WIDU was Fayetteville's fourth radio station when it signed on in December 1958 with 1,000 watts of power and a Top 40 format. Six years later, WIDU became the city's first black radio station. In 1987, Wes Cookman, who is white and later married a black woman he met at WIDU, became majority owner and changed its format to black gospel.[1] Bill Belche Sr., one of those who started the station, had recently died and the WIDU was having trouble competing with larger stations.[2]
Later, Cookman added WFMO in Fairmont to what was called "WE-DO" network, whose black gospel and news and information programming originated from the WIDU studios.[4]
Terry Jordan of WFNC became the WE-DO network's only white host in 2001[5] but ended up moving the show to WAZZ after two weeks; he remained an engineer for WE-DO network.[6]
Former logo
In 2012, Cookman was hosting the "issue-driven and knowledge-based" morning show called "Wake Up", which aired from 9 A.M. to 1 P.M. weekdays. Kirk deViere hosted the program Tuesdays and Thursdays. WIDU also aired church services on Sundays. In 2010, Cookman received the Order of the Long Leaf Pine from North Carolina Governor Beverly Perdue.[2]
Referencesedit
^Michael Futch, "Sounds for the Soul," The Fayetteville Observer, October 19, 1997.
^ abCalhoun, Jennifer (April 29, 2012). "Cape Fear Profile: Wes Cookman seeks to empower community through radio". Fayetteville Observer. Retrieved June 5, 2012.
^Michael Futch, "Lumberton's WAGR to Be Sold," The Fayetteville Observer, April 18, 1998.
^TV Station Replaces Its Weather Man," The Fayetteville Observer, October 18, 1998.
^Michael Futch, "Radio Host Jordan Resigns," The Fayetteville Observer, June 16, 2001.
^Michael Futch, "Half-Hour Talk Show Won't Go on After All," The Fayetteville Observer, September 30, 2001.
widu, 1600, radio, station, broadcasting, gospel, music, format, licensed, fayetteville, north, carolina, united, states, serves, fayetteville, area, station, owned, broadcasting, fayetteville, north, carolinabroadcast, areafayetteville, north, carolinafrequen. WIDU 1600 AM is a radio station broadcasting a gospel music format Licensed to Fayetteville North Carolina United States it serves the Fayetteville area The station is owned by WIDU Broadcasting Inc WIDUFayetteville North CarolinaBroadcast areaFayetteville North CarolinaFrequency1600 kHzBrandingWIDU 1600 amp 99 7ProgrammingFormatGospel musicOwnershipOwnerWIDU Broadcasting Inc HistoryFirst air dateDecember 1958 1958 12 Technical informationClassDPower5 000 watts day147 watts nightTransmitter coordinates35 05 54 N 78 53 12 W 35 09833 N 78 88667 W 35 09833 78 88667Translator s 99 7 W259CY Fayetteville LinksWebcastListen liveWebsitewww wbr widu1600 wbr comHistory editWIDU was Fayetteville s fourth radio station when it signed on in December 1958 with 1 000 watts of power and a Top 40 format Six years later WIDU became the city s first black radio station In 1987 Wes Cookman who is white and later married a black woman he met at WIDU became majority owner and changed its format to black gospel 1 Bill Belche Sr one of those who started the station had recently died and the WIDU was having trouble competing with larger stations 2 In 1998 Cookman bought WAGR in Lumberton and WEWO in Laurinburg 3 Later Cookman added WFMO in Fairmont to what was called WE DO network whose black gospel and news and information programming originated from the WIDU studios 4 Terry Jordan of WFNC became the WE DO network s only white host in 2001 5 but ended up moving the show to WAZZ after two weeks he remained an engineer for WE DO network 6 nbsp Former logoIn 2012 Cookman was hosting the issue driven and knowledge based morning show called Wake Up which aired from 9 A M to 1 P M weekdays Kirk deViere hosted the program Tuesdays and Thursdays WIDU also aired church services on Sundays In 2010 Cookman received the Order of the Long Leaf Pine from North Carolina Governor Beverly Perdue 2 References edit Michael Futch Sounds for the Soul The Fayetteville Observer October 19 1997 a b Calhoun Jennifer April 29 2012 Cape Fear Profile Wes Cookman seeks to empower community through radio Fayetteville Observer Retrieved June 5 2012 Michael Futch Lumberton s WAGR to Be Sold The Fayetteville Observer April 18 1998 TV Station Replaces Its Weather Man The Fayetteville Observer October 18 1998 Michael Futch Radio Host Jordan Resigns The Fayetteville Observer June 16 2001 Michael Futch Half Hour Talk Show Won t Go on After All The Fayetteville Observer September 30 2001 External links editOfficial website WIDU in the FCC AM station database WIDU in Nielsen Audio s AM station database nbsp nbsp This article about a radio station in North Carolina is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte nbsp nbsp This article about a Christian radio station is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title WIDU amp oldid 1069390681, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
