Our Hosts
While the eclectic, irreverent style of AM 1690 remains consistent through the day, each of our hosts brings their own unique personality to their programs.
Our History
The brainchild of local businessman Joe Weber, “The Voice of the Arts” debuted in Atlanta in 1997 on 1190-AM, WGKA. With an eclectic playlist that ranged from Beethoven to Roll Over Beethoven – and everything in between – WGKA provided the local radio scene with an important, hitherto unfilled niche that Atlantans of all stripes soon came to adore.
After a successful three-year run, WGKA was sold to Salem Media of Georgia, a Christian-based company that adopted a gospel music format in lieu of the “Voice of the Arts.” Lamenting the loss of a station with the kind of variety that was found at WGKA, Weber embarked on a search for a new home for “The Voice of the Arts.” The search came to an end in June of 2004, when Weber’s company, JW Broadcasting, purchased AM1160, WMLB from Corey Entertainment.
Since October 2004, AM1160 has gradually transitioned to “The Voice of the Arts,” an eclectic mix of classical, jazz, folk and rock music, along with comedy segments, interviews and book readings—thus filling the void created by the sale of WGKA and ending a four year drought in quality programming in Atlanta radio. With the addition of an on-air staff comprised of top-notch local luminaries, including veteran actor Larry Larson, symphony cellist Helen Kopec (A carry-over from the old WGKA) and vocalist, bass-player and bandleader Scott Glazer, AM1160 is truly “The Voice of the Arts” in Atlanta.
And now in 2007, AM1690 – “The Voice of the Arts” in its current incarnation, is an even more powerful advocate for the arts. With the move up the dial, AM1690 is now able to provide greater coverage to the Atlanta market and a better signal during the morning and evening hours. As Atlanta radio’s “reference book” for culture and entertainment, we’ve quickly become the station to tune to for information about upcoming events of significance in the Metro’s ever-growing arts community.
Here’s a list of just a few of the artists whose work you might hear on any given day:
Al Jolson, Amazing Rhythm Aces, Artie Shaw, Bach, Benny Goodman, Billy Joel, Bob & Ray, Bob Dylan, Chopin, Chuck Berry, Diane Ross, Dion and the Belmonts, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Gene Autry, George Gershwin, Gordon Lightfoot, Gordon MacRae, Guissepe Verdi, Gustav Mahler, Hank Williams, Haydn, James Brown, Joan Baez, Klezmer Conservatory Ensemble, Louis Armstrong, Luciano Pavarotti, Mel Brooks, Mendelssohn, Miles Davis, Patsy Cline, Paul Robeson, Ray Charles, Rogers and Hammerstein, Roy Acuff, Schumann, Sidney Bechet, Sidney Robinson, Spencer Davis, The Beatles, Tony Bennett
