[2][3] KRBE has an effective radiated power (ERP) of 100,000 watts, the maximum for non-grandfathered FM stations in the U.S.

The transmitter facilities are located on the Farm-to-Market Road 2234 near the Fort Bend Parkway in Southwest Houston.

At 6 pm on November 8, 1959, KRBE signed on at 104.1 FM as a classical music station by owners Roland and Edith Baker.

There was much naysaying about the full potential of FM radio technology and its future success, as it was a risky venture.

The early FM radio receivers drifted in frequency, making the audio sound "fuzzy".

For a short time in the early 1970s, the station adopted an album-oriented rock format and used the moniker "Big K-Rock 104".

In the mid-1970s, KRBE took on the moniker of "Bump & Boogie", and developed a "Rock 40" format, with some dance-oriented tunes included.

Mike Krehel became the Chief Engineer during that time and gave KRBE its "Flame Thrower" signature sound.

Garrett, Dwight "Shotgun" Cook, "The Original Rock 'n' Roll Wizard" Ron Haney, and Tom "Rivers" Yarbrough.

In 1975, KRBE moved from Kirby Lane to the Caldwell Banker Building overlooking Interstate 610 at Westheimer Road across from The Galleria.

Garrett, Matt "The Mighty Quinn" Guinn,[5] The Catfish, Jon Kelly, Dayna Steele and Bunny Taylor, KRBE's first female DJ.

KRBE responded to KKBQ's 6400 Sunday nights with an in-studio mix show called "Sunday Night Power Tracks" that specialized in "rare and obscure" imported dance music, mixed by the Ocean Club's Tim Flanigan.

(It is also speculated KRBE used the "Wild" and "Channel" monikers on its Friday night mix shows for the same reason).

In 1996, program director Tom Poleman and air talents Paul "Cubby" Bryant and Ryan Chase left KRBE for similar positions at WHTZ in New York City, which had also leaned in an alternative direction for a time.

On March 4, 2005, long time morning show host Sam Malone announced that he was leaving the station for a position at KTRH.

Cumulus said it was taking the station in a new direction and needed a show that widely appealed to the entire Houston market and a team that knew the city and its people.

On the same day of the departure of Todd and Smasher, longtime DJ Scott Sparks exited KRBE after nearly 20 years to host mornings at classic hits station KLDE (now KGLK), reuniting Sparks with former KRBE program director and morning show host Paul Christy.

On July 13, 2006, it was announced that "The Roula and Ryan Show", which had aired on KHMX, would return to Houston airwaves on KRBE.