Topics Related to radio

John R. Brinkley 1885-1942 (Q-52)

Medical maverick, radio and advertising pioneer, candidate for governor of Kansas. Boyhood home stood across the river.

Jimmie Rodgers 1897-1933 (P-94)

“Singing Brakeman” lived in Asheville, 1927. Began his country music career with radio broadcasts on WWNC, then 50 yds. W.

Robert F. Williams 1925-1996 (L-119)

Black civil rights leader. Advocate for armed self-defense. He broadcast “Radio Free Dixie,” 1961-1965, from exile in Cuba. Birthplace was ½ mile S.

WBT / WBTV (L-114)

Oldest broadcast stations in N.C. Est. 1922, WBT radio long hosted live country music. WBTV sign-on, July 15, 1949. Studios here until 1955.

Glenn T. Settle 1894-1967 (J-114)

Founder of Wings Over Jordan Choir and Negro Hour radio show, 1937. He promoted traditional spiritual music & racial harmony. Born 2 mi. SW.

Voice of America (F-67)

Cold War broadcasts relayed from Greenville to Europe, Africa, and Latin America, 1963-89, via station 2 mi. S.W.

R. A. Fessenden (B-26)

Inventor, Pioneer in radio communication, conducted wireless experiments, 1901-02, from a station, 600 yds. S.W.

R. A. Fessenden on the Outer Banks: The Beginnings of Radio

On December 24, 1902, Reginald Fessenden, who had previously engaged in experiments on the Outer Banks, made the first intentional wireless radio broadcast, playing his violin and reading a passage from the Bible.

Radio Broadcasting Began in North Carolina

On April 10, 1922, WBT in Charlotte received a broadcast license, becoming the first commercial radio station in North Carolina. Advances in radio took place in three North Carolina cities in 1922. In Raleigh, on the campus of what is now N.C.

Carl Kasell and Charles Kuralt Help Launch WUNC-FM

On March 13, 1953, UNC-Chapel Hill students Carl Kasell and Charles Kuralt stepped up to the microphone for WUNC’s inaugural FM broadcast.