Wpaq in mt. airy goes streaming online

[csstanley]

WPAQ 740 Am in MT. Airy has gone online as of yesterday at 1:00 P.M.

Those of you that have been in the area know what kind of station Ralph Epperson has built. And the legacy continues on through the work of his son Kelly.

You can listen to the second oldest running program in the nation "The Merry-Go-Round" every saturday morning at 11:00.

WPAQ 740 AM Radio (http://www.wpaq740.com)

Get a good taste of Appalaicha. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

[evanreilly]

I second the motion!
I have bought a high-grade AM antenna to pick up WPAQ in Asheville, but too many mountains in the path.
Been listening to it online all day. Better reception!

[csstanley]

They will be broadcasting the Mt. Airy Fiddlers convention up till midnight. And no telling what else they will be doing.

This is great because when I gotta go out of town, I can pull up a piece of home.

[AppBrookie]

This is the best news I've heard in a long time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You bluegrass/old time fans are in for a treat!!!!!!!!

[csstanley]

Must not be main stream enough or maybe too down home.

Hasn't anybody given an ear?

[manjitsu]

I certainly have!

As a former Mount Airy resident now transplanted to Connecticut, I was thrilled to be able to tune in through the net. Sure has a way of making me miss all the great things about living there.

When I first moved there, I had an old 63 Buick, and WPAQ was always tuned in on the AM-only radio. I have lots of great memories of the town and people, including WPAQ's founder Ralph Epperson, whom I was lucky enough to photograph on a couple of occasions. He was a real gentleman whose contributions to old-time and bluegrass music are just amazing.


-Chris

[evanreilly]

I have listened to it every day since it came on the 'air'. I had bought a very good AM antenna (Select-A-Tenna)just to try and pick it up in Asheville, but it was too weak a signal.
Personally, I would prefer more music and less proselytizing. YMMV.

[bud]

I've listened several times this week. Really enjoy the music portion. Great variety of old time and Bluegrass. I work in Statesville and get a pretty fuzzy signal, so streaming on the web works for me. Hope to send them one of my bands new cd's and get a little airplay.

Bud Martin
http://www.mrbbluegrass.com

[csstanley]

Bud, they'll more than likely play it.

I was really excited when I heard they were going via internet. Local's, a great station, and great people.

It's more than Andy, Barney and Ernest T. Bass. Naaaaa, who am I foolin? http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

Manjitsu, did you go to North or Mt. Airy? I went to MA.

[manjitsu]

Manjitsu, did you go to North or Mt. Airy? I went to MA.

Hey csstanley- You talking high school? I moved to Mount Airy from Atlanta when I was in my late 20s because of a pretty young lady (what better reason?) who later I somehow convinced to marry me. Mount Airy has been very good to me indeed! I'm originally from Blacksburg, Virginia and have lots of relatives in Patrick and Grayson counties (my last name is Rorrer).

This thread really does have me feeling sentimental... not to mention feeling hungry for a burger from Leon's.

One thing I have noticed in listening to WPAQ on the internet the past few days is that the announcer Ron Johnson seems to no longer be on the air. I'm guessing he may have retired or even passed on, but I think anyone who ever listened to him would have to agree that his voice was one of the more, um, distinctive in all of radio! :-)

-Chris

[csstanley]

Ron's retired. Has been for a couple of years now.

But if you listen during Christmas time, Tim Frye will do his rendition of The Night Before Christmas.

Tim's been playing some old commercials the station did years ago.

Yall know that Mac Wiseman usd to work at WPAQ didn't ya? We also have the 2nd longest running broadcast in the nation. The Merry-Go-Round.