Jesus Saves Ministries Blog: Capacity Crowd Witnesses WLOU FM Launch Celebration

Monday, January 23, 2012

Capacity Crowd Witnesses WLOU FM Launch Celebration

By: Min. Angela Lee Price

On Sunday, January 16th, an overflowing capacity audience of nearly 4,000 worshippers packed Canaan Christian Church to help celebrate the launch of Louisville’s new gospel fm radio station, Praize 104.7. The celebration, hosted by WLOU Radio featured Stellar Award-winning national gospel recording artist James Fortune & FIYA, Joe Leavell and One Purpose and BET Sunday's Best Season Two finalist Jonathan "Jon Jon" Johnson. WAVE-TV 3 anchor Dawn Gee, a WLOU alumnus, served as the mistress of ceremonies.

Fourth District Metro Councilman David Tandy presented WLOU/WLLV General Manager Bill Price with a certificate recognizing WLOU for more than 50 years of service, and for the launch of the new Praize 104.7.

“I want thank Russ Jones, President of Anchor Broadcasting for his continued support and belief in the community,” Bill Price stated. WLOU began simulcasting on FM on December 21st. Price also received plaques from his staff, and his family recognizing his legendary accomplishments in radio. “I’d also like to thank the staff for their continued commitment. I’d like to give special thanks to Purvis, Ms. Krystal and Jay Ford. I’d like to thank my wife who’s been involved with WLOU off and on for over 25 years, and my family for always staying by my side,” stated Price.

The launch celebration came just one day after WLOU won a Stellar Award for Mid Market Radio Station of the Year. The Stellar Gospel Music Awards is the first and only annual nationally-televised awards show honoring African American gospel music artists and broadcasters around the nation. The audience cheered when afternoon announcer Brodric Purvis presented the award on stage.

Canaan Christian Church Pastor Dr. Walter Malone welcomed the capacity audience seated in the main sanctuary and the church’s overflow sections. Bates Memorial Baptist Church Pastor Rev. F. Bruce Williams rendered the invocation and closing prayer, and Greater St. James AME Church Pastor Rev. Geoff Ellis gave remarks on behalf of the Interdemoninational Ministerial Coalition.

James Fortune and FIYA arrived freshed from the 2012 Stellar Award where they gave a stellar performance during the live taping scheduled to air on BET in February. Their performance of songs, "Still Able," "It Could Be Worse" from the new CD, Identity, and favorite, "I Trust You," from the sophomore CD, The Transformation, brought the standing-room only crowd to their feet. Fortune ministered of God's grace and delivering power, and shared testimony of a time when he and his wife were previously homelessness.

Brodric Purvis, James Fortune and Russ Jones with WLOU's Stellar Award

WLOU, one the oldest black-formatted AM radio stations in the nation began broadcasting in 1951, and counts local radio pioneer William E. Summers, III and Chicago-based Johnson Publishing Company founder John H. Johnson among previous owners.