Rick Davis joined WKGN 1340 in the summer of 1974. 

He was a news anchor and weekend DJ at his start. 

In late September Rick replaced Mike Beach in the 7-midnight slot as Mike returned to WETE 620. 

The 'KGN line was Your Dave 6-9a, Frank Erwin 9-12. Jeff Stevens 12-4, PD Wayne Bernard 4-7, Rick at 7p, then Todd Martin overnight. Oh, Jean Ash joined WKGN and their new department at that time. 

In late November, Wayne Bernard exited stage left for Mooney's WMAK Nashville (didn't they all), and Rick took over afternoon drive. PS- Bob Thomas became the overnight DJ at that time too.

The 101 Audio Vault features Rick Davis...

 

The 101 InBox

It's trick or treat 1971 with Johnny Walker (and his trumpet). We heard from some super jocks about the Halloween antics-

"That's great. Sounds like something I would have done. Best." (Mike Beach)

and...

"Funny Story! At that time, I was living in the basement apartment at the 11th Street Grocery during my 5th football season at UT. Beer business days before radio. Long ago!" (Alan Douglas Sneed)

Happy Halloween from Wayne Wood...

This clip ran in the News-Sentinel on Oct. 29, 1971. Apparently on spur of the moment in response to a caller who said he was intending to roll the radio station with toilet paper, but would be out of town on Halloween, WKGN DJ Johnny Walker invited the caller and anyone else listening to come on down and roll away. Throughout the evening Walker gleefully reported on the ongoing paper roll vandalism of the building and parking lot. I recall that the employees of the Hamilton National Bank, on the first floor of the two-story building, were not amused when they came in to work the next morning.

 

Trick or Treat

Steve West arrived in Knoxville in the spring of 1976 to be the morning DJ at the brand new, and major market sounding 15Q (WKVQ). Later that year Steve jumped over to WKGN for a short stay. Fast forward to early 1982 and Steve returned to Ktown as Program Director at WRJZ 620 "My Kind of Country". Steve would go by Dr Don West this go around...and, when putting his on-air staff together he hired mE and Bill Beason the same day to be weekend jocks. 

The 101 Audio Vault travels to '76 and WKGN...

 

JJ Scott before WRJZ...

 

It's the fall of 1996 and afternoon drive in Ktown was about to change...Ed Brantley, an almost 30 years on air veteran at WIVK was hanging up the microphone and 45 rpm records to become the station's General Sales Manager.

Ed was working middays when I arrived at WIVK back in 1976, a few years later he replaced Your Dave Young in the 3-7p slot. 

Ed, like many aspiring radio talents, attended Fulton High, the school that had a student's radio station...

Ed started his career at WNOX 990 as a part time announcer, and when Allen Dennis exited for WMOC in Chattanooga, Ed went with him as his first fulltime gig was underway. 

After serving Uncle Sam, Ed returned to Ktown and WIVK...this was the early 70s. The DJ line up included Kenny Dearstone 6-10, Claude Tomlinson 10-noon, Ed noon-3p and Bobby Denton afternoon drive. (I can still smell Booby's cigar in the control room, ha).

Fast forward a few decades...and Ed was back on the air at News/Talk WNOX FM 100.3 hosting the morning talk show "The Ed and Bob Show" with Bob Thomas. 

As Paul Harvey always said, and now you know the rest of the story.

PS- I took this iconic picture of Ed, and that was before we all carried cameras or are they phones, etc. in our pockets!

Back in the day...

 

Before Al Gore invented the internet and back when there were 3 TV channels, powered by rabbit ears, these groovy pamphlets kept the world abreast to top songs and DJ photos!

Hey George, what a nice surprise to see that photo of me and Alan Sneed at WKDA/WKDF! Thanks to AD for sending it to you and for the kind words. Alan’s impact on my career was life changing. What a great teacher, mentor, and friend. I was so lucky to be in his orbit in those years. All the best! GBO! (Mike Beck)

Back in 1978 the radio gods shouted, "head west", and several jumped-on board. After Dick broadcasting bought WKDA and WKDF in 1976 both Mike Hammond and Paul Lyle relocated from WIVK to Nashville...the invasion was not over! Vic Rumore became GM with Alan Sneed and Mike Beck from WKGN as station leaders!

NashVegas 1979...

Mike (Beck) was PD of Country WKDA, and I was Program (Operations) Manager of WKDF/WKDA and PD of KDF. A great guy. (Alan Sneed)

Chip Emerson ~ go rest high on that mountain

Chip Emerson passed away this week. He was a contributor to our 101 blog; I even worked for him for a while after I graduated from UT. 

...from his dear friend Alan Sneed-

"We had been friends for over 50 years...He ran both Guy and Dolls (in the future Copper Cellar location) and The Place. He also worked for several Knoxville radio stations, including WKGN, 15Q, and WIVK and owned an advertising agency during the World's Fair. In the small world of Fort Sanders, he lived in the basement apartment at the 11th Street Grocery a year or so before me. We both ended up in Atlanta and remained close all these years. Chipper was truly a great one and loved by many. Rest well. pal."

Seeing your picture of The Brothers brought back a memory of working the overnight shift at WOKI around 1980. I did the newscasts as The Brothers recorded show played. Gary and Bill were riffing one night about an item in the news and crossed the line with their comments. I watched the phone expecting it to light up but only a single light blinked. I apologized to the listener and after 10 minutes ended the conversation assuring her it would not happen again. As I hang up, I hear Bill on the tape making the comment, “Bet she got a bang out of that!” The lone line started blinking again and I suggested she talk to our PD in the morning ~ Gary.

Steve Mears

Congrats to Wilhite and Wall...

We did not see this coming. We only enter in hopes someone will hear the show and maybe recommend us to a station. This marks 33 years since our first nomination at WIVK in 1992. (Darren Wilhite)

 "Bring On The Brothers"

Alan Douglas (Sneed) and Gary Adkins formed this great radio duo. Down the road Bill Johnson replaced Alan. The photo is Alan and Gary in the early days.

Last week 101 celebrated our blog-a-versary and we heard from several radio legends, thank you. Here are a few...

Congratulations! Wonder what became of Steve after Nashville. When we were at 15Q he gave me the politically incorrect nickname "Big Al the Kiddies Pal"- which he said was from a television clown show when he was a kid. Some of my Atlanta friends from 96 Rock still use it after all these years later. Cheers. (A.D. Sneedo)

Happy Anniversary George! Thanks for sharing and caring about the history of Knoxville radio. You do a wonderful job. (Mike Beck)

Hey George...for the last eighteen years you have given us a priceless gift! You've kept memories alive and reunited old friends. It doesn't get any better than that. Thank you so much. (Frank Erwin)