Named in honor of the late Chick Webb, the station began operating with a 1,000-watt transmitter in 1955. From 1955 to the ‘90s WEBB AM 1360 was a prominent Jazz, Blues, and R&B station with its offices located at 3000 Druid Park Drive and studio at Clifton and Dennison Streets in Walbrook Junction.
In 1955 the new daytime station featured Claude ‘Buddy’ Young (ex-Baltimore Colt), Herb Kenny (ex-bass voice of the Ink Spots) was an announcer and Program Director, with Alan Freed’s syndicated program in the AM and PM hours. Personalities later in the ‘50s and ‘60s included ‘Smiley’ Wiley Daniels, Bob Matthews (who later went on to NBC News), Buddy Young, Ernie Boston, Les Royal, Eddie Morrison, Wild Child, Sammy Jay, Larry Dean, and Fred ‘Rockin’ Robin’ Robinson in the afternoons.
Above: WEBB survey sheet – May 1963 – Note The Royalettes at #14
#Right: WEBB ad August 1964
Eddie Morrison gained fame as the dance step caller on the national hit “The Madison” as recorded by the Ray Bryant Trio (Columbia 4-41628). He appeared at clubs as emcee including the Carnival Club.
The late ‘60s “WEBB Radio – 1360…Boss sound in our town” featured ‘Daddy-O – On the Patio’, Doug Douglas, ‘Bob Baker the Music Maker’, Joltin’ Joe Parker, Kitty Broady (gospel show), Champ Hagan, and Rockin’ Robin.
WEBB was owned by star R&B vocalist James Brown for 10 years (1969 to 1979) and was a major local station serving the black community. In 1973 the Moonman (Willie Bacote) came to Baltimore from WOOK, D.C. and held the late afternoon drive shift into the mid-’80s. He later returned to D.C. in the ‘90s and also broadcast on Baltimore’s WSID. The Moonman also hosted a TV dance program called “Soul of The City” which later became known as “The Dance Connection.” Other WEBB announcers during the ‘70s included Everett Dudley, ‘Diamond Jim’ Sears, Jaye Russell, Anthony…
The James Brown years were not without controversy and problems. In 1974 the station made local headlines as police monitored a talk show hosted by ex-police officer Russ Johnson. Law enforcement listening for criticisms of the police department and the commissioner claiming that Johnson used the program to advance militant causes. The station went through accusations of a payola scandal in 1975 that were never substantiated.
In May 1978 the FCC forced the station to shut down due to a history of loan defaults and various FCC violations. The station was subsequently purchased from James Brown by Dorothy Brunston in 1979. Don Brooks (ex-WWIN) came on as the new Program Director and personalities included Chuck Woodson (ex-WWIN), Randy Dennis, the Moonman (6-10AM), Pastor Naomi Durant (10-1PM), Johnny B (1-4PM), and Rockin’ Robin (4-7:15PM). Weekends featured Hot Rod, Sir Johnny-O, Henry Sampson, and Kelson ‘Chop Chop’ Fisher.
After retiring from WBGR in 1991, Maurice ‘Hot Rod’ Hulbert worked as WEBB station manager. After a time with the Ink Spots, Herb Kenny did a stint as an announcer at WEBB, later moving on to Washington D.C. and becoming a program director. Sean Spencer (aka DJ Spen) worked at WEBB as a teenager, later moving over to Magic 95.9FM.
In 1994 WEBB switched to a news and business talk show format. The new call letters became WHLP.
In the ‘00s AM-1360 was the home of WWLG – “Legends 1360” playing “American pop standards,” and featured the voice of former WCAO personality Robert C. Allen (R.C. Allen).
