WVOL 1470 AM originally hit the airwaves in 1951, under the ownership of Cal Young as WSOK. Its broadcast location was 4th Avenue North in Nashville, where the Nashville Municipal Auditorium is currently located. WSOK 's original format was Rhythm and Blues and Gospel Music.
Six years Later, in 1957, R.W. Rounsaville purchased WSOK and the call letters were changed to WVOL. A new building was erected on Brick Church Pike in 1959 and started operation in 1960. It was around this time that the station ingrained itself into the minds of its listeners as the leader of Black-oriented music in Nashville.
In 1980, The Phoenix Communication Group acquired WVOL and in 1985, a Dallas music programming network, called Satellite Music, embarked upon a nationwide search for the best Black Music Format to add to their satellite feed system. After listening to the station, Satellite Music launched a mirror image format of WVOL's sound, helping to spread the reputation of WVOL as a national leader of programming in the African-American marketplace. But after more than forty years of live, local broadcasting in Nashville, WVOL became a subscriber to Satellite Music up to the year 1993. After 1993, WVOL was briefly owned by Dicky Broadcasting
It was in April 2000 that WVOL came into the ownership of Heidelberg Broadcasting, a limited liability corporation owned by radio veteran, John Heidelberg. The format was Urban Contemporary Gospel during the day, and Jazz overnight.
March of 2001 ushered in a new era of listener delight when the format changed to a combination of Urban Adult Contemporary and Urban Oldies. We keep our listeners abreast of current local and national political events on a daily basis with live call-in talk shows. Rev. TJ Graham and "sidekick" "Jimmy Lee" is on live Monday thru Friday, 11AM-3PM CST with his show, Open Forum. John Heidelberg is on live Monday thru Friday 3PM-6 PM CST both shows accept your calls so that you can let your views and opinions be heard.
Each Sunday, 5-7 PM CST Deniece Barnes, host of DIFFERENCES, an informative show that keeps listeners in the know about entertainment, health, food, fashion, lifestyle and community affairs. Don't forget WVOL still has the gospel line-up each Sunday and Blues all day on Saturday. WVOL is now streaming on the worldwide web at www.wvol1470.com The current response from listeners is on the rise and can only get better as WVOL re-establishes itself not only in the minds and hearts of Music City listeners but listeners around the world across demographic lines.
WVOL's Mission
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WVOL will continue to provide listeners with the best of the "dusties" R&B and Retro Music
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WVOL will strive to remain "the voice of the community" in the most truthful way we know how
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WVOL will continue to be the informative, educational format for listeners to connect and stay in touch with the world's current events
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WVOL will always be the station for innovative and creative thinkers
WVOL's Vision
WVOL is dedicated to providing our listeners with superb quality service and the best in music and talk |
