Could we have a Bill Cramer today?

[Pratte4Life]

If you asked who the greatest radio personality in the history of the Tri-Cities was, a leading candidate would be the late, great Bill Cramer.

I knew Bill when he was at the end of his career, and he only lived to be 51. But I have heard many stories of "The Cramer Outrage," which essentially I am told shook up Tri-Cities radio as it has not been before or since.

The Cramer Outrage was, from what I'm told, him ranting on goodness knows what. One broadcasting professor once told me, rolling his eyes, "he would swear on the air."

But I am also told he made WQUT, helping establish them as the leading station in the market for a period of time a generation ago.

I recently made a post- "Is there nothing going on in the Tri-Cities?" But I am of the belief that broadcast personalities in the Tri-Cities these days are so conservative, so set in their ways, so, dare I say, out and out boring that if someone tried to do the act Bill Cramer did then today in this market they would be yanked off the air the next day.

Question, Tri-Cities radio vets, what are your best stories regarding Bill Cramer, or memories of "The Cramer Outrage?"

And do you think I'm right? He wouldn't be able to do his act today? If I'm right, what can we do to change that!

 

[dudekindjack]

Ive got some cramer airchecks i recorded 1995 - 1997 i love. he would occasionally make mistakes like calling addicted to love by robert plant... he played detroit rock city by kiss, said it was sorta same as creatures of the night, but with the others missing, making reference that kiss had replaced 2 of the original members. he got which era was missing original members wrong. loved his show, sometimes he would tell the weather, and say stuff like as we continue from our last episode.. Then tell the forcast.

Radio had a lot better variety then too. wasnt zepplelin, acdc and aerosmith every hour. you had collective soul, nirvana, pearl jam and live, which were all newer bands at the time, getting lot of airplay. plus you would have ylur mix of classic rock like fleetwood mac, janis joplin, srv, beatles, journey others also. i miss those days of radio.

I hate to see radio in 20 years. Hardly any stations play new rock now, and in 20 years todays rock will be classic rock then. if its not played today, how will it be classic tomorrow? Also, hardly any stations do live dj'ing third shift now. Itsall syndicated stuff. at least wqut is live overnight. we may never have great djs like bill cramer, kim stone, jj randall, joe richie rockin the darkside, greats like that.

 

[BuzzCam]

I do not have any Cramer Outrage stories, but do have a question. When I lived in Johnson City in the late 60's, WJCW-AM 910 had a program on at night called "Nightlife". If I recall correctly, the gentleman who hosted it was Bill Cramer. Have I mixed him up with someone else or did he really host the show? I think it came on at 8pm and continued until midnight when WJCW signed off for the day. This was during the time WJCW was located on Princeton Road.

I have fond memories of the Putt-Putt Golf Course at the Bristol-Kingsport Highway split where they would play the show over the PA system. I am sure telling my age.

A little off topic...in those days, WJSO-AM 1590 and WETB-AM 790 played a Top 40 format, but had to sign-ff at sundown. WJCW, which, I believe played country music during the day, switched to Top 40 at night. And, we also had WFHG-AM 980 in Bristol and WKIN-AM 1320 in Kingsport, which also aired a Top 40 format.

When I lived in Middle Georgia in the late 60's, I would occasionally listen to WJCW at night, which would break through the noise on certain nights.

 

[Rick H]

I worked at WQUT/WJCW with Bill Cramer, T. Crain, Jim Powers (aka Bill Mountjoy), Bill (Mophead) Williams, Randy Jackson, Vance Cook and others in 1972-73. Cramer was the most incredibly talented DJ/Announcer/Personality in the area, and programmed an incredibly innovative radio show (for that time period). One of his funniest on-air creations was the continuing saga of "Brave Dave and his big burley brother, Buster Bravado". He produced some memorable commercial series as well, one of which was for the client, The House of the Hobbit.

These two sister stations (WJCW AM was formatted C&W) were located on Princeton Road at that time, and the General Manager was Rocky Stone (I kid you not!). WQUT was AOR before AOR was cool, and had just increased their ERP to 100,000 watts when I arrived. We programmed cutting edge music that was not airing anywhere else in the area in those days. It was THE "blowtorch" station between Knoxville, TN. and Roanoke, VA. I was most likely the least memorable member of the team, but I remain to this day, extremely humbled and honored to have been able to work with this group of extremely talented professionals. And an all-round great group of guys, too!

 

[Pratte4Life]

Oh- I can't believe I have forgotten this story until now!

Bill Cramer once helped me get a date with a girl I was too nervous to ask out!

 

[Joe Holt]

I remember Cramer on WJCW in the late '60s. His evening show was the prototype for what became WQUT's rock format. Does anyone remember Aargh the Wondertoad, or maybe his song "Hippy From Johnson City" which was an answer of sorts to Merle Haggards' "Okie From Muskogee"? Later on, I was fortunate enough to work with him in the '90s when he returned to WQUT and became friends with both him and his son, Ben, who worked for a while at the sister station, WJCW. Good times!
BTW, if anyone has airchecks of Cramer, I'd love to get a copy!