On November 1, 1927, radio brought a new voice to the Tampa Bay region when WSUN began broadcasting. The station joined WFLA in a shared-frequency arrangement, with the two stations taking turns on the air. At first, listeners could tune in for only a few hours each day, but the schedule expanded as broadcasting grew.
In 1930, WSUN moved its transmitter to Bayview on Tampa Bay and began using a pioneering directional antenna system. By 1941, it was operating full-time, seven days a week.
Radio would become more than a source of music and information. It could also give communities a place to hear voices and stories that were often overlooked by mainstream media.
In 1975, Gene Danzey launched WRXB 1590 AM, licensed to St. Pete Beach and recognized as Tampa Bay’s first Black-owned radio station. Danzey had worked at Tampa’s WTMP, where he became general manager, but his ambition was to own a station of his own. WRXB broadcast gospel and rhythm and blues across the region, including music by popular artists who had not yet reached mainstream audiences.
Danzey built the station with help from his children and former WTMP colleagues. WRXB also provided airtime to nonprofit groups and helped local voices reach listeners throughout Pinellas County and beyond.
From WSUN’s early shared broadcasts to WRXB’s role in Black radio, these stations reflect how broadcasting changed over time. Radio did more than transmit sound. It connected listeners to news, music, and community life, while creating space for voices that deserved to be heard.
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