Baltimore’s first Top-40 FM station. 92.3 was once known as WSID-FM playing R&B music. WLPL-92.3FM (W–Land of Pleasant Living) continued to play Top-40 music until switching to an all rock format in the late ‘70s. The station featured Dick Lyons, Jim Tice, Randy Hilton, Ritchie Steele (aka Ernie Berger of rock band The Stratfords), Ed Osborne (‘70-72 -moved to WCBS-FM New York), Stanley B (mid-’70s), Lou Collins (Colin Lewis – BIM graduate later moved on to WPOC), D.W. Slade, A.J. Oles (later with WITH), Joe Pachino, Kris Earl Phillips (‘75-80 – later with WBSB in ‘80s), Scott Fitzgerald (‘74-79 and later went on to WITH, WBSB, WGRX, WOCT…), John Panzarella aka Johnny Panz, Rob Sidney, Euclid Coukouma, “The Smoker”…
A 1975 line-up included Jay Cleaver (12-6:AM), Lou Kreiger (6-10:AM), Casey Jones (10-3:PM), Gary Michaels (3-7:PM), and Kris Earl Phillips (7-midnight).
Stanley B later became a promotion man for MCA Records. Throughout the ‘80s-00s he has worked at several Delaware stations as announcer and Program Director.
WLPL bumper stickers courtesy Jay Trotta collection
In September 1981 the station became known as WYST – “92 Star” with a soft rock format and featured Baltimore broadcasting legend Jack Edwards, along with the Flying Dutchman (ex-WFBR), Sean Casey, J. Michael Wilson, Wendy Corey, Frank Brady… Program Director J.J. Marshall, and Station Manager John Columbus.
In the late ‘90s the station became known as WERQ (92Q or 92QJams) playing urban contemporary music. Personalities included Frank Ski, Bruce Collier, Troy Johnson, Dave ‘The Wave’, Lil’ Black, Dre Johnson, Kelson, Porkchop, Squirrel Ryde, Konan, Ladawn Black, Konan, Rickey Smiley, Kiki Brown…
