WHBQ (AM)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

WHBQ is an AM radio station in Memphis, Tennessee, in the United States of America. Its radio frequency is 560 kHz. Although today it broadcasts sports news exclusively, the station became famous in the 1950s for playing rhythm and blues.

WHBQ was once owned by RKO General. Its legend was made by Dewey Phillips, a disc jockey (DJ) who played rhythm and blues music on his night-time show, Red, Hot and Blue. In 1954, Phillips played a recording of "That's Alright Mama" by a young truck driver by the name of Elvis Presley.

For many years, WHBQ was considered a "farm club" for RKO. Young, aspiring DJs, such as Rick Dees and game show host Wink Martindale would work there with hopes of being moved up to RKO's bigger markets, like Boston, New York, San Francisco, or the holy grail, KHJ in Los Angeles. In the 1960s, under the guidance of Bill Drake, WHBQ became Boss Radio. By the late 70s, the once-mighty music station could no longer compete with the increasing popularity of FM-band musical stations, and today its focus has shifted from music to sports.

Today, WHBQ carries play-by-play of the University of Mississippi's football and basketball teams, and the Memphis Redbirds of baseball's Pacific Coast League. It supplements its national coverage with Sporting News Radio.