WRTC-FM
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| City of license | Hartford |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Hartford |
| Frequency | 89.3 (MHz) |
| First air date | Feb. 26, 1947 |
| Format | Diversified |
| ERP | 300 watts, Stereo |
| HAAT | 29 meters |
| Class | A |
| Facility ID | 68255 |
| Transmitter coordinates | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
| Callsign meaning | W Radio Trinity College |
| Former frequencies | 620 kc. (1947–1949) 550 kc. (1949-1950) 620 kc. (1950-1956) |
| Owner | Trinity College |
| Website | www |
WRTC-FM is a non-commercial FM radio station based in Hartford, Connecticut, which primarily serves the metropolitan Hartford market.[1]
WRTC broadcasts a diverse format featuring nearly 60 weekly programs —ranging from rock, jazz, Caribbean, Latin and soul to hip hop, funk, gospel, blues and Broadway.
The station can be found on the dial at 89.3 MHz.
Background
Since its on-air debut on Feb. 26, 1947, WRTC has taken pride in providing innovative, community-based programming. It was one the first stations in the Hartford area to play rock music and today, airs more than 40 hours a week of a wide range of rock styles.
Music format
In the 1970s, Alien Rock was one of the first programs in the state to introduce progressive, art and punk rock to listeners. Although there’s less of the progressive and art rock on the air today — once a mainstay during the heady 1970s — it still has a place at WRTC, but so too does everything from alternative, punk, techno, house, indie and of course, AOR offerings.
WRTC boasts more than 30 hours of jazz programming each week with styles running the gamut, as do the personalities of the hosts -- be it conventional straight-ahead, hard bop, fusion, modern or smooth/cool.
When it comes to Caribbean programming and styles thereof, WRTC has the most in the state.[citation needed] Be it roots reggae, ska, dancehall, rocksteady, zouk, lovers rock, compas, bomba, reggaeton, calypso, soca or merengue, a diverse mix of hosts provides nearly 20 hours of Caribbean sounds each week.
Over the years, interviews with Black Uhuru, Buju Banton, Ken Boothe, Dennis Brown, Jimmy Cliff, Beres Hammond, The Heptones, Luciano, Freddie McGregor, Sizzla, Junior Marvin, Maxi Priest, Shabba Ranks, Shaggy, Toots & the Maytals, the late Bob Marley’s sons, Julian, Ky-Mani and Stephen, Yellowman.
Since 2006, the station has broadcast the Trinity Samba Fest from the Hartford waterfront featuring regional and international talent.[2] [3] [4]
Soul, funk and blues music gets thorough attention at the station. Midweek, the station features World O’ Funk, a long-running program features material rooted in the foundations of funk to present-day artists.
Leaning heavily on George Clinton’s Parliament and Funkedelic line-ups as well as the horn-laden godfather of soul, James Brown, there’s also no shortage of Sly & The Family Stone, Average White Band and Mandrill. Regular interviews with those who made it happen are part of the package.
Rounding out the genre, Saturday’s Greasy Tracks[5] is steeped in Southern soul, but always manages to mix in late-1960s and early-70s Brit blues stylists and extended acid jazz and fusion instrumentals. Since 2010, Greasy Tracks has presented an annual, single-day, Stax Records marathon of six or seven hours. The "Soulsville" special, believed to be the only program of its kind in the country, has featured interviews with 40-plus Stax-specific guests, including a veritable who’s who of southern soul greats: William Bell, Steve Cropper, Eddie Floyd, Wayne Jackson and David Porter among them.[6][7] [8]
Now airing more than 40 hours per week, the Thought Power block of programming debuted in the summer of 1975. It offered an Afrocentric theme merging jazz, R&B, fusion, funk and reggae, as well as Latin jazz and salsa. At the time, WRTC was one of only two area stations offering "black programming."
Tracing its origin back to the Black Experience block of programs, the formative years of Thought Power focused on public affairs concerns. It produced original, vibrant, educational programming and increased awareness of Afro-American culture.[9]
Every week-night brings a different spotlight on Latin programming as WRTC has it all, ranging from Latin contemporary music to salsa, merengue or bachata.
WRTC’s veteran sportscasters provide home-and-away coverage of the Bantams in NESCAC football action in the fall.
The station has long produced programs focusing on community affairs and currently feature The Community Talk Show, a bi-weekly panel discussion exploring topics ranging from social welfare, healthcare and politics to economic development, law enforcement and unemployment.
In 1996, WRTC carried the second presidential debate between incumbent Bill Clinton and challenger Bob Dole which was moderated by PBS NewsHour host Jim Lehrer in San Diego.
WRTC is owned by Trinity College.
References
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