WKIX-FM (102.9 FM) is an oldies music formatted radio station located in Raleigh, North Carolina, that plays hit music from the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s as "KIX 102.9, Carolina's Greatest Hits."

History[link]

The station began operating in 1998 under the call letters WWND-FM, and carried a smooth jazz format as "102.9 the Wind". This setup was very similar in nature to one carried out by another station, WNND-FM 103.9 (now WNNL) from 1990 to 1996. When that didn't work, the station switched gears to an all-80s format in 2001 as "102.9, StarFM". The call letters were then changed to WWMY as well. Shortly thereafter, Goldsboro country station WKIX 96.9 became WYMY, simulcasting WWMY with 100,000 watts to points east of Raleigh as "Star 96-9 and 102-9".

Over the next two years, Star attempted to tweak its format by becoming a Hot AC hybrid".^[2] for a brief time before switching to a classic hits format. It was during this time that the station carried the syndicated Bob and Sheri morning show, which did not go over well because it often got confused with the Bill & Sheri show on competitor WRAL-FM.

The Star-FM simulcast broke off in 2003 when WYMY became a Spanish-speaking station known as "La Ley." WWMY continued on with the classic hits format as "Star-FM - SuperStars of the 70s and 80s" until 2005, when it made another format tweak by picking up the Oldies mantle from what used to be WTRG and changed their handle to Y102.9, which billed itself as "The Home of Motown, Soul, and Rock 'N Roll." The musical focus then shifted on hits from the 1960s and 1970s.

On February 1, 2007,^{[citation needed]} WWMY began a simulcast with WWNF, which shifted its country music format over to WKIX-FM 97.7 in Kinston. WWNF and WKIX had swapped call letters a month prior to the move.^[3][4][5]

WWNF became WKIX once again late in 2008.^[4]

WKIX and WWMY swapped letters early in 2010.^[4][6] As a result, the station dropped its Y102.9 moniker and referred to itself by just the dial position before changing it once again to the current KIX 102.9. In the process, the 80s tunes that had been on Star-FM previously were added back to the playlist, along with the occasional "lost oldie" from the pre-1964 era.

WKIX-FM also broadcasts football and basketball games for the Duke Blue Devils,^[7] which it picked up from the former WRBZ (now WPTK), after that station dropped sports programming altogether.

WWMY ended its simulcast with WKIX-FM on October 23 and began stunting with future simulcast partner WKXU, as part of a change in city of license from Goldsboro to Smithfield.

Other stations called WKIX[link]

The WKIX letters were used for many years by the Raleigh station now known as WPTK,^[8] followed by the Raleigh station now called WBBB,^[9] then the station now called WYMY^[10] and, after its first stint on the station now called WWPL, on the station now called WEQR in Kinston, North Carolina.^[3] The first station to be called WKIX was WISW in Columbia, South Carolina.^{[citation needed]}

References[link]

External links[link]

• WKIX-FM official website
• RDU Radio Waves - WWMY
• Query the FCC's FM station database for WKIX
• Radio-Locator information on WKIX
• Query Arbitron's FM station database for WKIX

Maurice Peter Brown
Birth name	Maurice Peter Brown
Nickname	Peter
Born	(1919-06-17)17 June 1919 London, United Kingdom
Died	20 January 2011(2011-01-20) (aged 91)
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	Royal Air Force
Years of service	1938–1945
Rank	Squadron Leader
Unit	No. 611 Squadron RAF No. 41 Squadron RAF
Battles/wars	World War II Battle of Britain
Awards	Air Force Cross

Squadron Leader Maurice Peter Brown AFC (1919–2011) was a World War II Royal Air Force fighter pilot during the Battle of Britain.

Brown joined the RAF in 1938, and promoted to the rank of Flying Officer in October 1940.^[1] During the Battle of Britain, Brown flew spitfires with No. 611 Squadron RAF and No. 41 Squadron RAF. During the battle he claimed 3 and 1 shared destroyed, and one shared 'probable'.^[2]

Following the Battle of Britain, Brown was a flying instructor at No. 61 OTU Operational Training Unit and Cranwell Flying Training School. He was promoted to flight lieutenant in January 1944^[3] and subsequently to the rank of squadron leader.

He was awarded the Air Force Cross in December 1945.^[4] He was released from the RAF in November 1945, retaining the rank of squadron leader.

In 2004, Brown wrote Honour Restored about the Battle of Britain and his exploits and those of his fellow pilots.^[5]

Brown was a member of the Battle of Britain Historical Society and unveiled a plaque at Stockport Grammar School to commemorate two Battle of Britain pilots who attended the school.^[6]

Brown died on 20 January 2011.^[7]

References[link]

• Book signing at Shoreham in April 2010

Alden Peterson Aaroe (May 5, 1918 – July 7, 1993) was a popular longtime broadcast journalist and announcer for WRVA, a radio station in Richmond, Virginia.

Career[link]

Aaroe worked for more than 40 years at WRVA, an AM radio station known as the "50,000 watt Voice of Virginia". As a radio personality, Aaroe is best remembered^{[citation needed]} for his news reporting and his bantering with a fictional duck called "Millard the Mallard" during morning rush hour in Richmond during the 1970s. In 1991, Aaroe hosted a regular segment aimed at senior citizens called "For 55 Plus" on Sunday newscasts for WRIC-TV, which broadcasts on Channel 8 in Richmond.^[1]

Aaroe also founded the WRVA-Salvation Army Shoe Fund, which provides shoes for needy children and has raised $5.6 million in its 36 year history. In 1986, Virginia Governor Gerald Baliles proclaimed Alden Aaroe Day in honor of his public service.

In 1993, Alden Aaroe died of cancer after a long illness. His funeral was held at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, located across the street from the site of the former WRVA studio where Aaroe first served. He was buried in Richmond's Hollywood Cemetery. The Shoe Fund, now called the WRVA/Salvation Army Alden Aaroe Shoe Fund, still provides approximately 2,500 children with new shoes each year.

Honors[link]

• In 1989 Aaroe was inducted into the Virginia Communications Hall of Fame.^[2]
• In 1994, the Senate and House of Delegates of the Virginia General Assembly passed a joint resolution honoring the late Aaroe for "his contributions to the field of broadcasting and his lifetime service to the people of the Commonwealth."
• In 1994, the book Alden Aaroe: Voice of the Morning (ISBN 0-87517-072-2) was written and published by Richmond-Times-Dispatch feature columnist Steve Clark.
• A street in the Church Hill section of Richmond, Alden Aaroe Way, was named for Aaroe. It is a cul-de-sac with a small park adjacent to the former WRVA studios and it overlooks Shockoe Bottom and the Virginia State Capitol on Capitol Hill.
• In 1994, the Alden Aaroe Scholarship for journalism students at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond was established in Aaroe's honor by his widow Frances Aaroe.
• At the Library of Virginia in Richmond, WRVA sound recordings and other artifacts were the subject of a major online exhibit. Included in this exhibit was a pair of Aaroe's shoes.

References[link]

External links[link]

• WRVA online official website
• Library of Virginia online exhibit "WRVA - The Voice of Virginia"
• Virginia General Assembly resolution on death of Alden Aaroe

Johnny Rodriguez (born December 10, 1951 in Sabinal, Texas) is an American country music singer. He was the first famous Latin American country music singer, infusing his music with Latin sounds, and even singing verses of songs in Spanish.

In the 1970s and 1980s, he was one of country music's most successful male artists, recording a string of hit songs, such as "You Always Come Back to Hurting Me," "Desperado," "Down on the Rio Grande," and "Foolin'." He has recorded six No. 1 country hits in his career.

Early life & rise to fame[link]

He was born Juan Raul Davis Rodriguez in Sabinal, Texas,^[1] the second youngest in a family of ten children living in a four-room house in this small town situated ninety miles from Mexico.

Growing up in Sabinal, Rodriguez was a good student in school and an altar boy for his church. He was also the captain of his junior high school football team. When Rodriguez was sixteen, his father died of cancer and his older brother Andres died in an automobile accident the following year. The two incidents soon had an effect on Rodriguez and he became a troubled teen.^[2] In 1969, he and some friends were caught by law enforcement officers after stealing and barbecuing a goat. This unfortunate incident and subsequent jail sentence led to his ultimate break in the music business. He often would sing in his cell and was overheard by Texas Ranger Joaquin Jackson, who was very impressed and told promoter "Happy" Shahan about him.^[3]

Shahan then hired Johnny to perform at his local tourist attraction called the Alamo Village. While singing at this venue, he came to the attention of country singers Tom T. Hall and Bobby Bare, who encouraged the young singer to fly up to the country music capital Nashville, Tennessee in 1971.^[4]

The 21-year old singer arrived in Nashville with nothing more than a guitar in his hand and $14 in his pocket. Fortunately, Hall soon found work for Rodriguez fronting his band, as well as writing songs.

Less than one year later, Hall personally took Rodriguez to the heads of Mercury Records' Nashville division to land him an audition with the record label. After performing the songs "I Can't Stop Loving You" and "If I Left It Up to You," he was then offered a contract with Mercury. Upon signing as a Mercury artist, Rodriguez then recorded in their Nashville studio.

The height of his career in the 1970s[link]

After signing with Mercury, Rodriguez was soon on the way to becoming famous. His first single to be released for Mercury was 1972s "Pass Me By." This recording was a big success, going to #9 on the Hot Country Songs list that year, and making him a country star overnight. Rodriguez officially became the first Latin American country singer.^[5] (Freddy Fender came a couple years later).

In 1972 Rodriguez was voted the Most Promising Vocalist by the Academy of Country Music. The next year, he achieved his first No. 1 hit song, "You Always Come Back to Hurting Me." Another song that year, "Ridin' My Thumb to Mexico," was also a No. 1 hit. Both his #1 hits charted on the Pop charts, but only moderately. Rodriguez wrote some of his own material such as the song "Ridin' My Thumb to Mexico." In 1973, his debut album was released, which rose to #1 on the "Top Country Albums" chart. He was nominated for Male Vocalist of the Year by the CMA Awards. In addition to his success in Country music, he also had a role on the television show Adam-12 and also made a guest appearance on The Dating Game in 1974. Since then, he has often appeared on talk shows and other television shows.

The year 1975 was probably his biggest year, in terms of chart success. That year all the singles he released (3 in all) soared to No. 1 on the country charts. These songs were, "I Just Can't Get Her Out of My Mind" "Just Get Up and Close the Door," and "Love Put a Song in My Heart."

Success on the country charts continued throughout much of the '70s. He recorded songs not only written by himself around this time, but also covers of others' songs such as Linda Hargrove's "Just Get Up and Close the Door," Mickey Newbury's "Poison Red Berries," and Billy Joe Shaver's "Texas Up Here Tennessee." These songwriters were also country music singers themselves. By 1975, Rodriguez was considered an "outlaw," representing the Outlaw Country market in country music, like fellow musicians, Bobby Bare and Tom T. Hall.

Decline in the 1980s & into the 1990s[link]

Despite the outlaw movement fading from view in the late 1970s, Rodriguez was determined to stay on top of his game. In 1979, he switched to Epic Records. Under Epic, he worked with the legendary producer Billy Sherrill, who produced some of the biggest names in the business at the time. His first hit from Epic came that year with the #6 country hit, "Down on the Rio Grande." His debut album from the record company was entitled Rodriguez. All the songs from the album were cover versions.

Although Rodriguez did not make the Top 10 continuously as in the past, he managed to stay in the Top 20, with hits like "Fools For Each Other" and "What'll I Tell Virginia." At the same time, Rodriguez continued to be a popular concert attraction wherever he went. However, Rodriguez was also having personal problems. In 1983, he went into the Top 5 with the hit song "Foolin'," followed by the Top 10 hit "How Could I Love Her So Much." However, by the mid-80s, he was becoming less successful. In 1982, he did a duet with Zella Lehr on the song "Most Beautiful Girl (La Chica Mas Linda)." The single was released by Columbia Records. In 1986, he left Epic Records.

In 1987, he signed with Capitol Records for a brief period of time. He had his last major hit in 1988 with "I Didn't (Every Chance I Had)," which reached #12 on the country charts. By 1989, he left Capitol Records.

Overall in the course of his career, Rodriguez released 26 albums and 45 charted singles. He has also had six No. 1 hits on the country charts. In 1993, he recorded an album for Intersound Records called Run For the Border. In the mid-1990s, the Indie label "High-Tone" released an album called You Can Say That Again. He also continued to tour around the country during this time. In 1996, he turned to another label, Paula Records, which issued a single called "One Bar At a Time", but it was unsuccessful. By this time his musical presence was fading from the public view, as more neo-traditional country singers were making hits on the country charts, like Garth Brooks, Randy Travis, and Dwight Yoakam.

In 1998, Rodriguez was arrested at his home after shooting and killing a man named Israel "Bosco" Borrego, whom he mistook for a burglar. He was charged with murder but was acquitted by a jury a year later on grounds of self-defense, under Texas law.

Life after 1998 to present[link]

Since 1998, Rodriguez has toured the United States and world, performing in countries including Switzerland, Poland, England, South Korea, Canada, and Mexico. He has performed concerts at the famed Ryman Auditorium and Carnegie Hall. He has been honored by three U.S. presidents: Jimmy Carter, George H.W. Bush, and George W. Bush. He played at George H.W. Bush's inaugural ball.

He is now living in Texas. Johnny has achieved a Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do.

On August 18, 2007, Rodriguez was inducted into the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame, located in Carthage, Texas.

On October 23, 2010, Johnny Rodriguez received the Institute of Hispanic Culture Pioneer Award, in recognition of his accomplishment as the first major Hispanic singer in country music.

Rodriguez continues to tour and record new material, performing dates in the United States and Canada, where his music remains popular.

Discography[link]

Albums[link]

• ^AGypsy peaked at #18 on the RPM Country Albums chart in Canada.

Singles[link]

Guest singles[link]

Music videos[link]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Johnny Rodriguez at Allmusic
• Johnny Rodriguez at CMT
• Johnny Rodriguez at AOL
• Johnny Rodriguez at NME
• Great American talent: Johnny Rodriguez