"I really enjoyed revisiting lots of memories on your WAKY web site. I was privileged to do 7:00 PM to Midnights in 1958 - 1959. A few of my colleagues at WAKY were Jack Sanders, Jim Light(foot), Chuck Dunaway and Phil Page.

"Following WAKY, I went to KQV in Pittsburgh for 4 years. At that point I returned to my hometown (Evansville, IN) to open my business, Aiken Management. From 1963, until selling my company in 1999, we promoted over 1400 entertainment events all over the country, and in the '80s and '90s designed and operated several restaurants in the Evansville area .

"Far and away, my best business project was the purchase in 1987 of WGBF AM and FM. We were able to turn the fortunes of GBF from bad to good (including becoming the first station to syndicate The Bob and Tom Show). I sold the stations in 1996.

"Thank you again for the excellent work you've done in establishing the WAKY web site."

Larry Aiken (1999)

"When I arrived at WPOC in Baltimore they had a morning team of Rocky Marlowe and Laurie DeYoung. When Rocky's contract wasn't renewed we hired Bill Bailey to be Laurie's new partner. What looked like great creative conflict on paper -- male/female, young/old, liberal/conservative -- didn't work out so well on the air. Bill had his moments; I recall one time when Laurie was arguing with a female caller and Bill was muttering something about 'ovarian lunacy' in the background. But it soon became obvious that we needed to make a change before Bill moved his family to Maryland.

"As it turned out, Laurie didn't really NEED a partner. We made her the star of the show and she just celebrated 20 years at WPOC. Meanwhile, Bill has always been gracious about what must have been a difficult situation for him. Everyone involved had the best of intentions."

Bill Bailey Obituary

Boahn, William Clyde, "Bill Bailey" "The Duke of Louisville", a prominent Louisville radio personality, passed away peacefully on Saturday, January 14, 2012 at Norton Brownsboro Hospital at the age of 81.

He was born December 18, 1930 in New Bern, NC, the son of the late Jesse A. Boahn and Jessie Ketchum Boahn. For nearly 30 plus years Bill ruled the morning airwaves at WAKY radio and other Louisville radio stations before ending his career in broadcasting in 1994 at WVLK in Lexington.

Bill was an accomplished artist and found Peace through his art. At a very young age Bill developed a love for drawing and painting. You could put anything in front of him and he could draw it or paint it. During his time in Alaska in the Air Force he took up portrait painting and was very talented at outdoor scenery.

He was a loving father and grandfather, with a larger than life personality and a one of a kind sense of humor that he kept until the end.

He is preceded in death by a sister, Jessie Faye Skiles.

He is survived by a son, Erick Boahn; his daughters, Shelly Schultz (Steven) of Boca Raton, Faith Chapman (Shane) and Jennifer Boahn of Louisville; nine grandchildren, to include, Ariana Arroyo, Kayla, Kendall and Grant Chapman; two great-grandchildren and a brother, Charles (Joyce) Boahn of North Carolina.

The family would like to express their sincere gratitude to the staff at Friendship Manor for the love and care they gave for their father.

Funeral Services to honor Bill's life will be held at 6 p.m. Tuesday, January 17th at Pearson-Ratterman Bros. Funeral Home, 12900 Shelbyville Road, Middletown. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, the family request that contributions be made to Kentucky/Southern Indiana Stroke Association, 3425 Stony Springs Circle, Suite #102, Louisville, KY 40220.
 

"My WAKY story is fairly long. When I was in junior high, I called into Tim Tyler and Jack Daniels a lot. I got to know 'Rudy Ratfink' who was the all night program. I met Ben Allen who ran the board..

"I spent most Saturday mornings at the studio and helped to set up when Tim Tyler had a remote at Stewart's department store on Saturdays.

"Then when I was 15, there was an opening for the 6-8 PM request line. Bill Crisp called me and hired me on the spot.

"I worked from July 1966 to August 1968. I left to take a job as an announcer at WSTL in Eminence. I was able to get my FCC 3rd class RTO license because so many people at WAKY tutored me before I took the test.

"I was close to Bill Crisp, Bob Watson, Byron Crawford (who I still talk to often), Ron Statzer (who was killed in Cincinnati working for a TV station there I think), John Randolph, Weird Beard, as well as several of the sales people and secretaries. It was a fine group of people who put up with a lot of my immaturity (after all I was 15 and running around a business office).

"We were in the old studios in the Kentucky Home Life Building on 5th and Jefferson.

"I became a Christian while in college and then called to full-time Christian work when in the army.

"Today, I am a pastor at the Faith United Methodist Church in Bowling Green, Kentucky. I have worked as chaplain in mental hospitals (working at WAKY was great preparation for that task), jails, prisons, and hospital emergency rooms. I have also pastored several churches around the country.

"I also traveled as a missionary to Costa Rica and Siberia Russia."

"For the past 38 years I have been at the CBS O&O TV station in Baltimore, WJZ. [He uses his real name, Marty Bass.] For 23 of those years I have done a three-hour morning show which was, at the time, the prototype for all the TV morning shows currently on in the country. For the past 17 years I have also been a part of the CMA award-winning Laurie DeYoung Show at Bob Moody's old haunt, WPOC. (The Colonel put me on that show and it has been heaven ever since.)

"To this day I use the lessons learned from, and standards set forth by Johnny Randolph. I also try to keep it fun. That was part of the allure of 'The Big 79.' (Recently I flew home to visit Bill Bailey, and he stressed to me that if you don't love your job, you will not love your audience, and you are DONE.)

"My brother was a band manager, (and a DAMN good one), in the '60s and '70s. That was my ticket into WAKY. I cut my on-air teeth at WXVW in Jeffersonville, but at that time I was one of a cadre of Johnny Randolph 'interns.' We did what needed to be done. 'Sure, I'll go over to Walgreen's and get you a patty melt and some condoms!'

"In 1971 Michael Lewis Griffin needed a break and Johnny made me production director for a summer. That led to some on air work. I was hooked. I got a job at WVLK in Lexington, then went with Gary Burbank and Len King to start (actually refresh) WNOE in New Orleans. They left for Detroit and I went to college. Herein lays my BEST WAKY story and the reason that I am where I am now.

"I graduated from Southern Illinois University in December 1976 with a degree in R/TV. At the same time I get a call from Johnny Randolph. He had let his primary weekend jock go, he needed help. He was very honest. AM was on the wane, and WLRS was becoming the force in Louisville. I told him I could give him 6 months to a year, but I was SERIOUSLY looking for a job in TV news.

"I had so much fun, and lived out such a fantasy being a 'jock' at WAKY that I turned down at least 6 TV jobs. The headhunter I was working with finally told me that I had to take a job soon, or he was moving on. The next job opportunity was at KENS-TV in San Antonio, which I took. That led to Baltimore.

"Over time I have had a good run, and run into a lot of old radio people, the legendary Ron Riley of WLS to name one. Every time, I mean EVERY TIME I mention WAKY, it becomes the topic of conversation. We all knew at the time it was special. But to those in the know...it was a legend.

"This will sound so geek-like, but I am the broadcaster I am because of time spent in that building. One of the last times I was there the carpet was being replaced, and I took a small square, about coaster size. Every morning at 5 a.m. when the theme for the 'Eyewitness News Morning Edition' rolls, my cup of coffee is on it. 'Put me to work Reed...'"

The "Jerry Barr Show" is highlighted by such features as the "Jerry Barr Gagster Club," news, weather, time and temperature reports, spiced with Jerry's outstanding wit.

Interest in all areas of broadcasting, the 18-year-old air personality is currently studying electronics in a home-study course of De Vry Tech in Chicago.

Though relatively young in radio, Jerry lacks nothing in enthusiasm and interest in the field. He says he thoroughly enjoys his work and hopes to make broadcasting a lifetime career.

Jerry's proven ability and his enthusiasm for his work make him and outstanding addition to the WAKY staff.

"In 1979 George Francis became manager of WAKY & WVEZ. George had a vision of challenging WHAS for the adult audience. If the out-of-town ownership had left him (us) alone, we would have succeeded. Anyway, George and I talked for a couple of months and I was impressed with his plan. In early 1980, I resigned at WHAS and moved to WAKY/WVEZ as News Director. George committed to increasing the budget commitment and size of the staff and we set up an operation that was indeed respected and competitive.

"I left WAKY at the end of my two-year contract to establish a syndicated program called 'Pondering Kentucky.' We had a successful 13-year run with this broadcast which aired on 85 stations across the state.

"I semi-retired from broadcasting in 1993. I am delighted (and humbled) that I was later presented the Kentucky Mike Award by the Kentucky Broadcasters Association and inducted into the Kentucky Journalism Hall of Fame. As you correctly state on your web site, I am now with the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels as Senior Ambassador. (The title is a fancy way of saying I am Chief Operating Officer.)"

"My tenure at WAKY started in 1960 and continued until 1967 or 1968. I worked for Gordon McLendon and was sent to WAKY as Program Director. I had also been informed that McLendon was planning to sell the station. The sale to LIN Broadcasting occurred a year or so later.

"In 1961, after WAKY had been sold by McLendon to LIN I left the station for 3 months. I took a job with Plough at WMPS in Memphis. Plough was not McLendon and I longed to return to WAKY, which I did.

"The staff included Bill Ward(law), who did mornings He later became GM of Gene Autry's Golden West Broadcasters. Bill died last year. (2004)

"Hal Smith did middays. Hal joined Bill Ward in California and I believe he was the PD at KLAC and later in management in Philadelphia. Hal is retired.

"George Williams did noon-3 and at one time did nights. From WAKY, George went to the Albany, New York market and subsequently, he became one of the first programmers for Satellite Music Network. I have lost contact with George.

"Afternoon drive was handled by "Jumpin' Jack Sanders." Jack was one of radio's first mega personalities. When he left radio, he worked briefly for Audrey Williams (Hank Williams Senior's ex-wife). Jack died in his early 30s.

"Jay Reynolds did evenings at WAKY. Jay later did overnights at WABC in New York. When he left the Big Apple, he returned to his native Indiana and has held a number of management positions in Indianapolis.

"Our overnight man at WAKY was Jack Grady (Anderson). Jack is still broadcasting as the overnight host of ABC's Stardust format out of Dallas.

"Two other 60s era WAKY deejays were Bill Crisp, who came over to us from WKLO and Rusty Reynolds, who replaced Jack Sanders. Bill owned stations in Rhode Island or Delaware and Rusty has owned stations in Texas and Mississippi. I am not sure whether Bill Crisp is still active in broadcasting, but I know that Rusty was a few years ago.

"Two names from the WAKY origin that are missing are Phil Page and Chuck Dunaway. These were two of Don Keyes' original staff members. Page did mornings and Dunaway was the midday man.

"Tom Perryman (Tom Perry) left Louisville to move back to Dallas and worked for the NBC affiliate at the time John Kennedy was shot. He later was offered a network position with NBC (as Dan Rather received from CBS), but turned the offer down.

"Another legendary WAKY newsman was Bill Gill. In later years, Bill was a TV newsman for ABC.

"Don Keyes and I were roommates in college at SMU. Don owned stations in Canton, Ohio and Tallahassee, Florida. He now resides back in Dallas.

"When Bill Ward departed WAKY, I moved into mornings and served in the dual role of jock and PD. I stayed with LIN Broadcasting as Group PD and later as manager of WIL-FM (the only mono FM station in St. Louis). In 1968, I joined WLEE in Richmond, Virginia and the following year, I was hired by Max Richmond to be a co-PD of WMEX in Boston.

"About a year later, a friend of mine from LIN purchased a station in Gainesville, Florida. He urged me to join him to switch the station to a country format. I've been in this market and in one capacity or another associated with WDVH AM and FM for 35 years."

Jim, a native of Fargo, North Dakota, attended Southern Methodist University and the University of Kansas City, where he majored in Radio speech. He was a part-time announcer for KGKO in Dallas, but launched his full-time professional radio career when he joined the staff of KDOK in Tyler, Texas in June, 1958. From there he went to KOKE, in Austin, Texas where he served as disc jockey and Production Manager. In search of more experience, he joined KICN in Denver, Colorado; and in February of 1960, he became program director of KDOK. He joined the staff of WAKY in September 1960.

Jim's trained air voice and his easygoing style make him both an effective air salesman and a popular air personality. He is an important link in the family flow programming of WAKY.

Jim Brand Obit
Published in Gainesville Sun from November 6 to November 7, 2012

James Maitland Brand II passed away quietly in Hospice Care on November 3, 2012. He was born in Fargo, N. Dakota on July 9, 1934. Jim was educated at William Chrisman High School in Independence, Missouri, and he started his radio career when he was in college, at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. He served his military service in the United States Air Force as Staff Sergeant from 1954-1957 and was honorably discharged. Since then, he has been working at some radio station as Radio Announcer and Program Director. He got his start in Dallas, Texas working midnight until six A.M. at KGKO. Then he worked at KDOK in Tyler, Texas; at KOKE in Austin, Texas, KICN radio in Denver, Colorado, and back to Dallas. He spent ten years in Louisville, Kentucky, working for WAKY. He was hired by Gordon McLendon as Program Director and remained with the station under LIN Broadcasting as group Program Director. He hired and motivated one of the finest air staffs ever assembled. WAKY was one of the most successful stations in the country during the 1960's. After being Program director of WLEE in Richmond, VA, from 1969-1970, he worked for WMEX in Boston, MA as Program Director. He was responsible for the hiring and the motivation of the air staff in the #5 metro market. He served as a member of the management team who guided the daily operations of WMEX, one of New England's legendary stations. Then after New Jersey, Jim came to Florida in March, 1970. A close friend bought the station that is WDVH in Gainesville. He orchestrated the change from top 40 to country. As a result of those changes, the station had billing and rating increases for thirteen years. He stressed staff involvement in the community through his own actions, and supervised a staff of six on-air dee-jays and a news department of seven. He implemented the change to Big Band/Nostalgia WLUS in 1986 at the direction of station owner/manager Larry Edwards. He prepared the station for sale in 1988 and was retained by the new owners as PD/talent. WDVH Gainesville joined with WDJY Trenton now known as WDVH-FM. Following ownership and management changes, under Bill Morris, JB, stayed with WDVH for nearly 42 years. There were two brief stints where he left Gainesville for Tampa. During his tenure with WDVH owner, Pamal Broadcasting, Jim commuted between Gainesville and WRZN in Hernando for three and a half years. He returned to WDVH in 2003. Over the years, one of his creations, WDVH Swap Shop has grown from a fifteen minute program to a four hour Saturday show and starting October 3, 2011, a 2 hour a day weekly show under the new owners, Marc Radio. Once Swap Shop began in 1971, Jim had answered over a half-million calls. Jim brought a wealth of information of N. Central Florida to a daily conversation show: news, ideas, views and information. A bright bouncy sound coming over the air waves of WDVH made listeners and advertisers alike recognize Jim Brand.

Jimmy's day just began with his regular air shift. It may have ended over a conference table, in the production room at 2AM, or with the conclusion of a special WDVH promotion. It's hard to determine Jim's greatest attribute, but one that's not to be overlooked is the enthusiasm and drive that radiated from a bubbling personality. He had his own technique for instilling the same drive into his staff. Next to the transmitter, Jim Brand was WDVH's most important property. His humanity, integrity and compassion touched so many people's lives in such a positive way. Walter Lippmann said "The final test of a leader is that he leaves behind him in other men the conviction and will to carry on." He will live in our hearts and minds forever. When you lived the life he lived, you'll leave a legacy.

His awards and community service include Master of Ceremonies at Police Country Music Shows; Fraternal Order of Police Associates (Twice President 1984-1985); Eastside High School Advisory Board (1981-1984): Archer Community School-Master of Ceremonies at every event held at the school for ten years (1977-1987); Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Exalted Ruler 1983-1984 and 1986-1987; M.C. Univ. of FL Gator Growl-1980-1981-1982-1983; Moderator at Town Meetings for Congressman Buddy McKay (1985-1986); M.C. at Newberry Watermelon Festival (1970's and 1980's); Chief Judge, Florida Watermelon Assoc. Queen Contest (Clearwater, FL - 1985); Judge-Miss Alachua County Beauty Pageant-1985; M.C. at Newberry Miss America Preliminary Pageant (1982-1986); Chamber of Commerce's LEADERSHIP GAINESVILLE-Guest Speaker on media-1986; M.C.-Alachua County Sheriff's Small Fry Fishing Tournament (1984-1987); Grand Marshall Hawthorne, FL Christmas Parade; Alachua Co, School Board Annual Spelling Bee (pronouncer 13 years); Master of Ceremonies at 12 consecutive Eagle Scout Courts of Honor; Guest Speaker at Gainesville Boy Scout Council Annual Meeting (1984); Guest speaker at University of Florida College of Journalism 1982-1984-1986; Alachua County School Board-Pronouncer at City Wide Spelling Bee; Heart Assn.-M.C. at Heart Fund Ball-1984; Eloise Henderson Tribute-M.C. -1988; Farm Home Administration-Narrator for annual Meetings (1982-1985); Alachua County Adult Education Program-narrator of slide presentation; Public Television (Channel 5) Established and then broke all fund raising records for WUFT (1978-1983); Member, UF Touchdown Club; UF O'Connell Country Music Shows, M.C.: Hank Williams (2 times), Kenny Rogers, Mel Tillis (2times), Brenda Lee, Barbara Mandrell, Alabama (3 times), Waylon Jennings, Jerry Clower (2 times), Conway Twitty, Loretta Lynn; Official Voter Registrar-Alachua County, Moderator at Candidates Forum in Micanopy-1986; Moderator at Candidates Forum in Archer - 1986; Galloneer at Civitan Blood Center; City of Gainesville-Played Santa calling from the North Pole - (1983-1987); WLUS Dances, M.C. 1986-1987; Elk of the Year Award 2001-2002; Served on the House Committee and Trustee Committee for the Elks Lodge #990; Auditor to the District Deputy Grand Exalted Ruler, Fla. N.E. District 2005-2006; Exalted Ruler's Award-Gainesville Elks Lodge #990 2007-2008; State Chairman of the New Lodges Committee for the State Elks Assn. 2011/12; Coach of the Gainesville Elks Lodge #990 ritual team; N.E. District ritual contest coach winner (1st place) 2011-2012; State ritual contest coach winner (2nd place) 2012; Selected candidate for the Elks State Vice-President for the N.E. District of the Florida State Elks Association 2012. He was unable to serve because of falling ill.

Jim always said he inherited a work ethic from his father, James Brand, that spanned 60 years, and his personality from his mother.

He is survived by his Mother, Dorothy Brand of Independence, MO; his son, James Fratarcangelo; his beloved companion Sally Crews and her son, Byron Crews.

A Memorial Service will be conducted by the Elks Lodge #990 Wednesday, November 7, 2012 at 2:00 p.m. in the chapel of WILLIAMS-THOMAS FUNERAL HOME DOWNTOWN, 404 North Main Street. A reception will follow at the Gainesville Elks Lodge #990. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Florida Elks Youth Camp, P.O. Box 49, Umatilla, FL 32784.

From the Gainesville Sun, Published Thursday, November 8, 2012
Longtime radio personality, emcee Brand dies at 78
By Anthony Clark, Business Editor

For 40 years, Jim Brand was the friendly voice of the Swap Shop on WDVH/WLUS AM 980, helping listeners buy and sell all manner of household items on his Saturday radio show.

He would lend his radio voice to serve as master of ceremonies for Gator Growl in the early 1980s and at concerts for country music stars, beauty pageants and events for schools and the police. For 13 years, he was pronouncer at the Alachua County Spelling Bee.

Brand died Saturday at 78 after battling cancer, six months after ending his nearly 60-year radio career.

Daryl Tooley, who worked at WDVH in the 1980s and has an advertising company in Gainesville, said Brand mentored a lot of University of Florida journalism students who have gone on to successful careers.

"He touched people inside and outside of broadcasting in quite a wonderful way," he said.

Current program director Kevin Mangan said Brand taught him a lot in their five years together.

"He instilled in me commitment and involvement in the community and how to relate to listeners," he said.

Brand would research other people's interests so he could relate to them, Mangan said.

"That's why he always had that rapport," he said. "To this day, people call and want to know how he's doing. We got a plethora of get-well cards when he got sick."

Brand started his radio career while in college at Southern Methodist University and continued full-time after leaving the U.S. Air Force in 1957, serving as announcer and program director at stations in Texas, Colorado, Kentucky, Virginia, Boston and New Jersey.

In 1970, he was hired as program director at WDVH by Larry Edwards and oversaw the station's transition from rock to country. He would remain through most format and ownership changes, with a couple stints in Tampa.

Jinx Miller, then Jinx McCall, worked with Brand for nearly 20 years as copywriter, bookkeeper, controller, host of a bluegrass show and female voice on commercials and remotes before moving to Boone, N.C., in 1989.

"JB was my buddy," she said. "We were very close friends as we went through the ups and downs of that family community radio station."

Back then, radio announcers were "quasi-celebrities," Miller said. "Everyone who heard him on the air thought of him as a friend."

Tooley said at one time WDVH had 27 percent market share and a "cracker jack news department."

Brand oversaw six deejays and a news department of seven.

Brand hosted Swap Shop starting in 1971, expanding the show from 15 minutes to four hours on Saturdays as callers traded their wares.

"Anything from goats and chickens to grand pianos, paintings, cars — all sorts of stuff," said Mangan, who recalled that someone even tried to sell a traffic light that had fallen during a hurricane.

Following the station's transition from classic country to talk in October 2011, Brand hosted Swap Shop daily for two hours until his retirement in May. The show is still on as a four-hour Saturday program hosted by Ray Starr.

Brand was active in Elks Lodge #990. He is survived by his mother, Dorothy Brand, of Independence, Mo.; companion Sally Crews and her son, Byron Crews.

Gary Burbank
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Gary Burbank (born Billy Purser in Memphis, Tennessee) is an American radio personality. He currently appears on WLW-AM in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he has hosted the station's afternoon drive time programming for more than two decades.

Burbank began his radio career in his hometown at WMPS in the mid 1960s, where he was known on the air as Johnny Apollo. In 1968 he moved to Louisville, Kentucky, where he became an instant hit on WAKY-AM. It was at WAKY that Billy Purser officially became Gary Burbank, a name taken from radio and television legend Gary Owens, who as a regular on Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In would announce that he was broadcasting from "beautiful downtown Burbank." (Burbank's natural voice is remarkably similar to Owens' on-air voice.)

Burbank stayed at WAKY until 1973, when he moved to New Orleans for a brief stint as program director of WNOE. From New Orleans, Burbank went on to CKLW in Detroit/Windsor, and then back to Louisville for a successful, lengthy afternoon gig on WHAS-AM.

Burbank left Louisville again for a brief spell in Tampa, Florida, but returned to the Ohio Valley in 1986 when he signed with WLW. It is there that he has enjoyed his greatest success, developing his best-known characters: Earl Pitts Uhmerikun, Gilbert Gnarley, Eunice and Bernice, and the Right Rev. Deuteronomy Skaggs (the latter two carried over from his WHAS days). Burbank regularly satirizes former Cincinnati mayor Jerry Springer, local newscasters, and the Cincinnati Bengals, among many others.

Burbank often does his show from a home in north central Florida, while the rest of his show's cast and crew is in the WLW studios in Cincinnati.

Burbank's Earl Pitts daily "commentaries" are syndicated throughout the country on about 200 stations. Burbank's show is also heard, along with the rest of WLW's programming, on XM Satellite Radio Channel 173.

Burbank has won several major awards, including back-to-back Marconi Awards as Large Market Personality of the Year in 1990 and 1991. On March 7, 2007, Burbank announced that he would retire on December 31, 2007, at the expiration of his contract. The last show was broadcast on Friday, December 21, 2007. Despite Burbank's retirement, Earl Pitts' commentaries will continue to broadcast on its network of affiliates including WLW.

"As time moves on, things are changing; music, formats and yours truly. It was 1984 and I was now an account executive and doing weekends on the air at the very station my dad and I had pulled in on that little piece of crystal out in Shelby County all those Summer nights ago. I was now working for the Bingham family at 84WHAS, where I remained until the mid '90s.

"During this period my musical interests led me to form a country-rock group just for the fun of it all. Over the next five years as lead singer, I would perform with them at Rupp Arena, Cardinal Stadium, Louisville Gardens, county fairs, street fairs and the Kentucky State Fair, as well as do personal appearances from New York City to Nashville, including guest spots with Ralph Emery on his #1 rated Country Music TV show 'Nashville Now' seen on the Nashville Network. We shared the stage as the opening act for over 30 national touring artists including: Jerry Lee Lewis, George Jones, Merle Haggard, Waylon Jennings, Tanya Tucker, Eddie Rabbit, Exile, Steve Wariner, Highway 101, Rodney Crowell, Patty Loveless, Michael Martin Murphy and Ricky Van Shelton.

"In late 1997 after spending nearly four months at University Hospital and Frazier Rehab with my daughter who had been seriously injured in an auto accident, I needed a break from the business and resigned my position as an account executive at the Number One Country station in the U.S., 97FM WAMZ."

"At one time or another during my three year stint at WAKY during the mid to late '60s, I think I did news through the window opposite Rusty Reynolds, Jim Brand, Bill Crisp, Tim Tyler, Weird Beard, John Locke, Johnny Dark, Al Risen ('Jack Holiday'), Farrell Smith, Jim Fletcher, Tom Dooley, Ken Douglas, Steve Baron, Dude Walker, Mike Smith, Mark Clark, George Williams, Buddy Kaye, Gary Burbank and Johnny Randolph -- to name most, but not in that order, of course.

"We used an old Morse Code key -- actually keyed with our thumb -- to make the 'rat-a-tat-tat' tone as a breaker between our news stories when I first went there -- the reverberating tone almost like a cell phone ring of today. It was a McClendon thing -- just a little bit more conservative than KBOX in Dallas, which used a McKenzie Repeater to break up the stories with dramatic music. The station never quite sounded as good after it moved.

"Bill Crisp, whom I thought was a really good jock, finally took me off the news-writing chores in the mornings to banter in the studio with him during morning drive as a straight man and funny voice -- but I actually delivered the newscasts.

"Tim Tyler, on whose show I started as a newsman in 1966 at night, had to help me find my car the first night I was there, because I was from a small town. I had come there from Richmond, Kentucky, and couldn't find my car in the parking lot where I parked it. Tim got me in his new T-Bird and drove me around till we found my Chevy Impala in a parking lot near the Kentucky Home Life Building. That first Christmas I was at WAKY, he and Sandy had my wife Jackie and me to their home, in Jeffersonville or Clarksville as I recall, and gave us gifts. They were great folks to us, and I will always have fond memories of them. Tyler was a terrific jock -- always did his show in his sock feet, ran a tight board and was a complete pro both in music and in business

.
Byron Crawford

"After Tim booked the Beach Boys into Freedom Hall, some of the band came to the station and I recall that Brian Wilson took off his sweat soaked, signature blue and white striped shirt and left it in Tim's office. A few days later, Tim cut it up and gave pieces to some of us around the station. I got a pretty good swatch of it and gave it to my sister-in-law, a huge Beach Boys fan. She still has it.

"Although I missed working with Mason Dixon at WAKY, he and I nearly started in radio together at WRSL in Stanford. He had been in Irvine at WIRV before that, but WRSL, a new 500-watt daytimer, was my first job and we both started there together when he was still a teenager. He was a jock, and I started doing news after school as a high school junior. Even then, he was immensely talented. He did all kinds of produced bits, ran an air-tight board, had a fantastic voice and made afternoon drive on that little 500-watter in the middle of nowhere sound like 50,000 watts of bright lights in the middle of everywhere...until sundown.  He drove an Austin Healy Sprite and I drove a turquoise '55 Willys turquoise Jeep.

"I could drive on and on down Memory Lane with the radio set on 790 -- as everyone could who ever worked at WAKY. Thanks, John Quincy, for giving us a place to remember."

"During my tenure we added a number of people and lost a few, most of which I don't remember. Among those we added during that time were Farrell Smith from KLO, and had also worked at WABC in New York; John Randolph, who had been music director at KLO and part-time jock; and Steve Barron. I don't remember where we got Steve but I do remember he got drunk one Christmas day and I finished his shift and we never saw him again. I was accused of being a real Scrooge for firing somebody on Christmas day, but I didn't -- he just didn't come back.

"We also added Jim Fletcher, who had been production director and on air personality at KLO, and was probably the best production man I ever encountered before or since. Bert Markert a.k.a. Weird Beard came to us from WINN. We also hired a kid we called Johnny Dark and I don't remember his real name, but I later heard he was killed in a plane crash.

"Another guy who joined us during my tenure was Tom Dooley, a real whack job, but one of the best jocks I ever heard.

"I would like to add one thing: A lot of people left WKLO to work at WAKY, but to my knowledge, nobody ever left WAKY to go to WKLO."

Bill Crisp Legacy.com Obit

MILLSBORO — Bill Crisp passed away Tuesday morning, Dec. 6, 2011, at Atlantic Shores nursing home in Millsboro. He had been in poor health for the last several years.

He had been a resident of Rehoboth Shores, Long Neck, for the last 10 years. He was a member of the American Legion, Millsboro, having served as a radio operator, aboard U.S. naval ships, during the Korean war.

Bill was born in Tennessee, was raised in Lewes, and graduated with the Class of 1952, at Lewes Special School.

He played trumpet in the band, and during the years, played with area bands. Mr. Crisp was involved in radio broadcasting most of his life, working on the air in many large markets around the country. Mr. Crisp was owner and manager of WSUX AM/FM in Seaford during the 70's and 80's, where he lived with his wife, Sandy, and daughter, Lynne.

He is survived by a brother, Don Crisp of Bishopville.

A private memorial service is planned.

"At some point Jack left and Bob Moody, who was doing afternoon drive, became PD and we shifted to an oldies format. What a fun time that was! Steven Lee Cook and B.J. Koltee were other buddies who worked on-the-air at WAKY.

 
Liz Curtis Higgs

"I left WAKY in Spring 1984 because WHAS-AM had a midday opening and because WAKY was in the process of being sold. The new owners assured me they would be happy to keep me on the air-staff, as long as I could accept a sizeable pay cut! NOT! :>) "I worked at WHAS from April 1984 to August 1988, when I left radio altogether to concentrate exclusively on mothering and speaking."

"And they didn't call the station 'WAKY' without reason. Other memories include gags we played on the evening newsman who shall go unnamed just in case he or his wife may ever read this. We hired a girl to stand on the other side of the newsroom glass and strip while he was doing a live newscast. We thought it was so funny that we decided to do it again a few days later -- only this time, someone let the cat out of the bag and the newsman was tipped off. Not being one to throw a monkey wrench into our fun, he didn't let on he knew...but he surreptitiously recorded the news. After the normal live teaser and intro, we brought in the girl again and she began to strip -- this time, however, he simply grinned after his lead story and punched up a cart on which the rest of the news was recorded. Without saying a word to us, only smiling, he walked from the newsroom around to the control room, took the young lady by the hand and escorted her away to an office.

"I had the 9-mid shift, behind Tim Tyler, who was 6-9pm at that time. Since I had a First Class FCC license and Tim didn't, I was essentially hired to be the 'licensed operator on duty' to take the transmitter readings every half-hour, as the regulations then required. (Sounds so archaic now, doesn't it?) George Williams was doing middays and he ended up being a close friend during the time together at WAKY. Jim also told me that he hired me because of my knowledge of the 'new' 'Drake Format.' I was one of three people (Bill Drake and Jayne Swain being the other two) who first laid out the concept of the format...we were at KSTN/Stockton at the time, and that was before Bill hooked up with Gene Chenault at KYNO.

"Most of my efforts were West Coast and my only gigs East of the Mississippi River were as a jock at WAKY and GM at WGIV/Charlotte for Tracy Broadcasting. I was working at their R&B outlet, KGFJ/Los Angeles, when they bought WGIV and sent me there to oversee the set-up and operation.

"I eventually found my way to KRUX/Phoenix and sister station KTKT/Tucson as group program director, where we set ratings records which still stand. When KRUX was sold to Lotus, I went to Australia as a consultant for 3 years and oversaw operation of 5 stations there.

"After returning to the States, Rick Sklar hired me as program director for ABC's O&O KXYZ/Houston."

David Bratcher Legacy.com Obit

David A. Bratcher, born December 25, 1944, passed away on Thursday, September 24, 2020.

David was a disc jockey at a number of radio stations across the country, most famously as Mason Lee Dixon at WAKY, a lecturer on the American astrological circuit, and a practitioner of Native American philosophy. He will be remembered for his sense of humor, love of movies, and voracious appetite for reading.

He is survived by his brothers Terry and Stephen Bratcher, his son Jason Bratcher, and stepdaughter Melanie Sympson. He was preceded in death by his partner Marissa Garcia, mother Marian Bratcher, and father David Bratcher.

In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made to the National Parks Foundation.

From Tom Dooley's November 12, 2010 CaringBridge Journal:

What a journey! From a neglected childhood spent in bars and strip clubs to a man with a happy marriage, loving family, and fulfilled Christian walk, few people fully epitomize a life so completely transformed more than our husband, Dad, Pappy, brother, uncle, and friend.

"Tom" Dooley was born George Patrick Dooley, Jr. January 18, 1947 in Chicago, IL to George and Rebecca Dooley, and he had an older sister, Patricia. Tom's father ran a strip club. It was the destination for all of the family's social events including Tom's christening. Tom's father was physically abusive to his wife and family, and when Tom's mother finally fled to Cairo, IL, with at least one tooth knocked out, she opened her own strip club. Tom was frequently sent to live with other families, some related and some not. But when he was home, he was often left to fend for himself in the clubs, behind the bar, surrounded by topless women and drunks.

By his early teen years, he had a reputation for being a trouble maker. At the ripe old age of 12, the FBI was looking for him for check fraud, and he had been arrested for stealing cars. But, he had already chosen the perfect career -- radio -- and at 14, he dropped out of high school, went to radio school, and got his first radio job in Dyersburg, TN. After all, he would soon have his own family to care for. Tom married his first wife when they were both 16. At 17, Tom's first daughter, Dana Lynn, was born. Four years later, a second child, Dione, was stillborn. Tom was divorced shortly after, but he was soon married and quickly divorced yet again.

During his late teens, Tom was already a top DJ in Louisville, KY. He was the leader of his own band, Tom Dooley and the Lovelights, with a regional hit, and he was living the life of a rock star – sex, drugs, and rock ‘n' roll. And, unknown to him for 25 years, his second daughter, Lesley, was born when he was 21.

Tom's radio career required him to live in many different cities, and by 1973 he was at WFIL in Philadelphia. It was there that he met Melanie, the love of his life, a young and seemingly innocent former Catholic school girl who worked part-time at promotional events for the radio station. They had a whirlwind courtship at R&B nightclubs and rock concerts. And, by the end of the year and much to the dismay of Melanie's widowed mother, Tom and Melanie were married. They had their first baby girl, Kristin, later that year. In 1976, they were back in Louisville where Tom's only son, Joshua, was born. But by 1978, God quietly directed them back to Philadelphia. This is where Tom's baby girl, Elizabeth, was born.

It was in Lancaster, PA, outside of Philadelphia, where Tom and Melanie were invited to Christmas Eve dinner with their friend Wes Yoder's Mennonite parents. The family was loving, gentle, and welcoming, and the evening was spent singing and fellowshipping. It was the first time they had witnessed Christianity in action without being preached to about the Four Spiritual Laws. During the car ride home from the Yoders' that evening, Tom and Melanie prayed to receive Christ into their lives.

But, becoming a Christian did not change Tom overnight. Although he tried to be the Christian man he wanted to be, he was a product of his childhood, and it was difficult to balance his new Christian walk with the only world he'd ever known.

After their conversion, Tom went to a Christian bookstore to buy a copy of Mere Christianity by C. S. Lewis. The owners of the bookstore and soon to become lifelong friends, Ron and Cay Evans, invited Tom and Melanie to church where they became active members. Tom sought out other men that modeled a Godly life, and he also searched for ministries with whom he could work and learn from. He was the voice of several Billy Graham TV crusades and narrated a couple of Dr. Graham's audio books.

In 1986, Tom's sister, Patricia, needed a kidney donor. Their relationship was strained, yet she reluctantly asked Melanie to approach Tom about being a donor. He agreed without hesitation, as his one of his marked characteristics was his generosity to others. This was the first of many things that triggered the transformation of his character. Tom was now faced with his sister's and his own mortality.

At home, Tom and Melanie's marriage was on the rocks, and Melanie threatened to leave if they didn't get help from marriage counseling. They found a sweet and gentle counselor in Floyd Sharp. Tom was ready to accept counsel, and he worked harder than he ever had to acknowledge and correct the mistakes he'd made. Tom learned to apologize. And more than that, he consciously changed his behavior. He no longer paid only lip service. He was becoming a new man. His relationships with his wife and family began to change. Within a year, the marriage was unrecognizable from the previous year, and they were on the path to renewal.

In the course of this transformation, he devoured books that would encourage and guide him to be the man he wanted to be. While Tom and Melanie would lie in bed at night, he would read passages aloud to her that he found inspirational. This is where the kernel of an idea began for a Christian radio show. His entire career until that point had been in Top 40 radio. As he grew in his walk with Christ, he grew in his desire to serve God with the talent with which he had been blessed. In 1989, Tom began the radio show, “The Journey with Tom Dooley”. It was a ministry of discipleship and encouragement using Christian literature with Christian music. God gave Tom this gift to allow him to use his talent to serve the Lord and others, and as a result, so many other people's lives were also transformed by the words that he read and the music that was played.

More than anything, Tom loved and was interested in people. He longed to see the change in others' lives that he had experienced in his own. Tom was blessed with many close, intimate friends. He cared about people and invested himself in his family and friends. Tom was a confidante and counselor to many.

Sadly for his beloved wife, family, and friends, Tom was diagnosed with aggressive brain cancer in March of this year. On November 9, 2010, Tom passed away peacefully in the presence of his adored wife, Melanie, and son, Josh. He had just been prepared for bed. Josh was singing to him while Melanie cuddled with him. Tom drew a final breath and gently slipped away.

He never once complained about his diagnosis, and throughout several different treatments he remained positive and peaceful. His faith in God remained steadfast and never once faltered; and his inspiration and insight will be greatly missed.

His generosity continued even after death as Tom chose to donate his body for medical research. We hope one day that a cure for glioblastoma multiforme is found.

Please join us to celebrate Tom's life on Saturday, November 20th at 2:00pm at Irving Bible Church in Irving, TX.

Dallas Morning News Obituary - November 13, 2010
Tom Dooley, known for Christian show in Dallas, dies
By Sam Hodges

Tom Dooley shared a name with a famous folk song character and became well-known himself, first as a long-haired disc jockey and later as a bald, beloved Christian broadcaster.

Mr. Dooley, 63, died Tuesday at his North Richland Hills home. He'd been in hospice care after battling brain cancer that was diagnosed in March.

For about 20 years, Mr. Dooley had a two-hour music and inspirational show called The Journey that originated at Dallas Christian station KVTT and was picked up by stations around the country.

"He was our top-rated program," said Stan Thomas, general manager of the station from 1993 to 2004. "He had a marvelous ability to communicate the gospel."

Mr. Dooley also emceed many Christian events and produced some of his own, including "1,000 Guitars of Praise" at Reunion Arena in 2006.

But Mr. Dooley, whose real first name was George, grew up in a family that ran strip clubs in Illinois. A "wild child," he got his first disc jockey job at 14, said daughter Kristin Spradlin of Dallas.

"When he started in radio, he was 'Jolly George,' but he had a production director suggest he change his name to Tom," she said.

Mr. Dooley longed to be a famous musician. His band Tom Dooley and the Lovelights toured widely and cut records that can still be heard on YouTube.

But he would make his name in the late 1960s and '70s as disc jockey for such powerhouse stations as WFIL in Philadelphia, KHJ in Los Angeles and WAKY in Louisville, Ky. Radio history websites feature him prominently, including clips of him on the air.

In an interview with WAKY, Mr. Dooley said he often behaved self-destructively. He described the turning point of going with his wife, Melanie, to the home of a Mennonite family in Lancaster, Pa.

Mr. Dooley became a Christian but continued to experience anger that stemmed from a difficult childhood and made him a difficult father and husband, his daughter said. She said her parents were near divorce after moving to Dallas in the 1980s and underwent last-gasp counseling.

"That's when he really decided to dedicate his life to becoming a better person, a better Christian, and working on personal issues," she said. "He became one of the most generous, kindest persons you'd want to know."

In addition to his wife and daughter Kristin, Dooley is survived by daughters Dana Franklin of Hickory Flat, Miss., Lesley McFerron of Louisville, and Elizabeth Dooley of Fort Worth; son Joshua Dooley of Fort Worth; and nine grandchildren.

There will be a memorial service at 2 p.m. Nov. 20 at Irving Bible Church.

Rich Gimmel (2011)

"After leaving WAKY in May, 1969 I went to WLAP in Lexington where I was News Director while I finished up at Georgetown College. After getting fired at WLAP in 1972 (right after I helped start a union) I wound up in Alabama at WHHY as ND there (the only 'unions' they had to worry about in Alabama were the guys they had fought in the Civil War.) I came back to Kentucky as PD at WEKY in Richmond. Finally wound up as anchor and then ND at WTVQ-TV in Lexington 1973-78, then at WAVE-TV in Louisville as Associate News Director until 1985.

"After getting my MBA in 1985 I joined our family manufacturing business (Atlas Machine and Supply) where I'm now chairman and owner. I also volunteer as executive director of the Kentucky Race Track Chaplaincy.

"I have a bunch of GREAT memories from WAKY... many of them from that old facility in the Kentucky Home Life Building (old RCA board, a vertical Presto reel-to-reel machine, the production facilities that still used engineers, and some of the incredible antics we used to pull).

"We really had to clean up our collective acts when we moved to the showcase studios on 4th Street in 1968. We finally had new equipment, but it wasn't nearly as much fun."

Dude Walker writes: "I knew his family well. He and his father and I used to go to harness races all over the tri-state area. The last time I saw Kevin was when he was passing through Chicago and spent a few days at my place. I was at Louisville Downs the night he called his first race. He did a good job."

Mike Griffin at the closing ceremony of the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles

"I left radio in 1977 and went to work in engineering at WDRB-TV in Louisville. From there I moved to WHAS-TV-AM-FM also in engineering. While there, I had the distinct honor and high privilege of having constructed WAMZ's first on-air studio when it went fully live with Coyote Calhoun in '81 or '82. In 1982 I left WHAS and became a Field Engineer for Sony Electronics. Since 2012, I am doing SEO in Louisville helping businesses market themselves on the Internet."

Dave Jacob at WSAC (1974)

Dave Jacob (2006)

"Today, I am CEO of APSI (Alternate Power Systems, Inc.), a solar/wind/renewable energy company based in Atlanta and doing business worldwide."

"We plan to get together soon and drain Austin of its beer supply...and tell radio lies all evening long.

"George is a great broadcaster and super gentleman. I'd hire him again...probably!"

"I was hired by Bill Crisp. When I was there we were in the Kentucky Home Life Building. I started doing overnights, then moved to PM drive for a short few months before I left to go to Oklahoma City.

"While I was there, Bill Crisp was AM Drive/PD, Jack Murray was Early Middays, Steve Baron was next, followed by Tim Tyler and then Weird Beard.

"After leaving Louisville, I jocked at KOMA in Oklahoma City, KRUX in Phoenix, WIFE in Indianapolis, KCBS-FM in San Francisco, WKRQ in Cincinnati...and programmed in Evansville, Dayton, Columbus, Milwaukee, Chicago, Louisville (KISS 104), and Pittsburgh before I became Senior VP of Programming for what used to be called SFX (which became Capstar, AM-FM and Clear Channel.)

"I'm from Kentucky (the mountains). WAKY was one of the greatest and most exciting stations in America. I owe a lot of my programming beliefs and fundamentals from both listening to and working at WAKY."

"I don't remember what time we came in on Saturday nights, but the shift ran to around 10 a.m. After 4 a.m. we did it from one of the back production studios, while the engineers did maintenance in the main control room...so I guess that means we had Friday nights off.

"Ed had Brailed the entire wall of music carts -- something like 1200 or so songs! -- and he would send me out to help pull music for the 5-to-6 a.m. music segment of the shift, as well as the Saturday night shift, which was all music until the religious/public service programming and Casey Kasem's 'American Top 40' began around 4 a.m. or so.

"The lineup I recall at that time was: Bill Bailey from 6 to 10 a.m.; Gary [Cox] King, middays; not sure, but I believe Lee Gray did afternoon drive; Coyote did 6 to 10 p.m.; and 'The Boogieman,' Chuck Jackson, from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. -- and Karl [Schmidt] Shannon was the Production Director. Overnight news was pre-recorded on cart, and I believe it was usually the voice of Ralph Dix.

"I worked with Ed from sometime in the early summer until about the end of October, when I left WXVW; I worked with Ed occasionally after that, but it was seldom, because I got married in the spring of '78 and my wife decided I ought to have a 'real' job. I believe it was about that time that Ed left.

"But for a brief, shining moment, I was part of the excitement that emanated from the 'Engine [rhymes with 'nine'] Room of the Sooper 79,' as Bailey liked to say. Never before, and never again in my radio career, have I worked with as many Louisville legends. Besides Ed Phillips' approval, I also had to have Johnny Randolph's to work there, and Randolph always spoke when we met in the hall. Reed Yadon, I discovered, was all business until he sorted thru the overnight wire service copy and got his first newscast together. Bailey could be counted on to arrive anywhere from 5:30 to 6:30 to begin his 6 a.m. shift, but the man had a style that was often copied but never duplicated. Here's how an average off-air exchange went:

[Bailey] Hey, Ed...I got a question for ya.

[Ed]: Yeah Bill?

[Bailey]: Is this sh*t absolutely necessary? [meaning the routine of having to actually work for a living]

[Ed]: Yeah, Bill, 'fraid so.

[Bailey]: Then, by God, let's get on with it!

OBITUARY

MAXEDON, RETIRED REV. THOMAS H. JR., 65, died on April 10, 2012 in Louisville.

Prior to entering the ministry in 1986, as a United Methodist pastor, Maxedon was previously a veteran news anchor, working at the legendary WAKY-Louisville and WHAS-TV.

Maxedon was a Bronze Star and Vietnam Service Medal recipient for his heroic service aboard The USS Richard B. Anderson (DD-786) during The Vietnam War.

He also wrote the song "All These Things" for his wife. It was recorded by The Uniques and numerous other musicians, first hitting the charts in 1966 and again in 1976 atop Billboard magazine's Hot Country Singles where it rose to # 1.

He is survived by his wife, Carrie; daughters, Elizabeth and Amanda; son, Tom III; granddaughter, Abigail; sister-in-law, Sandy; brother, Richard; sister, Patricia; as well as numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews in the Midwest.

Visitation will be at Middletown United Methodist Church Friday, April 13, 2012, 5-8 p.m. with memorial service at 11 a.m. at the church on Saturday.

In lieu of flowers, expressions may be made to family for granddaughter's educational fund.

"I literally stumbled upon your WAKY Tribute site yesterday for the first time. When I arrived at WAKY in 1979, the station was at the start of its decline, so I never thought I would be among the voices on the aircheck page. What a HOOT -- hearing myself on the air from 30 years ago!

"I think the site is great for the tradition of WAKY and Louisville radio in general. It was the first medium market I ever worked in, having come from WKYX in Paducah. I still remember Gary Guthrie calling me to tell me I had the job, and the thrill I had when I caught the first glimpse of the Louisville skyline coming up I-65 from E-town.

"The radio career began in July of 1972 at a 250 watt day-timer, KYMO, East Prairie, Missouri. It was the summer before my senior year in high school, and my brother was working at the station. His boss called one afternoon looking for him, and I answered the phone. By the next week, I had the start of an almost 25 year career. Bizarre? You bet!

"I worked a few small-market jobs in Cape Girardeau and nearby Jackson, Mo. from July of '73 to August of '76 under the names of Martin Kane and Mike Mohr and then -- the big time: WKYX, Paducah, as Michael Q. Mohr, Mama Mohr's Bouncing Baby Boy! I remember thinking it was the big time, because Paducah is the biggest city in the area between Memphis and St. Louis. (Evansville was too far away.) KYX had the biggest and most professional sound in the area, and their jocks did the most fascinating walk-ups. They started songs underneath the commercials. Later I found out that all the song intros and the spots were timed out to an 1/8 of a second, and the cartridge machines were all set to auto-fire using Graylab timers. Easy as pie! Gary Guthrie worked there at one time -- that name would mean something in December of '78. Gary spoke to our Production Director at the time, Kurt Engelhardt, to see if he was interested in a production/on-air gig. Lucky for me, he had just had a child and was getting his feet wet in voice-over work. But, he passed my name to Guthrie, and asked me if I was interested. Oh, yeah.

"I hit the air on WAKY in January of 1979. Gary had us reading the IDs live -- 'Its OUR year--79--W-A-K-Y, Lou-uh-vull' -- swear to God, spelled just like that! That attention to detail was really impressive to me, and I thought to myself, I will really learn a lot from this guy. Unfortunately, it was very short-lived. Within just a few weeks, Gary was gone and replaced by Mike McVay. Mike kept me in my position for a while, but the sound of the station was being steered more in an adult direction. I remember the day in late May '79 that Mike called me into the office, and told me he didn't think I was an adult-styled jock. It hurt like hell at the moment, but he did the absolute right thing. He would do something for me later on that made up for any hurt I had at that moment.

"Enter E. Alvin Davis and C. C. Mathews. A consultant and program director hired by John Otting to change WKLO's FM easy-listening station (WCSN) into something the Derby City had never seen before -- a HOT, rock-leaning Top 40 station (on Freaking FM!!!) called 'the New KJ-100'. In the process, the call letters of WKLO were permanently retired in favor of the new ones, WKJJ FM/AM.

"I will never forget the set up. Dave 'Commander Hutch' Hutcheson was the morning man. C. C. and Russ Hopkins shared middays (later on, Gary Griffin), I was hired for afternoons (up against Mike McVay -- wink, wink), and Bumper Morgan was on after me at night. The night we went live with the new format, the last song to air on WCSN I can't recall, but as it ended at the stroke of midnight, E. Alvin's voice came on, something like this: 'We hope you enjoyed the last several years of the sunshine sounds. And we know if you like that, you're gonna be crazy when you hear this' followed by 'Oh, mama I'm in fear for my life from the long arm of the law....' Anyone who listened to WCSN would not have taken offense until John Young, lead guitarist for Styx on the song 'Renegade' screams "YYYYYEEEEEAAAAAHHH!"-- AND WE WERE OFF TO THE RACES!! And so it went for the next almost 3 years. Lots and lots of fun. A few heartbreaks, like the day Woody Stiles crashed his banner towing plane and died. That was horrible. But the 1979-80 U of L Cardinals won the NCAA championship!

"My time in Louisville radio was about to end. In 1982, I was offered a job in New Orleans at WEZB-FM (B-97), and I took it. It lasted from October to maybe April of '83. That was a tough market for me. A lot of inner turmoil happened. My girlfriend left me to go home to Louisville, and I kind of let that get to me to the point that it cost me my job. I simmered in that apartment on the west bank till about September, then landed the morning gig at WZNE (Z98) in Tampa, FL. Now THAT was about the most fun I ever had. Problem was, the transmitter was on the peninsula where St. Pete and Clearwater are, rather than in the city of Tampa on the east side of the bay, so literally 50% of the 100,000 watt signal was heading out to sea! We never reached anything near our true potential, but damn near every radio you heard on Clearwater or St. Pete beaches was on Z-98, and that was a trip!

"Re-enter Mike McVay! I wrote earlier that he would do me a solid later that would make up for the hurt I felt in Louisville? Well, he was in Tampa and heard me on the air (as Bryan Thomas). So happened that his consultancy had been hired to turn around a legacy FM station in St. Louis (KWK, to be exact). Remember the old video of the DJ smashing an acetate, and saying 'Rock-n-Roll has gotta go'? Look at the call letters on the microphone. Anyway, I can only assume Mike remembered what kind of station we had put together against him on KJ-100 back in the Louisville days, because he had contacted C.C. Mathews to program KWK. They offered me the afternoon slot. This was the fulfillment of a lifelong dream of mine to work in St. Louis radio, having grown up 150 miles south in Sikeston, and listening to KXOK, the BIG 630, in its heyday (Johnny Rabbit, and, believe it or not, Mason Lee Dixon). We gave it all we had, but in the end, the CBS radio machine was too much. No matter what we did -- we gave away a freakin' Porsche! -- we never beat KHTR, one of the major regrets of my career. The KWK gig ended in a change of format after 2 years, and rather than pick up and move again, I just got tired of it. I landed a couple of part-time gigs (one on KXOK with Johnny Rabbit -- WOOO HOO!), but the writing was on the wall. I moved behind the scenes to do traffic for a Classic Rock station, went to night school and got a degree in computers.

"Thanks for all your hard work in keeping the site alive. I am no longer in broadcasting, and it was really nice to relive some of that magic. It kept me up most of the night last night!"

"Don Keyes, National Program Director for the McLendon Stations, prepared the format, hired the staff and solely put WAKY 'on the air' in 1958. It hit the market like an Old Dallas Cowboys' BLITZ. Many McLendon people thought it was the very biggest and best success stories in the entire company.

"Proof of performance was WAKY's initial Hooper achievement(s). The station went from zero to a 60% share in only two months. I remember seeing Hooper trends on a large white board (looking like a real Hooper report page) on the back wall as you entered the station. Don Keyes called the market entry the 'usual flying circus.'

"The station's original call letters were WGRC that honored revolutionary war hero George Rogers Clark. Clark is also known as one of two persons that originally 'mapped' America.

"I have either lost or misplaced my notes listing names of the original staff. I joined WAKY in late 1959. The staff then included:

6am - 9am Bill Ward (and Aunt Bertha)
9am - 12N Bob Russell
12N - 3pm Art Keller
3pm - 7pm Jack (the "Jumper") Sanders, Program Director
7pm - 12M Hal Smith
12M - 6am Jack Grady (Music Director)

AM News Anchor: Mike McCormick
Day News Anchor: Jon Poston (News Director)
PM News Anchor: Tom Perry
Night News Anchor: Jack Baker
Mobile News: Craig Douglas

"WAKY was then located on the 5th (I think) floor of the Kentucky Life Building. It was the most exciting radio station in my career.

"Program Director Jim Light(foot) and News Director Bill Gill left WAKY around the time I arrived in mid-to-late 1959. They, along with a other WAKY personnel, were going to WSAI in Cincinnati to create a new and far 'better' WAKY. Their departure from the Mighty 790 seemed to be a little tense!

Jack Sanders was appointed Program Director and Jon Poston joined WAKY as News Director

McLendon's National Program Director Don Keyes later visited Cincinnati and conducted a WSAI monitor.
Before returning to Dallas he held a programming staff meeting at WAKY. I remember his report was very
structured, quite comprehensive and highly detailed with numerous specifics.

Don clearly determined the future of the new WSAI format. 'Without major improvements...it would not achieve competitive numbers...or...be around for very long.' He was 100% correct."

"I joined the WAKY News Department in 1979, working 6-10AM with Bill Bailey. He started calling me 'Billy Bob' McQuage, and the name stuck. In 1982, Bailey accepted a position with rival WCII/WKJJ and asked that I join him, which I readily accepted.

"In 1985, I left Louisville and joined the Texas State Network in Dallas, and later moved to KMGC in Dallas. In 1988, I did news at WIOD in Miami, and later did a 10AM-3PM talk show at WIOD. From Miami, I moved to Norfolk where I did news at WWDE. I later worked at Metro News Network and WMZQ in Washington, DC.

"Other stations that I proudly include on my resume are WKIX (Raleigh, NC) WAYN (Rockingham, NC) WLNC (Laurinburg, NC) WATA (Boone, NC) WKDX (Hamlet, NC) WZGC (Atlanta, GA.)

"[WAKY GM] George Francis and I first met in the late '60s when we both worked at WKIX (Raleigh).

"Just recently, I relocated to Nashville, TN from Indian Wells, CA. I retired in 1995."

Mike McVay

OBITUARY

James L. Miller, better known to Louisville country-music fans as Mark "the Spark'" Anderson of WTMT-AM radio, died Sunday at Norton Audubon Hospital after a brief illness. He was 53. Miller worked as a disc jockey and program director for WTMT, which switched to an all-sports format shortly after he left the station in the early 1990s.

Miller worked full time as an insurance agent after leaving the station, a job he had done part time alongside his radio work. Miller was a native of Lynch, Ky., and began his broadcasting career when he was 17. He worked for a station in Cumberland, Ky., before he graduated from high school, and then for stations in Whitesburg, Ky., and Bluefield, W.Va.

He came to Louisville in 1969 and worked for WINN-AM, then the other AM country-music station in town. When he left WINN, he worked daytime for WTMT and nights for WAKY, a Top-40 station. He became program director for WTMT in 1973. Miller left WTMT in 1981 but returned as the morning drive-time personality less than a year later

Recognized for his fast talk and bluntness, Miller once described the appeal of the music he played: "It talks about booze, broads and bill collectors. And when you're talking about those things, you're talking about things people experience.''

 -- Paula Burba, Louisville Courier-Journal, January 8, 2002

"I loved the job, anchoring morning drive but sadly never having any staff or dollars to compete seriously with WAVE or WHAS. I recall that WRKA pulled some decent numbers, as high as 6.5 in 1982, but a revolving door of talent and management led to serious problems by the end of 1984. GM Joe Koetter mercifully gave me the axe the first Saturday of 1985. I think I was the last of the original crowd to go.

"With help from ex-WRKA PD Dan O'Toole's borrowed rolodex, I made contact with the Katz station in Orlando, whose PD put me in touch with the great John Butler, then the ND at WSYR in Syracuse (John is now at KMOX). He hired me to be afternoon anchor at the news-talker and was a terrific boss. I also later became his assignment editor and worked at WSYR for 10 years, until I hung up the mike in 1995 at age 45 to become a financial planner here in Syracuse (also a wonderful college hoops town). These days I can honestly say that I have no desire to return to the radio, but I'll always recall with fondness my WAKY days of 1978 and 1979, working with such great talents as Bill Bailey, Ralph Dix, Bill Purdom, Coyote Calhoun and the beautiful Chary Southmayd."

Bob Moody (February 2007)

"In 1984 the station was sold to a black guy from Alabama who planned to go urban with it. That Fall I said my goodbyes, packed up my stuff, and headed to Scotland for a vacation, thinking I was unemployed. When I got back I found out that the guy didn't have the money, the sale had fallen through, and I still had a job. In fact, Multimedia offered me a nice bonus if I would stay until they could sell it.

"In 1985 a Yankee named Bob Fish bought WAKY and made it clear that I didn't have a future there. So in August of that year I went to work for former WAKY GM George Francis, who had bought a Country station in Shreveport. From there I went to Baltimore, then became a consultant for McVay before joining Regent Communications [as VP/Programming] over two years ago." Note: Regent Communications eventually morphed into Townsquare Media, and Bob exited in November, 2011. Bob is now retired and living in Louisville.

A local media critic named him "the thinking man's disc jockey." Others have called him "an American eccentric."

We have here a man whose favorite musicians are the Jive Five and George Frederich Handel, who spent four years as a professional wrestling ring announcer, in in his spare time studies 17th and 118th century English history.

As WAKY program director, Bob is the architect of the format. From 4-7 PM he uses his vast knowledge of oldies, a wry sense of of humor and one of the best one-to-one techniques in the business to construct a program that is entertaining and intelligent, yet never pedantic.

Since coming to WAKY from CKLW/Detroit in 1976, Bob has build a large and loyal following. Asked to explain his success, he quotes James Boswell: "I have a compulsion to tell everything I know."

Louisville loves to listen.

This blurb about Bob Moody appeared in Vince Staten's TV Scene August 14, 1985 column:

Bob Moody, a legend in local radio, is leaving Louisville.

Moody, the afternoon DJ (3-7 p.m.) and the program director at WAKY-AM (790), is heading for parts unknown.

In a prepared statement he said, "Two years I promised Multimedia [Inc.] I would stay through the sale of the station. Now that FCC [Federal Communications Corp.] has taken control, I feel my best option is pursue career opportunities in other markets…. I expect to announce my future plans shortly after Labor Day."

Moody had been at WAKY for nine years and had worked in numerous capacities.

In an interview Moody said, "Hell, I've been news director, music director, assistant program director, acting program director, acting news director, program director and now former program director. I was only in this for the titles."

He won Billboard magazine awards as Program Director of the Year and Air Personality of the Year.

Moody's departure can be tied to two factors: the station's declining ratings (it was 12th out of 17 stations in the spring ratings) and new ownership. His last day is August 31.

"After managing stations in Houston and Oklahoma City, I returned to Louisville to manage WCII/WDJX (WCII was of course the old WKLO and why they changed that great name, I don't know). This was in the early eighties, and low and behold, Bill Bailey was the morning personality. I was way before Bill at WAKY, so while I had heard of Bill, I didn't meet him until I came in as General Manager.

"They sold the station in 4 years and since Louisville was such a special place (all 3 of my kids were born here), I decided to stay and I opened a travel agency. Big mistake, but that is what I am doing now and enjoying a little travel and taking it easy.

"Anyway, a lot of memories flash before me when I start thinking of WAKY and some of the forgotten promotions and craziness that went on."

OBITUARY

Tommie Lee Perryman, age 81, passed away peacefully on the morning of May 2, 2018. Tom was born in Whitesboro, Texas, on December 2, 1936 to the late Bennie Gwynette and Edgar Thomas Perryman. Tom is preceded in death by his parents, his older sister, Cynthia Clodell Allen, and his older brother, JM Perryman. He is survived by his loving and caring wife of 27 years, Anita Raye Perryman, his three children, John Timothy (Kathy), Claudia Michel (Chuck), and Wildy Perryman, his stepson, William Dalrymple (Patricia), and one grandson, JT Perryman.

Tom grew up in Sherman, Texas and served in the served in the Army National Guard of Texas and Kentucky as well as the U.S. Army Reserves. Tom began his long and memorable broadcasting career as an on-air news reporter at WAKY radio in Louisville and then at WFAA in Dallas, during which time he covered one of the country’s most defining moments in history, the Kennedy assassination.

After more than 20 years in radio and television news, Tom’s love of travel led him to open his own travel agency, where he spent years sharing his love of travel with many people, including his wife with whom he travelled the world.

In his spare time, Tom enjoyed watching and going to sports games and playing golf and gin rummy with pals at the Audubon Country Club. His wife remembers him as an intelligent and exciting conversationalist and his kids remember him as a proud father with a wonderful sense of humor. All who knew him will miss him dearly.

"My interest in radio goes back to the mid '50s, when even as a  5-year-old, I wondered why some stations did what they did, and why. In Louisville during this period, WKLO and WGRC began to program the typical rock 'n' roll segments, with sponsored hillbilly live programming, 'good' music and network commitments the rest of the day. Then, as WAKY went on the air and WKLO changed about a year later, my interest really took off.

"I should note here that, being totally blind, odds were next to none that I could find a way to even consider radio as a profession.

"To make a long story short Ron Britain on WCFL and John Randolph changed all that. Britain re-ignited the spark of determination if not hope of getting into radio. (If you've ever heard his work, you know that Ron was 'Laugh In' years before the concept hit television.) That seemingly undisciplined, spontaneous crazy type of radio had to be too much fun to give up on. With this in mind, you can understand why John's support and encouragement were so vital.

"There's something special about just walking into the building of a legendary radio station, particularly in your home town. I found acceptance, and an unmatched learning opportunity. Hey, how could one not learn from people like the Duke, Lee Gray, Gary King, Bob Moody, Mike Griffin and of course, Coyote Calhoun. Add to that, Bill Purdom, Reed Yadon, Chuck (Mr. Boogie) Jackson and Lee Masters.

"As for handling the operations requiring sight, I hired someone to read meters, transcribe log info, etc. When computers became more adaptable with text-to-speech programs, I was finally able to work pretty much independently.

"As for after WAKY, I did some small market programming, then worked at WCII (1080 AM) from 1980 to 1988. I had the good fortune to do middays following Bill Bailey on WCII (the former WKLO) for just under four years. (Speaking of that, it was a pleasure to work with and for Bobby Hatfield.) Then it was on to WAVG 970, WLRS (Mix 102), and finally to WVEZ into 1998."

Louisville DJ gave impetus to Rich
By Billy Reed, Courier-Journal Columnist
October 17, 1974

The impetus that carried Charlie Rich from the obscurity of the honky-tonk circuit to the top of the country music field didn't begin in the Grand Ol' Opry or anywhere else in Nashville, for that matter.

Instead, it started in the mind of disc jockey John Randolph - and the studios of Louisville radio station WAKY - on a cold winter morning in 1973.

At that time Rich, named Monday night as country music's entertainer of the year for 1974, was hardly the famed "Silver Fox" of today. Rather, he was journeyman singer whose main claims to fame were a couple of semi-popular records: "Lonely Weekends" in 1959 and "Mohair Sam" in 1965.

He didn't have many fans, but John Randolph was one.

"I had been a Charlie Rich freak for several years," Randolph said yesterday, "and I used to tell Julie that if she ever got the right record for him, he would be a superstar."

"Julie" is Julie Godsey, a promoter for Rich's record company. Early in 1973 she sent Randolph an advance copy of a new Rich recording and asked him to play it.

"I don't remember the exact day we first played it," said Randolph. "All I remember is that was really cold. But I thought the record was really good, so I started playing it."

Johnny Randolph and Charlie Rich in Cincinnati

The record was "Behind Closed Doors" and Randolph was the first disc jockey in the country to play it on the air. The song appeared in WAKY's top 30 charts. From Louisville, its popularity spread rapidly, selling more than 1 million copies and turning Charlie Rich into a superstar.

As soon as the record passed the million mark in sales, Randolph got telegrams from both Rich ("You were responsible for helping me get my first gold record, and I appreciate it very much") and Julie Godsey ("Congratulations…you started the whole ball of wax").

Randolph was the first disc jockey in the country to play - and push - Rich's second million seller, "The Most Beautiful Girl In The World." For his efforts, Epic sent him gold copies of both records. The gold records now hang on Randolph's office wall, flanking a cartoon of another of his top heroes, Mickey Mouse.

Rich personally has thanked Randolph on several occasions, the most recent being Rich's performance at this year's Kentucky State Fair. Randolph says he see Rich "about every three months or so," and sometimes Charlie telephones him just to chat.

"He remembers," said Randolph, "and that's kinda surprising."

At the risk of ruining his credibility with WAKY's hard-rock audience, Randolph admits that he's always been a little partial to country. In his role as director of music, Randolph is responsible for selecting what songs are played on the air.

According to Randolph, the infamous practice of "payola" - in which record companies bribe disc jockeys to push their songs - is nonexistent at WAKY.

"I'm sure with 4,000 radio stations in the country, there's some of it going on somewhere," he said, "but it never hits down here. Nobody has offered me any money, merchandise or anything to play a record. And even if they did, it would be silly for me to consider it. I'd be blackballed out of the industry."

OBITUARY

Johnny R. Aspenleiter “Johnny Randolph”, 78, died July 22, 2020 in Danville, Kentucky. John was born in Middletown, Ohio on August 7, 1941, son of the late Clarence John and Dorothy Marie Copp Aspenleiter. John graduated from the Chattauqua High School in Ohio and earned an Engineering Degree at Miami University of Ohio. John loved studying the history of radio including call letters history, frequencies of stations and everything about the industry. He was a broadcaster and DJ for WAKY radio beginning in the early 60s and became so well-known across the state that he was recognized by strangers as soon as they heard his voice. On April 1, 1967, John joined WAKY as a jock and Assistant Program Director, until 1977. During his years at WAKY, he became a huge fan of Charlie Rich. Charlie’s record “Behind Closed Doors”, was played on air for the first time by John. The song later appeared on WAKY’s top 30 charts. The songs popularity spread from Louisville, selling more than a million copies and turning Charlie Rich into a superstar. He then later co-owned a station in Danville with WKLO call letters. From February 2005 to February 2007 John worked as Director of Programming for Walter May’s East Kentucky Broadcasting Group in Pikeville. Later that year John joined WAKY-FM in Elizabethtown to do the PM Drive, a position that he held until 2020. He had a fantastic sense of humor and was a good-humored prankster. When his sister was listening to her favorite songs on her radio in her room as a teenager, he would set his radio to a similar station to interfere with her reception. He loved musicals, dancing and traveling around the world. John was a student of anything and everything and he had a long-time fond love of old diesel Mercedes. He was a member of Southland Christian Church and a volunteer for Heritage Hospice. He is predeceased by his wife of 34 years, Frances Evelyn Aspenleiter and a granddaughter, Jennifer Franklin.

He is survived by three sons and two daughters, Jon Christopher Aspenleiter of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, Cassie (Ed Silver) Hill of Orange Beach, Alabama, Carrie (Thomas) Owen of Danville, Gordon Edward Couch of Louisville and Tim (Patricia) Gulley of Danville; six grandchildren, Christopher (Lori) Tims, Timothy (Lisa) Tims, Michael Tims, Aubrey Lanier, Jr, Lee Gulley and Jonah Couch; one sister, Sharon Aspenleiter (Tim) Maddox and special family friend, Sandy Turner.

The funeral service will be held, 1:00 p.m., Thursday, July 30, 2020 at the Showroom in Danville. Hershel McKinley and Charlie Perry will officiate. Visitation will be after 4 p.m., Wednesday, July 29, 2020 at the Showroom in Danville. Masks and social distancing will be required at The Showroom. Memorial donations are suggested to Heritage Hospice. Our Hugs from Home program and the online guestbook are available at www.stithcares.com

5:30-10 a.m. - Bill Crisp
10 a.m.-2 p.m. - Jim Brand
2-6 p.m. - George Williams
6-9 p.m. - Tim Tyler
9 p.m.-12 midnight - Dale Reeves
12 midnight-5:30 a.m. - Ed Walker

"I just took over as PD/afternoon drive host of the local AM Standards station (WKGC)."

"The first stint I did there part time I was 'Chris Shannon,' because I was working full time at WINN, the country station. When I came back from Charlotte, I went by Karl Shannon.

"I've also worked in Nashville at WSM-FM."

OBITUARY

SMITH, ISAAC KEY "IKE," 64, of Louisville, passed away Sunday, March 9, 2014 at his home.

He was born June 28, 1949 in Madison, IN the son of Leslie Key Smith and Rose Dee (Pratt) Smith.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his wife of 39 years, Barbara Versaw Smith.

Ike was a 1967 graduate of Henry County High School and later went on to complete his Bachelor's degree at University of Louisville. He worked in Louisville area news radio for 25 years and was a member of Calvary Episcopal Church and The Sons of Confederate Veterans.

He leaves to cherish his memory a daughter, Jennifer Smith Sinclair; a son, Nathan Key Smith; a granddaughter, Adalyn Ellen Smith; and a sister, Lillian Ann Smith Arbogast (Al).

A service to celebrate Ike's life will be conducted at noon on Saturday, March 15, 2014 at Calvary Episcopal Church, 821 S. Fourth St. Visitation will be from 5-8 p.m. on Friday at Arch L. Heady & Son at Westport Village, 7410 Westport Rd.

In lieu of customary expressions, donations may be given to Calvary Episcopal Church or WHAS Crusade for Children.

"Around March of 1988 the station dropped the country format and simulcasted WVEZ. (The call letters became WVEZ-AM.) In 1989 the station switched back to country as 790 WWKY. The station remained WWKY through 2001, then became WXXA ['Xtra Sports 790 AM']."

Mark Stahr

OBITUARY

Samuel Keene Stephens Jr.

Birthplace: Louisville, Kentucky
Resided In: Austin, Texas

Samuel Keene Stephens Jr., son of the late Samuel Keene Stephens Sr. and Margaret Mary Johnson passed away in Austin, Texas on February 6, 2021.

He was born in Louisville, Kentucky in 1952. He was a proud graduate of Saint Xavier High School class of 1971 and Morehead State University with a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts in Broadcast Journalism. He honorable served in the United States Air Force as an Information Specialist from 1974-1979, serving oversees in both Germany and Japan.

He is survived by his wife, Susan, daughter Diana Bujan, son-in-law Jon Bujan, and two precious grandchildren. He was a member of the Associated Press, the Honorable Order of the Kentucky Colonels, Washington State Retired Teachers Association, St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church, and the Knights of Columbus.

The family requests that remembrance in his honor be directed to Saint Xavier, Men of eXcellence Fund.

Courier-Journal, Sunday, May 24, 1981

OBITUARY

"It pains me to admit it, but apparently I have passed away, and I'm pissed about it", the earthly signoff of Mark E Strauss, 71, who is now on the radio somewhere in the great beyond. "Everyone said it would happen one day, but that's simply not something I wanted to hear, much less experience. If you want to, look for me in the evening sunset, on a cruise ship, with a Patron margarita in hand. You know I'll be there in one form or another. This will probably comfort some while antagonizing others, but you know me, it's what I do. Any questions, sorry too late."

Mark is survived by his wife Jeri, daughters Rebecca Dodge and Stephanie (Matthew) Perry, and his beloved granddaughter, Reece, who called him "Dude, as well as two chair/bed hogs Oscar and Koda.

Mike Summers Today

"What a wonderful hour down memory lane!

"Some of my former colleagues and I have complained that -- other than a few, cracking acetate tapes -- not much is left of an incredible era in broadcasting. Thanks for taking the time effort to leave a digital reminder of sorts of the hard work and talent that went into Top 40 Radio."

Remembering An Exceptional WAKY Engineer

I finished listening to the Bill Hennes WKLO interview. Very good; it was interesting hearing different perspectives. WAKY did have a higher component of country music, usually dayparted. At nights the urban component was probably pretty close between the two stations.

Mike Rivers was a tremendous production guy who turned out some great stuff, promos and commercials; a great voice too. I didn't know Mike, but he was a master.

WKLO's multi-track production studio is something WAKY didn't match until '73, '74 or so (I don't recall exactly). It happened when we got a new chief engineer, John Timm. John did a lot for WAKY: upgrading the production studio; introducing digital timers tied to an element starting; upgrading the cart machines to three stacks with secondary tones to sequence the commercials; and taking us away from playing 45s on the air to all cart. He also upgraded the old Gates large-platter turntables in the production room to electronically controlled turntables. After the turntable upgrade WAKY would also, very occasionally, speed up a song. An example is Maxine Nightingale's "Right Back Where I Started From." John Timm's actions may have followed from a decision by management to upgrade but I remember John as the driving force and I suspect he sold them on the idea.

A lot has been said about Johnny Randolph tweaking WAKY's 'sound' and that is certainly true. John Timm came and installed equipment that gave Randolph even more handles to tweak on. WAKY had some engineers along the way who were good technically, but John was an innovator and moved the station along in ways that made an important difference on the air. John Timm was important to WAKY and I know that Bruce Clark and Pete Boyce were important to WKLO. - Mike Griffin, former WAKY Production Director

(Note: John Timm exited WAKY in the late '70s. He passed away in 1997.)

Marty Balou adds: "I am telling you Tyler was THE man. On Saturdays he did live broadcasts from Stewarts, with bands and Carnaby Street fashions. What a time!"

Tim entered the broadcasting field early in life. He spent four his teen years in Okinawa with his parents while his father was in the Untied States Air Force. When he finished high school there in June of 1958, he became a staff announcer and salesman for KSBK in Naha, Okinawa. In August of 1959, he became an announcer for KAKE in Wichita, Kansas; and in February of 1960, he joined the staff of KBUD, in Athens, Texas. Tim's career includes service as a popular air personality with such stations as KDOK, Tyler, Texas, and WIRL, Peoria, Illinois. His outstanding air ability is demonstrated in the fact that while at WIRL he achieved the highest PULSE ratings ever earned by the station during the afternoon "drive time."

Tim attended the University of Wichita in Kansas, where he majored in speech. His hobbies include all sports and photography.

Twenty-three-year-old Bob, a native of Louisville, entered the field of radio-television and films at the University of Kentucky after changing his major from art. During his college career, he served as program director for WSTL, Eminence, Kentucky, and as news director of WBKY, the University's FM station. In addition, he was chief cinematographer for the radio-television films department and was very active in educational television. His efforts earned him the University of Kentucky "Mike Award" for outstanding service in radio-television films.

In June of 1961, Bob became a weekend newsman for WAKY while attending the University, and in the spring of 1962, he became a fulltime news editor for the station.

The achievements of this young newsman have earned for WAKY recognition as an outstanding news reporting agency. On the scene when fire struck Churchill Downs, Bob was the reporter of the event to Kentucky and to the Associated Press. He has interviewed such personalities as Pee Wee Reese, Arnold Palmer, Dave Brubeck, Tom Ewell, and Lionel Hampton.

Though his radio interests keep him very busy, Bob enjoys art, music, and photography in his leisure time.

"I'm still in Louisville."

"I’ve got an update on WAKY newsman Gerry Wood, and it’s from the horse’s mouth since I am Gerry Wood.

"Graduated from the U. of Kentucky with a B.A. and a Master’s degree from Vanderbilt, I worked at No. 1 WAKY from 1961 to 1963 when I moved to Nashville where I not only attended Vanderbilt but worked at WKDA with Jumpin’ Jack Sanders once again. Boy, do I have a ton of Jack Sanders stories!

"I left radio to become head of the Vanderbilt News Bureau where I directed Vandy’s PR efforts. Left that job to become Associate Southern Director of ASCAP, signing up songwriters and publishers in Nashville and throughout the south. In 1975 I became Southern Bureau Chief of Billboard Magazine, a job that led all the way to the top as Billboard’s Editor in Chief in 1980 in New York City.

"Later moved back to Nashville to become Editor in Chief of Nashville! Magazine, then became Special Correspondent for People Magazine, writing People stories from all over the U.S. Returned to Billboard as Nashville bureau chief, then opted for the life of a freelance writer -- have written five published books, the latest one Tales From Country Music did quite well for me and is still available on Amazon.com.

"During my freelance years, I spent four great years in Key West, Florida, where is also worked as the news and PR rep for the agency handling the Keys. Returned to Nashville to become chief correspondent for Country Weekly Magazine.

"Now working as a photographer at Walt Disney World in Orlando where my boss is Mickey Mouse. Love it."

Byron Crawford adds: "In the days when I remember Joe Worthy, he reminded me a lot of actor Charlie Ruggles -- almost actorly looking, and sounding, but just a great down-to-earth personality and wit. He worked nights much of the time I worked with him. In later life I know that he was a Kentucky rep. for either some agricultural products company or hardware firm."