WUBA

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For Radio 104.5, see WRFF.
Rumba 1480
Image:Rumba 1480 logo.png
City of license Philadelphia, PA
Broadcast area Philadelphia, PA
Branding Rumba 1480 AM
Slogan Orgullo de Latino (Latino Pride)
Frequency 1480 (kHz)
Format Tropical
Power 5,000 watts (daytime)
1,000 watts (nighttime)
Class B
Facility ID 71315
Callsign meaning W RUm BA
Owner Clear Channel Communications
Sister stations WDAS-FM, WIOQ, WISX, WRFF, WUSL
Website www.rumba1480.com

WUBA is a Philadelphia Spanish Tropical music station that can be found at 1480 AM. It also serves as the Spanish language flagship radio station of the Philadelphia Phillies.

Contents

[edit] Rumba 104.5

On August 23, 2006, after 13 days of retransmitting the Philly 106.1 signal, 104.5 FM (now modern rock WRFF) became a Spanish language radio station known as "Rumba 104.5". This format was launched at 12 p.m. EDT on August 23, 2006. This was the first Spanish language station on FM in Philadelphia. They had a format focusing on Tropical and Dance Music, very similar to that of La Kalle 105.9 WCAA and La Mega 97.9 WSKQ in New York City.

[edit] Rumba 104.5 becomes Rumba 1480

On May 16, 2007 Clear Channel flipped Rumba 104.5 to Radio 104.5, a modern rock station. The Rumba format was moved to 1480. As a result 1480 assumed the "Rumba" Spanish format, previously on 104.5, thus ending WDAS-AM's format of gospel music. 1480 is now "Rumba 1480". On May 23rd, 2007 the WUBA calls moved from 104.5 FM to 1480 AM. As a result of the move, WDAS, which had been in place since 1934, was retired. However, WDAS-FM was unaffected by the shake-up.

[edit] History

[edit] Early Stations

  • The origins of this station date back to July 1922, when it signed on as WIAD on 1200 AM, owned by Howard R. Miller.
  • In 1928, per order of the FRC (Federal Radio Commission), the station moved to 1370 AM.
  • In 1929, calls changed to WELK.

[edit] WDAS

  • In 1934, Howard Miller sold the station and it became WDAS.
  • The WDAS calls stood for the new owners, silk manufacturers Dannenbaum & Steppacher.
  • The station broadcasted various ethnic programming in languages such as Italian, Yiddish and Polish.
  • In 1941, WDAS moved to 1400 AM, then a few years later to its current position of 1480 AM.
  • In 1950, candy manufacturer Max M. Leon purchased the station for $495,000.
  • The programming was big bands, ethnic and cultural shows.

Leon, the founder and conductor of the original Philly Pops Orchestra, added an all-night classical music show.

  • His son-in-law, GM Bob Klein,WDASHistory.org shifted the programming to black entertainment staring in 1951 - jazz and rhythm & blues.
  • In the 1950's and 1960's, they added a number of young personalities, including Georgie Woods, Jimmy Bishop, Carl Helm, Butterball Tamburro, Jocko Henderson and Hy Lit.

They added black-oriented public affairs and news programs in the early 50s, and provided in-depth coverage of the unfolding civil rights movement, featuring award winning and groundbreaking journalists Joe Rainey and Jim Klash,along with Walt Sanders, Carl Stubbs, Bill Adams, Dave Colman, Jimmy Carter and later, reporter Ed Bradley ( of TV's 60 Minutes).

  • The station retained the R&B format in the 1960's and added gospel music with Louise Williams and the Georgie Woods show moved from music to talk.
  • In 1979, Leon sold the station to minority-owned Unity Broadcasting Network.
  • In the 1980's, WDAS added the National Black Network (NBN) news, and tried a news format in the mornings (anchored locally by Karen Warrington, E. Steven Collins and Wynne Alexander) and afternoons (via the NBN feed) to compete with KYW-AM. This was unsuccessful and the station returned with a mix of gospel, R&B and talk shows.
  • In 1988, the station switched to an all gospel music and religious format.
  • On May 16, 2007, 1480 ended the all gospel format. Rumba 104.5's format moved in its place.
  • On May 23rd, 2007 , the WDAS calls were retired for 1480, as WUBA moved from 104.5 FM to 1480 AM.

[1]

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ History of WDAS provided by radio-history.com [1]


[edit] External links

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