History
WSWN signed on as a daytime-only station October 5, 1947, broadcasting on 900 kHz with 1 kW power. Owned by Seminole Broadcasting Company and licensed to Belle Glade, it was initially known as "The Mighty Ninety" (the same as Seminole'sThe 80s
It was clear that WSWN-FM would struggle to find it's place. On the other hand, 'Sugar 900' (WSWN-AM) reached new heights. However, within a few years Fisher was allegedly struck down by the crack-cocaine epidemic and the station foundered under his less than attentive direction. A succession of replacements including self-styled program consultants, fresh faced Connecticut School of Broadcasting graduates and Phil Haire's own daughter tried their hand in the late 80s and early 90s. All sunk to new lows in programming. In fact, Tammy Haire may have pulled one of the all time blunders in the West Palm Beach market when, as acting GM in her father's absence she switched the FM's format to Soft Hits. This virtually dropped the Country format into the lap of competing station WAFC in Clewiston. As white listeners in the south Lake Okeechobee area listen almost exclusively to country music, one is left to wonder what she had in mind. Ms. Haire also incurred the wrath of ownership when she made nearly $35,000.00 in improvements to the WSWN-FM studios. On June 19, 1989, the station changed its call sign to the current WBGF. In spite of his daughter's actions and with his cancer battle over Phil Haire was welcomed back by his old friend Marie, the widowed owner of Rivers (now once again Seminole Broadcasting). He quickly validated her faith by automating WBGF. Arrangements were made to carry programming via satellite from Jones Radio Networks for a very reasonable $250.00 per station, per month. Of course an up-front investment of around $10,000 in computer automation equipment was needed, but payroll would be immediately reduced by at least fifty percent. Then, ignoring traditional format constraints Haire began selling blocks of airtime to any and all comers. Suddenly, the listed formats (Gospel, Country, R&B, etc.) became nothing more than filler for blocks that remained unsold. While such a move repulses programming purists, it was actually quite savvy. With the only considerations now involving decency, things like unfortunate format changes and declining sound quality seemed irrelevant. Infomercials, broadcast ministries, political messages, agency media, sponsored events—these weren't new to radio, but their wholesale inclusion was. Brilliant in the minds of ownership. Infuriating to the mainstream listener. In one swoop Haire had slashed payroll (with the promise of more to come), completely eliminated programming positions, and helped pioneer a new business model for small struggling station owners. Indeed, even larger stations in metropolitan areas have since employed similar programming with ever-evolving digital technologies like the internet, iPod and satellite radio taking ever larger portions of the pie.The 90s
By 1996 both stations had been on the block for several years. Anxious to retire, Marie Rivers accepted an offer made by 2 partners from New York calling themselves Atlas News & Information Service, Inc. David Lampel was the hands-on "radio man" who had worked his way to PD and later GM at WLIB in New York City then to Senior Vice President of the station's parent, Inner City Broadcasting Corporation. Michael Wach was a sales and administration specialist with Wall Street and Madison Avenue connections, who had served as vice president and general manager of WLNY-TV on Long Island and held executive positions with WPIX-TV in New York and Boston's WHDH-TV. Together, Lampel and Wach had already purchased a television station and several radio stations in the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. Now WBGF/WSWN would be united with a 100,000 watt FM in Isla Morada under the name BGI Broadcasting. BGI’s first move was to flip WBGF-FM to the Hot New Country format offered by Jones Radio, brand it "Big Dawg Country" and launch a live/local morning show hosted by Dave Hazzard a.k.a. "Cousin Dave." The WSWN-AM format remained largely untouched, but the axe finally fell on the air staff. Henceforth, 6P-6A would be satellite automated featuring the Urban Gold format from ABC Networks. Saturday was live Gospel from 6-10 a.m., then automated until Sunday when live Gospel aired from 6 a.m. to at least 6 p.m. And sometimes later, depending on how much airtime had been sold. The patented Phil Haire method was embraced, and was in fact given new life with the prospect of offering customers more coverage via simulcast to other properties. Although hobbled, with failing health in his late seventies Haire was a formidable sales tool with connections that reached to Tallahassee, and beyond. Additionally he was something of a local icon with a colorful past, referred to by many as the 'Glades Radio Boss'. In 1998 Michael Wach sold his interest in Atlas News & Information Service to become vice president and general manager at WNYW/FOX 5-TV in New York, the Fox Network's flagship station. This left Lampel as majority shareholder, if not outright owner. As he had directed operations thus far anyway, there were no new changes—just forward progress. More employees were dismissed until, by 1999 the entire staff of both stations combined (sales, administration and "on air") consisted of only 7 or 8 individuals. And there was about to be one less.The 2000s
By 2000 the decision was made to swap studios. The more successful WSWN-AM would be moved from its cramped hovel with archaic equipment to the much larger state-of-the-art WBGF-FM studio which had been improved years before. The perennially strapped FM would now rightfully occupy the less prominent quarters in the back of the same building. While one might assume WSWN personnel to be jubilant over this new development, it actually became a source of contention between management and one of South Florida's longest-running on-air personalities, Jimmy Sims. For years Sims had battled a variety of ailments including severe arthritis which left him with knarled digits and painful joints. He was physically unable to stand for long periods at the much higher console in the former FM studio. When the counter-height chairs provided by management still complicated his condition, ownership was unmoved and offered no further compromise. Sims faded from the airwaves. The inevitable onslaught of complaints from loyal listeners and the threat of a lawsuit under the Americans With Disabilities Act changed nothing. His long 38-year association with broadcasting in the Glades came to an unceremonious end. The stations continued under the ownership of Atlas News & Information, Inc./BGI Broadcasting—which soon relocated from New York to Las Vegas. WSWN remained a Gospel station, but WBGF eventually ditched Jones and ABC Networks' in favor of a Mexican Regional format produced in-house. Intended to service the ethnic sharecroppers of the Belle Glade area, where the demographic had long since shifted from primarily African American/Caribbean-based to Latin/Mexican-based, 93.5 WBGF became known as "Radio Lobo." Phil Haire passed away in April 2006. By all accounts he remained GM and checked in daily right up to the last week of his life. Mike D'Augustine was appointed to succeed Haire. (History based on information provided by Dave Hazzard of West Palm Beach, Florida. Official dates and technical info, along with supplemental history on "Nat the Cat" and “Radio Lobo” programming provided by Mark Tillery of Ocala, Florida)2014 to 2017
Then, on September 29, 2014, WSWN "Sugar 900" was no more, as the station was purchased by JVC Broadcasting of New York—along with WSWN's FM sister station, WBGF 93.5. Retaining its call letters, WSWN flipped to brokered and satellite talk as "The Talk of the Palm Beaches," and carried a live and local morning news and talk program hosted by local radio mainstays Gerard Campell (formerly of WFTL 850 AM "News Talk") and Lindy Rome (of Sunny 104.3 FM). WBGF 93.5 dumped the regional Mexican programming and became "93.5 The Bar" with an Alternative Active Rock format and carried the controversial and syndicated "Bubba the Love Sponge" radio program. By May 19, 2017, ANCO Media Group purchased WBGF 93.5 and rebranded it as a dance rock format, "Revolution 93.5" creating a mini-South Florida radio network—mirroring a station the Keys, and two FM translators, one in Dade and one in Broward County. By November 2017,The influence of Harvey J. Poole Sr. on WSWN and WBGF
No commentary on the history of radio in the Glades, and specifically WSWN/WBGF, would be complete without mention of Harvey J. Poole Sr. Born in Georgia, he came to Belle Glade in the 1930s. Following several menial jobs Poole landed at WSWN in 1947. Over the next five decades he served loyally in various roles, most notably air personality and account executive. All the while suffering racial indignities from an alleged lynching attempt by area teenagers to extreme prejudice by landlords and employers. He quietly built a large stable of clients and became known to listeners as the "Ebony Voice" for his deep-throated tones, which could be equally thunderous or velvety soft. Somewhere in there he managed to buy a home, ran several of his own businesses, became a pillar of church & community, and raised 4 children with his wife of over 60 years. Close associates knew him as Brother Poole, or just Mr. Poole and greatly respected his age and gentle wisdom. He died 04/23/08 at the age of 94. Son, Harvey Jr. (known professionally as Harvey J) was appointed WSWN Program Director, and remained so during much of the elder Poole's final years. (by Dave Hazzard)References
History Information by Dave Hazzard, West Palm Beach, Florida, with official dates and technical info, along with supplemental history on "Nat the Cat" programming as well as updated history (2014-2017) provided by Mark Tillery, Ocala, FloridaExternal links
{{Miami Marlins Radio Network SWN 1947 establishments in Florida Radio stations established in 1947