WKGN started 1976 with the following DJ line up- Dr Al Adams 6-10, Frank Erwin 10-3, Mike Beach 3-7, Scott Sams 7-12 and David Todd 12-6. The news team included Joe Anderson, Lauren Murphy, and Karen Hitchcock. Weekend DJs were Chris Lee (Kerry Lambert) and Phil Michaels.
In mid-January Barry Tucker (Mike Beck) debuted as a weekender.
PS- Alan Douglas (Sneed) was still mornings at W-149, soon to be 15Q. And Russ Brown was on WNOX 990. He had started at WKGN in 1975 as Tollie Michaels. Russ, Mike, and Kerry all graduated from West High School (with Chris Paris) in the class of 1975.
In April, Mick Rizzo joined WKGN from 15Q taking over the 7-12 slot, with Scott Sams moving to overnights. Terri Jones became afternoon news reader. Shortly thereafter, Scott exited 1340 for 15Q as Jamie Rivers so Barry Tucker took over the graveyard shift.
At the tail end of May Dr Al and Frank Erwin flipped time slots, making Frank the DJ there that had worked mornings, middays, afternoons, evenings, and overnight.
The 4th of July arrived with Pat O'Brien joining as the 7-12 DJ. Beach shuffled out and Pat took over afternoons with Barry Tucker moving into the 7-12 evening show with Chris Lee overnight.
In August Frank Erwin was gone after many years behind the 1340 mic, so enter stage left...Steve West to mornings from 15Q.
...that didn't last long, exit Steve stage left, and Mike Beach was back and on in the morning. Allen Free as another Charlie Chase (think Wayne Bernard in Nashville) was on the air. 6 Beach, 10 Lee, 3 O'Brien, 7 Tucker, 12 Chase.
In September Mike and Kerry both adopted their new stage names as Robin Beck and Keith Lambert. New format and new names with Alan Douglas 6-noon, Pat O'Brien noon-6, Beck 6-12, and Lambert 12-6....and the station became 1340 WKGN Album Rock. (but O'Brien soon exited after the format change).
Oh, Mike Beach returned again, noon to 6p!
In October of 1976...Dave Elrod joined! the DJ line up stabilized for the remainder of the year...
6a Alan Douglas
noon Dave Elrod
6p Robin Beck
12a Keith Lambert
...and I believe they were automated at some point?
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101 heard from Alan Sneed- George! Kerry and Mike...Great ones! I worked with Mike again after he came over to WKDA/KDF in Nashville and also did some project work for Kerry in Birmingham. I'm still friends with both on Facebook after all these years.
101 heard from Mike Beck-George, thanks for the shout out in the blog! The “Mother” Tucker nickname came from “Brother” Mick Rizzo. He was doing 7-12m on KGN and I was doing 12-6. I used to hang out with him for his show before doing mine. He called me that one night during the crossover. I wasn’t at KGN for long, but it was an incredibly important time for me with so many wonderful friends and influences. Dr. Al, Alan Sneed, Kerry Lambert, Russ Brown, Mike Beach, just to name a few. I was so lucky. I’ve been in Hampton Roads since 1995. Thanks for all your work on the blog. The rich history of Knoxville radio is in great hands!