WVAS Turns 39!

WVAS's Candy Capel (photo credit: David Campbell/ASU).

WVAS Celebrates its 39th Anniversary Thursday (June 15) With Live Jazz & More; an Exciting, Live, On-air, Jazz-jamming Extravaganza!

By Kenneth Mullinax/ASU

The 39th anniversary celebration of WVAS-FM, the “Voice of Alabama State University,” takes place this Thursday (June 15) with the launch of the station’s “Live at Lunch” series. The event begins at noon and continues into the afternoon with the sounds of acclaimed jazz saxophonist Sam Williams, who will be joined by a cohort of some of Alabama's most celebrated musicians. WVAS station manager, Candy Capel, explains the celebration will be an exciting, live, on-air, jazz-jamming extravaganza.

“We are thrilled for the University's FM 90.7 radio station to be present, to be relevant, and to continue to be an integral part of the community's musical repertoire after 39 years on the air,” Capel said. “From its humble beginnings of only 25,000 watts in 1984 to its present day as a broadcasting giant of 80,000 watts, our WVAS has forged a path of broadcasting excellence.”

ABOUT THE STATION

Alabama State University’s WVAS-FM 90.7 radio station has maintained its popularity as one of the premier music and news centers serving listeners in 17 Alabama counties. Known for its diverse jazz and blues jazz playlist, WVAS also focuses on impactful station-hosted CommUniversity events, such as non-partisan political debates, town-hall meetings, veterans panels, mental health outreach and music festivals. The station partnered with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department to create the popular "Halloween Spooktacular."

The WVAS news department provides award-winning coverage of daily community and campus events, as well as major historical events such as the 50th anniversary of the Selma to Montgomery March. 

“The importance of WVAS to Alabama State University and its students cannot be emphasized enough,” Capel exclaims. “It is a source of pride for us to celebrate the many accomplishments of O' Mother Dear on a daily basis. It is also a privilege for WVAS to serve as the training ground for decades of students from the ASU Department of Communications and to be able to provide hands-on experiences, which enhance their ability to graduate and obtain gainful employment. We are exceptionally proud that many of our students have gone on to important and highly visible roles in the communications industry.”

EVENTS AND UPGRADES

On Thursday, station officials will give details about several strategic initiatives, including plans for the return of “Jazz on the Grass” during the 2023 Labor Day weekend and more of its “Live at Lunch” musical series. 

Thursday’s 39th anniversary celebration also will serve as a precursor to a larger event that the station is planning for its 40th anniversary in 2024. 

WVAS is also preparing for the installation of new radio broadcasting equipment and the return of its student-managed HD radio channel known as "Bama State Radio."

"Listeners may enjoy the debut of ‘Live at Lunch’ on Thursday, June 15, beginning at noon on 90.7 FM, as well by the live stream at www.wvasfm.org or via apps, such as TuneIn Radio," Capel stated. "Our June 15 event is both about sharing wonderful jazz music live from our on-campus studio and sharing the details of what promises to be a bountiful listing of station formats and programming. This week's event marks a time of incredible music and programming. We hope the Hornet Nation and the general public will join us by listening on their radios." 

News media contact: Kenneth Mullinax, 334-229-4104.

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