Senate Resolution No. 2120
BY: Senator BROUK
COMMEMORATING the 50th Anniversary of WDKX-FM
103.9, Rochester, New York
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that the quality
and character of life in this great Empire State is indelibly enriched
by the faithful and untiring efforts of those individuals who have
helped shape the history of broadcasting in their area; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
commemorate the 50th Anniversary of 103.9 WDKX-FM 103.9, Rochester, New
York; and
WHEREAS, In the 1960s, Andrew Langston (1927-2010) moved from
Brooklyn to Rochester, New York, with his wife and son, Gloria Langston
and Andre Marcel Langston; he was promised a new job at WROC-TV which
was denied after the family relocated to their new home; and
WHEREAS, The Monroe County Broadcasting Company also formed a
corporation in 1968 to compete for the available FM frequency 103.9 in
Monroe County, Rochester, New York; and
WHEREAS, That rejection from economic prosperity was the catalyst
for the beginning of the story about a Black man who persevered and
introduced the Rochester-based radio station, WDKX, in 1974; and
WHEREAS, WDKX commenced broadcasting on April 6, 1974 at 5:30 AM and
has been broadcasting 24 hours a day, seven days a week ever since;
Andrew guided the station through the early and lean years that
threatened its existence by establishing the radio station as a pillar
of the community; WDKX has the distinction of being under the same
ownership since its inception and is one of two remaining urban stations
in the state of New York; and
WHEREAS; W stands for radio stations located east of the Mississippi
River; D stands for Frederick Douglass; K stands for Martin Luther King,
Jr.; and X stands for Malcolm X; and
WHEREAS, Throughout the past five decades, WDKX has flourished and
broadened its programming, becoming more popular with increasing support
from the community; and
WHEREAS, WDKX is the only remaining Black-owned commercial radio
station in New York State and one of only a few in the country; and
WHEREAS, Having previously received the first ever Pioneer Award
from the Rochester Radio Broadcasters Hall of Fame, Andrew A. Langston,
founder, owner, and general manager of 103.9 WDKX FM, was among the
inaugural inductees into the New York State Broadcasters Associations
Hall of Fame in June 2014; and
WHEREAS, Andre Marcel Langston has honored his parents by preserving
and perpetuating their dream; today, under his leadership, WDKX-FM 103.9
is part of the Rochester Music Hall of Fame and the broadcasting center
sits on the street near East Avenue and Main Street named after its
visionary founder; and
WHEREAS, Andria Marcella Marie Langston is the granddaughter of the
late Andrew and Gloria Langston; she possesses both a business degree
and a master's in marketing, which have played a pivotal role in
transforming the radio station into an entity that transcends
traditional terrestrial radio; and
WHEREAS, The station currently places first in Arbitron ratings of
under-35 listeners, both urban and suburban, and has ranked second
overall in the Rochester market and first among music stations in recent
ratings surveys; furthermore, the station has a wide-ranging playlist,
from classic soul to current hip hop and R&B; WDKX 103.9 is known for
the popular Memory Lane radio program on Saturday mornings; and
WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to pay tribute to
those illustrious broadcasters who have diligently and consistently,
year after year, recorded the history of their communities and brought
local news and news of the larger world to their listeners; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 50th Anniversary of WDKX-FM 103.9, Rochester, New York;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to WDKX-FM 103.9, Rochester, New York.
