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Can Someone give me info on "Scoopie Bruce" Harper please. (WMTS/WLAC)

M

muzikslinger

Guest
I am trying to find out information about the man I believe to be my grandfather. William Bruce Harper was his birth name, but I believe he used the name "Scoopie Bruce" "Scoopie Brucie" or "Scooby Bruce" on the air. I have found information that he spent some time at WMTS in the mid 70's and also at WLAC and possibly a station WEMO. That is all I know. I have done some research online but have found limited information about the man. I am looking for any former co-workers, friends, station owners who may have worked with or knew him. I am looking for as much information as you have so that maybe I can re-connect with a part of my family that both my father and I never knew. I don't know if he was married, had a family, or if he died without anyone. If you have pictures of him or if by some small chance you have any audio (I highly doubt anyone would, but worth a shot) please feel free to send them. I had also heard that he was a musician himself and dabbled in country music as well as the big band genre of music. Again any info you have will be helpful. Thank you in advance.


Billy"Big Al G" Harper
PD/MD/Afternoon Drive on Froggy 103.7
Murray,KY 42071
(270)753-2400
http://froggy103.com
[email protected]
 
I believe he went by Scoopie Brucie (not sure of spelling) when he came to Gallatin in 1966. He was one of the jocs at WAMG AM, owned by Bigfoot Jones in downtown Gallatin. Don't remember if he was one of the originals or not. He was quite a character. He was already older then than a lot of us. I'm guessing in his early 60s. I went by to meet him, but never knew him well. You might try tracing Jerry Pond in Chattanooga. Jerry was one of the origianal guys at that station and about the only one left I know. He worked mornings in Chattanooga for years. If you don't have any luck...write me at [email protected] and I'll try to help. Good Luck.
 
[email protected] email jerry pond here at his wifes email address..put "jerry and scoopie brucie" in the subject line and ask for info..tell him buddy sadler and pat julian asked for his help..scoopie was a legend in his own time around here in the gallatin area in country music..i didn't know him but have heard a lot about him as he was a tad before my radio time..most of the guys that knew him well have passed away....good luck..pj
 
Scoopie worked in the mid 70's spinning big band records for WMTS-FM in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. By that time he had to be close to 70. Where he went after WMTS, I have no idea. I hope you find the information you'e looking for. Good luck!
 
I swore that I posted this update already, but anyhow I want to thank you loves radio 2, deltas69 and olebud. You all gave me great information which allowed me to track down my grandfather. It is bittersweet since he did pass away in 1996 but it means the world to me to have the extended family that I am now getting to know thanks to my new radio friends!!! And by the way, some belated Happy Birthday wishes to you OleBud I hope you had a wonderful birthday yesterday!! Thanks again
 
he was a hoot to be sure..as were a lot of the jocks back in his era,,,i think they did it for the fun as much as anything...no one does it for fun anymore..that's one of the biggest problems in radio..
 
muzikslinger said:
I swore that I posted this update already, but anyhow I want to thank you loves radio 2, deltas69 and olebud. You all gave me great information which allowed me to track down my grandfather. It is bittersweet since he did pass away in 1996 but it means the world to me to have the extended family that I am now getting to know thanks to my new radio friends!!! And by the way, some belated Happy Birthday wishes to you OleBud I hope you had a wonderful birthday yesterday!! Thanks again
Click to expand...


Glad to be of help! ;D
 
deltas69 said:
he was a hoot to be sure..as were a lot of the jocks back in his era,,,i think they did it for the fun as much as anything...no one does it for fun anymore..that's one of the biggest problems in radio..
Click to expand...


Hell Pat, I thought we worked at WHIN-AM/FM for fun?? Miss Lottie acted like those paychecks came from her own pocket. Kinda felt guilty cashing em. ::)
 
well..in a sense...they did..she was ONE of the owners..along with bubba baker,bob pate,tommy perkins..and randy wood...but she didnt like doing payroll for sure.. :mad:
 
deltas69 said:
no one does it for fun anymore..that's one of the biggest problems in radio..
Click to expand...

I don't think that's the problem. It's not that we don't want to have fun, but the fun has been taken out of radio because it's become so competitive. If the "powers that be" allowed the fun to flurish again, radio could make a comeback.

Pat, I saw you having fun all weekend on your Internet show! Show 'em how it's done!
 
beatlenut said:
deltas69 said:
no one does it for fun anymore..that's one of the biggest problems in radio..
Click to expand...

I don't think that's the problem. It's not that we don't want to have fun, but the fun has been taken out of radio because it's become so competitive. If the "powers that be" allowed the fun to flurish again, radio could make a comeback.

Pat, I saw you having fun all weekend on your Internet show! Show 'em how it's done!
Click to expand...


Wish I could figure out how to access his site.
 
he was a hoot to be sure..as were a lot of the jocks back in his era,,,i think they did it for the fun as much as anything...no one does it for fun anymore..that's one of the biggest problems in radio
Click to expand...

Fun was a big part of it...but there had to be $$ too. I already had a wife and child and wanted something left over at the end of the week/month. We knew better than to cross the line and realized anything we did reflected on the station. But you're correct....I don't see as many people haveing fun together in stations as years ago.
 
But... and this is just my philosophy... if you are having fun or allowed to have fun, it will show on the air, your audience will build, the ratings will show it, and the station makes more money. That's in a perfect world. These days, the boss won't let you have fun (possibly fearing success?), the ratings slip, you're no longer affordable, budget cuts include getting you out and someone with less experience comes in for less money and tries to do what you did. More than likely, the new blood doesn't succeed, and the cycle continues. And not that there's anything wrong with new jocks coming in, but there are 2 major mistakes made: (1) losing the one with experience who knows how to get the audience if the company would just take the chains off and let him/her do what they were hired to do, and (2) no one training the new hire to become the person you let go because of either time constraints or just not doing your job. A lot of PD's forget or maybe just don't know how to nurture talent.
 
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