On January 1, 1961, the station signed on as WAZZ and later as WAMO-FM. At first, it was powered at only 4,500 watts but later it had the most powerful FM signal coverage in Western Pennsylvania, broadcasting at 72,000 watts. At first it simulcast the same programming as its AM sister station, 860 WAMO (now WAOB. WAMO-AM-FM served the Pittsburgh African-American community with R&B and soul music, as well as Black talk and news programming on weekdays, and religious shows on Sundays.