About Us
Our Mission
To broadcast the light of the gospel in a dark world
As Christian broadcasters, our first and foremost mission is to be in the will of God. In doing so, we purpose to carry out the following objectives:
*Reach the Lost
*Minister to the Saints
*Provide Inspirational
Music and Teaching
*Promote Judeo-Christian Unity
*Inform the Public of Current Affairs that Affect Our Lives
*Help the Needy
*Help Local Businessess Grow
Our History
WBTG FM went on the air February 1, 1978 with a Christian format of basically "Southern Gospel" music, midday teaching, and "Contemporary Christian" music in the afternoons. We were on the air 6 AM - 10 PM. Later in the mid-eighties, we increased our air time to 24 hours a day and changed the music format to Southern Gospel. We also increased our power from 3000 watts to 6000 watts.
In 1987 we purchased WSHF AM, a country format station in Sheffield, Alabama, and converted it to "Contemporary Christian" music, and then moved our operations to that location during the Summer of 1988. We began construction of new offices and studios, and then occupied them in February of 1989. About that same time we were able to get the city of Sheffield to change the street name to "Gospel Road." This is where our current operations are today.
We eventually applied for an FM power increase, and on Thanksgiving Day 1993, we went on the air with a new 500 foot tower and 25,000 watts of power.
WBTG AM (1000 watts) is 1290 on the dial and is now "Memory Music" with artists like Frank Sinatra, Marty Robbins, the Andrew Sisters, Elvis Presley, Anne Murray, Patsy Cline, The Carpenters, and many more. We also broadcast the "Party Line" Monday - Saturday, 9 - 11 AM. The "Party Line" allows listeners to call in and freely advertise buy-or-sell personal items. It's not uncommon for us to take 200 calls in a 2-hour program.
In August 2008 we received permission from the FCC to rebroadcast WBTG AM 1290 on our FM Translator. This means listeners in parts of the Shoals may now tune to 105.9 FM to hear "Memory Music" 24 hours a day, without interference from other AM stations.
Meet our Team
Paul Slatton
Owner
Paul Slatton has served as owner / general manager of WBTG since the station came into existence in February 1978, and has been involved in broadcasting since 1957. He grew up in Lauderdale County near St. Florian and graduated from Rogers High School in 1956, followed by radio engineering school. He has been married to Joyce since 1956. They are the parents of two adult children and one granddaughter. Paul is a member of Cross Point Church of Christ in Florence.
Jerry Edgil
Mornings
Jerry began working as an on-air personality & music director at WBTG in 1980 while serving as lead vocalist for the Singing Ambassadors. He has been honored with numerous regional and national awards such as the Singing News Fan Favorite "Medium Market DJ of the Year" in 1998 and 1999, and the Singing News "Golden Mic" in 2017. He is widely considered the "Voice of Southern Gospel" in the area and routinely serves as promoter and emcee for Gospel concerts. He has also ministered in various churches and currently pastors Atwood Baptist Church in Hodges, AL. He and his late wife, Carol Ann, are the parents of three adult children, six grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.
Don McGee
Afternoons/Party Line
Don first entered radio in the fall of 1959 with WJOI. He has been an announcer with WBTG since its inception in 1978. Don has also served as pulpit minister in five churches. His weekly preaching program, Searching For Truth, may be heard Sunday mornings at 8:30. Don is also the bass singer and manager of the Gospel Road Quartet. He graduated from Colbert County High School in 1959. He and his wife Freda have three adult children, seven grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren. They are members of East Colbert Church of Christ in Muscle Shoals.
Joel Wallace
106.3 Program Director
Joel began work in radio as co-host of Gospel Music Live on WBTG with his brother, Andy, in 2013. Since 2014, he has served as program director, in addition to singing with the station's music group, the Gospel Road Quartet. Joel is a USMC veteran and former pastor. He holds a bachelor's degree from Madison Baptist Theological Seminary and a master's degree from Clarks Summit University. He and his wife, Erica, have been married since 2010 and are the parents of two children. They are members of Woodmont Baptist Church in Florence.
Paige Elkins Parker
105.9 Program Director/Party Line
Paige grew up in Florence and graduated from Bradshaw High School in 1972. She got her start in radio in 1975 with Big River Broadcasting where she later became Program Director for WXOR. In 1982, Paige went to work as Music Director with WAAX in Gadsden. She also worked at WLAY in the late 1990s. She has one daughter, Kaylia Waldrep, and two grandsons. Paige is married to Randy J. Parker, and they are members of Woodmont Baptist Church in Florence.
Chuck Bradford
Weekends
Chuck has worked as an announcer and assistant program director at WBTG from 1998-2002 and 2011 to the present. He served as pastor of Calvary Baptist in Liberty, TX for six years and has pastored Harris Chapel Baptist in Cherokee since 2010. His weekly preaching program, The Unchanging Word, may be heard Sunday mornings at 11:30. Chuck is a 1997 graduate of Muscle Shoals High, and has completed a bachelor's degree from UNA and a master's degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He and his wife Tiffany have been married since 2003.
