Elvis impersonators promote new radio station

The News-Gazette.com
By Christine Des Garennes
Wednesday, April 15, 2009

You're not seeing things.

If you catch a flash of sequined pants and black-dyed hair in your rearview mirror, that really is Elvis, or at least, an Elvis impersonator.

The impersonators in town this week are part of a promotion of the newest radio station in town.

The Illini Radio Group on Tuesday launched a new oldies station, 97.9 FM and 94.5 HD-2.

On the play list: music from the late 1950s, '60s and '70s.

"We felt it's a niche that is currently underserved in the market. There hasn't been a station dedicated to '50s, '60s and '70s music in a while," said program director Jonathan Drake.

In 2005, the radio group changed the format on WKIO 92.5 FM from oldies music to 92.5 The Chief, which plays mostly music from the late '70s and '80s. The Chief has evolved to play what Drake called "classic hits."

WPXN 104.9 in Paxton also broadcasts some oldies music.

"This is an entirely new station. It's a little different because 97.9 didn't exist in this market as a solo signal," Drake said.

This new station covers most of Champaign County, he said.

If you have an HD radio, the station's music will be simulcast on 94.5 HD-2.

It's a syndicated format, with the station playing "True Oldies Channel" music with New York City-based radio personality Scott Shannon.

"It's a lot of fun, good-time music," Drake said.

Several years ago the radio group decided to shift away from the oldies format because it had fallen out of favor, Drake said. But now with the music having been gone for a while, perhaps "absence makes the heart grow fonder," he said.

The music started at 6 a.m. Tuesday, and the squad of Elvis impersonators will be canvassing area streets again today.

Article Source: http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2009/04/15/elvis_impersonators_promote_new_radio_station