WKBF (AM)
| City | Rock Island, Illinois |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Quad Cities |
| Branding | La Jefa 1270 |
| Frequency | 1270 kHz |
| Translator(s) | (see section) |
| First air date | February 1925 (as WHBF) |
| Format | Traditional Mexican Music |
| Power | 5,000 watts (1 tower Day) (2 towers Night) |
| Class | B |
| Facility ID | 8593 |
| Callsign meaning | Where Historic Blackhawk Fought (original callsign) |
| Former callsigns | WHBF (1925-1987) |
| Owner | Quad Cities Media |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | lajefa1270.com |
WKBF is a radio station licensed to Rock Island, Illinois, and carries a Spanish Regional Music format. The station's frequency is 1270 kHz, and broadcasts at a power of 5 kW. Its transmitter is located on 22nd Avenue (Old Colona Road) in Moline, alongside the Moline–East Moline border just off of 53rd Street and Avenue of the Cities.
WKBF is currently owned by Quad Cities Media.
The history of the Rock Island allocation for WKBF dates to 1925, when businessman Calvin Beardsley purchased an experimental radio transmitter that operated in Cambridge, Illinois. He took the equipment and set it up at the rear of his store in Rock Island.
Beardsley went on the air in February 1925, using the callsign WHBF and broadcasting at 100 watts. The letters were said to stand for "Where Historic Blackhawk Fought."
The station moved to the Harms Hotel in Rock Island in 1932. In November of that year, Beardsley sold interest in his station to the John Potter family, which operated the Rock Island Argus. Later during the 1930s, the station moved to its current home at 1270 kHz, and had its power boosted to 5 kW.
WHBF was joined by a sister FM radio station - WHBF-FM, the first in the Quad Cities - in October 1947, and a television station went on the air in July 1950. By now, all three facilities were located in the Telco Building in downtown Rock Island.
WHBF underwent many format changes since the end of the Golden Age of Radio. For instance, listeners tuning into the station during the 1960s and early 1970s found a middle-of-the-road, adult standards format.
The station's signature format for many years was country music. WHBF was known as "Country Sunshine Radio" and brought current and classic country music to listeners 24 hours a day.
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