WRBQ-FM (104.7 FM, "Q105") is a commercial classic hits music formatted radio station in Tampa, Florida.

History[link]

Formerly WPKM and later WEZX, 104.7 switched to a rock ’n roll format as WRBQ ("Q105") in December 1973, home to the Q-Morning Zoo, Cleveland Wheeler, Scott Shannon, Dave Saint, Jack Harris, Bill Garcia, Uncle Johnny, Alan O’Brien, Tedd Webb and a host of other top talents. The first FM rock station in the market to use live DJs, it quickly overtook WLCY-FM, which had signed on three years earlier with an automated rock format.

According to engineer Ralph Beaver, the station's call sign was created when they were looking for a set of unique call letters and tossing out ideas, he suggested ‘RB’ (which happened to be his initials). Southern Broadcasting, which then owned the station, had just signed on WRVQ in Richmond, Virginia, and ‘RB’ was available, creating a call sign that sounded similar to its sister station.

When it signed on, WRBQ-FM was owned by Southern Broadcasting. In 1978, the station was purchased by Harte-Hanks, then in 1983 by Edens Broadcasting, headed by former Southern Broadcasting and Harte-Hanks executive Gary Edens.

For the first 20 years, Q105 was a contemporary hits and dominated in the ratings in Tampa. In the early eighties, Program Director Scott Shannon & Morning Man Cleveland Wheeler began the "Q Morning Zoo," which spawned imitators across the industry. The station was able to maintain its popularity until 1989, when crosstown Oldies station WFLZ changed to an aggressive Top 40 format called "The Power Pig." Part of WFLZ's plan was to mock and belittle Q105. The main aspect of their campaign were billboards all over Tampa saying "Screw The Q" with the letter "Q" and a large screw through it.

Q105 continued on against The Power Pig for a few more years, but was unable to regain the ratings they once enjoyed. In 1993, the station was purchased by Clear Channel Communications who switched the station to a country music format, keeping the Q105 name and logo (albeit recolored in a red, white and blue motif). The switch to country was an immediate ratings success climbing from 13th all the way to 2nd, beating every station except rival country competitor WQYK-FM.

At one time, WRBQ was the flagship radio station for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League, becoming perhaps the first top-40 station in the U.S. to carry live play-by-play sporting events. Jesse Ventura--the former professional wrestler and actor who later became governor of Minnesota--was one of the team's color analysts.

In 2000, as a result of the merger of Clear Channel and AMFM, WRBQ was sold to Infinity Broadcasting, now CBS Radio. In 2002, under the lobbying of former WRBQ Program Director Mason Dixon^{[disambiguation needed ]}, who was Program Director of WRBQ's sister station, 92.5/WYUU, which at the time was an oldies station, WRBQ and WYUU exchanged formats. WYUU became the "Outlaw 92.5" (WYUU later dropped country for a Hispanic format) while WRBQ became an oldies station. Since 2002, WRBQ has had an oldies format under program director Mason Dixon, first as Oldies 104.7, then back to the Q105 branding in July 2005, tweaking the format to classic hits ("The Greatest Hits of All Time"). Mason can still be heard weekday mornings from 5:30 to 10 with Nikki Cruz. You can also stream them live at myQ105.com or wrbq.fm.[1]

In recent years, WRBQ-FM has brought back jingles from its CHR days on the air. These include cuts from the "Positron", "Outstanding", "FM", "The Flame Thrower", "Warp Factor,", "Red Hot", "Power Station", "Skywave," "Turbo Z," and "Z World" packages, all from JAM Creative Productions; the Q105 jingle melody, in its present incarnation, was modeled after that of "Z100," WHTZ in New York.

Personalities[link]

Present[link]

The current lineup (as of November 01, 2010):

• Mason In The Morning with Mason Dixon[2] and Nikki Cruz[3]
• Scott Walker (Middays & Saturday Night Dance Party; also program director)
• JoJo Kincaid (Afternoon drive-time)
• Jack Miller (Evenings)

Past[link]

• Bill Connolly
• JoJo Walker
• Rico Blanco
• "Marvelous Marvin" Boone
• Mike Reeves
• Marc Haze
• John Kelly
• Terrance McKeever
• Scott Shannon
• Dave Saint
• Bill Garcia
• Uncle Johnny
• Dave Collins
• Tim Davidson
• Alan O’Brien
• Don Wallis
• Scott Dennis (AM)
• Tedd Webb
• Alicia Kaye
• Dr. Chuck Stevens
• Jon "Rock N Roll" Anthony
• Ronnie "Night Train" Lane
• Arch Deal
• Nancy Alexander
• Roger Shulman
• Pat Brooks
• Cat Summers
• Brian "BC" Christopher
• Chuck Bear
• Dave Mann
• Don Capone
• Pat George
• Brian Thomas (PD & on-air)
• Scott Summers
• Deputy Mike
• Jack Harris
• Kathy "Wild" West
• Shadow Logan, aka JoJo Morales
• Sara Marx (Marxy)
• T.R. Campbell
• Doug Bevis as "Bevis"
• Brandon David
• Kevin Summers
• Tramonte Watts
• Cosmic Jon Barry
• Mike Rivers
• Al Brock
• Cleveland Wheeler
• Randy Kabrich
• Brian Christopher
• John Clay
• Nancy Knight
• Mike Williams (Fudge)
• Mark Alan Biggs [4]

References[link]

External links[link]

• WRBQ-FM Official Website
• Query the FCC's FM station database for WRBQ
• Radio-Locator information on WRBQ
• Query Arbitron's FM station database for WRBQ
• Audio: Cat Sommers Aircheck, 1981 (sorabji.com)
• Audio: Mason Leroy Dixon Aircheck, 1982 (sorabji.com)

Jim Reid
On stage with Jesus and Mary Chain, 22 May 2007
Background information
Born	(1961-12-29) 29 December 1961 (age 50) Glasgow, Scotland
Genres	Alternative rock
Occupations	Singer
Instruments	Vocals, guitar, bass guitar, synthesizers
Years active	1983–present
Labels	Creation, Blanco y Negro, Sub Pop, Planting Seeds, Outafocus, House of Records
Associated acts	Jesus and Mary Chain, Freeheat

Jim Reid (born 29 December 1961, Glasgow, Scotland) is the lead singer for the alternative rock band The Jesus and Mary Chain, which he formed with his elder brother and guitarist William Reid ^[1]

Musical career[link]

The Jesus and Mary Chain[link]

Reid is the lead singer and founding member of the alternative rock band The Jesus and Mary Chain. They released six studio albums before they split up in 1999. They reformed in March 2007.

Freeheat[link]

Reid went on to form the band Freeheat with former Mary Chain drummer Nick Sanderson and guitarist Ben Lurie. Freeheat did several tours and released an EP, Retox, before the members went their separate ways in 2003.

Solo[link]

Reid released his first solo single "Song For A Secret" in 2005 on the Transistor record label, and released a follow up called "Dead End Kids" in July 2006 also on Transistor. Since April 2006 he has been playing with a new band that features Phil King (Felt, Lush, Jesus and Mary Chain) on lead guitar, Loz Colbert (Ride) on drums and Mark Crozer on bass. The band has performed his new material at several low key gigs including Whelans in Dublin and, more recently, the Carling Bar Academy in Islington.

Personal life[link]

Reid lives in Devon with his wife Julie, and daughters Simone (born 2003) and Candice (born 2007).^[2]

Discography[link]

The Jesus and Mary Chain[link]

Freeheat[link]

Solo[link]

• "Song For A Secret" - single (2005)
• "Dead End Kids" - single (2006)

References[link]

Pat George is a Republican member of the Kansas House of Representatives, representing the 119th district. He has served since 2005. He has been nominated by Governor-elect Sam Brownback to serve as his Secretary of Commerce.^[1] His nomination must be confirmed by the State Senate. George subsequently resigned his House seat, effective January 10, 2011, when Brownback will be sworn in.^[2]

George was a co-owner of the Dodge City Legend Professional Basketball Team. Additionally, he has been a partner in a number of businesses, including the Dodge City Steak Company and G and G Incorporated.

He has his BA in Psychology from Benedictine College.^[3]

Committee membership[link]

• Taxation
• Vision 2020 (Vice-Chair)
• Veterans, Military and Homeland Security
• Economic Development and Tourism
• Joint Committee on Economic Development

Major donors[link]

The top 5 donors to George's 2008 campaign:^[4]

• 1. Kansas Contractors Assoc $1,000
• 2. Kansas Assoc of Insurance Agents $600
• 3. Ruffin, Phil $500
• 4. Carr, M E $500
• 5. Kansas Beer Wholesalers Assoc $500

References[link]

1. ^ Koranda, Jeannine (December 7, 2010). "Brownback announces nominations for several cabinet positions". Wichita Eagle. http://blogs.kansas.com/gov/2010/12/07/brownback-announces-nominations-for-several-cabinet-posistions/. 
2. ^ Kansas Secretary of State Official Twitter Feed
3. ^ Project Vote Smart - Rep. Pat George Biography
4. ^ Follow the Money - 2008 Campaign Contributions

External links[link]

• Official Website
• Kansas Legislature - Pat George
• Project Vote Smart profile
• Kansas Votes profile
• State Surge - Legislative and voting track record
• Campaign contributions: 2004, 2006, 2008