In April 1948; 76 years ago (1948-04), the station signed on the air as WTAX-FM. It was Springfield's second FM station and the oldest continuously operating FM station in the market. (Currently, a station at 93.9 in Sherman, Illinois uses the WTAX-FM call sign. It is also owned by Saga Communications.)
In January 1972, WTAX-FM switched to Drake-Chenault's "Solid Gold" automated format, as WDBR. It was a mix of adult appeal Top 40 hits and rock Oldies. WDBR dropped "Solid Gold" in late 1973 and went to a locally programmed, voicetracked Top 40 sound, which proved successful in the ratings. During the 1970s and 1980s, WDBR was known by the moniker Music 104.
WDBR remained largely voicetracked until the early 1990s, when increased competition and faltering ratings forced the station, by then owned by Sentry Insurance, to go fully live, after which the station regained its position as a dominant force in Springfield Top 40 radio. The team included: Gregory Lawley, Lisa Crocker, and Patrick Gordon mornings, Bobby T. middays, Jim Moore Afternoons, and Rick Elliott nights with the original "Hot 9 at 9". Rick also hosted the "Dance Machine" on Fox TV affiliate WRSP-TV.
WDBR's tower (shared with sister station WTAX 1240 AM), in operation since 1949, was destroyed by a tornado during the severe weather outbreak of March 2006. The stations soon resumed broadcasting from a new tower at a new location.
HD Radio
On October 2, 2013, Adult Hits ABE FM was moved from 93.9 FM to WDBR-HD2 and also transmitted on 101.1 FM (W266BZ-FM) to create 101.1 ABE FM. On January 29, 2016, 101.1 ABE FM flipped to classic country as "101.1 The Outlaw".[3]
Additional HD subchannels were added playing 1960s-70s oldies (Pure Oldies 107.5) and 1980s-90s classic hits (Rewind 93.5).
