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Radio Station Changes To New 'Mellow'
Format
By Bob Balgemann
Tampa Tribune Staff Writer Sep 16,1982
"Mellow" is the current word for music at radio station WFXI,
which is headed for new ownership pending Federal Communications
Commission approval. Rock oldies and country-western are out, said station
manager Al Brady. The tunes will be replaced weekdays by the softer oldies
made popular by the Everly Brothers, Elvis, the Four Seasons and the Beach
Boys, plus hit tunes from the 1940s, he explained. "Oldies are a
specialty of mine," he said,, "but we won't be airing the rock
oldies." Since Brady said he believes 11 a.m. is a little early for
"Jailhouse Rock," it will be replaced by tunes like "Love
Me Tender." WFXI, nicknamed "Foxie," has 25,000 selections
from the 1940s through the 1970s, Brady said. Station management plans to
eliminate country-western offerings, he added, because it feels WGTO,
Cypress Gardens, and WPCV, Lakeland, are "doing a fine job in this
area." An overhaul of the station by the new co-owner. Mickey Caruso
of Hazlet, N.J., who owns a radio station there, also is geared to making
it more community-minded, Brady said. An emphasis will be placed on local
news, local events and, in the near future, local sports with coverage of
Haines City High School athletics. Brady said new programming, in addition
to the introduction o( local news, includes: Kiddie Corner, a 10-minute
spot weekdays between 8:30 and 9 a.m., that features Sesame Street and
Chipmunk music for the younger set. Rock show Saturdays from 7 a.m. to
noon featuring Winter Haven High School student Hamp Plowden. Bop Shop
show from noon to 5 p.m. Saturdays, again showcasing rock music from the
1950s through 1970s. Expansion of its Sunday religious format, which
currently runs from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Brady said the station now
operates from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and hopes to begin
signing on soon at 6 a.m. The station is looking for people interested in
volunteering their time while learning the broadcasting business. Persons
wishing to do so should call Brady at 422-6998.
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Radio station to remain on the
air
By Bob Balgemann
Tampa Tribune April 7, 1983
Radio Station WFXI has crossed a self-imposed three-month deadline for
survival and manager Al Brady believes it's turning the corner toward,
success. '. "FOXI," as it used to be known, came under new
ownership last fall with a host of financial problems, Brady explained.
The three-month experiment concluded recently and WFXI remains on the air,
thanks to support from the community it wants to serve. "I wouldn't
be doing all the work I'm doing if I didn't believe in the station and its
future," said Brady, who doubles as a morning disc jockey. Change has
been a byword at WFXI since last fall. Brady initially wanted to change
the music format from golden oldies of the 1950s and 1960s, and billed the
station as "Love 93," But telephone calls from listeners
convinced the station, at 93 on the AM dial, to return to the oldies. Disc
jockeys are the "Golden Good Guys . "People are noticing the
station more and I believe the format is one of the reasons," Brady
explained. "So many people here grew up with the music of the 1950s
and 1960s." He said community involvement is the key at WFXI, which
recently opened an auxiliary studio in Winter Haven. "We want to
bring back the local radio format," he said. "That means Polk
County only. When our revenue picture improves our first priority will be
to increase our range so we can reach all parts of the county, including
Poinciana and the Mulberry areas." WFXI, with 500 watts of power, now
Is on the air daily from 6 a.m. to dusk. Brady and Frank Lang, a
newcomer to Polk from Cicero, III., do a comedy oldies show in the
morning, taking requests and generally having a good time. Some of the
jokes are more-or-less original, others come out of a mound of books
they've assembled. There are serious moments during the broadcast week,
though. A public affairs program, emanating from the Winter Haven studio,
is aired from 10 to 11 a.m. Tuesdays. It serves, Brady said, as a forum
for public officials or "just about anybody," talking on a
variety of current topics. Occasionally, the station conducts a drug
awareness campaign, he continued. "Unfortunately, some parents ignore
their children's use of drugs or they don't recognize the signs," he
said. And the Golden Good Guys will take their equipment and records
evenings to senior citizen groups, Brady said, play ing the big band
sounds free of charge. All it takes to set up a session is a phone call to
422-6998. In the fall, plans call for broadcasting Haines City High School
football games live, he continued. During the 1983-84 winter the station
hopes to handle basketball games, too. Brady belongs to most civic groups
in Haines City to be involved in the community, he said. The musical
format changes some weekends, with black soul tunes featured Saturday and
Sunday afternoons and the big band sounds Saturday mornings. "We're
giving people an alternative to country," Brady said. Lang and Brady
likened WFXI to a baby that's about ready to walk. "Don't be
surprised," Lang said, "if we're running soon."
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