 WBXQ first signed on the air in November 1981 as "WRKE" on 94.7 FM, founded by legendary Pittsburgh broadcaster Ed Sherlock and his business partner Neil Hart, who formed Sherlock-Hart Broadcasting the year before.The station's licensee, however, was listed as Sounds Good, Inc.In addition to owning WBXQ, both men owned WAMQ (now WWGE) in Loretto, which programmed a format of contemporary country music.