94.5 WLAP-FM

WLAP-AM History
By Scott Wills

WLAP-FM started out as many Class A FMs did; simulcasting their sister AM station. They did this from 6AM until 7PM during the week, and all of the time on the weekend. But during the week, at 7PM the FM broke away from the AM and broadcast "Little Bee". He was arguably the first Urban Contemporary format in Lexington, circa 1970. He would use the production console for his show, which lasted until midnight, when both stations signed off the air. Now remember, this was Class A FM at its best, glorious Monaural. Stereo, at least for WLAP, was still a few years away. After their move to the transmitter site, they installed a Harris automation system for the FM, bought a stereo generator, got a 50KW license and became a quite listened to station. Later challenges included Lou Owens adding about 400' to one of his AM towers, so that the FM could compete in the distance with WVLK-FM, and WLEX-FM. In later years, bowing to the thought that hyphenated call letters are bad, they have changed to WMXL. Personally, I think "We Let Anyone Play" is much preferable.
 

Bernard Wallace writes in May 2012: "The station broadcast 3500 watts starting in 1963. Cal Wallace ran the station and sold ads. It was the first soul music format on FM. The Wallace family kept the station on the air for almost ten years. Bonnie Wallace hosted gospel from 10 am till noon. Thomas Wallace (Little Bee) did 6-10 am. Cal Wallace did talk radio in the afternoon, and the Gospel Train show from 4-5 pm. I was the DJ from 5 till 7:30 pm. The Little Bee show ran until 10:30 pm. Then Raymond Ross did his program called 'Spirituals Until Midnight.' The format varied some over the years and there were many others on the air including Edgar Wallace, Andre Wallace and those that were trained by Thomas Wallace the program director."

AM driver Gary Green on WLAP-FM in November 1987

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WLAP-FM Airchecks

WLAP-FM 1980s Automation #1
9:38 - 6779 KB

WLAP-FM 1980s Automation #2
2:57 - 2078 KB

WLAP-FM Jingles
:14 - 228 KB

WLAP-FM 1988 Composite
8:50 - 6213 KB

All audio is in downloadable MP3 format

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