BOOK: "Alabama's First Radio Stations" by Harry Butler

[Chad-Stevens]

This article was on Page F1 of the Birmingham News, Sunday 4/30/2006. I've excerpted it here for the interest of the readers of this board._________________________________________________What do those radio call letters really mean? by Bob CarltonOn his first week on the job at Gadsden radio station WJBY, Harry Butler was sent by his boss to collect a payment from a local drug store.When he picked up the check, Butler noticed that it had been made out to WJBY, and in parenthesis, "Where Jay Birds Yodel.""I thought I was being set up for a big joke," Butler recalls.But it was no joke. Turned out, the drugstore always wrote "Where Jaybirds Yodel" alongside WJBY.Butler, who has worked at radio stations in Birmingham, Talladega, and Gadsden, has just written a book entitled "Alabama's First Radio Stations." Inspired, no doubt, by the jaybird story, he devotes an entire chapter to station call letters and their meanings.<snip>Butler's book, which comes out in about three weeksm will sell for $30, with proceeds benefiting the Alabama Broadcasters Association Education Foundation, a scholarship fund.It will be available through the ABA by calling (205) 982-5001 or clicking on www.al-ba.com._________________________________________________I didn't find the article at al.com, so I reprinted just the main points here. I didn't see anything at al-ba.com about the book yet.

 

[NeroSix]

Birmingham's old AM rock station WSGN "We're the South's Greatest Newspaper". Was owned by the Birmingham News at one time.WAPI "Alabama Polytechnic Institute"...the original name for Auburn. Station was owned by them back in the day.WKRG in Mobile. Owned by Kenneth R Giddens.I'm sure others will surface.

 

[ccseagull]

Here's the most complete list I've ever seen:http://www.geocities.com/ResearchTriangle/6375/origins.call-list.html