as 790 AM in Louisville was originally WGRC and featured a variety of programming typical of radio in the pre-rock era. In 1958, broadcaster Gordon McLendon, a Top 40 radio pioneer best known for his legendary KLIF in Dallas, Texas, purchased WGRC. After stunting with the novelty record "The Purple People Eater", WGRC became WAKY on July 7, 1958, and immediately shot to the top of the Louisville ratings as the market's first Top 40 music station.
Initially operating at 790 AM in Louisville as WGRC, it provided a variety of programming typical of radio before rock. In 1958, Gordon McLendon, a Top 40 pioneer from Dallas known for KLIF, acquired WGRC. After releasing the novelty record "The Purple People Eater," WGRC changed to WAKY on July 7, 1958, and quickly rose to the top of Louisville's ratings as the city's first Top 40 music station.