Thanks to Scott Black for sending this article...America today needs more WMDR radio stations! Some bigly names here- Walker Johnson, Ernie Baker, Becky Lynn, Ted Ousley aka Gunner and many more!

Ron Ashburn~ WNOX 990

What a voice! (Mike Clark)

And what a genuinely nice guy. I toured The Mighty Fine 99 in 1975 and met the aging Ron. He quizzed me about my studies at UTK, and gave me encouragement. He was truly a noble gentleman to me. (Steve Howard)

I met him once when Beach was doing afternoons at WNOX. He was indeed a very nice guy. I believe he was the guy who did a tag for a national cigarette spot, maybe Pall Mall: "and they are mild." (Mike Clark)

I had the honor, privilege and pleasure of working with Mr. Ashburn when I was doing overnights at the historic 990 WNOX. He would come in early morning to prepare for his news broadcast and he would share memories of his early days in radio and WNOX. I'll never forget my time with a great person who had great pipes. (James Slick Maurice)

This made my day...what a super guy! (Phil Williams)

101 received the WIBK FCC filing from Brian Doulgas, thanks! Via our 101 Facebook archives...Chris Huff had posted in 2013 (below)...

Before there was WIVK, there was WIBK. The station went on the air on July 11, 1947 at 800kHz. The station was owned and operated by Rev J Harold Smith, who was later found by the FCC to have misrepresented the facts when the license was granted. Among other things, the FCC found he had invested $100,000 in a Mexican border station. They additionally found that his on-air sermons and preaching were "intemperate" and that he was an expert at "vituperation and vilification". The FCC moved to revoke his license in 1949 and numerous legal proceedings followed. When the Supreme Court refused to hear the case in 1952, WIBK was effectively forced to shut down. The station last broadcast in November 1952. When WKXV signed on the following February, they leased out the studio spaced that had been occupied by WIBK. And of course, a very similar sounding (and totally unrelated) set of call letters (WIVK) hit the air just up the dial the following March.

Hello Scott!

Here are a few control room photos I've saved. I'm away from radio now, but many great memories. I'd love to get back in, but I'd be a small and old fish in a big pond here in Indianapolis. 

...photos are of the WUTK FM control room when we put the college radio station on the air. I was the first voice broadcast, but I think only my Mom was listening!

Scott Black

In a world of non competes and competitive throat cutting, I just wanted to take a minute to say thank you to Phil Jarnagin for all he did with our stations.

Phil...

One thing I did not tell you is I’m very proud of is the relationship you and I have, and continue to have. Before Merle, during Merle, and now after Merle.

You came to Merle FM as my friend and I'm proud you leave as my friend.

You are a great friend and were a wonderful co worker. You were a strong part of building Merle FM. How many in this market predicted our demise, questioned your decision. Yet 2018 was our largest year ever for generating revenue. Since the day you came on board we have multiplied billing by 5 times and signals by 5 signals. Many times you had faith when I did not. Jack Ryan would not be at Merle if not for you, I would never have met Kim Williams, and nor would Merle FM have been the welcome station for Garth Brooks if not for you. There are many many great things you did for this company. (I will miss my calculator each year) Thank you for all you did to build these radio station(s) and this company. I hope you know, I wish you the absolute best in your new job. There is always a place for you here. But also know you will probably get aggravated with the number of questions I email you.... congratulations and good luck Phil.  

Sincerely, Thank You~

Ron Meredith

photographs and memories...

...Happy 2019! 

There's nothing more groovy than vintage control room photos! 101 kicks off the new year with Bobby Rader at his craft.

Bobby is still going strong behind the mic as he hosts the morning sports show at WXSM in the Tri-Cities and is part of the Vols sports network.

Send your classic photos to 101!!!

The Wonderful World of 101 says...

...thank you for a groovy 2018!

It was a magical year looking back at the voices and stories of East Tennessee radio!

We crank up The 101 Audio Vault one more time this year and travel to 15Q in '76 and Kid Curry~

Happy Trails!

Phil Jarnagin has been a major player for Merle-FM during its 10 plus years. Today Phil signs off for the final time as midday personality! 

Merle-FM (WMYL 96.7) features the syndicated morning show "Big D and Bubba", Phil, and Jack Ryan afternoon drive.

Good Luck Phil!!!

~from the 101 InBox...

Regarding Jim Humphries passing-

Thanks so much for posting about Jim Humphries death. I worked with Jim at WETE from March to August '76. We used his "Disco Dance" machine for several parties at Walters State and other venues. Again, thanks! (Bill Beason)

Sad as hell to read this. He was old school radio and left a big mark on the local radio market. (Walker Johnson)

On Chris Hampton's post regarding WKGN-

Chris, Cleveland Wheeler, and I were all in the Class of 1967 at Brainard High School in Chattanooga. Happy Holidays and have a great 2019! (Alan Sneed-o)

Keep the cards and letters coming, 101 wants to hear from you! KtownRadio@gmail.com

Le'ts Tweet...follow me on Twitter, I follow back- talkgeorge

Merry Christmas from 101...

...and "Santa Dan". 

Dan Bell is a Ktown radio legend and is heard afternoons on WJBZ Praise 96.3, and don't forget The Sunday Survey!

It's January 1971 and the above line up made up the WKGN Good Guys...

Fast forward some months later and enter stage left~ Chris Hampton!

"Wow, I got there just a few months after that date and (Eddie Beacon) was already gone. As a matter of fact, the only one still there was Sonny Knight doing noon-3. Bob Baron was the PD and did mornings, Frank Erwin did 9-noon, I took over noon-3 when Sonny went in to sales. Wayne Bernard (Charlie Chase) did afternoons, Jack Diamond 7-midnight and Jerry Steele overnights. Must have been a major shake up. It did work though. Before I left our little thousand watter pulled in to a virtual tie with 10,000 watt WNOX. It was a one book accomplishment, but we worked our asses off to make it happen. We did lots of outside promotions and were very visible in the community. It took that kind of over the top effort to make it happen. Baron taught me a lot I carried with me when they promoted me to PD at our Pensacola station and those lessons served me well." (Chris Hampton)

Page 3...

Happy Birthday Week to Mike Clark!

Eddie Rogers

Monday January 7, 1980 brought changes to WNOX 990 as Dr Dave Dunaway and Night Train Lane both exited stage left. Enter Eddie Rogers as the new morning show DJ.  

530-10 Eddie Rogers 

10-2 Phil Williams

2-6 Randy Miller 

6-10 Scott Majors 

10-2 Tom Michaels 

2-530 James Maurice 

 News- Suzanne Dalton and Cal Raines! 

 Here's Eddie (via The 101 Audio Vault) signing on for the first time~

Let's explore the Ktown radio landscape in January 1976...

Dr. Al Adams was PD and morning DJ at WKGN 1340.

W149 featured Alan Douglas (Sneed), Gary Adkins, Leslie Sheiler, Dave Elrod, and Chris Grabenstein.

Over at WETE 620-

5-9 Harry Robert Shaw

9-2 Jim Humphries

2-6 Walker Johnson

6-10 Joe Crotty

10-12 Carl Warner

12-5 Ernie Baker

In late January the insegrevious Eddie Beacon became the night DJ at WETE Super 62.

Doc Johnston was still the host of "Date with Doc" mornings on WBIR 1240....

...then on January 12th, WBIR 1240 became "WBIRadio 124 All News", hashtag way ahead of the times! Dave Foulk, Carol Utley, Don Lindsey, Ray Wilck, Carl Williams, Sam Dalton, Judy Jenkins, and the list goes on of on air newsies! PS- Doc Johnston was still part of the team!

January saw Mike Beck kick off his on air career as Barry Tucker on WKGN 1340.

And the Aardvark was working his magic in the pm at WNOX 990.

Where were you in January '76?