WHTQ-FM 96.5 
Orlando

Original Call Letters: WHOO

Originally Licensed: 1948  

Original City of  License: Orlando

Original Frequency: 96.5

Origin of Call Letters: 

Original Power: 100,000 watts 

Original Location: 

Original Format: Rock


Network Affiliation(s):


Premiere Radio Networks


Owner(s):
1987-TK Communications  ($12 million)
1994-Granum Communications  ($11.5 million)
1996-Infinity Broadcasting Corp.
1997-Cox Broadcasting


History Of Call Letters and Formats: 


WHOO-1952-Beautiful Music (First stereo station in Central Florida)
WHOO-1984-Country "96 Country"
WHTQ-1987-Rock  "Q96"
WHTQ-1993-Classic Rock
WHTQ-2011-Rock "Orlando's Best Rock"
WDBO-2011-Simulcast of WDBO-AM 580


History Of WHTQ  
At midnight Monday, March 1, 1987, WHOO-FM changed its call letters to WHTQ and abandoned its country format. Listeners to WHTQ heard non-stop Beatles songs. The marathon was well-timed, coinciding with the release the week prior of the first Beatles CDs. But it was begun only as an interim program. WHTQ general manager Jim Jordan described the station's upcoming format as ''adult rock''.
On August 15, 2011, Cox announced that the rock format would be replaced by a simulcast of WDBO-AM 580. 


Fallout At WHTQ      8-18-11
With the WDBO-AM 580 simulcast replacing the rock format of WHTQ-FM 96.5 Program Director Fleetwood Gruver along with mid-day host Slats (Tim Guinane) and night guy Buckley all left the station. 


WHTQ Personalities

"Slats" (Tim  Guinane)-1987-1988-1st jock hired for PM Drive-TK Communications/2010-3-7pm Sundays/2011-Mid-days-Cox Broadcasting  Biography
Aug 2011-With the WDBO-AM 580 simulcast replacing the rock format of WHTQ-FM 96.5 Slats left the station.

Tommy Griffiths-1987-Morning Co-host-TK Communications

Paul Castronovo-1987-Morning Co-host-TK Communications 

Rick Bavic-1987-Evenings-TK Communications
Dave Culp-1987-1989-TK Communications



Annie Sommers (Mari Ann Sollom)-1989-1991-Music Director/Afternoons/Interim Program Director-TK Communications  In Memory


Gary Van Allen (Gary Warne)-1990-1997-Creative Advertising Manager/Air Talent-TK Communications/Radio Orlando L.P.

Jim Steel-1991-Program Director/Mid-days-TK Communications  



Melissa Foxx (Laurie Turner)-1992-TK Communications  Biography



Mark Samansky-1995-Afternoons-Granum Communications Biography  In Memory



"Cap'n" Chris Hill-1995-1997-Granum Communications Biography

Alan Spector-2001-2008-News/Morning show producer-Cox Broadcasting
 Alan along with Dixon and Willoughby were let go in Nov 2008 to make room for Bubba the Love Sponge


Richard Dixon and J. Willoughby-2006-2008-Mornings-Cox Broadcasting 
 Dixon and Willoughby along with Alan Spector were let go in Nov 2008 to make room for Bubba the Love Sponge 

Ken Carson-Program Director
Frank Vaught  In Memory


Al Spry-Air talent/Promotions Assistant  Biography
Pete Bunch

Chris Rhoads



Jeff Slater-Morning show producer  Biography



Bob Rose


Dave Adams Biography

Bruce Cherry-Program Director

David "Rat boy" Brinn


Chris Rhoades-9AM-3PM

Ron Andrews

Bill Cross-Promotions Director 

Elise Rossi



Nikki (Nicole Creston)-Saturday-10AM-5PM


Buckley
 Aug 2011-With the WDBO-AM 580 simulcast replacing the rock format Buckley left the station.



Pat Shelton



Hildi

Erin Somers

Mike Lyons-Evenings  In Memory

Joe Jackson



Tyler McKenzie Biography

Kevin Baldinger-Traffic Biography

Barry Bennett-Program Director

Pat Lynch Biography

John Hamilton
“Snake” (Max Goldberg)-Nights
Craig Williams
T.C. McGuire


Other Names In WHTQ History

John Tenaglia-1987-TK Communications

Dave Gariano-1987-Program Director-TK Communications

Herb McCord-1994-President/CEO-Granum Communications 

Steve Fluker-1995-Chief Engineer-Granum Communications

Debbie Morel-1996-Vice President/General Manager-Cox Broadcasting


Fleetwood Gruver-1996-Operations Manager/2003-Interim Program Director/Program Director
Aug 2011-With the WDBO-AM 580 simulcast replacing the rock format of WHTQ-FM 96.5 Fleetwood left the station.

Tim Boisch-1997-General Sales Manager-Cox Broadcasting

Bruce McGregor-1998-2003-Program Director-Cox Broadcasting

Greg Stevens-2003-Program Director-Cox Broadcasting

Shane Reeve-2008-General Sales Manager-Cox Radio

J.C. Campese-2000-Marketing Director-Cox Broadcasting  

Ron Lewis-Production Director

Brian Krysz-Program Director 

J.T. Stevens-Program Director

Mark Warlaumont-General Manager 


Other Programs in WHTQ History




John Boy & Billy



Bubba the Love Sponge-2009-2011


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