WKKD (AM)

The station was originally owned by Chicago area radio announcer, emcee, and engineer Russell G. Salter, and began broadcasting on September 21, 1960.[9][1] The station initially ran 250 watts during daytime hours only with a three tower directional pattern towards Aurora.[10][3][11]

The station began simulcasting on 95.9 WKKD-FM on February 12, 1961.[12] Bill Blough hosted a country music program in the station's first years.[13][14][15] Chicago weathercaster Tom Skilling began his career at WKKD, c. 1966, while he attended High School in Aurora.[16] By 1968, the simulcast had ended.[12] WKKD 1580 would air an easy listening format.[11]

In 1973, the station's callsign was changed to WFVR, standing for "Fox Valley Radio", and the station adopted a country music format.[10][17]

By 1979, the station had adopted an adult contemporary-MOR format.[18][19]

In 1983, the station's callsign was changed back to WKKD and it became part of a partial simulcast with WKKD-FM, while continuing to air an adult contemporary format.[4][20][21] On October 3, 1986, the station was granted a construction permit to broadcast during nighttime hours.[22]

By 1988, the station had begun airing an oldies format branded as "Pure Gold".[23][24] By 1989, the station had begun nighttime operations.[24][25] In 1993, WKKD-FM began simulcasting the oldies format of WKKD.[26][27]

In March 1995, AM 1580 adopted a country music format, airing Satellite Music Network's "Real Country" format.[28][29]

On July 1, 1996, the station adopted a Spanish language Tejano music format as "Viva 1580".[30][31]

In 1997, the station adopted an all-news format, airing the national audio feed of CNN Headline News.[32][33] In 2000, the Salter family sold WKKD AM & FM, as well as WRWC in Rockford, Illinois to RadioWorks for $6.5 million, plus $1.5 million in consulting and non-compete agreements.[34] In 2001, the station was sold to NextMedia Group, along with WKKD-FM, for $3.4 million.[35]

In early 2002, the station was sold to Kovas Communications for $825,000, and it began simulcasting the ethnic programming of WONX.[36][37][38][39] In October 2004, the station began airing talk shows related to health and fitness, becoming a full-time "Health Radio" outlet February 1, 2005.[40] This format would later be simulcast on 1600 WMCW.[41]

In 2007, Kovas Communications applied with the FCC to move WKKD to Silvis, Illinois.[42] In February 2008, the station was granted a construction permit to move WKKD to Silvis, Illinois, and increase its power to 1,000 watts during the day and 1,400 watts at night.[43] On November 29, 2008, the station was taken off the air and on April 10, 2009, Kovas Communications surrendered the station's license to the FCC.[2][25][44] WKKD's license was surrendered, along with 1600 WMCW's and 1600 WCGO's, in order to enable 1590 WONX (now WCGO) to increase its daytime power from 3,500 watts to 7,000 watts.[45]