Dave Warnock (Jesse James)... Jimmy Rabbit...Mickey Robinson...anybody have a clue? Thanks and if anybody was a jock and reads this board, please appear...J Boyd.
-
Get involved.
We want your input!
Apply for Membership and join the conversations about everything related to broadcasting.
After we receive your registration, a moderator will review it. After your registration is approved, you will be permitted to post.
If you use a disposable or false email address, your registration will be rejected.
After your membership is approved, please take a minute to tell us a little bit about yourself.
https://www.radiodiscussions.com/forums/introduce-yourself.1088/
Thanks in advance and have fun!
RadioDiscussions Administrators
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
Waddever happened to: WWUN jocks from the 70's.....
- Thread starter jboydingram
- Start date
jboydingram said:Dave Warnock (Jesse James)... Jimmy Rabbit...Mickey Robinson...anybody have a clue? Thanks and if anybody was a jock and reads this board, please appear...J Boyd.
J Boyd, those were from the 60s, not the 70s, as I recall.
I left WWUN when it was sold to go country, went to JDX, and then spent 30 years in St. Louis. I suspect few people remember me in Mississippi radio even though I worked in Mississippi for about 6 years, and at WWUN 3 times.
I was there 14 years spannin the mid 60's to the mid 70's so it is hard to keep the faces and years straight...and yes Watt, this seems like last month but it has been over 40 years since they turned the Jackson market on it's ear. Thanks.
Yep! "Rebel Radio W-R-B-C" and "W-One", Classic AM Top-40 Battle...
....SWEET!..........
....SWEET!..........
Yep...and they were downfall of W-1, I must admit...BUT, they were also done in by the fact they could have purchased WWHO FM, and opted not to do it...(now WTYX)....
I remember Dave Blair (see above) and thank him for greasing the skids in my early career. Dave coached me via aircheck critiques, and helped lobby my way into a "dream" gig doing weekends at JDX while I was still in high school in Greenville.
Due to the youthful nature of most of the posters on this site, I wish J. Boyd would summarize the WWUN story... how it started and what a great impression it made in Jackson radio, despite the negatives it had to overcome in signal and dial location.
I spent about 9 months at 1590 serving as Program Director while it was "Y-16". Walt did mornings, followed by John Bell, Steve Jeffries did middays, I was on afternoons, and Craig Dale did the night shift, succeeded by Lee Adams. JJ Johnson did overnights (I still run into him now and again, he does sales for Clear Channel here in Memphis).
Due to the youthful nature of most of the posters on this site, I wish J. Boyd would summarize the WWUN story... how it started and what a great impression it made in Jackson radio, despite the negatives it had to overcome in signal and dial location.
I spent about 9 months at 1590 serving as Program Director while it was "Y-16". Walt did mornings, followed by John Bell, Steve Jeffries did middays, I was on afternoons, and Craig Dale did the night shift, succeeded by Lee Adams. JJ Johnson did overnights (I still run into him now and again, he does sales for Clear Channel here in Memphis).
I think it would benefit a lot of youthful posters on the board to really listen to Mr. Boyd and others about the history of the industry in our state. But that might be like being in school, yuck! We've had some strong influences in showing the right way to program,sell advertising on, or manage properties. With the Blair's, Tanner's, Burton's, we've had great programming minds in Jackson and even the Goldern Triangle, great GM's like Lima on the coast, owners like the Blakeney's in Hattiesburg; there's proof that we don't have to succumb to doing whatever else others are doing. I tend to get cheesy around New Years, maybe because the time off gives the old brain time to reflect,(maybe it's the Dan Fogelberg music,)but you should always thank those who brought you to where you are, while they're still able to hear it.
WWUN in a nutshell:
1. WOKJ, 1590 gets C.P> to change frequency to 1500 and go 50kw...they build
facility in Bolton and eventually get it to meet directional specs.
2. In 1964, one could not own 2 AM's in same market, so the 1590 site and
transmitter is placed on market.
3. Purchased by Airwaves, Inc of Baton Rogue for approximately 100,000 dollars, and a Jim Walter home is built at transmitter site for studio.
4. In mid April, 1964, station debuts on 1590, as WOKJ starts on 1550 the same day.
5. Station format billed as "salt and pepper" playing BB King, Supremes, Beatles, and all in between. Has agreat staff and frentic jingles ..becomes an instant hit..
gives away two Mustangs in first four months on air.
6. Becomes number one in first year and stays there until about 1970...the increasing popularity of FM as well as great programming by competitors, coupled
with inferior coverage because of power, frequency and highly directional antenna nites leads to stumbles in ratings.
7. As previously stated, opportunities to buy an FM were passed up, and WKXI, WJMI, WJDX,(Even WLIN) also whittled away listeners.
8. About 1975, Station was sold to Holladay group and later to others, and format changes could not reverse the fortunes..several call letter changes were also made.
9. Last I heard it was black gospel.
Those were the days....
1. WOKJ, 1590 gets C.P> to change frequency to 1500 and go 50kw...they build
facility in Bolton and eventually get it to meet directional specs.
2. In 1964, one could not own 2 AM's in same market, so the 1590 site and
transmitter is placed on market.
3. Purchased by Airwaves, Inc of Baton Rogue for approximately 100,000 dollars, and a Jim Walter home is built at transmitter site for studio.
4. In mid April, 1964, station debuts on 1590, as WOKJ starts on 1550 the same day.
5. Station format billed as "salt and pepper" playing BB King, Supremes, Beatles, and all in between. Has agreat staff and frentic jingles ..becomes an instant hit..
gives away two Mustangs in first four months on air.
6. Becomes number one in first year and stays there until about 1970...the increasing popularity of FM as well as great programming by competitors, coupled
with inferior coverage because of power, frequency and highly directional antenna nites leads to stumbles in ratings.
7. As previously stated, opportunities to buy an FM were passed up, and WKXI, WJMI, WJDX,(Even WLIN) also whittled away listeners.
8. About 1975, Station was sold to Holladay group and later to others, and format changes could not reverse the fortunes..several call letter changes were also made.
9. Last I heard it was black gospel.
Those were the days....
Date off by 1 year...it was 1965...it's hell to get old...Thanks jbi
Thanks for the recap! It's a great lesson to all of us about taking what you have and making the most of it.
Another name which comes to mind in association with Y-16 is Terry Stenzel. Terry was chief engineer when I was there, and pulled a few airshifts also.
Another name which comes to mind in association with Y-16 is Terry Stenzel. Terry was chief engineer when I was there, and pulled a few airshifts also.
Yes, Terry was an understudy with me for years, and became Chief after I started WJBI in Clarksdale...He also was at ETV...lost touch with him in the mid 90's...anybody know his where-abouts?
tzbarber said:Ya'll keep it up. When we get to the part that brings up 62JDX in the 70's,we'll be talking some smack!
Hey, I was there, too. Got me to St. Louis!
robgrayson said:I remember Dave Blair (see above) and thank him for greasing the skids in my early career. Dave coached me via aircheck critiques, and helped lobby my way into a "dream" gig doing weekends at JDX while I was still in high school in Greenville.
Due to the youthful nature of most of the posters on this site, I wish J. Boyd would summarize the WWUN story... how it started and what a great impression it made in Jackson radio, despite the negatives it had to overcome in signal and dial location.
I spent about 9 months at 1590 serving as Program Director while it was "Y-16". Walt did mornings, followed by John Bell, Steve Jeffries did middays, I was on afternoons, and Craig Dale did the night shift, succeeded by Lee Adams. JJ Johnson did overnights (I still run into him now and again, he does sales for Clear Channel here in Memphis).
You were on of the two most talented newbies I ever helped into radio- the other being Bobby Mitchell (last I heard at KSCS in Dallas)- and you were Walt's brother, and Walt made a great impression on me as a young guy. I always liked what I heard every time I caught you driving through Memphis...
Where are you these days?
jboydingram said:Date off by 1 year...it was 1965...it's hell to get old...Thanks jbi
The sale to New South was in late summer, 1974. I had a great time that year- in their infinite wisdom, The Baton Rouge folks told us to cut back on hours for the staff. So, we worked short days. We still got paid the same (meager such as it was) but we just ran in for our airshifts.
They kept it country for a while, and I returned in 1977 when it was "16-W1" for a few months. Left in September, and never returned to Jackson other than to drive through. 1590 Is now owned by Clear Channel (WZRX) and I believe it is indeed a black gospel station. I vaguely remember something about Y16, but by then I was long gone. I recall it was also some kind of hard rock station for a while as well.
There are so many great stories to tell about the station- like the time Steve Starr was reading a newscast, on a beautiful spring day with the windows open, and a cow wanders up, sticks her head in, and right in the middle os Steve's read, moos quite loudly. Steve jumped back. the cow looked perplexed, and I was laughing too hard to be able to start ANYTHING.
OK, Blair, I was referring to the START date of the station...no problem...good to hear from you after all these years...I missed out if you said where you are now...Best...JBI
beachguy3b said:robgrayson said:I remember Dave Blair (see above) and thank him for greasing the skids in my early career. Dave coached me via aircheck critiques, and helped lobby my way into a "dream" gig doing weekends at JDX while I was still in high school in Greenville.
Due to the youthful nature of most of the posters on this site, I wish J. Boyd would summarize the WWUN story... how it started and what a great impression it made in Jackson radio, despite the negatives it had to overcome in signal and dial location.
I spent about 9 months at 1590 serving as Program Director while it was "Y-16". Walt did mornings, followed by John Bell, Steve Jeffries did middays, I was on afternoons, and Craig Dale did the night shift, succeeded by Lee Adams. JJ Johnson did overnights (I still run into him now and again, he does sales for Clear Channel here in Memphis).
You were on of the two most talented newbies I ever helped into radio- the other being Bobby Mitchell (last I heard at KSCS in Dallas)- and you were Walt's brother, and Walt made a great impression on me as a young guy. I always liked what I heard every time I caught you driving through Memphis...
Where are you these days?
Still talking in Memphis. I did mornings on Sirius "Elvis Radio" for a year, but now I'm the "local anchor" for Morning Edition on the WKNO-FM stations, doing a weekend shift on FM100, production work for Studio Center Worldwide, and still handling what's left of Wilkerson Sound Studios. In my spare time, I wonder whatever happened to my spare time.
More on WWUN... during part of the 1974 era it was known as "Rock 159", and Dr. Brock did the ID's and drop ins...
In the Y-16 era, Mickey Coulter was PD and returned to the coast when the Holliday folks sold it to a Memphis conglomerate. Bobby Case had been there at one point, but soon received his call to NYC. I had just been "staff reduced" from WMPS following their format change to country, and was looking for a paycheck (or someting resembling one), and was given a shot at programming the station. I pretty well cloned the WHBQ formatics and succeeded in doubling the ratings (went from a 1 to a 2). The boss brought in Gerry Peterson Cagle as a consultant (Gerry was running for congress at the time, and needed something to meddle with). He took out my format and put in two stacks of records.. "play one from this stack, then play one from that stack."
1590 is now "News Plus 1590", carrying CNN Headline News.
What I heard on my last JAN trip was the straight TV feed. Curious if CNN still offers a separate radio-specific feed so we po' radio listeners don't have to suffer through all of the "as you can see here..." references.
Paul E. Burt
Baton Rouge, LA
What I heard on my last JAN trip was the straight TV feed. Curious if CNN still offers a separate radio-specific feed so we po' radio listeners don't have to suffer through all of the "as you can see here..." references.
Paul E. Burt
Baton Rouge, LA
jboydingram said:OK, Blair, I was referring to the START date of the station...no problem...good to hear from you after all these years...I missed out if you said where you are now...Best...JBI
I got out of radio for a while, then tried a few months doing talk part time, and went to work for Clear Channel part time for 4 years. Got to St. Louis and stayed there. Had chances to go to Chicago, and other impressive places and passed one them all.
I left radio completely when I left St. Louis after 30 years in 2005, and have been in Atlanta. I work for a software company doing tech stuff. After many years as a consultant and a contract programmer, I was sick of programming, and this lets me use my skills but not have to be so nit picky about the businesss rules.
By the way, all the references I see, including Clear Channel's own, still say 1590 is WZRX, and gospel. However, they have a website indicating it is indeed News Plus 1590.
- Status
- This thread has been closed due to inactivity. You can create a new thread to discuss this topic.