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WFMX
- Thread starter Mike Sheridan
- Start date
wncmacs said:
Also, Billy Buck did mornings when WLVV flipped to Country in the late 80s as WLVK "K-97" alongside Cindy Schwartz as "Buck and Cindy". The WLVK, K-97 era was just before Thunder 96.9--I thought "Thunder" was the most horrible-sounding attempt at country--just as the state of country was moving away from the traditional country sound with the likes of The Kentucky Headhunters. Shooo, nasty, cough, puke....
Interesting you should mention this. Billboard wrote about Thunder Country, but the Observer didn't. They had Lynyrd Skynyrd and even ZZ Top and were considered quite innovative for country radio. It didn't help the ratings. WJXY-FM in the Myrtle Beach market did the same thing a few years ago as "Cruisin' Country". Again, too many competitors and no listeners.wncmacs said:
When it was K-97, I liked it best when Tommy Faile hosted a classic country show there. In fact, I think they went all classic country before they tried Thunder Country.
M
Mike Walker
Guest
I mourn WFMX the same as I would a lost family member. I was the morning man there from 1988-1990, then the Production Mgr. until Bob Grayson fired me to hire his friend "Edd with two Ds". No biggie. That's the way radio goes. Edd and I have talked about it, and laughed about this crazy biz.
But when I worked at 'FMX, I felt like I was a part of something special...the first big-signal fm country station in America. And a REAL country station, one that stuck to it's roots for most of it's lifetime.
WFMX was the first station anywhere to carry not just NASCAR races, but QUALIFYING! Hell, I've never been a NASCAR fan, BUT I LEARNED because it was a part of the culture, and it was something my listeners cared about deeply. And I cared about them! They were truly "family" in a way that I haven't felt many times in my 32 years in radio.
When Hugo hit in 1989, the AM tower (WSIC) was knocked down. On top of the WSIC tower was the microwave antenna that relayed the fm audio to the transmitter site in Rowan County, so both stations "bit the dust". The AM was down for a couple of weeks while a new tower was brought in, but the FM was back on the air the same night. We set up a big panel truck at the transmitter site, ran audio and power lines to and from the building, and fired it up! (It was far too noisy to broadcast from inside the block transmitter building!)
I was proud to have been the first voice on the air after Hugo. Local Ham radio operators relayed emergency information, and we spread not just friendship and comfort, but information about emergency services, shelter, and food. In other words, WE DID WHAT RADIO IS SUPPOSED TO DO! Ever since then, I've felt that times like those (emergency situations) are what radio stations are for. Everything between them is filler between what our REAL job is...SERVING OUR COMMUNITIES? But maybe I'm a dinosaur. "Community service" seems kind of a quaint notion these days, doesn't it?
Mike Walker
Owner/Operator The Production Room http://www.theproductionroom.net
Production Mgr WKBC AM/FM North Wilkesboro NC
But when I worked at 'FMX, I felt like I was a part of something special...the first big-signal fm country station in America. And a REAL country station, one that stuck to it's roots for most of it's lifetime.
WFMX was the first station anywhere to carry not just NASCAR races, but QUALIFYING! Hell, I've never been a NASCAR fan, BUT I LEARNED because it was a part of the culture, and it was something my listeners cared about deeply. And I cared about them! They were truly "family" in a way that I haven't felt many times in my 32 years in radio.
When Hugo hit in 1989, the AM tower (WSIC) was knocked down. On top of the WSIC tower was the microwave antenna that relayed the fm audio to the transmitter site in Rowan County, so both stations "bit the dust". The AM was down for a couple of weeks while a new tower was brought in, but the FM was back on the air the same night. We set up a big panel truck at the transmitter site, ran audio and power lines to and from the building, and fired it up! (It was far too noisy to broadcast from inside the block transmitter building!)
I was proud to have been the first voice on the air after Hugo. Local Ham radio operators relayed emergency information, and we spread not just friendship and comfort, but information about emergency services, shelter, and food. In other words, WE DID WHAT RADIO IS SUPPOSED TO DO! Ever since then, I've felt that times like those (emergency situations) are what radio stations are for. Everything between them is filler between what our REAL job is...SERVING OUR COMMUNITIES? But maybe I'm a dinosaur. "Community service" seems kind of a quaint notion these days, doesn't it?
Mike Walker
Owner/Operator The Production Room http://www.theproductionroom.net
Production Mgr WKBC AM/FM North Wilkesboro NC
Mike,
I so much agree with your opinions, you "dinosaur."
We have a mutual friend...Bruce Ikard, former morning man at WTOE, Spruce Pine. I worked with him for 13 years (counting high school) in the 1980s. He is doing weekends at WBRM, but the furniture plant he works in for his full-time job is being shuttered in early November. Just thought I'd let you know.
I remember him talking about you being at WWWC in Wilkesboro. I didn't know you were back up there.
wncmacs
I so much agree with your opinions, you "dinosaur."
We have a mutual friend...Bruce Ikard, former morning man at WTOE, Spruce Pine. I worked with him for 13 years (counting high school) in the 1980s. He is doing weekends at WBRM, but the furniture plant he works in for his full-time job is being shuttered in early November. Just thought I'd let you know.
I remember him talking about you being at WWWC in Wilkesboro. I didn't know you were back up there.
wncmacs
Hello Mike! Glad you're still kicking! It's been a long time since we worked together at WIFM and WKBC. I am also so saddened by what Clear Channel did with WFMX. The new format is just another one to fill the airwaves with crap. There is no sense to what the big boys are doing to radio. It is also just as saddening to see what some owners of smaller stations are "not doing" to try and fill-in the gaps created by what the metro stations have left behind. The business ain't what it was when we started our careers in little old Elkin. It would be so nice to take WKBC's signal and transform the programming into something wonderful and return to the days of quality programming that provides what radio used to be--a service in the "best interest" of the community instead of ONLY looking at the bottom line.
Ralph Shaw
owner--shawPRODUCTIONS.net
[email protected]
Ralph Shaw
owner--shawPRODUCTIONS.net
[email protected]
M
manwhore
Guest
I think the convenience market term for what CC is doing is "loss leader". Set something out there cheap to protect your big dogs. Hurt QMG and help TQR and Magic. Those 2 make all the bucks for CC in the market.
M
Mike Walker
Guest
WOW! Only my first post here, and I found two people who know (or know of) me. Thanks Ralph and wncmacs.
Ralph was very kind to me when I was a stoopid kid just getting into radio. I had no talent, and no prospects. But he befriended me anyway...perhaps because he knew I loved the business as much as he did (still do, although it saddens me to remember what has been lost! "DrNews"...what the hell is NEWS? Find it on the FM dial, outside of public stations. I DARE YOU! Find ANYTHING resembling community involvement!)
As for Bruce, he and I became fast friends at WNNC (Newton, NC) in the 80s. He was, and IS one of my favorite people. Tell him I said hi, and to GET IN TOUCH WITH ME, since I have lost his contact info (sent him Christmas cards until they started coming back!) I haven't been able to drive a car since 1990. I have retinitis pigmentosa...otherwise known as "macular degeneration"...that's right, I'm a macular degenerate! Anyhow for some reason the state of NC doesn't think blind people should drive. Silly! At any rate, when I knew I was going to give up my license (voluntarily, because I wouldn't have been able to handle the guilt if I'd hurt anyone!), one of the last people I went to see was Bruce, at WTOE. He's a "good egg".
By the way, tell Bruce that Mitch (Campbell), and Duane (Cozzen) are still around WNNC/WIRC/WXRC. Mitch is the production mgr. for the AM stations, and Duane programs the music for the FM (95.7, the Ride, Charlotte.)
I very much appreciate the kindness and friendship of Ralph, AND Bruce. Good people (by "good people", of course I mean PEOPLE WHO LOVE RADIO!)
Ralph was very kind to me when I was a stoopid kid just getting into radio. I had no talent, and no prospects. But he befriended me anyway...perhaps because he knew I loved the business as much as he did (still do, although it saddens me to remember what has been lost! "DrNews"...what the hell is NEWS? Find it on the FM dial, outside of public stations. I DARE YOU! Find ANYTHING resembling community involvement!)
As for Bruce, he and I became fast friends at WNNC (Newton, NC) in the 80s. He was, and IS one of my favorite people. Tell him I said hi, and to GET IN TOUCH WITH ME, since I have lost his contact info (sent him Christmas cards until they started coming back!) I haven't been able to drive a car since 1990. I have retinitis pigmentosa...otherwise known as "macular degeneration"...that's right, I'm a macular degenerate! Anyhow for some reason the state of NC doesn't think blind people should drive. Silly! At any rate, when I knew I was going to give up my license (voluntarily, because I wouldn't have been able to handle the guilt if I'd hurt anyone!), one of the last people I went to see was Bruce, at WTOE. He's a "good egg".
By the way, tell Bruce that Mitch (Campbell), and Duane (Cozzen) are still around WNNC/WIRC/WXRC. Mitch is the production mgr. for the AM stations, and Duane programs the music for the FM (95.7, the Ride, Charlotte.)
I very much appreciate the kindness and friendship of Ralph, AND Bruce. Good people (by "good people", of course I mean PEOPLE WHO LOVE RADIO!)
Mike...thanks for the kind words! Of all the radio people I know or ever worked with...you are probably the most passionate about the business! It is a shame that those of us with "real" feelings for broadcasting are getting crapped-on like what happened with the staff at WMQX, Greensboro
It is sad, what is happening to radio. The bean counters and lawyers are in control of the business we all loved. Too bad! News, for the most part is a lost art. Ralph, remember those great meetings at the beach with the AP. There were some great news people in those days - only a very few left in the biz these days!
XTalker--you figured out who I am...now, I'm trying to think who you might be! Of course, I remember those great A-P meetings at the beach and other locations around N-C. We did have a great time! As you said, there were some great news folks. Many of them are gone now, such as Wayne Williard, who I had the pleasure to work for at WSJS/WTQR for several years before going into T-V. Us younger folks had a great opportunity then--to learn from the best at a time radio meant SOMETHING!!! The business IS NOT the same! Last night, I talked to a life-long buddy, who remembers those long days and nights when I started in news at WIFM, Elkin. As a listener, he is so turned-off by what has happened to radio. He echoed what so many folks are doing now--turning to other sources such as C-Ds, I-pods and satellite radio. Also, that is what the younger generation is doing! So, what is broadcast radio going to do when those kids become an older demographic--close-up shop??? I'm on the beach now and can't even get a damn interview. So, what am I going to do with 30-plus years in the business? Guess I will have to turn to factory work, truck driving or something. At least those are honest businesses without the power-driven, lack-of-knowledge program directors, managers and owners, who are pissing-away a great medium! I guess I should have listened to H.A. Thompson, who I met at WRPL, Charlotte before he "made it" at WBT. He said, "Don't get into this crazy business! You will regret it!" H.A. was right! Now, I have the same advice! I guess I should have gone into medicine.
Ralph Shaw
[email protected]
Ralph Shaw
[email protected]
M
Mike Walker
Guest
Hey I don't regret it, Ralph. And you shouldn't either. And I'll bet H.A. doesn't, either. Do YOU know what you have accomplished??? I DO! And so do others. You made a difference to many, INCLUDING ME! WE MADE A DIFFERENCE! And still can. Radio can't sustain itself on this course. There's no "farm team" system. No new blood. And listener apathy is at near critical levels. The bubble WILL BURST! There is a place for those of us who know, and love this business. The talentless, bean-counting rest of the bunch can go so something quite unnatural, and undoubtedly painful to themselves!
LIVE, LOCAL, COMMUNITY-INVOLVED, FUN RADIO FOREVER!
Mike Walker
LIVE, LOCAL, COMMUNITY-INVOLVED, FUN RADIO FOREVER!
Mike Walker
Mike...you are partially correct. I don't regret my accomplishments and yes, they are many. What I regret is the industry doesn't appreciate us "dinosaurs," now. There are very few places we can practice our trades with our God-given talents. Most of those places are small stations, which don't pay what our experience demands! And as for the big boys...well, it's a fact of life--fewer owners and even fewer opportunities...and those jobs don't pay a whole hell-of-a-lot either! Broadcasters like myself, who are on the beach, are either going to have to settle for "no money" and even fewer benefits or get out of the business! Without the "farm-system," there is really no talent being trained and no place for them to learn! The "bubble" will burst and that will leave a bunch of owners sucking air!
Since H. A. Thompson was mentioned, I asked Mix 106 once when they were hiring local DJs if they might consider him. I think they wanted him, but he didn't want to go back to radio.
I was in Myrtle Beach the week after Fran. This sounds like what WGNI in Wilmington was doing at that time.Mike Walker said:
I am sorry to hear of the demise of "the old girl" as the chief engineer used to refer to her. I had a lot of good years at that station but was only a blip on the radar. FMX was truly an institution. I am glad I got out before the greedheads sucked the last dollar out of her. RIP.
I was looking for an opportunity to complain yet again about Paul Harvey.
My problem is mentioned on the DX and reception board. If WFMX had stayed as is, I could have listened to Paul Harvey when I came home. My other Paul Harvey station has yet to air "The Rest of the Story" on Saturday, and as often happens on Mondays, they messed up recording the one on Friday, which I couldn't hear since my car was being fixed. It's time to put this online!
My problem is mentioned on the DX and reception board. If WFMX had stayed as is, I could have listened to Paul Harvey when I came home. My other Paul Harvey station has yet to air "The Rest of the Story" on Saturday, and as often happens on Mondays, they messed up recording the one on Friday, which I couldn't hear since my car was being fixed. It's time to put this online!
vchimpanzee said:
OK, here you go:
http://www.paulharvey.com/
They don't appear to have "The Rest of the Story" online however, bummer!
Right. They used to. At one point, it was only one. Which did me no good whatsover when WFMX would have NASCAR on Friday. Becuase there would be a Saturday broadcast before I could get to a computer with sound.jtudor said:
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