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WVON (1690 AM broadcasting "The Voice of the Nation", originally "Voice of the Negro") is a radio station serving the Chicago market, which airs an African-American-oriented Talk radio radio format. WVON is operated by Midway Broadcasting Corporation via a local marketing agreement with frequency owner iHeartMedia.
WVON's predecessor station began catering to an African-American audience in the 1940s. In 1963 Chess Records bought the station and debuted WVON, with its programming of Soul music, and rhythm and blues music becoming very popular throughout the 1960s. The station's news and commentary also played an active role during the Civil Rights Movement during this era. Its African-American-oriented talk format began in 1986. The station served as a springboard for Barack Obama during the early days of his political career.Schlikerman, Becky. "WVON celebrates 50th birthday with celebs, pols", Chicago Sun-Times. April 6, 2013.
Licensed to Berwyn, Illinois, WVON has studios in the South Loop," Iconic WVON radio station moving from Chatham", The Chicago Crusader. October 3, 2018. Retrieved April 17, 2020. and its transmitter is located at 87th and Kedzie in Chicago's Ashburn community.
In the early 1950s, WHFC's studios and transmitter were moved to 3350 S. Kedzie, in Chicago's South Lawndale community. In the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s, WHFC aired ethnic and African-American programming." Nat'l Advertisers Hypo. Use Of Negro Shows Thruout U.S.", Billboard. February 24, 1951. p. 7. Retrieved January 19, 2020. Ernie Banks hosted a program on the station in the late 1950s.Condon, David. "In the Wake of the News....", Chicago Tribune. December 12, 1958. p. C1. WHFC's programming was simulcast on 97.9 WEHS after WEHS's storecasting contract expired in the 1950s.
WVON was a "heritage" station to Chicago's black community featuring great Black air personalities like Moses "Lucky" Cordell, Bruce Brown, Herb Kent "The Cool Gent", E. Rodney Jones, Cecil Hale, Joe "Youngblood" Cobb,Danois, Ericka Blount (2013). Love, Peace and Soul: Behind the Scenes of America's Favorite Dance Show Soul Train: Classic Moments. Rowman & Littlefield. Retrieved January 20, 2020. Ed "Nassau Daddy" Cook, Bill "Butterball" Crane, Pervis Spann, Don Cornelius, Sid McCoy (who would accompany Cornelius when he formed Soul Train), Richard Pegue, Bernadine C. Washington, Jay Johnson, newsmen Roy Wood and Jim Moloney, a very young reporter/engineer Larry Langford and many others. WVON became well known outside the Chicago area as well. Berry Gordy, the president of Motown Records, sent every song he produced immediately to WVON before any other station. Other similar stations across the country took inspiration from WVON's format. The station also had an active role during the Civil Rights Movement, covering it extensively." 'A Person Has to Love Radio'", Billboard. April 6, 1968. p. 19. Retrieved January 20, 2020." WVON's Bell Urges All Stations to Fight Bias", Billboard. September 21, 1968. p. 18. Retrieved January 20, 2020. Rev. Jesse Jackson called into the station to report the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.
In 1977, Combined Communications Corporation purchased Globetrotter Communications, and the following year Combined Communications merged with Gannett Company" Soul Sauce", Billboard. May 14, 1977. p. 42. Retrieved January 20, 2020.Jones, William H. " Gannett Plans to Buy Combined Communications", The Washington Post. May 9, 1978. Retrieved January 20, 2020. In 1982, Yvonne Daniels joined WVON as morning drive host.Ben Fong-Torres (2001). The Hits Just Keep on Coming: The History of Top 40 Radio. Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 218. Retrieved January 20, 2020.
WXOL aired a blues oriented format, and its appearance on the dial sparked an immediate increase in the sales of blues records in the Chicago area." Pervis Spann's Biography", The History Makers. Retrieved January 20, 2020.Harper, Alan (2016). Waiting for Buddy Guy: Chicago Blues at the Crossroads. University of Illinois Press. p. 69. Retrieved January 20, 2020.
WGCI-FM was also programmed to appeal to black audiences, and it and other FM stations won away many of WVON's listeners.Eric Zorn. "WGCI Alphabet Change Doesn't Soup Up Listener Ratings", Chicago Tribune. February 4, 1985. WGCI became so successful that Gannett changed the call letters of 1390 from WVON to WGRB in 1983." Call letters", Broadcasting. October 17, 1983. p. 82. Retrieved May 8, 2019. Midway Broadcasting immediately filed a request with the FCC to change WXOL's call sign to WVON, and on March 28, 1984, the WVON call letters returned to their former home at 1450. Call Sign History 42068, fcc.gov. Retrieved January 20, 2020. The station experienced a 50% increase in its audience after the call sign change.
In 1986, WVON adopted its current black-oriented talk radio format. In 2002, then State Senator Barack Obama filled in for vacationing Cliff Kelley. Roland Martin hosted a program on WVON from October 2005 to October 2008.Robert Feder. "Loop comeback awaits Johnny B.'s autograph", Chicago Sun-Times. October 7, 2005. p. 71.Robert Feder. "Roland along - WVON loses morning star Martin to national role on Joyner's show", Chicago Sun-Times. September 12, 2008. p. 39.Stella Foster. "Win inaugural trip", Chicago Sun-Times. December 23, 2008.
In 2007, the station's studios were moved from their longtime home at 3350 S. Kedzie to the former Soft Sheen Products Building on 87th Street in Chicago's Chatham neighborhood.Jackson, Cheryl V. " New Digs for WVON", Chicago Sun-Times. February 1, 2007. Retrieved January 18, 2020. In late 2018, its studios were moved to the South Loop.
In May 2019, Todd Stroger, a former Cook County Board President, joined the station as morning co-host.Hinz, Greg. " Cook County Board former president Todd Stroger gets WVON show", Crain's Chicago Business. May 14, 2019. Retrieved December 15, 2021." Todd Stroger joins WVON as morning co-host", RobertFeder.com. May 14, 2019. Retrieved December 15, 2021. In summer 2020, Stroger left WVON, along with his co-host Maze Jackson, after being told by station management that they could no longer discuss Mayor Lori Lightfoot, and to disconnect any callers who were critical of her, immediately joining 1570 WBGX in the same time slot.Robert Feder " Maze Jackson, Todd Stroger quit morning show at WVON", Daily Herald. July 7, 2020. Retrieved December 15, 2021." Report: Maze Jackson, Todd Stroger Quit Morning Show At WVON/Chicago", All Access. July 7, 2020. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
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