Submitted by Anonymous aka A. Nony Mouse aka Nony A. Mouse N Da House...
The short life of 95-3 WTNZ (Knoxville's TeNneZee)...November of 1986 Knoxville saw the birth of Flame-throwin' Top 40 FM Rocker 95.3 WTNZ when WNKX/WNOX was sold to REBS Communications, Inc. The Group was made up of former ABC newsman Rick James, former Mutual Broadcasting newsman Bob Coker and former WCFL Chicago air personality & Nighttime America host Bob Dearborn. James served as corporate president, while Dearborn was National PD based in Nashville for the seven station chain (3 in upstate New York, 2 in Nashville & 2 in Knoxville). WNKX-FM became WTNZ-FM and Coker was appointed GM of the Knoxville stations. 95-3 PD Chris Mac did mornings briefly...before a host of talent kept the drive chair warm. Promotions Director Bill Beason started out doing weekends, but soon found himself working every air shift at various times before settling in middays. The station line-ups changed frequently and often as Chuck Knight, Gil Andrews and Beason played musical chairs at sister station WWRB-FM (Rebel 100) Nashville throughout '87.
Just one of the many line-ups from '87-
Tom Miller 6-10
Bill Beason 10-3
Chris Mac 3-7
Chuck Knight 7-12
Gil Andrews 12-6
KC weekends
Other air staff during the short life of WTNZ-FM included; the late Jeff Freeman, Bill the Cat, Karen (?) aka KC, Charlene (the cheeselady) & a number of others! By the end of '87, the staff would go through a maze of changes as PD Chris Mac left for Tampa, Bob Dearborn eventually departed REBS, Inc, Tom Miller was appointed PD, Bill Beason left for Shop-At-Home TV Network, Chuck Knight & Gil Andrews headed for Music City (Andrews later resurfaced at WOKI), Station manager Bob Coker would return to his Lobo, New Mexico stations and corporate president Rick James became WTNZ GM, AM Drive, janitor and night security as he kept a bed in the former WNOX control room...Seriously!!! (At last report, Rick James had moved to Athens, Tennessee doing an air shift at WJSQ). Sister station WNOX-AM was sold to Dick Broadcasting and WTNZ would eventually fade away as REBS filed for bankruptcy...
Chad Austin...
95-3 WTNZ (POWER 95) was a great station! Back in 1988 during my Junior Year in High School, I was able to spend some time around TNZ's studios. I remember my very first visit to the station during Spring Break of '88. I got to sit in during the morning show with my good friend who was the PD of the station at the time, "Screamin' Jeff Freeman" back when he and Mike Keith did mornings together. I also met my good friend John Wilkerson for the very first time. John was the MD and he did (12mid to 6am) back then. His show was called, "The Night Flight". A lot of times John would stay over after his overnight shift was over, and he would team up with Jeff and Mike on the air. All three of them were hilarious on the air together. I also remember meeting "Powerman" Rick James who was the CEO and Chairman of REBS, Inc. which was the parent company that owned 95.3 WTNZ. Rick James had some really deep pipes I remember. He had done all of the sweepers for the station after they had changed to "Power 95", and had decided to go more towards a true CHR Format. The station before the "Power 95" era had been playing more of a CHR/Rhythmic format, and had been programmed by Chris Mack before Jeff took over as PD. However, on September 6, 1988 TNZ's reign came to a sad end when the station went dark that afternoon due to financial problems. 95-3 WTNZ was a station that went way before it's time. On a more personal note, Jeff Freeman was a very good friend, and was one of the nicest guys who ever worked in radio. I was very saddened when I first heard about his death back in 2005. I will always remember Jeff laughing, making jokes, and wearing a smile on his face. He will be forever missed.
Update...Radio legend Bob Dearborn corrected some of the info provided by A. Nony Mouse...
Bob Coker was never an officer or partner of REBS, he was strictly the VP/GM of our two Knoxville stations. When he left he went back to Hobbs, New Mexico not Lobo. And ours was a 10, not 7-station group. Merry Christmas!
The short life of 95-3 WTNZ (Knoxville's TeNneZee)...November of 1986 Knoxville saw the birth of Flame-throwin' Top 40 FM Rocker 95.3 WTNZ when WNKX/WNOX was sold to REBS Communications, Inc. The Group was made up of former ABC newsman Rick James, former Mutual Broadcasting newsman Bob Coker and former WCFL Chicago air personality & Nighttime America host Bob Dearborn. James served as corporate president, while Dearborn was National PD based in Nashville for the seven station chain (3 in upstate New York, 2 in Nashville & 2 in Knoxville). WNKX-FM became WTNZ-FM and Coker was appointed GM of the Knoxville stations. 95-3 PD Chris Mac did mornings briefly...before a host of talent kept the drive chair warm. Promotions Director Bill Beason started out doing weekends, but soon found himself working every air shift at various times before settling in middays. The station line-ups changed frequently and often as Chuck Knight, Gil Andrews and Beason played musical chairs at sister station WWRB-FM (Rebel 100) Nashville throughout '87.
Just one of the many line-ups from '87-
Tom Miller 6-10
Bill Beason 10-3
Chris Mac 3-7
Chuck Knight 7-12
Gil Andrews 12-6
KC weekends
Other air staff during the short life of WTNZ-FM included; the late Jeff Freeman, Bill the Cat, Karen (?) aka KC, Charlene (the cheeselady) & a number of others! By the end of '87, the staff would go through a maze of changes as PD Chris Mac left for Tampa, Bob Dearborn eventually departed REBS, Inc, Tom Miller was appointed PD, Bill Beason left for Shop-At-Home TV Network, Chuck Knight & Gil Andrews headed for Music City (Andrews later resurfaced at WOKI), Station manager Bob Coker would return to his Lobo, New Mexico stations and corporate president Rick James became WTNZ GM, AM Drive, janitor and night security as he kept a bed in the former WNOX control room...Seriously!!! (At last report, Rick James had moved to Athens, Tennessee doing an air shift at WJSQ). Sister station WNOX-AM was sold to Dick Broadcasting and WTNZ would eventually fade away as REBS filed for bankruptcy...
Chad Austin...
95-3 WTNZ (POWER 95) was a great station! Back in 1988 during my Junior Year in High School, I was able to spend some time around TNZ's studios. I remember my very first visit to the station during Spring Break of '88. I got to sit in during the morning show with my good friend who was the PD of the station at the time, "Screamin' Jeff Freeman" back when he and Mike Keith did mornings together. I also met my good friend John Wilkerson for the very first time. John was the MD and he did (12mid to 6am) back then. His show was called, "The Night Flight". A lot of times John would stay over after his overnight shift was over, and he would team up with Jeff and Mike on the air. All three of them were hilarious on the air together. I also remember meeting "Powerman" Rick James who was the CEO and Chairman of REBS, Inc. which was the parent company that owned 95.3 WTNZ. Rick James had some really deep pipes I remember. He had done all of the sweepers for the station after they had changed to "Power 95", and had decided to go more towards a true CHR Format. The station before the "Power 95" era had been playing more of a CHR/Rhythmic format, and had been programmed by Chris Mack before Jeff took over as PD. However, on September 6, 1988 TNZ's reign came to a sad end when the station went dark that afternoon due to financial problems. 95-3 WTNZ was a station that went way before it's time. On a more personal note, Jeff Freeman was a very good friend, and was one of the nicest guys who ever worked in radio. I was very saddened when I first heard about his death back in 2005. I will always remember Jeff laughing, making jokes, and wearing a smile on his face. He will be forever missed.
Update...Radio legend Bob Dearborn corrected some of the info provided by A. Nony Mouse...
Bob Coker was never an officer or partner of REBS, he was strictly the VP/GM of our two Knoxville stations. When he left he went back to Hobbs, New Mexico not Lobo. And ours was a 10, not 7-station group. Merry Christmas!