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This Page Last Updated: Tuesday 29 May 2018

The Essentials

Call Letters: WRDF
Frequency: 106.3fm
City of License: Columbia City
Metro(s): Fort Wayne
Power: 6000 watts @ 340 feet, DA (Class A)
Format: Religious
Address: 4618 East State Blvd., Suite 200, Fort Wayne, IN 46815-6966
Phone: 260.436.9598
Ownership: Fort Wayne Catholic Radio Group, Inc.
Web Presence: http://www.redeemerradio.com

Station Personnel

Current

GM: Cindy Black
OM: Doug Jones

Former

WFDT-FM

VP/GM: Emil Finley
Chief Engineer: Roger Parkerson
PD: Dennis Kambs
MD: Larry Workman
News Director: Tim Roberts
Promotions Director: Ken Coleman

WKSY-FM

GM: Fred Gage
Chief Engineer: Mike Peters
Chief Engineer: Shelby Wilkinson
GSM: Paul Weill
OM: Bill Rumbold
PD: Ken Coleman
PD: Dolores Francis
News Director: Al Crain
Airstaff: Scott Howard (1983)

WZRQ-FM

Ownwer: Ron Gregory (Now retired)
GM/GSM: David Boomer
Chief Engineer: Mike Peters
Promotions Director: Phil Gardner
Mornings: Phil Reaser ("Phil Gardner") (Now mornings at WBCL, using his real name)
Nights: Charlie Franklin (Charlie Willer) (6pm - 9pm) (Deceased 27 January 2004)

WBBE-FM

GM: Danial F. Dudley
GSM: Ashley Dressel
PD: John O'Rourke
Promotions Director: John O'Rourke
Mornings: John O'Rourke
Middays: Jonathan Wright
Afternoons: Trey Alexander (Now out of radio)
Nights: Phlash Phelps (Now with XM Radio in Washington, DC)

WDJB-FM

Executive Vice President: Mike Linn
VP/GM: Daniel F. Dudley
GSM: Kevin J. Kauss (Now out of radio)
GSM: Ashley Dressel
PD: John O'Rourke (September 1990 - May 1995) (Now GM and mornings at WAWK(AM) and W238BH)
PD: Scott Thomas (May 1995 - August 1996) (From PD at KLYV in Dubuque, Iowa) (Now PD/afternoons at KXGE in Dubuque, Iowa)
PD: Trip Simmons (September 1996 - ?) (Now out of radio)
APD: Don Igney (September 1996 - ?)
MD: Laura Robinson (March 1994 - April 1995)
Production Director: Dave Michaels (January 1992 - August 1992)
Production Director: Don Igney (September 1996 - ?)
Mornings: Dave Gross (May 1, 1992 - ?)
Mornings: Bill Cox (May 1, 1992 - ?)
Mornings: Phlash Phelps (? - September 1995) (Now with XM Radio in Washington, DC)
Mornings: Trip Simmons (Septempber 1996 - ?) (From Overnights; Afternoons before that)
Mornings: Scott Thomas (6am - 10am) (September 1995 - ?) (From PD at KLYV in Dubuque, Iowa) (Now PD/afternoons at KXGE in Dubuque, Iowa)
Mornings: Susan Harley (6am - 10am) (September 1995 - ?) (Now out of radio)
Mornings: Bob and Sheri (5am - 8am) (October 1996 - ?) (Syndicated from WLNK in Charlotte, North Carolina) (Natalie Lovett was the producer)
Late Mornings: Natalie Lovett (8am - 10am) (October 1996 - ?)
Mornings: John O'Rourke (September 1990 - May 1995)
Middays: Dave Michaels (January 1992 - August 1992)
Middays: Zack Skyler (Now middays at WMEE)
Middays: Laura Robinson (10am - 3pm) (March 1994 - April 1995)
Middays: Doug Jacobs (10am - 3pm) (September 1996 - ?) (From overnights at WLDE)
Afternoons: Hal Brandt (October 1996 - ?) (Now out of radio)
Nights: Phlash Phelps (7pm - 12am) (Now at XM Satellite Radio in Washington, DC)
Nights: Rick Hummer (7pm - 12am) (? - June 1996)
Nights: Nick Lux ("Ace Nickels") (7pm - 12am) (September 1996 - ?) (From overnights at WAJI)
Afternoons: Chris Cage (12am - 6am) (1992 - October 1996; Middays before that) (Now afternoons at WAWC)
Overnights: Craig Russell (July 1991 - July 1992) (From Overnights at WBXX in Battle Creek, Michigan)
Overnights: Tim Virgin ("Timmy V.") (Now Afternoons at WKQX in Chicago, Illinois)
Overnights: Natalie Lovett (6am - 10am) (Overnights: September 1996 - ?)
Weekends: Aaron Bone ("Bobby The Bone Elliott")
Weekends: Will Bradley (Now overnights at KSTP-FM in Minneapolis, Minnesota.)
Weekends: Barry Teague
Weekends: Tracy Thompson

WSHI-FM

Market Manager: Linda Bowman-Bradley (July 2003 - ?) (From Director of Sales for Clear Channel's Poughkeepsie, New York stations.)
GM: Sam Rodgers
GM: John Henry
GM/GSM: Mary Beth Halle
SM: Kristine Putt
PD: Jim Tighe (Now retired)
OM/PD: Kenny Edwards
PD: Ron Gregory (May 11, 1998 - December 2003) (Now retired)
Promotions Director: Ron Gregory
Promotions Director: Jay Michaels (Now PD/mornings at WAWC)
Mornings: Bob and Sheri (January 5, 2004 - March 2004)
Mornings: Kris Underwood (5:30am - 9am) (March 2004 - ?) (Now middays at WAWC)
Mornings: Kenny Edwards (5:30am - 9am)
Middays: Misti Dawn (January 2004 - ?)
Afternoons: Ron Gregory (? - December 2003; Mornings: May 1998 - ?) (From mornings at WHWD)
Afternoons: J.J. Davis (July 2004 - ?)
Afternoons: Dave Michaels (Noon - 6pm) (Also Group PD of WAZY, WBTU, WDDB and WLFF)
Nights: Mark Alexander (January 2004 - ?)
Nights: Justin Gettys ("Jo Jo Kincaid") (6pm - 11pm)

WDDB-FM

GM: Arthur Angotti III (Now CEO of Sound Management, LLC)
Mornings: J.J. Davis (6am - 10am)
Middays: Christie (10am - 2pm)
Afternoons: Dave Michaels ("Just Plain Dave") (3pm - 7pm)
Nights: Romeo's Playhouse (6pm - 11pm)
Overnights: All Nite Cafe (11pm - 6am)
Weekends: Open House Party

WSHY-FM

VP: Arthur Angotti (Now CEO of Sound Management, LLC)
Chief Engineer: Bob Henning
GSM: John Henry
GSM: Vori Dhabolt (Now GSM at WERK-FM, WHBU, WMQX and WMXQ)
LSM: Bob Britt
PD: Casey Daniels

WVBB-FM

VP: Roger Diehm (? - ?) (From Assistant GSM at WQHK-FM) (Retired)
VP/Market Manager: Pete DeSimone (Now GM for the Cumulus radio stations in Melbourne, Florida)
Director of Sales: Christy Lewis
PD: Phil Becker (Now VP/Programming for Alpha Media, based in Portland, Oregon)
Mornings: Phil Becker (6am - 10am) (Now VP/Programming for Alpha Media, based in Portland, Oregon)
Middays: Keith Harris (10am - 3pm)
Afternoons: Randy Alomar (3pm - 7pm)
Nights: Tim Shelton ("Jimmy Rush") (7pm - 12am) (Now morning co-host at WMGI)
Nights: Jack Holiday (7pm - 12am) (He has worked at both Sarkes Tarzian, Inc. and Summit City Radio Group in Fort Wayne.)
Overnights: Joel Hoffman (12am - 6am) (From Producer of sister WJFX's morning show)

WJOE-FM

VP: Roger Diehm (? - Current) (From Assistant GSM at WQHK-FM)
VP/Market Manager: Pete DeSimone (Now GM for the Cumulus radio stations in Melbourne, Florida)
Chief Engineer: Morgan Grammer (October 2008 - September 2010) (From Western Region Corporate Engineer at WAY-FM Media Group, based in Colorado Springs, Colorado) (Now Chief Engineer for the Great Plains Media radio stations in Lawrence, Kansas)
Director of Sales: Chris Saglian (January 2011 - ?) (Now LSM at the Entercom radio stations in Rochester, New York)
Director of Sales: Christy Lewis
GSM: Bart Schacht
PD: Phil Becker (Now VP/Programming for Alpha Media, based in Portland, Oregon)
Airstaff: Joe (...Of course)
Mornings: Mancow (6am - 10am)
Middays: Neil Boortz (10am - 1pm)
Early Afternoons: Michael Savage (1pm - 3pm)
Afternoons: Todd Schnitt (3pm - 6pm)
Early Evenings: Michael Savage (6pm - 9pm)
Nights: Rusty Humphries (9pm - 12am)
Overnights: Jerry Doyle (12am - 3am)
Overnights: Phil Hendrie (3am - 6am)

WHPP-FM

GM/Director of Programming: Phil Becker (GM: January 1, 2011 - ?) (Now VP/Programming for Alpha Media, based in Portland, Oregon)
Director of Sales: Mark Osborn (April 23, 2013 - ?) (Now LSM for the Adams Radio Group, Inc. radio stations in Fort Wayne.)
Director of Sales: Tom Morgenthal (February 2014 - June 2014) (From President and Director of Sales at Texas Media Properties) (Now Director of Sales for WCFX-FM in Mount Pleasant, Michigan)
SM: Roger Diehm (January 1999 - ?) (From Assistant GSM at WQHK-FM) (Retired)
NSM: Paddy O'Brien (Now an Account Executive with the Emmis Communications' radio stations in Los Angeles, California)
Mornings: Nugget (6am - 10am) (Now morning co-host at KTFM in San Antonio, Texas)
Mornings: Jes (6am - 10am)
Mornings: Chris Cruise (From afternoons)
Middays: J. Hall (9am - 3pm)
Middays: Phil Becker (Now VP/Programming for Alpha Media, based in Portland, Oregon)
Afternoons: "Ice" (3pm - 7pm) (Now afternoons at WJFX)
Afternoons: Randy Alomar (From Promotions Director and on-air at WAJI and WLDE)
Nights: Chi-Nuh-Man (7pm - 10pm)
Nights: Travis Walker
Weekends: Green Sense with Robert Colangelo (Sunday 6am - 6:30am)
Weekends: Viewpoints (Sunday 6:30am - 7am)

WRDF-FM

Station History

106.3fm signed on October 13, 1968.

WFDT-FM

Was owned by Tom Jurek and Steve Klabon from 1973-1975. Tom Jurek and Diane Klabon briefly owned the station. MOR format. Studios located at 105 South Main STreet, Columbia City, IN 46724 (Telephone: 219.244.7700). Affiliated with MBS and Indiana News.

WKSY-FM

Was owned by Tom Jurek and Steve Klabon from 1973-1975. Formerly aired a beautiful music format. Studios located at One Broadcast Center, Columbia City, IN 46725 (Telephone: 219.248.2555)

WZRQ-FM

WZRQ 106.3 signed off in August 1988. CHR format.

WBBE-FM

On May 25, 1990, papers were filed with the FCC for call letters WBBE, which were granted on June 5, 1990, for use effective June 11, 1990. After 106.3fm was silent for a few years (post-WZRQ), Indiana Radio Properties, Inc. purchased 106.3fm, and the station signed on at Noon on September 26, 1990. Soon thereafter, it became WDJB. Studios located at 6112 Constitution Drive, Fort Wayne, IN 46804-1552.

WDJB-FM

Indiana Radio Properties, Inc. owned WDJB with studios at 6112 Constitution Drive, Fort Wayne, IN 46804-1552. DJ's Bobby Elliott and Chris Cage got their airnames as a joke. Both names are competing GM's: Robert Elliott was GM of WMEE, while Chris Cage was GM over at WBYR. The CHR formatted "B-106" signed on September 26, 1990. The call letters changed from WBBE in October 1990. September 25, 1996 brought a new format: Modern Adult Contemporary ("Storm 106.3").

WSHI-FM

WSHI debuted with a standards format on April 14, 1997. Studios located at 6110 Constitution Drive, Fort Wayne, IN 46804-1556. Website was http://www.sunny106fm.com. Ron Gregory joined the station (from WOWO and WHWD) as morning man on May 11, 1998. WSHI flipped formats from Standards to AC on January 5, 2004. Artistic Media Partners, Inc. bought WSHI in June 2004 from Shine Broadcasting Services LLC for $2,610,000. Artistic Media changed the call letters from WSHI to WDDB on September 7, 2004.

WDDB-FM

Owned by Artistic Media Partners, Inc.. Studios located at 2100 Goshen Road, Suite 232, Fort Wayne, IN 46808-1478 (Telephone: 260.482.9288). WDDB dropped its CHR format and began stunting with one song repeated per day from Friday 9 September 2005 through mid-Afternoon on Thursday 15 September 2005. WDDB then debuted with an Oldies format and changed its call letters to WSHY. WDDB's website was http://www.b106wddb.com.

WSHY-FM

Website was http://www.sunny1063fm.com. Oldies format. Studios located at 2100 Goshen Road, Suite 232, Fort Wayne, IN 46808-1478. Artistic Media Partners, Inc. announced the sale of 106.3fm to Russ Oasis' Fort Wayne Radio Corp. in early 2007. An LMA was struck, pending that sale of both WSHY and sister WBTU, on Monday March 5, 2007. That LMA took effect on Tuesday March 6, 2007, and at 12:01AM that day, Oasis flipped the format on the former WSHY to Regional Mexican. This brief competition with Three Amigo's Broadcasting-owned "Mega" WGBJ.

WVBB-FM

On Wednesday April 11, 2007 WSHY flipped formats again - to rhythmic oldies. URL was http://www.1063thevibe.com. The new "Vibe 106.3" debuted at 6:00PM that evening, under PD Phil Becker, with the first song (a most logical choice...) Donna Summer's "On the Radio". The call letters changed soon thereafter to WVBB. On Friday September 26, 2008 WVBB ("The Vibe") changed formats to Adult Hits, as "106.3 Joe FM" and became jockless.

WJOE-FM

Under the variety hits "Joe" format, the station URL was http://www.1063joefm.com/. Moved in July 2010 from 2100 Goshen Road, Suite 232, Fort Wayne, IN 46808-1478. While using the Adult Hits format, their URL was http://www.1063joefm.com/. On October 14 2010 at 12:00PM, WJOE flipped formats from adult hits ("Joe") to Talk ("106.3 The Truth") with URL http://www.1063thetruth.com/. WJOE "The Truth" briefly aired The Dennis Miller show, but pulled it after syndicator Talk Radio Network discovered Dennis Miller also airs on then-competing then-WNUY. At 6:00PM on September 26, 2011, the talk format on WJOE ("106.3 The Truth") ended, and the format changed to Rhythmic CHR as "Clickhop.com." At that point, the call letters changed to WHPP.

WHPP-FM

Studios located at 9604 Coldwater Road, Suite 201, Fort Wayne, IN 46825-2096. At 6:00PM on September 26, 2011, the talk format on WJOE ("106.3 The Truth") ended, and the format changed to Rhythmic CHR as "Clickhop.com." At that point, the call letters changed to WHPP. On April 3, 2013 at 6:00PM, the urban "ClickHop.com" format flipped to 1990s hits, as "Rewind 106.3." (Website: http://rewind1063.com/). In February 2014, Oasis Radio Group 1 announced a $3.5 million sale of its three radio stations: WBTU, WHPP and WJFX to Adams Radio Group, Inc. Adams Radio Group spun WHPP off to Fort Wayne Catholic Radio Group, Inc. in exchange for WLYV(AM). At 12:36AM on June 2, 2014, WHPP flipped formats to Catholic radio (EWTN Network affiliate), commensurate with the Oasis/Adams ownership change. The call letters later changed to WRDF.

WRDF-FM

For Further Reading...

Kilbane, Kevin. "Airwaves Abuzz." Fort Wayne News-Sentinel 5 November 1990. Page 1F.
Kilbane, Kevin. "New WDJB jocks square off with WMEE over top musical spot." Fort Wayne News-Sentinel 6 May 1992. Page 1F, 6F.
Kilbane, Kevin. "Phlash Phelps is tired, but glad to have morning slot." Fort Wayne News-Sentinel 17 November 1993. Page 1F, 7F.
Kilbane, Kevin. "Local radio stations do the talent shuffle." Fort Wayne News-Sentinel 30 March 1994. Page 1F, 5F.
"B-106 Takes City By Storm." Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette. 25 September 1996. Page 6A.
Dooley, Mike. "Court employees get red-faced reading graphic details in harrassment lawsuit." Fort Wayne News-Sentinel. 29 January 1997. Page 2A.
"Gregory Back on WSHI" Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette. 5 May 1998. Page 5D.
Ford, Dell. "Ron Gregory keeps the beat." Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette. 23 June 1998. Page 2-3.
Asp, Karen. "Shining bright and not burning out." Fort Wayne Business People. November 1998. Pages 20-24, 70-71.
Ford, Dell. "Time to Shine." Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette. 13 March 1999. Page 1D, 6D.
"Shine to sell oldies station." The (Fort Wayne) News-Sentinel. 3 March 2003. Page 3A.
"Shine Broadcasting parting with WSHI." The (Fort Wayne) Journal Gazette. 5 March 2003. Page 7B.
Hendrix, Matt. "Artistic Media nabs 14th station." Indianapolis Business Journal March 17, 2003. 7.

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All pages Copyright Blaine Thompson. Articles, photos, corrections, and other contributions should be e-mailed to the editors.