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On Air Bill McCann
Show (Jazz) The Saturday Morning Edition of Jazz
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(9:51 AM) TOUR DE FORCE - LOUIS HAYES more tracks
(9:37 AM) OLD DEVIL MOON; ONYX WARRIOR - ANDREW WILCOX
(9:32 AM) BLUESETTE - ENRICO GRANAFEI
(9:25 AM) I'VE GROWN ACCUSTOMED TO HER FACE - NICOLE GLOVER

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5/19/24
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History
History Highlights ASP Article Former GMs Constitution Historical Society
..:: HIGHLIGHTS OF RADIO AT UALBANY ::..
(Click HERE to download this page as a document.)
  • March 2, 1939 First radio broadcast from campus via WOKO radio. Programs air until World War II.
  • 1948 – 1962 University Radio Council formed. Works to re-establish campus radio until 1962, State Teachers College renamed State University of New York at Albany in 1962
  • February 22, 1963 WSUA 640AM signs from Brubacher Hall on Alumni Quad. Programming focuses on classical, jazz and other music not heard on most radio stations
  • 1963 WSUA is first station in the United States to play a Beatles song
  • 1964 WSUA switches format to include more rock 'n roll and less classical music
  • mid-1960s WSUA moves from cramped broom closet to studios adjacent to Student Union
  • 1968 Discussions begin to create an over-the-air FM station at the campus
  • 1968 Live coverage of Great Danes basketball games begins
  • 1969 WSUA format shifts toward progressive rock music and away from Top 40 format
  • 1970 Live coverage of Great Danes football games begins
  • 1970 Saturday Night of Gold debuts
  • Summer of 1970 Scandal rocks WSUA over alleged misappropriation of station funds
  • September 1971 WSUA operations leave downtown campus for Campus Center Rooms 316 and 320
  • February 2, 1973 Ear-witness News debuts as a half-hour daily news report
  • Summer of 1974 WSUA demise threatened amid student apathy; station spirits rebound in the fall
  • Fall of 1974 Application for FM station submitted with Federal Communications Commission
  • February 21, 1976 WSUA becomes first college radio station to provide coverage of a professional sporting event with Islanders game from Uniondale, Long Island
  • 1977 FCC allocates WCDB call letters for UAlbany as Capital District Broadcasting
  • March 1, 1978 WCDB debuts at 10 watts of power with Bruce Springsteen’s song “Born to Run”
  • 1979 WCDB provides 24-hour coverage of Telethon fund raiser
  • 1980, 1984 WCDB attains national prominence with Election Night College Network (ENCN); provides national election coverage from 41 college radio stations nationwide
  • 1981 WCDB applies to boost wattage from 10 to 100 watts
  • 1982 WCDB receives FCC approval to boost wattage
  • 1987 WCDB begins an 11-year trek to go digital. Station begins using 90.9FM
  • December 13, 1996 Unofficial WCDB website is launched
  • September 20, 1997 Official WCDB website is launched
  • January 17, 1999 First Internet webcast is launched
  • January 28, 2002 New antenna installed atop Eastman Tower on State Quad
  • 2003 WCDB welcomes 45th General Manager in 40 years
  • October 2003 First joint WSUA/WCDB 40th/25th reunion