., its transmitter is located in East Charlotte and its studios are located on Woodridge Center Drive in South Charlotte.

It is the flagship for the John Boy and Billy Big Show, the well-known morning show that is syndicated around the country.

History

The 99.7 spot on the FM dial began operations in September 1964 as WRKB-FM, licensed to Kannapolis, North Carolina. The station was owned by former WGTL Chief Engineer and Radio/TV Repair Shop owner Foy T. Hinson, who also served as General Manager and Chief Engineer.

Initially licensed with 3,000 watts on a 150-foot (46 m) tower, the station covered most of Cabarrus County, NC and Rowan County, NC, but little beyond. The station was the companion station to WRKB-1460 AM, and duplicated the AM station's daytime-only operation, only separating from the AM station to carry high school sports in the evenings.

The station's first studios were located at 101 West 1st Street in Kannapolis, on the second floor of a Jewelry Shop in a building owned by Cannon Mills. In 1967, the station built a 320-foot (98 m) tower and increased the FM power to 10,000 watts. The early format was Easy Listening/Block Programming and was programmed by Bob Lee. With the additional power and tower height, the station could be heard from Charlotte in the south to Lexington in the north.