Memphis Memories (radio style)

[JustARadioFan]

Seacrest Out (is it just me, or is this saying really, really ironic? I'm just sayin')

DE

Why, I never quite thought of it that way before..... thank you Captain Obivious for opening my eyes! *snicker*

 

[Meepster]

That's right...Billy FRANK Birmingham!...
You'll have to forgive me...it's been a while AND I was just a school boy! :

Hadn't even thought of that for a looooooooooooong time!

 

[mikl73]

The biggest problem in doing such a show will be narrowing the scope. There is SOOO much ground to cover. Radio, of course, is either a reflection or driving force of pop culture. So, that makes it much harder to cover than, say, "Beyond the Parkways."

The point about WDIA is a good one. One could make a full documentary about WDIA and/or WLOK. In fact, there is such a documentary out there. Think about it -- who was more important from a sociological perspective: Rufus Thomas or Rick Dees?

Similarly, one could make a full hour on WHBQ. Or, Dewey Phillips and the birth of rock & roll, as seen through the lens of Memphis, TN.

This could be FASCINATING. I just hope the producers (Love Bonnie!) can establish theme before plunging forward. This will be hard.

DE

there is already is one about WLOK called the WLOK Story.. I have it recorded around here somewhere

not sure if this is current but

http://www.memphislibrary.org/tlc18/schedule/monday.html#wlok

 

[AlbumOldies]

My suggestions:

You'd have to cover Marge Thrasher and WHER, George Klein, Dewey Phillips, Wink Martindale, Jack Parnell, Rick Dees, Fred Cook and John Powell (don't forget to cover the fire that occurred while they were on the air), WMC 79 in its Constant Country days with Les Acree and Jackie Strickland, and maybe even WMQM and its "Countrypolitan" era with Les Acree (wasn't Eddie Bond there also? I'm a little hazy on that one). WMQM was country "when country wasn't cool." Rufus Thomas, Roy Mack, Harry Simpson, the Dolly Holiday show, Brother Jon Rivers and "Powerline," maybe Father Don's "Talk It Out" show, and last but not least, and I'm kind of partial to this one, give WMC-FM 100 some coverage on its progressive rock era, a big influence on a lot of us. Hmmm, I wonder if there's any video footage of those FM100 concerts from The Overton Park Shell, Lafayettes, and other places? Two of those 1967 original DJ's (Greg Hamilton and Jon Scott) are on this forum. Perhaps Redbeard of Rock 103 fame deserves a mention as well.

Back to FM100's Progressive Rock days for a minute, and I've been meaning to ask this, could Sheila Hall be considered a notable DJ in the fact that she had to be one of the first, if not the first, black female DJ's in Memphis? She was always pleasant to listen to on those Sat and Sun mornings. Maybe she deserves a mention, too.

I'm sure I'll think of more, but I'm celebrating Memphis' victory over UCLA right now, headed back to the tube to catch Kansas - NC.

 

[Tynosaur]

Here's the best idea of all...fuhgeddaboudit!

 

[mikl73]

maybe even WMQM and its "Countrypolitan" era with Les Acree (wasn't Eddie Bond there also? I'm a little hazy on that one). WMQM was country "when country wasn't cool."

I will try to get try and get in touch with Eddie... He has mostly retired to Bolivar, TN but as of a while back was doing a little live show in Middleton and a radio show on WMOD. I know he was on KWAM as that was mostly what I have heard him talk about over the years.

I agree with all the suggestions... esp since my earliest memories of Memphis radio are of HBQ during the Dee's era. That was just damn good radio. Good enough to listen to through the static 80 miles away.

Can't forget Aunt Eloise from WMC 79.

The should just let you guys put the show together.

 

[hopkins]

Hey guys-- new to this game, so be kind to me. I'm a professional historian who is working on a history of Radio Center and WMPS/WDIA. Thanks to Rob Grayson and Kenny Bosak (Did I spell it right this time?!?!?) for their contributions. This has turned out to be a really special project.

The Memphis Memories series has been a great thing, but unfortunately, WKNO pushes their producers to "dumb down" every topic, and stress "nostalgia" over "history". As a result, we get pretty much sticky sweet stuff (with some exceptions) that don't add to our knowledge of a topic. I am sure they will do the same with a radio gig.

Most people don't know that Memphis was a hot bed for Country & Western music, and it was only eclipsed by Nashville in the early-mid-1950s. So let me add some names to your list of people who have to be interviewed for the radio show:

*Eddy Arnold (WMPS 1939-ish). Arnold only worked at WMPS for a couple of weeks before he was fired, but he is probably the last person alive who can recall Memphis radio from the inside prior to WWII.
*Charlie Louvin of the Louvin Brothers (WMPS 1948-1951+/-). Had a nice chat with him just the other day...
*Sonny James, formerly Sonny Loden of the Loden Family (WMPS 1948-1951)
*Norm Brewer (WMPS 1954-1959), now at WREG-TV, of course.
*Mel Tillis is probably one of the last men alive besides The Killer who could talk about Bob Neal. Tillis knew him better, I think.
I have also heard that Doc Williams from WREC is still alive and living in Wheeling....

 

[BTA-50F]

remember "Steele and Bill" on WDIA?