The history of the station dates to 1925, when businessman Calvin Beardsley purchased an experimental radio transmitter that operated in Cambridge, Illinois.
[4] In addition, they were informed that if they wanted to continue operating, they needed to file a formal license application by January 15, 1928, as the first step in determining whether they met the new "public interest, convenience, or necessity" standard.
[5] On May 25, 1928, the FRC issued General Order 32, which notified 164 stations, including WHBF, that "From an examination of your application for future license it does not find that public interest, convenience, or necessity would be served by granting it.
In November of that year, Beardsley sold interest in his station to the John Potter family, which operated the Rock Island Argus.
[2] In 1940, the station's power was increased to 5,000, with a directional array, day and night, and in 1941, with the implementation of the North American Regional Broadcasting Agreement, WHBF changed frequency to 1270 kHz,[2] where it remained for the balance of its existence.
[9] WHBF first adopted the country format in 1974, and for years was among the top-rated stations in the Quad Cities market, alongside powerhouses KSTT and KIIK.
The station's primary programming came from Air America Radio,[11] with hosts including Al Franken,[9] Stephanie Miller and Mark Riley.
Prior to 2006, WKBF, and sister station WHTS, were owned by Mercury Broadcasting and operated by a joint sales agreement with Clear Channel Communications.
[11] In October 2006, it was announced the station would be acquired by Quad Cities Media, for a purchase price of $150,000 and would go Christian talk by the end of the year.
Known as "Truth 1270", the primary focus was on Christian preaching and teaching; sacred music was provided by AbidingRadio at night and early morning.
On June 22, 2007, after airing a 100-year-old recording of Ira Sankey singing "God Be With You Till We Meet Again", WKBF flipped to "La Pantera", a regional Mexican format,[9] thus becoming the first full-time Spanish radio station in the Quad Cities.