From TBGB correspondent Joseph Middleton:

Houston, Texas now has its own all-gospel FM radio station: KROI 92.1 FM.

On July 17 at 6:45PM CST, KROI, 92.1 FM changed its format from Spanish radio to gospel. The first song they played was Kirk Franklin & The Family’s “Why We Sing”. It’s a Radio One Station. I found it particularly interesting because I don’t think there are many other all-gospel FM stations in the US. I know Atlanta, Raleigh, and Columbus, OH have them; there may be more.

Houston’s primary all-gospel station for the time was an AM radio station. Reception was horrible since it was based about 30 miles from town. I could hardly pick it up while in the car. The only time I could pick up gospel on FM was on Sundays when Texas Southern University’s radio station would play gospel all day long, Sunday mornings until 1PM on the local R&B station, and on Wednesdays on the same R&B station during its “15 mins. of Praise Show”, though they would play only a few gospel songs, or if you were lucky, they would extend it to a special “hour-long presentation”. They would sometimes toss gospel songs into the regular secular rotation during the week, most often Kirk Franklin songs.

Then for the past few weeks, I’ve been wondering why there wasn’t an all-gospel FM station in Houston, because I know there is a market here for it. On the 17th, while eating at a restaurant after church, I “accidentally” overheard a conversation a man was having on his cell phone with someone. He mentioned some announcers and said that a station was changing formats. I leaned over to my mom and said, “I overheard something about a station changing formats, I wonder if it’ll be to gospel?”

So as we were leaving, we struck up a conversation with him, and soon found out that he is a gospel music producer, and that the station was indeed changing its format to gospel, since the Spanish format was having trouble attracting listeners. I found that to be a little odd because of Houston’s high Latino population. Well, I have a new station to add to my preset buttons on the car radio.

24 Comments

  1. Anonymous July 26, 2006 at 11:20 am - Reply

    Too long awaited. Great format. Great to wake up to. Praises and Glory to God.

  2. Anonymous July 27, 2006 at 2:21 am - Reply

    THANK GOD!!!!!!!!!! It’s crystal clear all day long I haven’t changed my dial. Thanks RADIO ONE.
    Everything works according to His plan and His time, you all will truely be blessed.

    -Eumeka Odoms

  3. Anonymous August 2, 2006 at 2:56 pm - Reply

    This is the only Statio I listen to and I thank GOD for it. Big thanks to owner of station

  4. Charyna August 5, 2006 at 1:43 am - Reply

    I LOVE IT!!!! I like it becuase it play all the various artist from even when I was a child and even the new artist that are out now. I love the stion and I Thank God that it has come to Houston. Nothing against 90.9 FM, 1360 AM or 1140 AM. But this is a real break thru!

  5. Anonymous August 6, 2006 at 2:53 pm - Reply

    A MEN THIS IS THE BEST STATION TO LISTEN TO I HAVE BEEN SPREADING THE WORD TO EVERYONE IT IS ABOUT TIME WE DID THIS YAHOO ON THE COMPUTER IS JUST NOT ENOUGH NOW I CAN LISTEN ALL DAY LONG ANYWHERE. KEEP ON PRAISIN ON.

  6. Anonymous August 9, 2006 at 1:08 pm - Reply

    This station has taken this city and God’s people to a “Whole nother level”! 24 hour Praise? My God! What an AWESOME blessing!If ever we needed a clear sign that God is real, that He hears our prayers, that He really loves us…Praise 92.1 FM is that sign, 24/7. #1 Fan

  7. 3WINS August 9, 2006 at 9:30 pm - Reply

    I FOUND OUT ABOUT THIS STATION LAST WEEK AFTER HEARING A FELLOW CHUCH MEMBER LISTENING TO IT, AND I HAVE NOT CHANGED MY RADIO SINCE. IT IS A CLEAR BLESSING. IT’S GOOD TO HEAR AN ENTIRE SONG FOR A CHANGE WITHOUT ALL THE INTERUPTIONS. THE MUSIC REALLY TAKES YOU7 BACK TO THE OLD TIME WAY. PRIASE GOD!

  8. Anonymous August 11, 2006 at 4:27 am - Reply

    This is great we need a gospel station in Houston, however it needs to be balanced. It’s ok to rock the house sometimes but not allday and night. I hope the programmers can in the future make some adjustments to make the evenings more inspirational and the nights more worshipful. There’s alot of old school Walter Hawkins & Andre’ Crouch to name a few that may work just fine.

  9. Anonymous August 11, 2006 at 2:26 pm - Reply

    Wonderful Yolanda!
    You are great!!!love You!!!
    Theola Booker

  10. Anonymous August 14, 2006 at 2:01 pm - Reply

    I have waited too long for this. Being from the east coast, I was floored when I moved here 4 years ago and couldn’t find a FM Gospel Radio station. THANK GOD! for answered prayers. I listen intently daily. All channels are set to 92.1…

  11. Anonymous August 16, 2006 at 3:40 am - Reply

    I really enjoyed this radio station, they play one song on there that I want to know the artist name “write the vision”. Please keep up the good work Radio One, I will be glad when I can listen to them on the internet.

  12. bradenspeaks August 16, 2006 at 11:52 pm - Reply

    I just found out about this major break through for Houston. I listed to the station all day today. They actually have great reception and play some pretty good music. I hope and pray that it survives.

  13. Joseph August 24, 2006 at 5:38 am - Reply

    Wow! I didn’t think my announcement would get so many comments. This is the most comments any article on TBGB has ever gotten. I’m enjoying the new station’s playlist, listening every day, I have a few favorites I hear just about every day. I’m just hoping they’ll add some old school gospel to the mix, I have yet to hear many of the older artists and classics, except for the occasional playing of “Move On Up A Little Higher” by Mahalia Jackson. I’m also waiting for their http://www.praise921.com website to come online.

    If you’re looking to find out what the name and/or artist of a song you heard on the station was, go to http://www.yes.com, and type in KROI where it says “Find Your Station” at the top, and it will give you all the songs and artists played in the last 24 hrs on the station.

  14. H. Jones August 29, 2006 at 12:11 pm - Reply

    Every since I found out about the station I have told many about it and keep my car radio on the station. I cannot pick it up at work but I am like Joseph can’t wait until it is available online so that I can get my Praise on with 92.1 at work. It has been a blessing to be able to listen to inspirational music with little talk all day long. Thank God for implanting the idea and allowing the increase so that others will be blessed. Thanks to the person that was obedient to God for carrying out the plan for KROI 92.1

  15. Anonymous September 8, 2006 at 1:40 pm - Reply

    I thank God for this radio station. I found it by mistake and I have not changed my radio station. It’s on in my house, it’s on in my car. It’s clear, it’s uplifting, I’ve heard songs that I have not heard before and love them. Not too many commericals, which I love.

    The worldly people have their radio station, it’s about time for us Christians to have our.

    I thank God for touching the owner of this wonderful radio station.

    This radio station will be truly blessed because you are blessing so many people

  16. Anonymous September 28, 2006 at 4:46 pm - Reply

    I am so happpppy and much appreciated. I overwhelmed to hear the voice of “Funky Larry Jones” this morning 09/28/2006 @ 6:00am. I was EXCITED to have him back on the air again. This is a true blessing form God and long awaited. I know that we are just getting things kicked off but I would like to know if we will be able to listen via internet?

    We are truly blessed to have such unique people in the Houston are.

    Sincerely,
    Mary L Edwards

  17. Gwen Erskin October 6, 2006 at 1:13 pm - Reply

    This is the best thing ever. I would like to see you guys have it where you can get this station link on the computerto hear the music while I do my work. That would be the bang. I thank God for who ever got the idea to do this 24/7 days a week.

  18. Anonymous December 19, 2006 at 7:44 pm - Reply

    THANK YOU JESUS;TRUELY AMAZING ALL DAY AND ALL NIGHT I STAY SPIRIT FILLED AND UP LIFTED JUST BY BEING ABLE TO LISTEN TO SPIRIT FILLED MUSIC; IN ALL THINGS AND ALWAYS WE SHALL PRAISE.RADIO ONE MAGIFY THE LORD. KEEP UP WITH GODS PLANS ORDER MY STEPS IN YOUR WORD.
    PRAISE AND ALL GLORY TO GOD.
    SANDIA

  19. ozells April 30, 2008 at 2:44 pm - Reply

    92.1 is an inspiration to me. I listen to it going to work and coming back home. It is very uplifting,and when I am driving in the congested traffic, it help me get through with peace of mind. I am able to listen throughout the day. God has a way of getting His people just what they need. Thank you Lord!!!

  20. Anonymous April 30, 2008 at 2:46 pm - Reply

    92.1 is an inspiration to me. I listen to it going to work and coming back home. It is very uplifting,and when I am driving in the congested traffic, it help me get through with peace of mind. I am able to listen throughout the day. God has a way of getting His people just what they need. Thank you Lord!!!

  21. Anonymous May 8, 2008 at 6:21 am - Reply

    It’s such a Blessing to hear that the gospel community has a world class gospel guitarist & Singer.
    He’s becoming quite well known.
    His name is GW Williams,many people say he’s ranked as one of the top 5 living guitar players in the world today.
    It’s good to know that us Christians have people posted out there serving in Gods Army from all walks of life.
    Below is a link I found at his web site, I ask if I could post this around to help spread the news of His Gospel Music and GW said it was ok with him.

    Rock,Blues,Jazz Guitarist GW Williams

  22. Anonymous July 8, 2008 at 11:26 pm - Reply

    when the radio station first came to houston, it was POPPING with christian music. NOW!! It’s tooo much talking, she only play certain music and please stop that rapping!!!!! this is going on in the AM(6-8). I want to hear gospel music in the morning and not all of that talking. You used to play lots of music but now WHAT HAPPENED????

  23. Anonymous July 8, 2008 at 11:35 pm - Reply

    The station started off very good, i get tried of the 6.00 am rap i hate it to much talking/ and laughing.not enough music, and the evening, hey they,re on the money, they make me sin in go to 102. in the morning Candy, on 102. fm got you beat, with her music, let some of your air out your head hey don,t forget, it,s about God ,I have been going to 90.9 fm on Sunday.s NO ONE IS CALLING IN SAYING HOW GOOD GOD HAVE BEEN TO THEM, COME ON, PLEASE THAT,S WHAT IT,S ABOUT, YOULANDA HEY I NO YOU MADE YOUR MONEY, DON,T FORGET GOD, MADE, IT POSS., GIVE MORE, TO THE NEEDDY,HEY WE NEVER WOULD HAVE MADE WITH OUT HIM,BECAUSE, HEY I,M STONGER.WISER,I,M BETTER SO MUCH BETTER, PLEASE STOP,PAT ATTENTION, TO YOURSELF,

  24. Anonymous March 4, 2009 at 12:15 am - Reply

    Great station!! Great Music!!! A friend in califonia told me of a song call God’s got My Back by a group called Arise I wonder if you have it. if so could you play it on your radio I pretty much listen everyday. Keep up the good word and God bless you all

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Written by : Bob Marovich

Bob Marovich is a gospel music historian, author, and radio host. Founder of Journal of Gospel Music blog (formally The Black Gospel Blog) and producer of the Gospel Memories Radio Show.