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WHIN & Kx 104

Chris Collins... What becme of him? Chris, real name, Derek Duer, is a really big dude..at the IRS...been there a long time...say only nice things about him.. ;D
 
Scott brought up a name I had not thought of in years Chris Collins. I worked with him at WCOR and WCOR-FM don't remember if ole Buffalo Butt was still around once we became US 107. What becme of him?

Buntin will have to correct me, but I believe Chris is or was, working for the IRS in Nashville. I talked Buntin into hiring Chris in 1975. He had been working in Hartsville, and I delighted in ticking off Chester over there. Chris real name was Dereck Duer (sp?) and I suggested the change to Chris Collins, the name of a PD I knew and had worked with in Houston. And the rest, as they say, is history.
Buddy.
 
Ahh the good ole days mid 70's till sometime in the 80's on any given saturday most all AM's and several FM's in Mid TN carried UT Football in 1971 WHIN got the feed from wcor in lebanon...but..they didn't know it...we made out own cue sheet, and potted down the feed when wcor went to break and played our spots..had to make sure we didn't let their ID get out over WHIN'S..had to really pay attention..by 72 we had legally grabbed the rights and got the cue sheets straight from UT..the things i miss are buntin or another salesman calling at noon on a weekend and tell the jock on air just sold 100 10 second 31w drive in spots ..write 'em, cut 'em, log then in starting in ten minutes.."ok..let me find MACARTHUR PARK."..gives me a good six minutes plus to do all that...guess i'll be using "closer to home" for a bathroom break.. :-\
 
I talked Buntin into hiring Chris in 1975. He had been working in Hartsville, and I delighted in ticking off Chester over there so..we have you to thank for that eehh?? did you have a hand in hiring Nick Pollerine ? careful..ole bud...statute of limitations hasn't expired on him... :eek:
 
Don78 said:
Ahh the good ole days mid 70's till sometime in the 80's on any given saturday most all AM's and several FM's in Mid TN carried UT Football The only thing the listeners had to choose was whose local commercials to listen to. I remember when I worked for WAMG in around 79 both WAMG and WHIN ran Tennessee Football.
I have similar memories from living in west Tennessee and listening to the radio whenever the Cardinals were playing. I could tune up and down the dial and hear Jack Buck on nearly every station! ;D
 
deltas69 said:
Ahh the good ole days mid 70's till sometime in the 80's on any given saturday most all AM's and several FM's in Mid TN carried UT Football in 1971 WHIN got the feed from wcor in lebanon...but..they didn't know it...we made out own cue sheet, and potted down the feed when wcor went to break and played our spots..had to make sure we didn't let their ID get out over WHIN'S..had to really pay attention..by 72 we had legally grabbed the rights and got the cue sheets straight from UT..the things i miss are buntin or another salesman calling at noon on a weekend and tell the jock on air just sold 100 10 second 31w drive in spots ..write 'em, cut 'em, log then in starting in ten minutes.."ok..let me find MACARTHUR PARK."..gives me a good six minutes plus to do all that...guess i'll be using "closer to home" for a bathroom break.. :-\
I had a similar situation with Paul Harvey's "rest of the story." I was on afternoons at WDXN in Clarksville, and we carried Harvey. Only problem was our then-PD had missed the last taping of Harvey. She told me, "back when I lived in New York, we taped Paul Harvey at 3:00." I informed her that New York is on eastern time, and that we had missed the last feed of Harvey (at 2:00 p.m. central time). So I called KOOL 100 (as they were known at the time) in Hopkinsville (I knew they were also a Harvey affiliate) and asked them what time they carried "rest of the story." I then taped their broadcast directly off the air on a boombox that we had at the station. Fortunately, their airtime was before ours, but only by about 15 minutes as I recall. Because they played so many spots between Harvey's intro ("you know what the news is, in a minute, you're going to hear the rest of the story!"), I simply had to live-announce that it was time for Paul Harvey's "Rest of the Story," play our sponsor's spot (we only had one sponsor), then start Harvey's broadcast. I had cued the tape to the beginning of the actual broadcast, not the intro, because I wasn't sure if I could fast-forward from the intro to the beginning of the broadcast while our 30-second spot played. Our PD and GM were doing a remote that day, so I know they heard it. I made it a point to point to our PD that I got "rest of the story" despite her missing it! ;D
 
deltas69 said:
Ahh the good ole days mid 70's till sometime in the 80's on any given saturday most all AM's and several FM's in Mid TN carried UT Football in 1971 WHIN got the feed from wcor in lebanon...but..they didn't know it...we made out own cue sheet, and potted down the feed when wcor went to break and played our spots..had to make sure we didn't let their ID get out over WHIN'S..had to really pay attention..

I recall a time in late 70's or early 80's I was board op for some syndicated sporting event (Tennessee Football or Sounds Baseball or something else I do not recall) our PD suspected another station of rebroadcasting our feed. He told me to slip in a station ID about 3 tmes an hour even if one was not called for.
I also remember a time when we got our Sounds Baseball Feed by phone line off of WKDA, during the game our evening jock fell asleep, after the game we were broadcasting their programming for about an hour. Just goes to show how few people were listening back then.
 
deltas69 said:
Ahh the good ole days mid 70's till sometime in the 80's on any given saturday most all AM's and several FM's in Mid TN carried UT Football in 1971 WHIN got the feed from wcor in lebanon...but..they didn't know it...we made out own cue sheet, and potted down the feed when wcor went to break and played our spots..had to make sure we didn't let their ID get out over WHIN'S..had to really pay attention..by 72 we had legally grabbed the rights and got the cue sheets straight from UT..the things i miss are buntin or another salesman calling at noon on a weekend and tell the jock on air just sold 100 10 second 31w drive in spots ..write 'em, cut 'em, log then in starting in ten minutes.."ok..let me find MACARTHUR PARK."..gives me a good six minutes plus to do all that...guess i'll be using "closer to home" for a bathroom break.. :-\

That is when WHIN was a REAL STATION! I remember those "all of the sudden 31W drive in spots, AAAAHHHHH, what great memories! Believe me Pat, when I read where you just want to do one show like you did back in the 70's on WHIN, I understand you feelings. Bill had the station sounding good, but after the Bledsoe came, more focus was put on the FM and there went WHIN down the tubes. Now, all I hear is Jack Williams doing an ad for a pawn shop here in town and Skip Sparkman's VERY BORING breakfast show. Sparkman in a promo says "Things you need to know, the WHIN breafast show". It just B.S. from borning local politicians, judges, and lawyers, try to make a buck. Ha, they won't become stars on today's 1010 WHIN, nobody is listening. DO YOU HEAR ME MAYOR JO ANN GRAVES! Who cares, the citizens of Gallatin are listening to 96.3 Jack FM, 107,5 The River, or 98 WSIX, where there is REAL RADIO.

The station sounds like an "old fart" station! and even the old farts are not even listening, PERIOD! There are somewhere on the FM dial!
 
Was out and about in Gallatin and Hendersonville today and had to touch base with my ole buddy Mike Marshall and rib him a little after seeing his name and WHIN's in the Tennessean today. And the paper was right....the phones are ringing with folks asking about the new Ronnie McDowell record. Even had the station and Mike's name ahead of my old friend Bill Coty and WSM.
And while the breakfast show may not be of interest to everyone....guess what, folks are listening and calling in with questions. Some of the older people don't even listen to fm....they don't find much there of interest. Ocassionally I do news stories that WHIN runs, and people at church tell me, hey, I heard you on the radio the other day. But like with me, there is an interest in it, although most stations are getting away from it. But it's a loss to the community. But tomorrow's adults may be so tuned in to satellite and ipods and what have you, radio is gong to have to do something to keep up. Today's youth is mobile and have their own ideas of listening.
I listen to WHIN to keep up with what is going on in my county and community. Whether it's the mayor, sheriff or county mayor, how they spend my money is of interest. Real radio is not just music. And for music, I lean toward country if I'm listening to the radio.
WHIN has a rich heritage......going back to folks like Hoss Allen, although he was better known for his work at WLAC. He and I shared a number of amusing stories about the old WHIN. He said one of his most embarrasing moments was when he used to be on the square in Gallatin on Saturday doing a live 'man on the street' type show, --- just stopping folks and talking to them. There were a lot of farmers back then who came to town on Saturday and Hoss said he stopped this one guy and asked, his name and where he was from then, "John what brings you to town today?" To which John answered, "Aw, nothin, just up here fartin' around." Hoss says he was a loss for words. You just didn't say things like that on the radio back then.
I can't say enough about Bill Buntin. In my younger and wilder days, he worked at a factory in Gallatin and he wanted to be a star....more precisely, Baby Bill Buntin on the radio. Most days after he got off work at Cosco, he'd stop by the station (after hours) with a six pack and polish sausages. I guess that could be considered payolla....I helped him get his first job. He stayed at WHIN for about ten years or so and since then has been in a number of the big Nashville stations. But alas, not as baby Bill...but as one of the better sales guys around. Haven't had a polish sausage in years ;)
Then there was the late Hugh Jarrett, he who went on to L-A and Atlanta perhaps best know by many of us for his years singing with the Jordinnaires doing movies and backup singing with Elvis.
Also before me was a guy I know named John Brannom. John is a Nashville attorney and at one time represented Charlie Daniels.
Ernet Tubb's son Justin, also worked there.
Of course, WHIN FM (later KIX 104) brouhgt some interesting people in. Coyote was my favorite. Being his sidekick kept me on my toes....and in stitches. A good friend and one of my favorites to work with.
I guess there will always be a soft place with me for the station. Charlie Brewer (GM in 1966) allowed me to spread my wings and have a good time. In return, I was lucky enough to grab good ratings and get a job at a top Nashville station
I've known Jack Williams, the current owner, for more than 30 years and have a lot of respect for the way he operates. He feels he owes something to the people in the city and county of license. And in these tough economic times, he continues what has been the norm there for years as best he can.
He has done well. He's known by political leaders and should be. In return he gives time to groups and organizations in town with his station and personally.
I have seen so many changes in radio in my life time, I can't even imagine what's next. I mean, hey, there were only 48 states when I was growing up and I was still in grammer school when t-v came to be. My first transistor radio was about 6" x 4" x 2" and had a single ear piece. My first stereo was a console, not even a radio on it....but I sure enjoyed sitting right in front of it to hear the seperation.
I just bought a 4g ipod and have already down loaded nearly 800 songs to it and listen when I'm riding my lawn mower. I can even down load videos to it.
So you young poots, keep notes on what's going now, and dream big. I'm wondering how much more I'll be able to see. Whatever it is......enjoy it.
 
well..i guess we know who aren't your favorites. :D.lol...hey you didn't mention lynn shults.. BTW..by the time i got there..the girls were still bringing the beer..as for the polish saugage..well...we had to provide that... ;)
 
Needless to say Arbor Mist wasn't on the scene, back in "the day." Great stuff, Buddy. You still rock. Even in retirement...(that's
a joke!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
 
My bad on Lynn Shults.
I was told...by Lynn, he was responsible for getting me out of Hartsville into Gallatin in 1966. Nothing against Hartsville, I made some good friends over there and the present owners, Gary and Lisa are good friends --- but the guy running the station then, Chester, and I didn't get along. When you walked in the door, if you were employed there, you had to take off your shoes and wear house shoes. Would I kid about this? And you also couldn't smoke.
Anyway, with a shift that started at sign-on and went to signoff five days a week (with an hour off for breakfast and lunch) and half a day on Saturday -- plus going to the high school football games Friday night to tape the commercials, it was killing me. Lynn suggested to Charlie Brewer they hire me to take his old shift of an hour and a half in the morning and three hours in the afternoon playing rock. AND FOR THE SAME $$$$$. ($85 a week) After a total of 3 months there, I turned my two week notice to Chester when I got the offer, left my house shoes by the door and moved to Gallatin.
Lynn went to work for a record company. later moved to Capital Records where he signed an unknown artist named Garth (can't remember the last name) and did quite well. I was saddened by his death some years back but always thanked him for getting me out of Hartsville to WHIN. A couple of years later a lady from Hartsville told me they missed me over there that I was the only d-j they ever had that didn't sound like one of them. I think that was a compliment. :)
 
i came oh so close to hartsville, houseshoes and chester..he hired me..but the next day buntin called and offered me sunday mornings..didn't most of us start on the sunday morning shift ?..but i digress..for the rest of you..the house shoes were real..chester was a nut..drove a five year old car with the window sticker on the glass...sad about lynn..i met him after WHIN..a lot of major talent went through the WHIN doors back then..here's another name bud..dan wilson..wasn't a jock as i recall..but another native talent that went on to much bigger and better things..even bigger than the skateing rink and the SADLER BASH..let us mention BUCK ROGERS...in some weird way..he was an intragal part of WHIN..he took the time to cross refference every record by artist in one book and by title in another..took requests on weekends..did some maintinence on equipment..he was a legend in his own "unique" way..
 
olebud said:
My bad on Lynn Shults.
I was told...by Lynn, he was responsible for getting me out of Hartsville into Gallatin in 1966. Nothing against Hartsville, I made some good friends over there and the present owners, Gary and Lisa are good friends --- but the guy running the station then, Chester, and I didn't get along. When you walked in the door, if you were employed there, you had to take off your shoes and wear house shoes. Would I kid about this? And you also couldn't smoke.
Anyway, with a shift that started at sign-on and went to signoff five days a week (with an hour off for breakfast and lunch) and half a day on Saturday -- plus going to the high school football games Friday night to tape the commercials, it was killing me. Lynn suggested to Charlie Brewer they hire me to take his old shift of an hour and a half in the morning and three hours in the afternoon playing rock. AND FOR THE SAME $$$$$. ($85 a week) After a total of 3 months there, I turned my two week notice to Chester when I got the offer, left my house shoes by the door and moved to Gallatin.
Lynn went to work for a record company. later moved to Capital Records where he signed an unknown artist named Garth (can't remember the last name) and did quite well. I was saddened by his death some years back but always thanked him for getting me out of Hartsville to WHIN. A couple of years later a lady from Hartsville told me they missed me over there that I was the only d-j they ever had that didn't sound like one of them. I think that was a compliment. :)


I also worked for Chester.....longer than you did, Buddy. I remember well wearing houseshoes. Chester would show people around the station and brag about how much he paid for this and for that. My shift was sign on till 12:30 and 3pm till sign off......M-Sat. The old bastard tried to make me work 7 days a week and I told him I wasn't going to. Like you, Buddy, I didn't get along with Chester either. WJKM was nothing but a toy for him. I walked out on him in Sept, 1971(I was at the end of my rope with Chester) to go back to school, when Vol State opened. A couple of years later Buntin hired me to work on the FM.
 
Whatever became of old Buffalo Butt

Scott brought up a name I had not thought of in years Chris Collins. I worked with him at WCOR and WCOR-FM don't remember if ole Buffalo Butt was still around once we became US 107. What becme of him?

Buntin will have to correct me, but I believe Chris is or was, working for the IRS in Nashville. I talked Buntin into hiring Chris in 1975. He had been working in Hartsville, and I delighted in ticking off Chester over there. Chris real name was Dereck Duer (sp?) and I suggested the change to Chris Collins, the name of a PD I knew and had worked with in Houston. And the rest, as they say, is history.
Buddy.

Wow, I just stumbled this post (ten years later). What a trip down memory lane!! I was Chris Collins at WHIN in Gallatin in the late 1970s. I was a kid with a bigger dream than talent. You are absolutely correct, I had worked at WJKM in Hartsville under Chester Davis. I have a lot of great memories about WHIN.and WHIN-FM. I remember when the AM was in that little building and the FM was on the ridge. It was on top of a mountain in the middle of nowhere and I worked up there by myself at night. They eventually consolidated the FM with the AM. If I remember correctly, Mr. Perkins owned both of them and sold them to Mr Bledsoe who would turn the FM into Kicks104. He brought in Michael St John as program director. Of course, he kept me on the AM while he brought in Coyote McLoud and other big names on the FM side. I always liked working with Buddy Sadler, Bill Buntin, Jack Williams, Devita St. John, Pat Julian and so many others. I think Jack eventually bought WHIN. He may still be there. But hell, I am old and he was older than me. I can remember that I used to have this disgusting old habit of drinking somebody's open bottle of coke. Jack knew I did it and he put windex in the bottle. That was it for me. I cant believe I ever did such a stupid thing to begin with. To make a long story even longer, when Mr. Buntin moved to WCOR in Lebanon in 1980 (or so), I did go with him. I was the first program director for US 107. But it did not last very long. I them moved to the old KZ County from 1981-1985 and was eventually canned there as well. Since then, I can only say that I have a position in the non radio industry that has worked out pretty well. Actually, I have tried to get back into radio to the point where I made an "air check" at a professional recording studio and sent it to Hippie Radio in Nashville. To say the least, my phone has not been ringing off the wall about that. Thanks folks, for a nice walk down the memory lane!!
 
wow what a trip down memory lane

Scott brought up a name I had not thought of in years Chris Collins. I worked with him at WCOR and WCOR-FM don't remember if ole Buffalo Butt was still around once we became US 107. What becme of him?

Buntin will have to correct me, but I believe Chris is or was, working for the IRS in Nashville. I talked Buntin into hiring Chris in 1975. He had been working in Hartsville, and I delighted in ticking off Chester over there. Chris real name was Dereck Duer (sp?) and I suggested the change to Chris Collins, the name of a PD I knew and had worked with in Houston. And the rest, as they say, is history.
Buddy.

Hello, I just ran across this (it only took me ten years). I was the Chris Collins you speak of but I must admit I don't remember being called Buffalo Butt. I was called other things for sure. I have very fond memories of WHIN. I had worked there from 1975-1980. I now know that my dreams were much bigger than my talent. At the beginning, the AM was in the current location and FM was up on the ridge. I can remember working by myself up there at night. I worked with a lot a great folks including Bill Buntin, Jack Williams, Devita St John, Jack Hunter, Pat Julian and so many others. Before that, I had worked at WJKM in Hartsville and I can remember having to wear house shoes while in the building. I saw others make that post here. It was in the late 1970s when WHIN was sold to Mr. Bledsoe who had bigger dreams of what to do with a 50,000 watt FM. He brought in Michael St. John to be program director. He kept me doing mornings on the little local am while the new FM (Kicks 104) brought in major talent like Coyote McLoud. Coyote did the mornings on the FM and I did the mornings on AM (after Bob Perry left and T Tommy wouldn't take the job). We shared the same news machine. Coyote and I would share the sports report. One morning I forgot to bring it back to him. He started to read the scores and they weren't there and he chewed my ass off. He was that kind of professional. I think Jack Williams later went on to own WHIN. Hell, he may still. But then again, I am old and he is older than me. Anyway, to make a long story even longer, when Mr Buntin moved to WCOR in Lebanon, I did go with him. I lasted slightly longer than he did. I was the first program director of US107. After leaving there, I did four years at KZ Country enjoying some success on mid days. Alas, that gig ended in 1985. Since that time, I can only say that I have enjoyed a successful career in the non radio industry. But after 32 years with that "organization", I am about to end that. I lasted longer working for "thmn" than I ever did in radio. Believe it or not, I even tried to get back into the radio industry lately to the point where I had a professional "air check" made at a recording studio and sent it to Hippie Radio in Nashville Believe it or not, my phone has not rung!!!. If anybody is looking for part time radio help I am still available!!! Maybe a little rusty! Thanks for the trip down memory lane!! I hope everybody is doing well.
 
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