Erin C. Perkins
Staff Reporter

Walking into the building of WPAQ was like taking a stroll through the past for those who dropped by the local radio station Friday for a tour of its facilities.

The 60-year-old station opened its doors to the community yesterday as part of its Blue Ridge Spotlight Talent Show set to begin today at 2 p.m. at the Mount Airy High School auditorium. The show will be hosted in memory of Ralph Epperson, the founder of the radio station who was recently inducted into the Blue Ridge Musical of Fame. Epperson died in 2006.

* Epperson’s son, Kelly Epperson, along with his staff, greeted and guided those from the community through the building as part of an effort to share and celebrate the station’s legacy and memories.

“We have an open door policy here,” said Epperson, who owns the station. “We’ve always wanted to give the public knowledge of the area’s roots and heritage.”

While he was digging through the station’s files and storage in preparation for the guided tour, Epperson said he unearthed some vintage treasures he was eager to share with those who visited.

Inside Studio A, where thousands of musicians throughout the years have jump-started their career playing live, Epperson had set up small displays of some of the station’s oldest pieces.

A collection of vintage microphones, scripts, program logs and schedules and dozens of photos circled the studio.

“This is sacred ground,” Epperson said as he slowly cracked open the door to the studio, revealing a large room with instruments, mics, sound boxes and photographs. “Thousands of musicians have performed in here. There were many careers that were started here.”

Since it was founded in 1948 by Epperson’s father, WPAQ has hosted “Merry-Go-Round,” a live radio program that’s broadcast every Saturday morning from the Downtown Cinema Theatre. The program, which is also available online, features local and regional musicians.

While the program is the second-longest running one of its type in the nation—”The Grand Ole Opry” being first—it is one of several programs and features that helped shaped the station.

“My father was very big on the Christian programming,” Epperson said as he pointed to two programs on a 1948 program log that still run today on the station—Worship and Devotional. “He wanted the listeners to be exposed to it.”

Another part of WPAQ’s appeal to listeners and musicians has been providing opportunities for blue grass, old time and gospel musicians to be heard.

Disc jockey Brent Carrick said it’s not unusual for bands or musicians to stop by to deliver an album or CD, and end up performing on the spot live.

“We’re all about spontaneity here,” he said with a smile.

Epperson agreed.

“We always wanted to provide an outlet for community expression,” Epperson said. “This station is all about people, daddy wanted to make this a community radio station. We wouldn’t be what we are if it wasn’t for the musicians who touch people with their songs, and the preaching. My dad gave everyone an opportunity.”

WPAQ’s openness to playing local music is what kept the members of the band, Mountain Road Bluegrass Gospel, fans of the station for years, and also why they visited for a tour.

“We’ve played and sang here live before, “ said Beverly Markland , who admitted she had only been in Studio A and was excited to see the rest of building. “I enjoy the variety of music as well as the traditional music.”

Jesse Needham, another member of the band, said he agreed with Markland, and added that it is one of his choice stations.

“I’ m glad that (Epperson) hasn’t changed what Ralph did,” he said. “He’s doing what his daddy would’ve wanted.”

While giving a tour in the control room during a broadcast, Epperson stopped briefly for a “spontaneous” live broadcast.

Watching visitors peered into the station from the glass windows of the room, Epperson thanked his father and the community for supporting the station and its efforts to provide traditional music and gospel programming. He added that he wanted to carry on his father’s tradition of maintaining a “community radio station” for the area.

“I’m carrying my dad on my shoulders,” Epperson told listeners as he leaned into the mic. “My dad turned me onto Jesus and the radio.”

via MtAiryNews.com