Radio One Communications will be 48 years old on November 4th, 2012. The company, founded by Country Radio Disc Jockey Hall of Famer and Country Music Association (CMA) Charter Member (Card Number One) Leonard “Uncle Len” Ellis and his wife Bee, remains family-owned to this day, under the guidance of their son, President Leigh Ellis.
The company began broadcasting out of a small brick building built on a tract of undeveloped, unincorporated land in south-central Porter County, about a mile south of US 30. The building and company have grown over the years to keep pace with the addition of stations, studios, staff and the latest technology. Eventually, Porter County Broadcasting became Radio One Communications and now operates four radio stations – WAKE-AM AM-1500, WLJE-FM Indiana 105.5, WXRD-FM X-Rock 103.9, and WZVN-FM 107.1 The Z – serving northwest Indiana.
“Uncle Len” Ellis along with his wife Bee founded WAKE-AM in 1964, when it was initially called WAYK-AM. “Uncle Len”, one might say, was country “when country wasn't cool” (with nods to George Jones and Barbara Mandrell, who've both covered that country classic). He is a man who gave country music an identity and an outlet, and Uncle Len himself marked sixty years in the industry in October 2009.
A look back at some company milestones:
November 4, 1964 – WAYK-AM AM-1500 signs on at noon
1966 – WAYK-AM becomes WAKE-AM
1967 – The first full-time FM stereo station in Chicagoland, WAKE-FM 105.5 fm, goes on the air
1974 -- WAKE-FM changes its call letters to WLJE-FM, after the company’s founder Leonard J. Ellis
December 2001 – Radio One Communications begins operating two additional FM stations – WXRD-FM 103.9 and WZVN-FM 107.1. The format on WXRD was changed to classic rock and the nationally-syndicated Bob & Tom Show was added in the morning. WXRD becomes the first Northwest Indiana affiliate of The Bob & Tom Show
March 2004 – Radio One Communications becomes owner and operator of WXRD-FM and WZVN-FM
For more information, contact:
Leigh Ellis, President, Radio One Communications, 219-462-6111
OJ Jackson, General Manager, Radio One Communications 219-462-6111
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