In August 1966, the station signed on as WAKN-FM. It broadcast on 99.3 MHz and was powered at only 3,000 watts, a fraction of its current output. At first it simulcast its sister station, WAKN (990 AM, now dark). The two stations played Top 40 music.
In 1974, WAKN-FM changed call sign to WNEZ ("Nice and Easy") with a beautiful music and easy listening format. Through much of the 1970s and 80s, it played quarter hour sweeps of mostly instrumental cover versions of popular songs as well as Broadway and Hollywood show tunes. Over time, the audience for easy listening music began to age and was less attractive to advertisers.
In the summer of 1988, it changed to Country music as WKXC-FM under the "Kicks 99.5" moniker.
