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hello sir's and ladies

A

allenv

This is my first time on this board so be gentle with me. I know some people on this site and have worked with a few of you over the years. I love to chat about radio and have some strong opinions and they are just that.... opinions. There is a lot going on in our industry right now... some good, some not so good & some I just don't understand being the simpleminded dude that I am!!! I look forward to chatting with you and again I will not bash anyone... I just enjoy talking about this crazy but never boring industry that has been an important part of my life for almost 24 years...

Allen Vick
 
Welcome aboard, Allen! I don't post much. I mostly lurk. My radio career is pretty much behind me as I last worked on the air in '98 at the old WKTC "Katie Country". I still dabble by operating a part 15 from my home. Since we can never completely get this radio thing out of our system, I enjoy reading these posts from folks who are still in the trenches.

Again, welcome.
Don
 
Hello Sir,
The old Katie Country with Rick Braswell,Mike Seilman(spell),David Perkins etc...??
I was lucky enough to do some part time stuff on Katie when it was still in Tarboro on 104.3 from early 88-mid 89 when Bob Harper still had it. It got sold to Curtis/Osborne. We found out about it on the NCNN business news on a Friday afternoon while I was on the air for the great Dink Perry. It's a great story about John Moore's reaction(R Mount John Moore) when he heard it. I had a great time there learning from great jocks like John C. Moore, Will Jackson, Gene Hudson, Dink etc... Katie was a great station while it was in Tarboro. It was a good signal that was able to maintain its local feel.This is something that is missing in radio today for the most part in my opinion.... Localism. I miss the old Katie & wish I had more airchecks from my time there. I have only one. It moved to Goldsboro,changed frequency & never made it to Raleigh like it was supposed to. I'd like to find someone who has some old Katie stuff. The Harpers were really nice people & good local owners & I have great memories of listening as a kid and being fortunate enough to work there. Thanks for the reply & I look forward to chatting more with you.

Allen Vick
 
Oh, man... you do go back a ways! :)
When the big Katie buyout came, I was recently resigned from a P-T / weekend stint @ WVOT and was looking to get my first FM gig (still part-time). I applied at then WEQR, 96.9 in Goldsboro, as it was the closest FM to my Lucama home. I heard nothing from them for awhile and figured that was the end of that, when I got a call from Mike Sleyman... at WKTC in Tarboro!???

This was weird, as I had not applied there, nor had any interest in driving the T-boro for a p-t job. Anyway, my curiosity got the best of me, and I made the drive up to meet with Mike. It was then that he explained that Curtis was moving the brand to Goldsboro and were in the process of staffing the "All New Katie Country". This was back in '89. There was a dude doing mornings who's name currently escapes me, except I remember he had an imaginary sidekick named "Herman". Some girl named Penny Sue did mid-days, and Sleyman did afternoons. Of course, the always excellent Wayne Alley was there with the news.

I got the job, but the elation was brief, and I found myself miserable in short order. The chemistry in the place was bad. I went back to 'VOT where I was quite happy, until the summer of '92 when a fire burned the place to the ground. But that's another story.

For reasons I shant detail now, I went back to Katie in '93, and spent 5 happy years there (things had gotten much better) with a talented group featuring "Large" Larry English (RIP), Donna James, and the ever-present Mike Sleyman. Oh, I must mention Mike Coats... great guy. I was treated well and tried to give them my best. Rick Braswell came in near the end of my time there. I really respected all of them and still do.

When the KIX simulcast happened, I was caught totally off guard. Nothing was said to me until the day I walked into the studio and was told "We're 95.5 now. You can't use the air monitor because the signal doesn't reach Goldsboro". I worked that weekend and turned in my resignation. I was just too stunned to react any other way. I hung up my headphones and have not been on-air since.

Still, overall it was a good experience, and I don't regret any of it. Sorry for the looong reply. Maybe this will spur some other folks' memories. Thanks for your indulgence!

Don
 
Wayne Alley is in Goldsboro with WGBR. He is a great guy & funny as hell. Donna James is one of a kind. I see her occasionally. She has always been nice to me. Large Larry I did not know well.. very sad about what happened to him. Some swear his ghost walks the halls in Rocky Mount. I never knew Mike Sleyman that well either.Rick Braswell does afternoons at the Big Dawg 98.5. He is a really good guy who has a great country radio mind.He should be the PD of the Big Dawg.
I have been a lucky dude to meet so many cool people.I've got some great stories and some I can even tell on this board. It's good to talk to you Don.We know alot of the same folks. I'll be at 107.9 Tommorrow 9am-3pm if you wanna chat..

Allen Vick
 
Glad to hear you still have a radio home. I hear Beasley is a good outfit to work for. If I get a chance, I'll dial you in.

Always lurking,
I am Don
 
This should have been here instead of where it was.

Hey Allen! I too am new here but you already know me personally, but the others here don't so here goes. I started in radio at WEED AM 1390 back in 1986 and worked there off and on part-time weekends untill 1992. I then got out of the biz for a few years until 1997 when I started working for WZAX then at 99.7 (now at 99.3) here on Rocky Mount. I remember when WKTC was incorporated into our little studio (in a old house) around 1998. I continued working part time until around 2003 when I was let go (just before First Media bought the station), but I came back to ZAX in 2004. So all total I've been in radio for roughly 21 years I've done just about every time slot there is and am currently on ZAX Sunday mornings from 6-11. Yes it's voicetracked and I'd give ANYTHING to be on live. When I started at WEED back in 1986 I did a live 6hr show every Saturday and Sunday. I did that for about 2 yrs before they went satellite fed programming. This was in the days when turntables and cart machines ruled and you were the station. Not a single computer could be found in the station. I love radio and am very passionate about it just as Allen is. I've worked with him and know he is a really great guy and friend.
 
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