WBLX-FM

WBLX-FM (92.9 MHz, "93BLX") is an American urban contemporary music-formatted radio station that serves Mobile, Lower Alabama, and Pensacola, Florida. The station has served the Gulf Coast for more than 50 years. Owned by Cumulus Media, its studios are on Dauphin Avenue in Midtown Mobile, and its transmitter is near Robertsdale, Alabama.

WBLX-FM
Broadcast areaLower Alabama/Florida Panhandle
Frequency92.9 MHz (HD Radio)
Branding93BLX
Programming
FormatUrban contemporary
AffiliationsPremiere Networks
Ownership
Owner
WABD, WDLT-FM, WGOK, WXQW
History
First air date
October 1, 1973 (1973-10-01)
Former call signs
WBLX (1973-1988)[1]
Call sign meaning
BLaX (a play on "Blacks", its target audience; see KBLX)
Technical information
Facility ID2540
ClassC
ERP98,000 watts
HAAT520.5 meters (1,708 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
30°36′45″N 87°38′43″W
Links
WebcastListen live
Websitethebigstation93blx.com

The station was assigned the WBLX-FM call letters by the Federal Communications Commission on July 4, 1988.[1] In 2006, WBLX began broadcasting in IBOC digital radio, using the HD Radio system from iBiquity.

History

WBLX began in October 1973 as FM counterpart to gospel station WMOO (1550 AM). As WBLX, with the CHUrban format and then as an Urban Contemporary format, has been one of the market's leading stations with the same calls and format for 45 years. In 1998, Cumulus acquired competitor WDLT-FM, and skewed it to being an Urban Adult Contemporary. This has allowed WBLX to skew its programming towards a younger audience as a Mainstream Urban. For many years, WBLX also carried "The Beat of the Bay 93BLX!" and "93BLX Jamz!" brandnames, however in 2000 they changed their current slogan to "The Big Station 93BLX".

Cumulus Broadcasting began upgrading its stations to HD Radio broadcasting in 2005. One of the first ten stations to be upgraded was WBLX-FM.[2]

WBLX is one of the most powerful radio stations in the Gulf region. It can be heard from New Orleans, Montgomery, AL, South Georgia, Panama City, Fl, and 100 miles out in the Gulf of Mexico.

Personnel
  • E.J. Greig - Program Director
  • Steve Harvey - Morning Show Host
  • DJ Blayze - Air Personality/Mixer
  • Nick @ Night - Air personality
  • Janice More - Gospel Show host
  • Mz.Baldy - Air Personality

Past Hosts
  • Chris Holiday - Known as "Hollywood" Holiday
  • Ray Ray - Ray Ray was part of the morning show on 93 BLX.
  • Nina Rawz - Nina Rawz was an on-air personality at 93 BLX and participated in interviews and segments on the station.
  • Dirty Dan - Dirty Dan participated in events such as the "Battle of the DJs" in 2011.

Shorty Bop (Midget Sean): Radio Personality and Community Icon (In Memoriam)

Shawn "Midget Sean" Harris, AKA Shorty Bop, was a beloved member of the Mobile, Alabama community and made a significant impact through his work as a radio personality on the fleeting series “Lame 2 Fame” with Chris Holiday and Hot Boy Ronald in 2007.[3] The series, which aired on WBLX-FM, featured radio personalities and local celebrities, Midget Sean and Hot Boy Ronald, showcasing their talents and sharing their comedic talents with the community. Sean's distinctive voice and engaging personality made him a popular figure among listeners for years to come. In addition to his work on the radio, he also participated in YouTube skits with Hot Boy, further showcasing their talents & sense of humor. You can find one of their skits on YouTube under the title, “The Adventures of Hot Boy & Shorty Bop”.[4]


Midget Sean is also known for his role as the Crichton Leprechaun,[5] a supposed sighting of a leprechaun in a tree in Crichton, a neighborhood of Mobile, Alabama.[6] In 2014, The Bob and Dan Show on KTCK 1310 The Ticket in Dallas conducted a field investigation and numerous witnesses identified the Crichton Leprechaun as "Midget Shawn". He recounted the story as a prank played on the local community in which he dressed in a leprechaun suit and climbed a tree while his friends alerted others about a leprechaun sighting. The original video that aired on WPMI-TV can be found on YouTube. As of 2023, the original video has over 28 million views.[7]


In March of 2023, according to April Killian’s article on NewsBreak.com, “Where Are They Now, Alabama? The Alabama Leprechaun And The Story Behind The Viral Video,” the information about Midget Sean’s passing was first discovered through a comment left on YouTube by a relative of “Midget Sean” stating that he had died in 2022.[8] This information was later confirmed by an online obituary for Shawn Duquay Harris[9] and also Midget Sean's personal Facebook page. Shawn Harris died on July 31st, 2022.[10]

References
  1. "Call Sign History". FCC Media Bureau CDBS Public Access Database.
  2. Harnett, Mary Beth (2006-04-24). "Harris Corporation Announces Multi-Deal Agreement as Exclusive HD Radio(TM) Supplier to Cumulus Broadcasting". EE Times.
  3. Lame 2 Fame, retrieved 2023-08-20
  4. The Adventures of Hot Boy & Shorty Bop, retrieved 2023-08-20
  5. "The Crichton Leprechaun: Identity Revealed". wafflesatnoon.com. 2015-03-17. Retrieved 2023-08-20.
  6. The original Crichton Leprechaun news story from LOCAL 15 News, WPMI, retrieved 2023-08-20
  7. Leprechaun in Mobile, Alabama, retrieved 2023-08-20
  8. The REAL Story Behind The Alabama Leprechaun, retrieved 2023-08-20
  9. "Shawn Duquay Harris 2022, death notice, USA". United States Obituary Notice | 2022. 2022-08-09. Retrieved 2023-08-20.
  10. "Shawn Harris Obituary - Mobile, Alabama". Legacy.com. 2022-08-02. Retrieved 2023-08-20.
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