Knoxville's JJ Randal

[Radio PD]

Paging JJ Randal...does anyone in ktown know where he's at?

 

[SuperQ]

A few years ago, he was living in Ftn City and studying to be a nurse or some kind of medical professional. I don't think he's worked in radio since the demise of WOKI.

 

[Raingus]

Paging JJ Randal...does anyone in ktown know where he's at?

I've heard that JJ keeps a very low profile these days, and that his son also works for another former WOKI DJ Gary Beach who now manages West Knox Florist.

 

[formerradiojunkie]

I worked there when I was attending UT in the early 90's. Was a blast for a 18-19 year old kid. JJ later went to "94 Z" and then could be heard on "Double 99" when WNOX was jazz (I think it was jazz). The last gig I know about was Eagle 100 when OKI was playing Classic Rock. Since I no longer live in TN it is hard to keep up with people but I have heard he isn't doing well health-wise and has become a recluse.

 

[Raingus]

I have heard he isn't doing well health-wise and has become a recluse.

I've heard the same exact thing.

 

[BRH]

I hate to hear that about JJ. I worked with him during his short period at WNOX 99.1 & 99.3 in the mid 90s and he was a nice guy. He was at WNOX at the end of the country format and the beginning of the smooth jazz format as "Double 99". He had left before the change to urban/rhythmic "X99" in '93.

He was always nice and in a great mood. I also remember he was always off every Friday evening since he was Jewish and that is one thing he liked about his shift at 99.1. Hope he is doing ok. I grew up listening to him on 'OKI.

 

[howell]

JJ was always a great guy and I remember he had health problems even while we were working at WOKI. Seems like he told me he had worked as a physical therapist but the pressures of the job were incredible for him. Where ever he is I hope he's doing great
H

 

[Raingus]

JJ was always a great guy and I remember he had health problems even while we were working at WOKI. Seems like he told me he had worked as a physical therapist but the pressures of the job were incredible for him. Where ever he is I hope he's doing great
H

Hi Jerry. ;D

 

[howell]

hi all....I just found this site yesterday and was amazed to see people talking about WOKI. I logged 12 years there and saw a lot of changes from top 40 to country....to a wisp of smoke. I still drive by the West Knoxville location and have to fight the urge to stop in and say hello to everyone. (Pat, BJ, Bill, Martha)... Yeah, it's not there anymore and some really great and talented people have moved on. I've been flying airplanes and doing traffic in Montgomery, Alabama for the last 10 years. I own Montgomery Skywatch and we service 14 radio stations and WAKA TV. Knoxville radio is exciting and there's a lot going on but like others have said, WOW, the landscape is changing. I do miss Knoxville. I've been going to night school here for the entire past ten years trying to learn...but I still can't say "Roll Tide"

H

 

[Raingus]

I remember back when JJ use to say at the top of the hour when his shift started: "Ain't it great to be livin' and alive in the Volunteer State!"

I also remember when JJ and Jeff D. were on the air during New Years Eve of 1985/1986 having their New Years Celebration for all of the time zones.

 

[Mid West Clubber]

Well I hope MR Randal is doing better these days,,, I never met or knew the guy but grew up listening to him on WOKI when I lived near Dandridge,, Do you guys know where that is??? I also used to listen to KISS FM 99.9 Asheville when I was living there... As I remember WOKI during that time was a fun station despite some of its Tech problems,,, like going off air everytime a storm hit,, and once when a huge Snow storm hit K-town and iced up the WOKI TX and knocked out there power... My Bus driver always played WOKI on the way to and from School each day,, some rare occassions would have on 99.9 WKSF instead since they were so close in frequency and the radio was analog,,, One day we had a sub bus driver that played 103.5 WIMZ and the kids complained to no end...lol I miss living in TENN and the days of listening to WOKI mainly during the I-100 days from 90-jan 93.. I was so mad when WOKI went Country, then all I had was WKSF Asheville, and sometimes Power 93.3 WBBO greenville would come in, but they changed formats in 93 too, and then WKSF switched to country in 94, leaving me with no choice but listen to Country, or try and DX the new B-93.7 Greenville... I was too far out east to be able to hear Star 93.1,,,, and had moved up here by the time they went on 102.1 in Seveirville.. Now the area is served by both Star 102.1 and also Electric 94.9 near Newport Tenn but focuses on tri cities.... I always dreamed of one day working at WOKI,,, but its all history now....Its sad really.

 

[kd4rnc1964]

I'n not sure, but I think JJ Randall is now programming 104.9 WKOS(the Peak) in the Tri-Cities at Gray for Citadel. He's worked I think for WXBQ and a bunch of others in the area.

 

[jamesgang2]

sorry dude, let me clear this up for you your thinking of Rich Randall hewas the one on WXBQ 7p-12a I think and was the mastermind of the oldies format on 1090 kingsport a few yrs back. He has re-surfaced at the Peak. hold the crystal ball is clearer and I could be of help ;D

 

[jamesgang2]

sorry dude, let me clear this up for you your thinking of Rich Randal he was the one on WXBQ 7p-12a I think and was the mastermind of the oldies format on 1090 kingsport a few yrs back. He has re-surfaced at the Peak. hold the crystal ball is clearer and I could be of help ;D

 

[Boogie Man]

Sorry, dude. Let me clear this up: First, no one has masterminded an AM Oldies station in the Tri-Cities and furthermore, I was in the Tri-Cites over the weekend visiting my mother and THE PEAK hasn't been masterminded either! What a horrible radio station!!! Put the AM Sports station on that and quit wasting a frequency on 80's music nobody knows. I listened to the station for about 2 hours and heard 3 songs for the first time in my life and I was on the air in the late 70's and early 80's.

Oh well, back to the car lot!

 

[kms575]

Well I hope MR Randal is doing better these days,,, I never met or knew the guy but grew up listening to him on WOKI when I lived near Dandridge,, Do you guys know where that is??? I also used to listen to KISS FM 99.9 Asheville when I was living there... As I remember WOKI during that time was a fun station despite some of its Tech problems,,, like going off air everytime a storm hit,, and once when a huge Snow storm hit K-town and iced up the WOKI TX and knocked out there power... My Bus driver always played WOKI on the way to and from School each day,, some rare occassions would have on 99.9 WKSF instead since they were so close in frequency and the radio was analog,,, One day we had a sub bus driver that played 103.5 WIMZ and the kids complained to no end...lol I miss living in TENN and the days of listening to WOKI mainly during the I-100 days from 90-jan 93.. I was so mad when WOKI went Country, then all I had was WKSF Asheville, and sometimes Power 93.3 WBBO greenville would come in, but they changed formats in 93 too, and then WKSF switched to country in 94, leaving me with no choice but listen to Country, or try and DX the new B-93.7 Greenville... I was too far out east to be able to hear Star 93.1,,,, and had moved up here by the time they went on 102.1 in Seveirville.. Now the area is served by both Star 102.1 and also Electric 94.9 near Newport Tenn but focuses on tri cities.... I always dreamed of one day working at WOKI,,, but its all history now....Its sad really.

I remember that snowstorm in 1993! We survived on WIVK, I think it was the only station on the air for a time, and since we had no power for 5 days, TV was out of the question!

 

[formerradiojunkie]

As far as I know JJ is not working in radio at all. I have a friend who keeps in touch with him periodically (we all worked together at WOKI). He said JJ is not doing to well and prefers to keep to himself and is not well mentally. That is sad, all we can do is remember him and his family in our prayers.

I had some fun times there. I was only a part-timer but I filled in for every shift. Was there during the change over to country and decided to go downstairs to Z-93 when I should have stayed upstairs. In the summer at night the building AC would cut off for the Z-93 studios so it would be 110 indoors. If you opened the windows 5 million bugs flew in and bombarded you while you were on there air. That was a some-what fun adventure too. I eventually left and went back upstairs until graduating from UT.