WOBR_Beach 95_1992_1

WOBR FM first applied for a construction permit, the first for an FM radio station on the Outer Banks, on 9/24/1979. It was granted its FCC license on 2/17/1981.

Early years of programming WOBR FM are somewhat hazy. Not much is written about what it sounded like until a Richmond, VA, radio voice decided that the Outer Banks had the right vibe, moved to Roanoke Island, NC, and took over the music management of Beach 95.

From then on, John Harper's vision of what a relaxing, yet hip FM station would sound like began to take shape.

I got there in the summer of 1992, seven years after John stood up this historic 1st on the OBX. He had taken what could be termed "soft AC" into a different direction. Before the industry term "Americana", or "AAA", John was already forging new grounds with his adds each week.

If it had been a rotation by any other programmer, I wouldn't have left Rock 105 for my next adventure. The 2 stations shared a lot of music overlap, and that was good enough for me. Plus the fact that I loved the crew, I lived on a white sand resort, and I was playing Ocean Blue, Annie Lennox, The Doobies, and World Party. It was a great experience.