WRZN-AM 720
Hernando - Ocala

Original Call Letters: WRZN
Originally Licensed: 1987
Original City of License: Hernando
Original Power: 10,000 Watts day/250 nighttime
Original Format: Oldies

Owner(s):1989-Management and Marketing Synergy, Inc. (Frank Watson)
              1998-Hernando Broadcasting, Inc (Sale never consummated)
             1998-Management and Marketing Synergy, Inc. (Frank Watson)
               2000-Pamal Broadcasting, Ltd.
               2003-Jablamo License Holdings
               2005-6 Johnson Road Licenses, Inc

History Of Call Letters and Formats: WRZN-1989-Oldies  "Pure Gold 720" 
                                                         WRZN-1990-Adult Standards/Big Bands/Swing

History Of WRZN-AM
Thanks to Marc Tyll for this history of WRZN.
WRZN began operations in 1989 with an All Elvis Presley marathon that lasted 36- hours to commemorate the new sound of "WRZN Pure Gold 720". The station was originally licensed to Hernando, Florida, operating on 720 kHz with 10,000 watts daytime and 250 watts directional at night. Once while speaking with WRZN former owner, Frank Watson, he said the FCC's specifications called for WRZN's nighttime operation to operate with 250 watts directional South. No power was allowed to radiate North since WRZN is supposed to protect clear channel WGN-AM 720, Chicago. However, when Management and Marketing Synergy (the station’s permit holder) received the Construction Permit, the FCC made an obvious mistake. According to the Construction Permit, the nighttime directional patterned called for the signal to be sent North, not South. So during transmitter testing, the engineers cranked up the power and sent the signal North, as specified according to the construction permit. This only lasted for two days. By that time, the Tribune Company had complained about nighttime interference from ".....another station...." and the FCC quickly issued a new Construction Permit, this time calling for the correct coordinates and directional pattern, 250 watts nighttime South. WRZN was not fined nor did it receive any sanctions since the FCC made the mistake and not the permit holder was only following specifications as they were written on the CP.
The station remained a "Pure Gold" format for about six months until management determined that a mix of adult standards, big bands, and ballads would be more conducive to the musical taste of the general area which was mainly made up of retirees. On Easter Sunday 1990, WRZN made the "big switch" to big bands and adult standards playing the tunes of Tommy Dorsey, Glen Miller, Tony Bennett, Frank Sinatra, Perry Como and many more standard favorites. Former band leader Gene Martin was brought in to revamp the music play list and introduce a new kind of swing time known as "Gene Martin’s Big Bands, Ballads and Blues" heard weekdays from 10AM to 1PM. Another local favorite was Pete Mallon and his afternoon "Serenade of big band tunes from the 30s and 40s". The locals loved it!
Another big name celebrity was brought in around 1991 when general manager Patricia Brinker approached former NBC game show host and the original Jeopardy! host, Art Flemming, to host a program called "Senior America", a show about active lifestyles for seniors, and Flemming also was co-host of "Studio 720 with Art Flemming and Patricia Brinker", an issues oriented program focusing on political and public affairs matters. Flemming had retired to the area a few years earlier, and was a big hit on the radio airwaves until his death in the mid 1990s. 
Today, WRZN remains a big hit with the senior crowd, broadcasting the hits from the past five decades, and covering Central Florida from the Gulf to Tampa, to Orlando and Jacksonville.
In July of 1992 WRZN radio was knocked off the air by a lightning strike. The strike, damaged some equipment and parts had to be flown in from California. Station Manager Beverly Bricker said the station expects to resume regular programming within a couple of days.

Names in WRZN History
Frank Watson-1989-2001-President, Owner, 
Clay Brinker-1989-2001-Vice President and co-owner
Patricia Brinker-1991-1997-General Manager/Host of a call-in public affairs program called "Studio 720"
Dave Tyler-1997-"Dave Tyler and the Sunshine Club"
Gene Martin-host of "Big Bands, Ballads and Blues" and "Sunshine Serenade"
Andy Blackburn-Morning Show producer



Art Flemming-1991-1994, former host of NBC's Jeopardy!-"Senior America"





Tony Downes-weekends Biography

Lane Shepard-Operations Manager
Robert Young-2001-2002-Market Manager 
Jim Brand-2001-2003-Program Director
Linda Tillery-General Sales Manager
Mark Smucker-Director of Engineering
Pete Mallon-1991-1996-host, "PM in the AM" 
Tom Hunt-2003-2004-General Manager, 
Jake Russell-2001-2004, Vice President, 
James Morrell-2001-Present-CEO 
Eric Jewell-2004-Present-General Manager
Steve Bowman-Co-Host-"American Insurance Advisors"
Francois Coutea-Co-host-"American Insurance Advisors"
Dr. Michael Lange-Host-"Ask the Doctor" (eye-care) 
Don Bruce
Don Kennedy
Vivian Adams
Randy McCoy-General Manager
Joan Becker-1996-Sales Manager
Linda Tilley-General Sales Manager
Dick Locke-Co-host of "Locke N' Load" talk show
Roni Thompson-Co-host of "Locke N' Load" talk show
"Big Daddy'' Don Garlits-1997-the station's official celebrity spokesperson
Bill Miller-Engineer
Beverly Bricker-Station Manager 
Gene Martin-Music Director/ "Big Bands, Ballads and Blues" morning show/"Sunshine Serenade"

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