As WRCP-FM
104.5 signed on in 1965 as WRCP-FM,the sister station to WRCP-AM, owned by Rust Craft, a
greeting card company. 104.5 simulcasted the MOR format of the AM station and continued to
simulcast when the station switched to a country format in 1967. In 1971, the station
commenced stereo operation and simulcasted WRCP AM during the day and separately programmed
country music at night.
As WSNI (the first time)
In 1977, WRCP became WSNI and began completely original programming with a unique "beautiful
country" format, while the AM continued with traditional country. Beautiful country was a
mix of original soft country hits and specially customized instrumental covers. By 1979, the
country music was phased out for traditional beautiful music via the syndicated FM 100 Plan.
In 1980, the station switched to an adult contemporary format, interspersed with occasional
pop standards, using the "Sunny 104" name for the first time. By 1982, WSNI evolved into a
more gold-based AC featuring Hy Lit and using the new slogan "Sunny 104 and a half - it's
the half that makes the difference." In 1983, Hy Lit moved to the AM operation and was
replaced by Don Cannon in the morning. Cannon and sidekick Dennis Malloy hosted the long-
running "Cannon and Malloy" morning show. Other WSNI announcers in the early 1980s included
Chris Guetta, Tony Mann, Viv Roundtree, Andre Gardner, Joe Simone and Vernon McKay. By the
late 1980s, the station changed its name to "Sunny 104.5," retaining the adult contemporary
format, but increasing the amount of current songs while severely limiting the oldies. By
1990, Cannon, Lit and Malloy had left. In April, the station dropped the softer '60s and
'70s music from its playlist to concentrate on '80s artists. The "Sunny" name was also
dropped.
As WYXR
On December 10, 1990 the call letters were changed to WYXR in an attempt to distance the
station further from the "Sunny" image and softer music. The station was now known as Hot AC
"Star 104.5" In 1996, the station leaned CHR (contemporary hit radio) still retaining the
Star name but was back to Hot AC by 1997.
As WLCE
On November 18, 1999, the station became known as "Alice 104.5" with new call letters WLCE.
The new format was described as "Rockin' Hits" of the '70s, '80s and '90s in an attempt to
challenge classic rock WMGK. By 2001, more current hits were added to the mix, and the
station leaned more towards a rock/hot AC sound. Also in 2001, after a series of earlier
mergers, the station came under the ownership of Clear Channel Communications.
As WSNI - again
On July 31, 2002, after stunting with a 24 hour loop of The Beatles' "Here Comes the Sun,"
104.5 flipped back to soft AC, reinstating the "Sunny 104.5" name (and eventually the WSNI
calls) abandoned 12 years earlier. This incarnation of Sunny was an AC oldies format
focusing on the '60s, '70s, and '80s. The new Sunny lasted just over four years.
On August 10, 2006, Sunny's sister station WJJZ 106.1 flipped from smooth jazz to a rhythmic
AC format. The Sunny format was dumped and 104.5 began a simulcast of this new station.
(Since 104.5 was delayed by several seconds from 106.1, this simulcast has been referred to
as a "shadowcast.")
As WUBA, WRFF
After 13 days of shadowcasting 106.1, 104.5 flipped to a Spanish language station known as
"Rhuma 104.5" with call letters WUBA. This was the first Spanish language station on FM in
Philadelphia. Due to low ratings, the format and calls were moved to 1480 AM on May 16, 2007. At that point, 104.5 became known as "Radio 104.5" with a rock format centered on modern rock from the 1990s, along with some '70s, '80s, and current product. New calls WRFF ("Radio one o Four Five") were assigned on May 23, 2007.
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