First Washington D.C. area radio station to broadcast in stereo. The Bethesda based station 102.3 FM took its name from High Fidelity Stereo. The early format included pop, classical, and jazz.
After a couple owners and locations, Jacob ‘Jake’ Einstein came aboard as GM and co-owner in 1967. By 1969 WHFS had transformed into a free-form style rock station playing progressive and modern music. Local radio legends Don Colwell aka ‘Cerphe’ and Jonathan Gilbert aka ‘Weasel’ began their careers at WHFS in the early ‘70s. Other personalities during the ‘70s and ‘80s included Damian Einstein, David Einstein, Bob Showacre aka ‘Bob Here’, Neci, Ty Ford, Diane Divola, Tom Grooms, Don Grossinger, Adele Abrams, Susan Desmarais…
Jake Einstein sold WHFS in 1983 but retained the call letters, and with the proceeds bought Annapolis stations WNAV-AM and WLOM-FM. Local resident and “Wheel of Fortune” TV game show host Pat Sajak later owned WNAV. Einstein transformed the higher power WLOM 99.1-FM into a new WHFS and continued with the progressive and cutting-edge music format. In 2005 WHFS abruptly switched formats to a Spanish language radio. Some of the staff later re-emerged on WRNR. Gilbert later hosted “Weasel’s Wild Weekend” on WTMD.
WHFS helped to establish careers of many up-and-coming national acts as well as supporting many local acts. The station featured the parody news show “The Daily Feed,” “Take One” local showcase show hosted by Weasel and Adele, “Thor’s Bluegrass” show hosted by DJ Thor that featured live studio broadcasts by groups including local band The Seldom Scene and others, the Sunday “Reggae Splashdown” hosted by Tom Terrell, “Now Hear This” hosted by Dave Marsh…
Beginning in 1990 the station hosted the annual HFStival, usually held at RFK Stadium, featuring national and local groups.
