THE MUSIC, THE MINISTRY, AND THE MIRACLES
The K-LOVE Story is the true, miraculous journey of how God grew a single signal in Santa Rosa, California, into the largest Christian music radio network in the world.
OUR HISTORY
HIS STORY
It was the fall of 1978, and Bob Anthony Fogal was in his home office daydreaming and roughing out sketches for a brand-new Christian radio station. At twenty-eight, Fogal—known on air as Bob Anthony—had realized his dream of working for the No. 1 Top 40 station in San Francisco, the award-winning KFRC. But he also realized his need for God. This sent the young DJ—and new father—on a journey of surrender. What it would cost him, he didn't know. But he was certain about one thing: God had given him a vision.
K-LOVE Founder, Bob Anthony
The vision was for a Christian version of KFRC—a station that exclusively played “Jesus Music,” which was just emerging in Southern California at the time; and a station that boasted on-air personalities who maintained the same high level of professionalism Fogal had experienced in mainstream radio.
He scribbled down three elementary rules on his notepad:
No Christianese.
Operate like a professional Top 40 station.
Only voices who are major market talents will be allowed on the radio.
TIMELINE
in K-LOVE history
'80s
'90s
'00s
'10s - Present
1978
Former mainstream programmer Bob Anthony Fogal sketches out a vision for a new Christian radio station.
1981
With Fogal at the helm, Christian Media Ministries (renamed Educational Media Foundation in 1982) launches and purchases a small low-power educational station out of bankruptcy for $67,000 that becomes K-LOVE's first signal.
1982
October 15
KCLB Santa Rosa goes on the air at 6 a.m. Bob Anthony is the announcer, and “Praise The Lord,” by The Imperials, is the first song played.
1986
K-LOVE hires former mainstream DJ, army vet and savvy dealmaker Dick Jenkins as President and CEO.
1987
Seeds for a network are planted with the addition of KCLM Monterey/Salinas after a church and school in Prunedale, California, agree to run KCLB's programming on their station.
1988
August 1
Flagship station KCLB changes its call letters to KLVR, and the name “K-LOVE” starts being used on air.
1988
September 12
The Geyser Peak fire burns K-LOVE's transmitter to the ground. When the site's owner won't allow K-LOVE to rebuild there, K-LOVE loses its broadcast location.
1988
September 17
K-LOVE board member Kirt Kisling and engineers Tom Driggers, Skip Bushell, Tom Oja, and Sam Wallington get the signal back up and operating from Mount St. Helena, only five days after the fire.
1991
JULY
Mainstream and Christian programmer David Pierce joins K-LOVE and begins hosting the morning show.
1992
Dick Jenkins and Jim McDaniel work together to purchase KSKD in the Willamette Valley of Portland, Oregon. The call letters become KLVU. This begins a valuable and decades-long partnership between the two men as McDaniel funds a number of key acquisitions.
1993
April - May
K-LOVE's headquarters relocates to Sacramento.
1993
David Pierce takes K-LOVE's morning show from California to Nashville.
1996
KLOVE.com goes live, and people are soon able to listen online.
1997
October
K-LOVE celebrates its 15th anniversary with a multi-city tour, featuring 4HIM, Bryan Duncan and others.
1998
Veteran mainstream radio talent Mike Novak joins K-LOVE.
1999
January 1
Adding a second network of music programming to the family, K-LOVE merges with KLRD Air1 Radio, originally launched by K-LOVE founder Bob Anthony Fogal and Jon & Noonie Fugler.
1999
Beloved voices JD Chandler and Larry Wayne join K-LOVE.
2000
K-LOVE purchases Christian inspirational station KWBI Denver from Colorado Christian University. Now KLDV, it immediately becomes the largest station in the network, a pivotal turning point in K-LOVE's expansion.
2001
The morning show shifts to Texas when Jon and Sherry Rivers join K-LOVE.
2002
K-LOVE's headquarters moves to Rocklin.
2004
The first K-LOVE Friends and Family Cruise sails from New Orleans to Cozumel, Mexico.
2008
Mike Novak is appointed President and CEO of K-LOVE.
2010
K-LOVE goes on the air with WWLV Greensboro / Winston-Salem
2010
K-LOVE initiates partnership with Spanish Christian radio ministry Radio Nueva Vida, led by Phil and Mary Guthrie. Beginning with a station in Boise, Idaho, the long-standing cooperation grows to include signals in New York, Chicago, and Washington D.C.
2013
The first annual K-LOVE Fan Awards takes place at Nashville's historic Ryman Auditorium.
2014
K-LOVE cooperates with Gateway Creative Broadcasting to provide a signal to Boost FM, the new “pop, hip-hop and hope” format in St. Louis. Four additional markets are provided by K-LOVE to Boost FM in 2021.
2015
TobyMac, the Awakening Foundation, and K-LOVE launch a nationwide “Hits Deep Tour.” The collaboration formalizes a larger-scale partnership between K-LOVE and the Awakening Foundation.
2018
WWIQ Philadelphia and legendary rock station “The Loop” in Chicago are purchased, providing K-LOVE full-power signals in these key markets.
2019
Bill Reeves joins K-LOVE as the organization's fourth CEO.
2019
K-LOVE acquires WTA Media to develop faith-based films and books.
2020
Faith-based podcasting platform AccessMore launches in partnership with K-LOVE.
2020
K-LOVE On Demand premieres, offering live concerts, original programming and other exclusive content to fans for free.
2021
K-LOVE Books debuts with its first release, Michael W. Smith's The Way of the Father.
2021
In partnership with K-LOVE Films, The Jesus Music premieres in theaters nationwide, bringing the history of Contemporary Christian Music to life on the big screen for the first time.
2022
K-LOVE breaks ground on its new headquarters in Franklin, Tennessee.
DJs Over the Years
the voices behind the mic
One of my favorite moments with K-LOVE was when I released a single called 'Better Than a Hallelujah.' I had experienced a long drought with Christian radio not playing my music. Honestly, I didn't have any expectations, but I knew the song was special; and while I didn't write it, I loved the song and thought it had an important message for people. I was honored to carry the song to the world. When K-LOVE supported the song, it meant the world to me, personally, but also with their help, the song reached Top 10 on radio overall and, hopefully, has been a lifeboat for those who listened. Over the years, it's been a pleasure to host some industry events at my farm for K-LOVE, and I love that they have been a positive influence on a hurting world.”
~ Amy Grant
40 ARTISTS
who defined K-LOVE history
“Having had the privilege to be around for a couple decades of music, I've gotten to see how K-LOVE has grown from a few cities to literally covering the entire nation. Honestly, it is a miracle to see how massive this thing has grown. I can remember just going to different little K-LOVE broadcasting places to, now, talking to the entire nation at once. It's been pretty amazing. They're continuing to grow and have become such an incredible voice for the love of God and a light in dark places across our country. It's been such a fun thing for me to see the impact of my songs through this radio network. I would never dream my songs could have the impact they've had, but it takes a great partner like K-LOVE to do that. I'm so grateful. Who knows what's coming down the pike and where K-LOVE's going from here.”
~ Chris Tomlin
40 SONGS
that defined K-LOVE history
“Praise the Lord” The Imperials (1979)
“Friends” Michael W. Smith (1982)
“Lead Me On” Amy Grant (1982)
“We Will Stand” Russ Taff (1983)
“The Warrior Is a Child” Twila Paris (1984)
“Watercolor Ponies” Wayne Watson (1987)
“Thank You” Ray Boltz (1988)
“Heaven” BeBe & CeCe Winans (1988)
“Awesome God” Rich Mullins (1989)
“I Will Be Here” Steven Curtis Chapman (1989)
“Place in This World” Michael W. Smith (1990)
“The Great Adventure” Steven Curtis Chapman (1992)
“Big House” Audio Adrenaline (1993)
“Shine” Newsboys (1994)
“For Future Generations” 4Him (1994)
“In The Light” dc Talk (1995)
“Flood” Jars of Clay (1995)
“On My Knees” Jaci Velasquez (1996)
“Keep the Candle Burning” Point of Grace (1997)
“Testify to Love” Avalon (1997)
“Butterfly Kisses” Bob Carlisle (1997)
“God of Wonders” City on a Hill (2000)
“Redeemer” Nicole C. Mullen (2000)
“Dare You to Move” Switchfoot (2000)
“Written on My Heart” Plus One (2000)
“I Can Only Imagine” MercyMe (2001)
“Holy” Nichole Nordeman (2002)
“I Still Believe” Jeremy Camp (2003)
“Who Am I” Casting Crowns (2003)
“How Great Is Our God” Chris Tomlin (2004)
“Give Me Your Eyes” Brandon Heath (2008)
“God's Not Dead” Newsboys (2011)
“Redeemed” Big Daddy Weave (2012)
“Hello, My Name Is” Matthew West (2012)
“Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)” UNITED (2013)
“Chain Breaker” Zach Williams (2016)
“You Say” Lauren Daigle (2018)
“God Only Knows” for KING & COUNTRY (2018)
“Holy Water” We The Kingdom (2019)
“My Jesus” Anne Wilson (2021)
“I've heard countless stories from people who've told me they were listening to K-LOVE and heard the announcement when we tragically lost our youngest daughter in 2008. They've told me that the DJs on the air stopped the music and began to pray for me and my family. It still brings tears to my eyes to know how loved and lifted up we were in that unimaginably dark moment. I will forever be grateful to my K-LOVE family for that gift.”
~ Steven Curtis Chapman
MINISTRY IMPACT
more than music
ONE THIN DIME
My husband, Kevin, grew up in an incredibly abusive home. All throughout his childhood, his dad repeatedly told him, “You aren't worth one thin dime.” Those words haunted my husband into adulthood—so much so that he got to a place where he couldn't figure his life out, and he left my son and me for a while.
At the time we had two vehicles. I had a little Honda, and he had this big crazy van. One day I had a meeting, and he came to pick up our son. Kevin had to take the Honda, so he left me the van. When I got in the van, the radio and the CB were on. I turned them both off and headed home.
Kevin called me the next day ranting and raving that I had done something to his radio. He said, “It's stuck on that K-LOVE station!” He was livid, thinking I had damaged his radio. He'd tried to turn the dial and push the buttons, and nothing would change the station. It was stuck, and it stayed stuck on K-LOVE for months and months.
My husband and I worked through things and reconciled, and he came back home. A while later, our neighbor convinced him to sell him the van. The next day, he was blasting rock music from the van. My husband asked him, “What did you do to fix it?” and he said, “I don't know. I just turned on the radio!”
Kevin and Athena
After a couple weeks, our neighbor decided he couldn't afford the van, so we took it back. My husband drove it around for about one day before it was stuck on K-LOVE again! Finally, he gave in. If he wanted to listen to music, he was going to listen to K-LOVE.
Eventually, you could hear him start to whistle the tunes. I really felt like that radio station had brought us back together.
Years passed. Kevin was re-baptized, and we had another baby together. The van finally broke down, and he decided to get rid of it . . . but he kept the radio. When he took it out and started fiddling with it, he saw something lodged inside.
Stuck down beneath one of the preset buttons was one thin dime. My husband's dad told him he wasn't worth one thin dime, but God said he was. Same words. From his dad it meant, “You aren't worth anything.” But from God? It meant, “You're worth everything.”
LISTENER STORIES
“I was in my car one night and came up to this bridge with rushing water under it. I sat there for thirty minutes or so, and everything in me said, 'Drive as fast as you can off this bridge; no one will miss you.' I had K‑LOVE playing in the background. Just as I was about to hit the accelerator on my car, the song, 'Fear Is a Liar,' by Zach Williams came on. It was like Jesus was saying, 'I'm here with you right now. I won't leave you.' I broke down in tears. When the song finished, I pulled away from the bridge and gave my life to Christ. Thank you, K‑LOVE, for playing the right song at the right time!”
~ Jacob, Savannah, GA
“As a single mom of two, there are many days where I feel it's all I can do to keep my head above water. A couple months ago, after dropping my daughter off at school, I started to have an anxiety attack. I didn't know what to do, so I turned on your station for encouragement. The song that played filled me with a peace I've never had before. It was like God was right there with me, telling me, 'It's OK. I've got this.' Your station gets me and my kids through so many hard days. I don't know where I'd be without you guys.“
~ Mary, Knoxville, TN
“I have listened to K‑LOVE from the day I was born. Now I am 25 years old, married with a son, and am so grateful for how K‑LOVE has always been there through the ups and downs of life. My wife and I realized we spend a certain amount on streaming services, but we spend more time listening to K‑LOVE than anything else, so we decided to take a step of faith and start giving. We hope K‑LOVE continues to make a difference for others just like it has for our family!”
~ Dallas, El Paso, Texas
“It's been a joy for Melody and me to include K‑LOVE in our estate planning so when we pass away, there will be a significant gift that will help K‑LOVE continue this incredible mission of impacting the world around them with media and entertainment. We already know the Lord, and by God's grace our children know the Lord, but we now have three grandchildren. You know, we're older. We have generations of kids coming behind us. We have hope for a better future for them, and K‑LOVE's a big part of that. We want to invest in something that ensures they get the choice of accepting Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Is there a greater legacy that we can leave? We don't think so.”
~ Verne & Melody, Diablo, CA
“I've been a K‑LOVE listener for about twenty-five years. I have you playing in my home all day, not only for my own sanity and focus, but to have those songs being sung over my kids throughout the day. I've also been a monthly giver for about twenty years, but I had to pull my pledge when I went through a divorce several years ago. Recently, the Lord has so abundantly blessed me, and I have not only been able to resume my monthly pledge, but now I'm able to actually BUMP UP my giving! Thank you, K‑LOVE family, for all you do. My family and I are touched and moved by this ministry!”
~ Rhonda, Monterey, CA
“I found myself lying in a jail cell bed, unable to sleep. In an instant, my once comfortable life was in shambles from a foolish mistake. I would likely be spending nine to twelve months in prison, losing much of what I had worked so hard for. I had always known the Lord, but now I had lost hope and faith. I just wanted to quit life somehow. The jail had small, portable radios available. I asked a guard passing by for one. When I received it, I turned to K‑LOVE, desperately seeking solace. After a few songs, I couldn't stop asking God to pick me up and hold me, to let me sit in His lap. I soon began to feel a calmness from within my heart and soul. God was telling me that He would walk beside me through the process and help me build an even better life than I had—a life filled with His love. Thank you, K‑LOVE!”
~ Mike, Austin, TX
“I was in my car one night and came up to this bridge with rushing water under it. I sat there for thirty minutes or so, and everything in me said, 'Drive as fast as you can off this bridge; no one will miss you.' I had K‑LOVE playing in the background. Just as I was about to hit the accelerator on my car, the song, 'Fear Is a Liar,' by Zach Williams came on. It was like Jesus was saying, 'I'm here with you right now. I won't leave you.' I broke down in tears. When the song finished, I pulled away from the bridge and gave my life to Christ. Thank you, K‑LOVE, for playing the right song at the right time!”
~ Jacob, Savannah, GA
“As a single mom of two, there are many days where I feel it's all I can do to keep my head above water. A couple months ago, after dropping my daughter off at school, I started to have an anxiety attack. I didn't know what to do, so I turned on your station for encouragement. The song that played filled me with a peace I've never had before. It was like God was right there with me, telling me, 'It's OK. I've got this.' Your station gets me and my kids through so many hard days. I don't know where I'd be without you guys.“
~ Mary, Knoxville, TN
Partnerships with Charities
K-LOVE by the numbers
Convoy of Hope
K-LOVE and its generous listeners partner with Convoy of Hope to bring food, water, clothing, and other basic necessities to communities in need. Often following a crisis or natural disaster, K-LOVE's on-air, social media, and digital channels provide listeners a chance to help fund Convoy efforts. K-LOVE listeners have raised $7 million and provided more than 200 million meals.
Convoy of Hope Truck
Awakening Foundation
K-LOVE's longtime relationship with the Awakening Foundation began in 2004. A large- scale partnership was formalized in 2015 with the launch of TobyMac's “Hits Deep Tour.”
Since then, K-LOVE has launched the seasonal “K-LOVE Christmas Tour” and sponsors more than 200 live events each year, headlined by everyone from Chris Tomlin to Crowder.
David Crowder at Hits Deep Tour
Two of those dates happen every August when “K-LOVE Presents LIVE at Red Rocks.” With back-to-back evenings of music, the multi-artist event has become an annual tradition for Christian music fans, many of which fly in from all over the country to see some of their favorite Christian artists perform at the legendary amphitheater right outside of Denver, Colorado.
“Any musician wants to play at Red Rocks, and then to be able to point people to Jesus while being in such an iconic venue, it was just really cool,” reflects Jack Williams, drummer for Casting Crowns, who headlined the event in 2021.
Beacon of Hope
One signal at a time
“K-LOVE is a beacon on a hill and a lifeline of encouragement to so many in the community of faith. Their support of Christian music and the artists and companies who produce it has been so instrumental in touching hearts and lives with the Gospel. They have my deepest respect and gratitude for the work they do.”
—Peter York, Former Chairman and CEO, Capitol Christian Music Group
We're Just Getting Started
K-LOVE looks to the future
From the beginning, K-LOVE has been innovative. In this season, the world's largest Christian radio network continues that tradition by investing in other forms of media to further broaden its reach. K-LOVE CEO Bill Reeves, a thirty-plus-year veteran in Christian and family entertainment, is leading the charge.
“They've hired the right man. I think Bill is tremendous. He's absolutely the best choice of CEO that the board could have made,” affirms former CEO Dick Jenkins. “If you take the board's vision, and you plug a person in there who's going to make it happen, Bill's the guy.”
Rendering of new K-LOVE Headquarters
Reeves, who's been at the helm since 2019, is quick to downplay the compliment. “When you run an organization, you receive a lot of accolades and a lot of attaboys, but it always feels disingenuous for me to accept those things because it isn't me,” he insists. “It's the people I'm honored to work with and those who have worked for this ministry who are not even here anymore. I couldn't do this if our founders hadn't led the way, and I think of people like Devona Porter, our longest-running employee, who has been faithful all these years.”
The unwavering faithfulness of people prayerfully committed to the power of Christian radio has enabled K-LOVE to step into this chapter, filled with exciting endeavors that resource listeners with a variety of multimedia platforms to engage with throughout their day. Areas of growth in the form of in-person events include the K-LOVE Fan Awards, the K-LOVE Cruise, “K-LOVE Presents LIVE at Red Rocks,” and more than two hundred concert dates each year in partnership with the Awakening Foundation that bring K-LOVE artists to cities across the country.
K-LOVE is a 501(c)3 and all donations are tax deductible. Employer ID Number: 94-2816342
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