Today 101 opens our mail bag. Here are some great memories from 4 Ktown legends...
Alan D. Sneed-
After Mike (Robin) Beck left for WROQ in early 1978, I also left PD/Mornings at WKGN that March to join Dick Broadcasting as PD of WKDF in Nashville. Kerry (Keith) Lambert took over as PD at "Album Rock 'KGN" and was on his way to a great career in programming, management, etc. Managers...Bill Hays (formerly of WBIR) hired me at WKDF but then returned to Knoxville and was replaced by Vic Rumore from Davis-Newman-Payne. Vic had managed WKGN as both a Top 40 and an AOR before moving to DNP. As many in radio will remember, there was a lot of moving over to Nashville (or back to Knox-patch in some cases) in those days. These postings bring back some great memories!
John Long aka Kincaid aka Oidarman-
There used to be a bar across the street from WNOX. One day I went over there with someone from the station (Pirkle, Rex, Beacon, Jim Clark, Galbraith, etc.) can't remember who. We had a few beers and it was the first time I ever tasted a pickled egg. Anyway, there was a helicopter parked outside and someone asked if anyone wanted to go for a ride. The beers in me spoke up and said “I do”. I guess they saw me coming, because the next thing I know I'm in the helicopter and we're flying all around Whittle Springs Road; we buzzed the apartments I lived in. Then the pilot did something real cute; he cut the power. As I said, they must have seen me coming because I was praying. After what seemed like hours, the rotors started turning again and we landed. Everyone seemed to enjoy my first helicopter ride...but me. Next time: Does anyone remember the receptionist named Marantha? Great sight. Thanks for doing it.
Stephen Wesley Bridgewater
After Mike (Robin) Beck left for WROQ in early 1978, I also left PD/Mornings at WKGN that March to join Dick Broadcasting as PD of WKDF in Nashville. Kerry (Keith) Lambert took over as PD at "Album Rock 'KGN" and was on his way to a great career in programming, management, etc. Managers...Bill Hays (formerly of WBIR) hired me at WKDF but then returned to Knoxville and was replaced by Vic Rumore from Davis-Newman-Payne. Vic had managed WKGN as both a Top 40 and an AOR before moving to DNP. As many in radio will remember, there was a lot of moving over to Nashville (or back to Knox-patch in some cases) in those days. These postings bring back some great memories!
John Long aka Kincaid aka Oidarman-
There used to be a bar across the street from WNOX. One day I went over there with someone from the station (Pirkle, Rex, Beacon, Jim Clark, Galbraith, etc.) can't remember who. We had a few beers and it was the first time I ever tasted a pickled egg. Anyway, there was a helicopter parked outside and someone asked if anyone wanted to go for a ride. The beers in me spoke up and said “I do”. I guess they saw me coming, because the next thing I know I'm in the helicopter and we're flying all around Whittle Springs Road; we buzzed the apartments I lived in. Then the pilot did something real cute; he cut the power. As I said, they must have seen me coming because I was praying. After what seemed like hours, the rotors started turning again and we landed. Everyone seemed to enjoy my first helicopter ride...but me. Next time: Does anyone remember the receptionist named Marantha? Great sight. Thanks for doing it.
Stephen Wesley Bridgewater
...aka Steve West aka Dr. Don West-
I was the first morning man on (15Q) when it went rock in mid 70's under manager Bob Gross. Also then went cross town to work for manager, Vic Rumore in morning drive at WKGN. From there it was on to Z-93 in Atlanta in 1977 and then to WEFM in Chicago in 1979. Then returned to Nashville in 1982 to make Vic Rumore rich at WLAC FM. In 1983 became the spokesperson for Krystal Hamburgers as COWBOY SID and SHEILA THE WONDER HORSE. 1985 - Then into the movie business full time...You can see additional information for film career by logging onto IMDB and typing in Stephen Wesley Bridgewater (12 Monkeys). All the best!
Your Dave Young-
The Dells sang it and some of us was a part of it. The setting, Saturday afternoon, 1974. On air at WKGN playing the hits as the events began to unfold. YDY...WKGN the Famous 1340 with Your Dave Young, lets go to the phones...'KGN you are on the air. Caller...Hey Your Dave this is Lonnie down at the Tressel Package Store, I just saw a guy running naked, nothing on but a cap that had L&N on it. YDY...Thanks Lonnie, we'll get our News Director Joe Anderson right on it. JA...Dave I am on the scene here on Cumberland Ave., at Sam and Andy's, there seems to be about 15-20 naked guys running up and down the strip. There goes the guy with the L&N cap, here comes one on a unicycle. YDY...Lets check in with Mike Beach, what have you got? MB...Your Dave, I'm at Brownies in the 'KGN Thunder Bus and there are hundreds of people with out anything on, yes I guess this is what they call the Streak. Before the night was over, the Strip was closed from the L&N RR to 17th street. There was naked boys and girls all over the place. Big b**bies, little b**bies, all sizes of w*****s, riding bicycles, unicycles. Not to mention what was happening on the bull atop Sam & Andy's. Joe Anderson had a blast, Mike Beach had a blast, YDY had a blast, and Joe found out what L&N stood for. As he was chatting to the lovely girl in the back of the WKGN Thunder Bus, she said, oh L&N. that's l**g and n****y.
I was the first morning man on (15Q) when it went rock in mid 70's under manager Bob Gross. Also then went cross town to work for manager, Vic Rumore in morning drive at WKGN. From there it was on to Z-93 in Atlanta in 1977 and then to WEFM in Chicago in 1979. Then returned to Nashville in 1982 to make Vic Rumore rich at WLAC FM. In 1983 became the spokesperson for Krystal Hamburgers as COWBOY SID and SHEILA THE WONDER HORSE. 1985 - Then into the movie business full time...You can see additional information for film career by logging onto IMDB and typing in Stephen Wesley Bridgewater (12 Monkeys). All the best!
Your Dave Young-
The Dells sang it and some of us was a part of it. The setting, Saturday afternoon, 1974. On air at WKGN playing the hits as the events began to unfold. YDY...WKGN the Famous 1340 with Your Dave Young, lets go to the phones...'KGN you are on the air. Caller...Hey Your Dave this is Lonnie down at the Tressel Package Store, I just saw a guy running naked, nothing on but a cap that had L&N on it. YDY...Thanks Lonnie, we'll get our News Director Joe Anderson right on it. JA...Dave I am on the scene here on Cumberland Ave., at Sam and Andy's, there seems to be about 15-20 naked guys running up and down the strip. There goes the guy with the L&N cap, here comes one on a unicycle. YDY...Lets check in with Mike Beach, what have you got? MB...Your Dave, I'm at Brownies in the 'KGN Thunder Bus and there are hundreds of people with out anything on, yes I guess this is what they call the Streak. Before the night was over, the Strip was closed from the L&N RR to 17th street. There was naked boys and girls all over the place. Big b**bies, little b**bies, all sizes of w*****s, riding bicycles, unicycles. Not to mention what was happening on the bull atop Sam & Andy's. Joe Anderson had a blast, Mike Beach had a blast, YDY had a blast, and Joe found out what L&N stood for. As he was chatting to the lovely girl in the back of the WKGN Thunder Bus, she said, oh L&N. that's l**g and n****y.