KFFA (1360 AM) is an American radio station licensed by the FCC to serve the community of Helena, Arkansas. The station is owned by Monte Spearman and Gentry Todd Spearman, through licensee Spearman Land and Development.[1]
In November 1941, Helena's first radio station KFFA went on the air.[2] Station Manager and part owner Sam Anderson offered to sell a block of time to a group of blues musicians on the condition that they obtain a sponsor. Max Moore, owner of Interstate Grocer Company, which distributed King Biscuit Flour, agreed to sponsor the show[3] — thus was born King Biscuit Entertainers and the beginning of King Biscuit Time.[4]
These KFFA broadcasts, heard in the hometowns of Nighthawk, Lockwood, and Sonny Boy, were a draw to young southern blues artists who came to Helena to hang around and learn. Jimmy Rogers and Little Walter, later central to the sound of the Muddy Waters band, were among them. Levon Helm, drummer and vocalist for Ronnie Hawkins and The Band, grew up outside Helena in Turkey Scratch. He frequently went into town to watch as the show was broadcast.
The KFFA studios were on the second floor of the Floyd Truck Lines building, a rickety old structure. The program was broadcast from there for 20 years until the building was condemned and the studio moved to modern quarters on the top floor of the Helena National Bank Building.
The show opens with the announcer's, "Sunshine" Sonny Payne's, words, (dinner bell clang) "Pass the biscuits, 'cause it's King Biscuit Time!"[4]
With more than 17,000 broadcasts, this show has influenced several generations of blues, rock, and pop musicians.
Terry Mross, American actor best known for his role in Dazed and Confused, worked at KFFA in the early 1970s and was a frequent guest host of King Biscuit Time when substituting for permanent host "Sunshine" Sonny Payne.
The program is broadcast weekdays at 12:15 PM local time and recordings of the show are available for download from the internet at the station's web site.
National Park Service History of the Blues historic sites
April 26, 2023
kffa, kffa, 1360, american, radio, station, licensed, serve, community, helena, arkansas, station, owned, monte, spearman, gentry, todd, spearman, through, licensee, spearman, land, development, kffahelena, arkansasfrequency1360, khzbrandingkffa, 1360programmi. KFFA 1360 AM is an American radio station licensed by the FCC to serve the community of Helena Arkansas The station is owned by Monte Spearman and Gentry Todd Spearman through licensee Spearman Land and Development 1 KFFAHelena ArkansasFrequency1360 kHzBrandingKFFA AM 1360ProgrammingFormatCountryOwnershipOwnerMonte Spearman and Gentry Todd Spearman Spearman Land and Development Sister stationsKCMC FM KFFA FM KJMT KRZPHistoryFirst air dateNovember 1941Technical informationFacility ID16520ClassDPower1 000 watts day 90 watts night Transmitter coordinates34 31 39 N 90 37 48 W 34 52750 N 90 63000 W 34 52750 90 63000LinksWebsitewww wbr hpr wbr network wbr radio station portfolio Contents 1 Historical role 2 See also 3 References 4 External linksHistorical role EditIn November 1941 Helena s first radio station KFFA went on the air 2 Station Manager and part owner Sam Anderson offered to sell a block of time to a group of blues musicians on the condition that they obtain a sponsor Max Moore owner of Interstate Grocer Company which distributed King Biscuit Flour agreed to sponsor the show 3 thus was born King Biscuit Entertainers and the beginning of King Biscuit Time 4 The program was first broadcast on November 21 1941 and featured blues artists Sonny Boy Williamson and Robert Lockwood Jr playing live in the studio Other musicians who played on the show included pianist Pinetop Perkins and guitarist Robert Nighthawk 2 5 Musicians such as guitarist Hound Dog Taylor would stop by for occasional appearances 6 These KFFA broadcasts heard in the hometowns of Nighthawk Lockwood and Sonny Boy were a draw to young southern blues artists who came to Helena to hang around and learn Jimmy Rogers and Little Walter later central to the sound of the Muddy Waters band were among them Levon Helm drummer and vocalist for Ronnie Hawkins and The Band grew up outside Helena in Turkey Scratch He frequently went into town to watch as the show was broadcast The KFFA studios were on the second floor of the Floyd Truck Lines building a rickety old structure The program was broadcast from there for 20 years until the building was condemned and the studio moved to modern quarters on the top floor of the Helena National Bank Building The show opens with the announcer s Sunshine Sonny Payne s words dinner bell clang Pass the biscuits cause it s King Biscuit Time 4 With more than 17 000 broadcasts this show has influenced several generations of blues rock and pop musicians Terry Mross American actor best known for his role in Dazed and Confused worked at KFFA in the early 1970s and was a frequent guest host of King Biscuit Time when substituting for permanent host Sunshine Sonny Payne The program is broadcast weekdays at 12 15 PM local time and recordings of the show are available for download from the internet at the station s web site See also EditKFFA FMReferences Edit Application Search Details Federal Communications Commission a b Giles Oakley 1997 The Devil s Music Da Capo Press pp 202 3 ISBN 978 0 306 80743 5 Komara Edward 2006 Encyclopedia of the Blues Routledge ISBN 0 415 92699 8 a b Palmer Robert 1981 Deep Blues Penguin Books Ltd ISBN 0 14 006223 8 King Biscuit Time Website Retrieved 2006 10 31 Hound Dog Taylor Biography Retrieved 2006 11 18 External links EditKFFA official website KFFA in the FCC AM station database KFFA on Radio Locator KFFA in Nielsen Audio s AM station database King Biscuit Time Radio Show National Park Service History of the Blues historic sites Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title KFFA AM amp oldid 1052121070, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
