WCCR (1260 AM) is a commercial radio station licensed to Cleveland, Ohio, United States, featuring a Catholic–oriented religious format known as "The Rock". Owned by St. Peter the Rock Media, Inc., a nonprofit corporation which has applied for 501(c)(3) tax–exempt status with the Internal Revenue Service, WCCR serves Greater Cleveland as the local affiliate for EWTN Radio. WCCR's studios are located in the Cleveland suburb of Broadview Heights and the station transmitter resides in neighboring Brecksville. In addition to a standard analog transmission, WCCR is simulcast full-time over WNCR in Elyria and is available online.

History

WDOK

The station began on April 30, 1950, as WDOK when Wayne Mack resigned his position at WGAR (1220 AM) to establish the station with Frederick C. Wolf and chief engineer Morris Pierce, who became station president. Wolf himself was a longtime ethnic broadcaster on Cleveland stations WHK, WJAY, and WGAR, in addition to being the founder of Cleveland Recording Co. for the production of spot commercials, nationality music, and auditions.

Early programming was highlighted by Wayne Mack's imaginary concert programs, such as "Hometown Band Concert", "Candlelight Concert", and "Waltz Palace".

WIXY 1260

On December 12, 1965, the AM station changed its call sign to WIXY, branding itself as WIXY 1260 (pronounced "Wicksy Twelve-Sixty"). The new call sign was similar to WXYZ in Detroit – and which also used the "Wixie" nickname – and also was selected for its rhyming with the 1260 frequency. The initial on-air lineup included Al Gates, Howie Lund, Johnny Michaels, Johnny Canton, Mark Allen, and Bobby Magic. Allen later moved on to Chicago's WCFL under the name Bob Dearborn. The news staff included Bob Engel, Fred Griffith, and Gary Ritchie.

Talk, oldies, big band

With the emergence of FM radio, the era of AM top–40 radio drew to a close. On July 19, 1976, WIXY became WMGC (or "Magic"), and the format switched to "adult rock", an early iteration of what would become known as adult contemporary. The station adopted the slogan "Get Your Rock Soft", which raised some eyebrows when it appeared in ads and billboards around town.

WBBG's talk format never caught on, so the station turned to an oldies format briefly before finding success with a big band-based music format programmed by local radio veteran Jim Davis. The station enjoyed much success including "Billboard Station of the Year" (for its format) in 1983 with a nomination of "Program Director of the Year" going to Davis. During its glory years (July 1981–October 1987), on-air talent, in addition to Davis, included Al James, Tom Armstrong, Bill Randle, Carl Reese, Ronnie Barrett, Dick Conrad, John Webster, Ted Alexander, Joe Black, and Jack Reynolds.

Ownership of WBBG and sister FM station WWWM passed from Embrescia Communications (led by Tom Embrescia) to Robinson Communications (led by local civic leader and jeweler Larry Robinson) on October 27, 1981. (WWWM's call sign changed to WMJI six months later). Robinson, in turn, sold the stations to media giant Jacor Communications on September 19, 1984.

WBBG's call letters (originally stood for "Boys from Bowling Green") soon took the meaning "Big Band Grandstand". After an attempt by Robinson to repurchase WBBG so that Jacor could buy WWWE collapsed, the big-band format was dumped on October 29, 1987, and Jacor simulcast the air signal of WMJI-FM 105.7 on the AM station. The AM call sign was changed to WMJI on November 24, 1987 to match the FM station's (which legally became WMJI-FM for the interim). The big band format - and program director Jim Davis - soon migrated over to crosstown station WRMR.

Later years

After a few months of FM simulcasting, Jacor sold the station to Gore-Overgaard Broadcasting (led by Harold W. Gore and Cordell J. Overgaard), a Christian organization brought a format of religious programming and gospel music. The call sign was changed to WRDZ on July 1, 1988.

The station inaugurated its new format on February 22 by broadcasting a noon mass live from St. John's Cathedral celebrated by Bishop Anthony Pilla. Regular programming centered on a live morning drive-time program called Genesis, hosted by Fr. Wally Hyclack and Cleveland broadcast veteran Bob Tayek, which featured NBC Radio news and local newsmaker interviews, and an evening drive program, named "Homeward Bound", with a local call-in format on current topics.

Midday programming included a live, local, two-hour talk show called Ave Maria, a local information and spiritual support program called the Living Word with Cleveland nun Sr. Juanita Sheely, broadcasts of various Catholic speakers, in a program called Catholic Classroom, which included Bishop Fulton J. Sheen's programs from the 1950s. In addition, the station produced live daily mass from St. John's Cathedral and carried regular installments of the English versions of Vatican broadcasts. with coverage anchored by owner Steve Kurdziel and local reports from Cuyahoga County Commissioner Lee Weingart.

Radio Disney AM 1260

Despite the innovative programming produced by WMIH, and the devoted listenership from the Catholic community in Cleveland, Divine Mercy ended up having serious financial trouble in maintaining that original programming, which emphasized local hosts and remote coverage of sports and other events.

thumb|WWMK logo used from 2002 until 2007.

At the same time, ABC Radio was looking for an outlet for its Radio Disney in the Cleveland market, and it purchased the station. It took over the station on May 1, 1998, and the call sign was changed to WWMK on December 4.

AM 1260 The Rock

On December 24, 2014, the station was sold to St. Peter the Rock Media, a nonprofit company created by former Akron attorney Patrick D'Andrea and Cleveland attorney Gerald Monroe. They announced the station would become an EWTN Radio affiliate, with a Catholic format under the branding AM 1260 The Rock - returning it to its prior format before the Radio Disney buyout. The new ownership group originally targeted April 2015 for the format switch, but later was changed for May. On April 24, 2015, WWMK disaffiliated from Radio Disney, and went silent. St. Peter the Rock Media took over the station on May 4, upon consummation of the purchase from Radio Disney at a price of $895,000. On May 7, 2015, the station changed the call sign to WCCR, and a few days later on May 11, the station began its format.

Repeater station

St. Peter the Rock Media announced their purchase of WEOL in Elyria from the Elyria-Lorain Broadcasting Co. on May 31, 2025, for an undisclosed amount; WEOL and associated low-power translator W262DM () became a WCCR repeater the following day. Elyria-Lorain retained WEOL's intellectual property for a streaming platform centered on high school sports coverage. The sale closed on September 12, 2025. St. Peter the Rock subsequently changed the call sign to WNCR on December 8.

References

Further reading

  • Morrow, Larry (2010). This is Larry Morrow. Cleveland, OH: Gray & Company, Publishers.
  • Olszewski, Mike (2011). WIXY 1260: Pixies, Six-packs, and Supermen. Kent, OH: Kent State University Press.
  • Wolff, Carlo (2006). Cleveland Rock and Roll Memories. Cleveland, OH: Gray & Company, Publishers.
  • FCC History Cards for WCCR
  • WIXY1260.com
  • WIXY1260online.com