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Happy 80th Birthday WSM!

S

Shell

Guest
Thought it would be nice to recognize a radio milestone in Nashville here on the ol' board.

It was on this night in 1925 that the National Life and Accident Insurance Company signed on radio station WSM at 650 kilocycles.

Today out at the landmark WSM transmitter site on Concord Road, the staff broadcast live with some of country music's all time greats, some of the station's OWN legends, and overall threw one heck of a party.

Happy 80th birthday WSM!

If there wasn't a WSM, Nashville would NOT be Music City U.S.A.

Perhaps some folks could post some great memories of WSM past here on the board.

I'll start with an awesomely produced presentation from 1973 that I acquired earlier this year. Enjoy!

Peace,

Jack<P ID="signature">______________
Jack Shell
Director of Production & Creative Services
95.5 The WOLF!
650 AM WSM
SuperTalk 99.7 WTN
Cumulus Media/Nashville


Jack Shell Productions
http://www.jackshell.com</P>
 
My favorite WSM memory is the time George Plaster damn near convinced Gaylord to change the format to sports talk, but the suits thought better of it.<P ID="signature">______________
Bob
Moderator, Nashville board
Radio-Info.com--Always Tuned In

"I don't spread rumors, but I sometimes make outrageous speculations with no factual basis."</P><P ID="edit"><FONT class="small">Edited by NotSoSilentBob on 10/06/05 12:53 AM.</FONT></P>
 
Nice jingles on the presentation! :) Easy and restful. . .

-M
 
> My favorite WSM memory is the time George Plaster damn near
> convinced Gaylord to change the format to sports talk, but
> the suits thought better of it.

Who is George Plaster? I remember the sports talk rumors even though I lived in Florida at the time. I am really glad they didn't change. WSM represents what AM was and still should be.

And also many people don't know that WSM wasn't full-time country until the '80s.

Does anyone have any airchecks of when they were top 40? I know there are some that exist with Pat Sajak from around 1975 or so.
 
> Who is George Plaster?

Are you serious or kidding?<P ID="signature">______________
Bob
Moderator, Nashville board
Radio-Info.com--Always Tuned In

"I don't spread rumors, but I sometimes make outrageous speculations with no factual basis."</P>
 
> And also many people don't know that WSM wasn't full-time
> country until the '80s.
>
> Does anyone have any airchecks of when they were top 40? I
> know there are some that exist with Pat Sajak from around
> 1975 or so.
>
The station was never Top-40. They were block-programmed for many years with an "MOR" format (similar to Lite AC today) from 6am-6pm, and then went Country from 6pm-6am. They even had the live studio band on the "Wake-Up Crew" morning show for many years. And a strong local news presence as I recall. And that's the most impressive tower I've ever seen...it even looks powerful.
 
> The station was never Top-40. They were block-programmed
> for many years with an "MOR" format (similar to Lite AC
> today) from 6am-6pm, and then went Country from 6pm-6am.
> They even had the live studio band on the "Wake-Up Crew"
> morning show for many years. And a strong local news
> presence as I recall. And that's the most impressive tower
> I've ever seen...it even looks powerful.
>
besides "The Waking Crew" WSM also had "The Teddy Bart Show", 1 1/2 hour talk fest in the days before talk radio was popular. Also "All That's News" a 1 hour newsblock during afternoon drive. At one time Ralph Emery did midday which at that point the station was playing MOR from 6 Am - 6 PM. That was a funny concept. The first local airborn traffic reports (and believe it or not there was a guy they called "Captain Jim" before Richard Thomas). Pat Sajak did afternoons and Al Voecks was News Director. Vanderbilt Football and Basketball.Yes WSM was once a great radio station.
 
> > > Who is George Plaster?
> >
> > Are you serious or kidding?
>
> Why would I be kidding?

Ok I just found out he's some guy who is on The Zone. Big deal, some sports guy. I don't like sports.
 
> And also many people don't know that WSM wasn't full-time
> > country until the '80s.
> >
> > Does anyone have any airchecks of when they were top 40?
> > I know there are some that exist with Pat Sajak from around
> > 1975 or so.
> >
> The station was never Top-40. They were block-programmed
> for many years with an "MOR" format (similar to Lite AC
> today) from 6am-6pm, and then went Country from 6pm-6am.
> They even had the live studio band on the "Wake-Up Crew"
> morning show for many years. And a strong local news
> presence as I recall. And that's the most impressive tower
> I've ever seen...it even looks powerful.

They were just shy of being ``Top 40'' for the era, especially
in the mid-70's. I worked at WSIX-FM during that time and our
AM side was a pretty traditional MOR, Seals and Crofts was
about as edgy as we got on 980.

In contrast, WSM was playing Steely Dan, Atlanta Rhythm Section,
Chicago, Abba and such. That seems tame now, but for that time,
it was fairly daring. If anything, WSM was a very hot AC. It
had to surprise people tuning into 650 while driving into town
for the Opry.

Actually, it was summer 1978 (IIRC) when WSM went fulltime
country.
 
> > The station was never Top-40. They were block-programmed
> > for many years with an "MOR" format (similar to Lite AC
> > today) from 6am-6pm, and then went Country from 6pm-6am.
> > They even had the live studio band on the "Wake-Up Crew"
> > morning show for many years. And a strong local news
> > presence as I recall. And that's the most impressive
> tower
> > I've ever seen...it even looks powerful.
> >
> besides "The Waking Crew" WSM also had "The Teddy Bart
> Show", 1 1/2 hour talk fest in the days before talk radio
> was popular. Also "All That's News" a 1 hour newsblock
> during afternoon drive. At one time Ralph Emery did midday
> which at that point the station was playing MOR from 6 Am -
> 6 PM. That was a funny concept. The first local airborn
> traffic reports (and believe it or not there was a guy they
> called "Captain Jim" before Richard Thomas). Pat Sajak did
> afternoons and Al Voecks was News Director. Vanderbilt
> Football and Basketball.Yes WSM was once a great radio
> station.
>
wsm still is a great radio station imo....except for bill cody..zzzzzzzzzzz<P ID="signature">______________
note to tvland...bring back wkrp!!!</P>
 
> My first trip to Nashville happened around 1970 or so. I was a young boy and my parents we're taking me on a vacation that would forever put Nashville as my favorite place on earth. I was surprised to hear Ralph emery during the day playing Neil Diamond and Barry Manilow I recall but thrilled to be in the place that Country Music began. I have made hundrededs of return trips over the years, so many changes. The good years , the GREAT years, and the now years. It may never be what it was ever again but I'll forever dream of being an Opry staff announcer. By the way I'm 42 now and program a Christian CHR/Rock intenet site staion. I'm very diverse in my musical tastes. God Bless WSM. Haryl, Ralph, Grant, Tony, Larry Black, Tony Lyons and so many more. I even recal listening to Atlanta Braves games on the mighty WSM. Even spent a few years in Akron Ohio with the "Ol Jaybird" closest I ever got to Nashville in radio.

Peace

Cles Holbrook
www.KNET180radio.com
Thought it would be nice to recognize a radio milestone in
> Nashville here on the ol' board.
>
> It was on this night in 1925 that the National Life and
> Accident Insurance Company signed on radio station WSM at
> 650 kilocycles.
>
> Today out at the landmark WSM transmitter site on Concord
> Road, the staff broadcast live with some of country music's
> all time greats, some of the station's OWN legends, and
> overall threw one heck of a party.
>
> Happy 80th birthday WSM!
>
> If there wasn't a WSM, Nashville would NOT be Music City
> U.S.A.
>
> Perhaps some folks could post some great memories of WSM
> past here on the board.
>
> I'll start with an awesomely produced presentation from 1973
> that I acquired earlier this year. Enjoy!
>
> Peace,
>
> Jack
>
 
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