Back in the mid 70's news was king at WIVK, as well as being the highest rated country station in America. Mike Hammond led the charge with incredible on air support from Jean Ash and Dan Bell.

Here's the 101 Audio Vault-

 

The WROL call letters have a very long history in Ktown, perhaps most noted in modern times at 1490 AM. In the early '70s the station was known as W149, one of Johnny Pirkle's many contributions to the radio scene.

It's October 1, 1956 and WROL 620 AM was making the switch becoming WATE 620 AM. (and many of us remember Mary Starr)

It's early 1975 and Dr. Al Adams was returning to Ktown and WKGN 1340 where he had work six years earlier. This time he was Program Director and morning DJ. I air checked his first morning show, he opened his mic along side news man Joe Anderson. You can search Dr. Al and listen to his return debut in the box on the right side of our blog.

These photos were posted on our 101 Facebook page, from his early years at WKGN 1340.

What's in a name?

One fun aspect of being a DJ, often you can create or be handed a stage name... 

The 101 Audio Vault travels to 1978 and CC McCartney. You can go to the search box on the right side of our blog, search CC and read the story of how he became CC on WNOX 990.

Joe Sullivan and Charlie Champion WKGN 1340 (circa- 1967)

 

Congratulations to Chuck Edwards for being inducted in to the "Country Radio Hall of Fame". The photo and original article is posted on our 101 Facebook page!

Here's James Turk telling the story of how he became Slick-

I was invited to a dance that required me to wear a suit so I dusted off the one good one I had. I was so glad I went and had a great time dancing the Soul Train line and waving my hands up in the air like I just don't care...was having so much fun I forgot about the time and it was 11:45p and the station was about 20 minutes away. I hopped in my car and made a mad dash for the station...didn't have time to change clothes or find a phone booth to call the on air DJ and tell him I was running late...finally made it to the studio wearing my suit as the DJ opened his mic and he said "Mr. Slick himself James Maurice"...I was about to go on the air and I answered the phone and the caller said "is this Slick?"....and the rest is Knoxville Radio History 101.

 

WKGN 1340, circa early 1960s! This was downloaded on our 101 Facebook page, wanted to share it here!

Here Comes The 'Possum...

I was thinking about some of the folks who energized Knoxville radio over the years. The market was lucky to have some of the best in the business. What they did there and their successes in larger markets later solidified their place in the ethers.

A couple of them are still around Ktown. Dr. Al Adams got the most mileage out of 250 watts ever when he did the night show on WKGN in the '60s. Al and his sidekicks Willard Duck and Witch Hazel were frantic fun. John Pirkle was a different kind of success. "Johnny" was really good on air at WNOX and did a fine job programming it. His real contributions came as he designed AOR W149 and then bought that Oak Ridge FM that became a flamethrower, which he later sold to the WIVK ownership.

I think the guy with the best innate sense of how to reach listeners though, might have been the late Allen Dennis, who was a WKGN standout and then became the morning man on WMAK when George Mooney bought that Nashville station. Allen wasn't flashy, but you couldn't turn him off. He connected at heart level.

Claude Tomlinson had a longtime successful home at WIVK and was absolutely beloved by his listeners. Bobby Denton did very well there too, from personality to program director to general manager.

Joe Sullivan arrived at WKGN with his mattress strapped to his car roof. It wasn't long before he was the station program director, then PD at WMAK and Mooney's national PD. He got into concert promotion in Nashville and did a handshake management deal with a young singer named Charlie Daniels. He finally was making too much promoting to stay in radio; his "Sound 70" company having taken off.

Dave Diamond preceded Joe and went to St. Louis and the west coast. He had a national reputation.

I brought in a morning man and named him "Jefferson Kaye". He went on to Buffalo, Cleveland, Philadelphia and Denver before settling in for a decades long run in Boston under his own name- Loren Owens.

Still, whenever I think of Knoxville radio, I always remember the late Sonny Knight. He was one of the kindest, hardest working and genuine radio people I ever was privileged to work with.

Thanks for hangin' with a Possum named Riley and may God grant us all a better 2021.

Radio Barter from real Radio people who have worked decades at the station level!

Knoxville radio legend Jimmy Vineyard is back, in the barter/merchandise biz for radio!!!

As many of you know Jimmy has close to 10 years of experience in this area and decades in radio!

Here's the website:

www.ez-barter.com

You can reach Jimmy at (850) 896-8077 and jimmyvineyard@gmail.com.

It's the summer of '79 and disco is dancing in Ktown. WKGN 1340 made the switch to this popular but short lived format.

Suitcase Simpson had come on board as Program Director. Voices on the air were Bob Hamilton, Stuart Clark, Jim Donavon, Jim Byrd and...we dust off The 101 Audio Vault and feature Randy Miller- 

 

2021 Living Legend Award

The 2021 Living Legend is Phil Williams! Phil has been on the radio in Ktown since the '70s...and what a ride it's been!

Phil hatched his on air career at WNOX 990, back when that station ruled the Top 40 world. Phil handled mornings on WIMZ for years, had one heck of a show on The River, and these days is the morning voice on NewsTalk 98-7!

Congrats to Phil and wishing health, happiness, and many more morning shows!

 

...and that's a wrap!

Thank goodness it's time to turn the page, the only difference between today and tomorrow is symbolic, or perhaps psychological, but so be it!

101 had another fun year, both on this page and on our 101 Facebook page (which is interactive). Thanks to all who took the time to send stories, fact and fiction. Let's make '21 even more interactive, there is no story too small, but we love the big stories!

Do you have '21 resolutions? Seems everyone wishes for health, happiness, and prosperity!

I'm happy for technology which allows me to dial twist all around the world, perhaps the universe. Growing up in East Tennessee I used to turn my radio knob at night and picked up WSB Atlanta, WAKY Louisville, WLS Chicago, even KMOX St. Louis! Awh, the good old days!

Did you know...WIVK radio was originally on Gay Street across from the Regas Restaurant. As many of you know my original career path was radio/TV (my degree is in Communications). Fate took me from platters to platters (radio to restaurants). I may be the only person to have worked for both Jim Dick and Bill Regas (Grady's Goodtimes for 13+ years).

Many still in radio tell me it's not the same, I get it, but...I still play DJ while driving in my car.

Here's wishing all a wonderful and virus free new year!

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Stay tuned, coming soon- the 2021 Living Legend Award!