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Charlotte's "Most Memorable!"...?

E

emanon17

For some reason Charlotte has bred some good talent over the years.

Think of the Great Local Personalities and future Major Market names who came through Charlotte (for a year or more) and went on to display their talents for years afterwards! (either working now or in years past?)

Share your most memorable: A few come to my mind...

Robert Murphy- "Murphy-in-the-Morning" on WAYS/WROQ
Jay Thomas- "Jay Thomas" on BIG WAYS
Boo Baron- "worked at so many stations in 1 year, he put an ad in R&R for employers to send his W-2s!"
...Urban Legend??? I think not!
Scott Slade- WSB-AM morning anchor (formerly of WAYS)
Michael Donovan- 95Q/WROQ "Donovan's Top at 5"... WBT-FM, WEDJ, and now one of radio's
top consultants with Vallie/Richards/Donovan
Jon-David Wells- WEZC's "Voice of God"
Jon Boy & Billy- WBCY/WRFX "The Big Show" at, or near #1 for 20 years. Syndicated now.
Michael Saunders- WPEG, Charlotte WAS Michael Saunders...
Bill Dollar- WSOC morning maven for years. Quintessential Big Voice Country AM Guy
Jeff Wicker- WBCY afternoon guy in the 80's. "Mr. Charlotte!"
Jonathan Rush- WNOK host of "The Morning Rush" for more than 15 years

Now... WHO HAVE I FORGOTTEN??
--Em
 
Was Jason Lewis on WBT long enough to be considered for this list? I mean hell, the guy IS subbing for Rush these days...
 
My vote would go to "Murphy In the Morning" which would include the fine work of Larry Sprinkle.

There was also Spike O'Dell mornings on WBT (now doing mornings at WGN Chicago).

Fred Story's great "Jazz Flavors" Sunday nights on WBCY

Don Russell afternoons on WBT was always good for a laugh.
 
Russell and Flynn were so great together!
Where is James K these days?
 
jtudor said:
Russell and Flynn were so great together!
Where is James K these days?
Click to expand...

Ahh, James K. Flynn. I will forever remember his, "It's Saturday night and we are Liiiiiiiiiiiiiiiivvvveee at the Hiiiiiiiive!" cries at the now leveled Charlotte Coliseum on Hornets game nights.
 
I don't know what else he may or may not be doing, but James K. Flynn has an active commercial voiceover career. You hear him from time to time on commericals -- Morris Jenkins Heating and Air for one.
 
radioheel said:
jtudor said:
Russell and Flynn were so great together!
Where is James K these days?
Click to expand...

Ahh, James K. Flynn. I will forever remember his, "It's Saturday night and we are Liiiiiiiiiiiiiiiivvvveee at the Hiiiiiiiive!" cries at the now leveled Charlotte Coliseum on Hornets game nights.
Click to expand...

I think that Bob Johnson really missed out by not getting James K at the new Coliseum, but then again, what do I know?
 
You also have to add Jack "YOUR LEEEEEEEEEADER" Armstrong to the list as well. The way that I understand it, he got his first big break at Big WAYS when he was just 19 years old doing overnights around 1965.
 
Not knowing the exact criteria you propose, this is based solely on who entertained me. I can understand those who may not agree. However, I feel all of the following are some of the better talent to visit the Charlotte airwaves. Also, my time in Charlotte ended in the early 90's, so I probably excluded many excellent talents after that (and before)!

Larry Sprinkle- Any accolades I could give would still understate Larry's contributions to Murphy's success WAYS/WROQ. Above all that, all around nice guy!

Alpha Trivet- Another WROQ alum, last I heard was doing morning in Atlanta market. He was dead on with imitations of Mr. Haney, Floyd the Barber, Fred Sanford, and many others. His original characters like Tyrone Capricorn and Ackmed the Towel Head were funny and creative bits with both Jack Murphy and JJ McKay at WROQ during the mid-late 80's.

I totally agree with Boo Baron on your list.

I think these should also be considered, in no particular order-

John Hill- Overnights on a few stations in Charlotte and went on to do mornings in Orlando (WXXL) now for many years. Can hear him sometimes on the way to work in Tampa if conditions are just right.


Animal- Listened to him when he was in Knoxville. Thought he was great there, but grew to appreciate him more at Z-100 (WJZR) in the 80's. What an entertaining jock and good person!

Pete Richards WROQ/WBCY-Great late nights on WROQ. Excellent on the phones. Later to Boston among several other major markets.

Ray Mariner- WROQ/KISS 102 mornings. Now Atlanta.

Long John Silver- Big Ways. Larger than life to a little kid and made a lasting impression.
 
Maybe not in the most memorable category but I'm going to put a word in for an old friend. Jim Wall and I were doing our act today and having fun. Unfortunately back when we worked together on WSOC-AM PD Don Bell didn't want us to talk on the air together. From the looks of it we were entertaining the folks at the Charlotte Hamfest today. I'm sure they thought we were crazy but we could see some smiles and outright laughs. As Jim said we used to be professionals now we're Amateur Radio Operators. Maybe we should take our show on the road....

Jim Wall has been kicking around Charlotte even longer than I have at stations WRPL, WAME,WAYS, WIST, and WSOC-AM/FM to name a few.

Uh, he also bought my lunch today!
 
Anyone remember Gary Craig? He was just before Spike O'Dell on WBT, and right after Lacy. Gary is a legend in Hartford http://www.garycraig.com/ and was very good. I hear "Pilot" didn't think he fit WBT, and was only there maybe one book. Very top-40 sounding then. I think that was why. Great jock.
 
TheStoker said:
Anyone remember Gary Craig? He was just before Spike O'Dell on WBT, and right after Lacy. Gary is a legend in Hartford http://www.garycraig.com/ and was very good. I hear "Pilot" didn't think he fit WBT, and was only there maybe one book. Very top-40 sounding then. I think that was why. Great jock.
Click to expand...

I've heard his name mnetioned but he was there before I got to Charlotte.

WBT went through a time where they couldn't figure out who they wanted on in the morning. I remember all the complaints I heard when they got rid of Pete Sullivan. I wonder where he ended up?
 
I'd say WBT was trying anything just to stay in the game with WAYS...
 
TheStoker said:
Who was the guy they got from "HAS" in Lousiville? Was that Pete, or the present Al Gardner? Isn't Al, Bill's brother?
Click to expand...
Huh? Al is Bill Gardner's brother and if my memory serves me correctly -- Al came up from WGST in Atlanta.
 
I'll never forget the day Elvis died. Rockin' Ray was on the air at WBT. Unforgettable.
 
A couple more

H. A. Thompson. Killer in mid morning housewife time.

Jack Petree, such a great voice.

And in the vein of behind the scenes (since Larry Srpinkle was mentioned)

John Causby who was the voice and production genius with John Boy and Billy when they were on WBCY.
You may not have ever heard John's name mentioned, or heard his real voice on the air, but his production and
voices were a lot of what made the mornings work with John Boy at WBCY. John C stayed behind when John Boy
got "religion" and took his year long paid sabattical before going to the Fox.

He now has his own production company in charlotte and does voiceovers for well..... everyone. And many of those
mentioned here in additon to many others do voiceover work through John's company.

http://www.groundcrewstudios.com/v2/
 
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