WELO began broadcasting on May 15, 1941, on South Spring Street, Tupelo, above the Black and White dry goods store.

Frank Kyle Spain and Jim Green, Tupelo High School students, became station engineers to complete building the station after Green's older brother became ill and unable to finish his engineering contract responsibilities.

Some local talents were involved in starting up the station, among them the announcer Charlie Boren and the bandleader and radio technician Archie Mackey.

Ernest Bowen, who had tangential musical connections with Elvis Presley, became a longtime general manager at WELO.

Presley occasionally performed on Mississippi Slim's radio program "Singin' and Pickin' Hillbilly."