WBGX (1570 AM) is a

radio station Radio broadcasting is transmission of audio (sound), sometimes with related metadata, by radio waves to radio receivers belonging to a public audience. In terrestrial radio broadcasting the radio waves are broadcast by a land-based radio ...

broadcasting a

gospel Gospel originally meant the Christian message ("the gospel"), but in the 2nd century it came to be used also for the books in which the message was set out. In this sense a gospel can be defined as a loose-knit, episodic narrative of the words an ...

format. Located in

Harvey, Illinois Harvey is a city in Cook County, Illinois, Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 20,324 at the 2020 United States Census, 2020 census. Harvey is bordered by the villages of Dixmoor, Illinois, Dixmoor and Riverdale, Illinois, R ...

, United States, it serves the Chicago area. The station is currently owned by Great Lakes Radio-Chicago, LLC. WBGX is a locally owned radio station that brokers time to churches in order to serve the Chicago and South Suburban areas.

History

The station began broadcasting in 1955, and held the call sign WBEE.History Cards for WBGX
fcc.gov. Retrieved September 16, 2019. Pruter, Robert (1992).
Chicago Soul
'.

University of Illinois Press The University of Illinois Press (UIP) is an American university press and is part of the University of Illinois system. Founded in 1918, the press publishes some 120 new books each year, plus 33 scholarly journals, and several electronic project ...

. pp. 16-17. Retrieved September 16, 2019. It aired an R&B format, and ran 250 watts during daytime hours only. In 1956, its power was increased to 1,000 watts. In 1968, WBEE adopted an all-

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a major ...

format. On September 28, 1989, its call sign was changed to WMNN, and it began airing ten minutes of financial news at the top of the hour, as an affiliate of Money Network Radio. However, its call sign was changed back to WBEE on November 15, 1989. In October 2003, Great Lakes Radio purchased the station for $2.2 million from owner Charles Sherrell, and its call sign was changed to WBGX.Reich, Howard.
Jazz radio experiencing yet another death in the family
, ''

Chicago Tribune The ''Chicago Tribune'' is a daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, United States, owned by Tribune Publishing. Founded in 1847, and formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" (a slogan for which WGN radio and television ar ...

''. May 12, 2003. Retrieved September 16, 2019. The station switched to a gospel music format. During the following months the entire station was rebuilt. A new tower was added to increase power to serve a larger population. A new building on the corner of 60th and S. Michigan Ave was purchased in December 2003, and new studio was built which opened in May 2004. Gospel Industry Specialist Veronica Williams was the only staff member retained. In summer 2020, former

Cook County Board President The President of the Cook County Board of Commissioners is the chief executive of county government in Cook County, Illinois. They are the head of the Cook County Board of Commissioners. Office description Officeholders Recent election res ...

Todd Stroger Todd H. Stroger (born January 14, 1963) is the former president of the Cook County, Illinois Board and a former alderman for the 8th Ward in Chicago. Stroger is a member of the Democratic Party. In 2001, he was appointed to the Chicago City Coun ...

and Maze Jackson joined WBGX as morning hosts, after leaving

WVON WVON (1690 AM "The Voice of the Nation", originally "Voice of the Negro") is a radio station serving the Chicago market, which airs an African-American-oriented talk format. WVON is owned by Midway Broadcasting Corporation, and broadcasts at 169 ...

when they were told by station management that they could no longer discuss Mayor

Lori Lightfoot Lori Elaine Lightfoot (born August 4, 1962) is an American attorney and politician serving since 2019 as the 56th mayor of Chicago. She is a member of the Democratic Party. Before becoming mayor, Lightfoot worked in private legal practice as ...

, and to disconnect any callers who were critical of her.Report: Maze Jackson, Todd Stroger Quit Morning Show At WVON/Chicago
, ''All Access''. July 7, 2020. Retrieved December 15, 2021.

References

External links

{{Chicago Radio BGX Gospel radio stations in the United States Harvey, Illinois Radio stations established in 1955 1955 establishments in Illinois BGX