Charlie Daniels at WKDF Nashville

Charlie Daniels is a big fan of Nashville radio, and especially WKDF, who broadcast his Volunteer Jam series of concerts for years. Here's Charlie at the WKDF studios with long time KDF jock Tom Bootle. Click to enlarge, and R.I.P. Tom.

Davy Jones at WKDA Nashville 1967

Sorry the 150th post on this blog had to be a sad one. Davy Jones passed away today from a heart attack in Florida. I don't have to remind you how many fans Davy had, and of his career, including being a child star in England, a cast member of Oliver! on Broadway, and his Monkee and solo gigs. Mike Nesmith has a nice post on FB right now, fans should check it out.

Here's a pic from Davy at his peak popularity in 1967, making an appearance in Nashville, Tennessee. DJ Dan Hoffman from AM Top 40 station WKDA is in the middle, and Nashville legend Boots Randolph is shaking Davy's hand. Click to enlarge the photo, and R.I.P. Davy.

Wolfman Jack at WLAC Nashville

Brian Mason of WLAC sent in this shot of the Wolfman sitting in the WLAC-AM car, "The Honker", in the late 70s.

When Satellites Attack! CKLW Radio Promo

When faced with the imminent reentry of the Skylab satellite, the promo department at CKLW hired legendary announcer Paul Frees to voice their promo for the "I Survived Skylab" hard hats the station was giving away. When's the last time you heard a promo this good on your favorite station?

WAPE Jacksonville FL Post Records Album

Post Records was based in Philadelphia, and during the 1960s packaged and sold localized record albums for Top 40 stations around the country. Here's the WAPE Jacksonville Florida album. Judging from the selections, this was an early 70s release. Click each image to enlarge.

Post would always put the current jock lineup on the back of the record, making it a snapshot in time of the staff. WAPE's crew on this one is Jack McCoy, Larry Dixon, Mike Wingfield, Teddy Bear, Jay Thomas, and David London. Did Jay Thomas work EVERYWHERE?

For more on Post Records and to see many more albums, go to Lisa Wheeler's site here.
She is the authority on radio station vinyl.

Where's The Beef song from Coyote McCloud WWKX Gallatin TN

Coyote McCloud has been a Nashville institution since the 1960s. A recent billboard for Oldies 96.3 in Nashville had a picture of Coyote and the caption "He played them when they were new!" In 1984 he got the idea to do a record using the Wendy's slogan "Where's the Beef?" from their popular TV commercial starring Clara Peller. Coyote recorded the song with the help of his radio sidekick Jim Gossett, who wrote the lyrics and did the Clara Peller voice.

Wendy's national got a hold of the record and gave it their blessing, which let them replace Jim's voice with the real Clara Peller audio from the commercials. The record became very popular, enough so that Coyote left his morning radio gig to become the next Rick Dees.

He later returned to the Nashville airwaves until a couple of years ago when health issues forced a retirement. Jim Gossett still does standup, corporate comedy shows, and is the official parody artist of the Lars Larson radio show.

Are you ready to travel back to 1984? Listen to "Where's The Beef?" by clicking here.

UPDATE: Coyote McCloud passed away April 6, 2011 from liver failure. He worked at classic stations like WMAK Nashville, WQXI Atlanta, WSM-AM, KX104, Y107, Oldies 96.3 and Star 97.1.

Donny Osmond at WLAC Nashville May 1978

Here's a group shot for the ages. WLAC, which at the time was Top 40, had their spring party at the Centennial Park Bandshell in Nashville in May 1978. It was a day long promo event, with many local bands on hand, and most of the WLAC jocks. Highlight of the day was an appearance by Donny Osmond. He honored an old booking, which was amazing because he was on his honeymoon at the time. A limo picked he and his wife up at the airport and brought them to the event for a half hour. Click to enlarge pic.

L-R David Page as the KQBee, Stu Evans (now of KMEL Phoenix), Captain Sunshine, Bob Robison, Eva Wood, Donny, PD Mark Damon, Mike Shane, and Smokey Rivers.

Here's one more never before published pic of the KQBee and the WLAC Prize Van from this event.

Wayne Ashworth's WTOB Memories

WTOB 1380 Winston-Salem NC was one of the best sounding Top 40 stations around from the 60s on. Jocks like George Lee, Willie Edwards, The Flying Dutchman, and later Rick Dees and Steve Norris kept the station ahead of rival WAIR. News Director Wayne Ashworth published these photos on Facebook, and they're reposted here with his permission.

 

Ralph Beavers and Wayne Ashworth in front of the WTOB studios in the Thruway Plaza. 

 

Bob Dale at the board.

"Wild Child" Willie Edwards on the air at WTOB.

WTOB digs Reynolds High School pennant

Tiny Tim in the studio with WTOB jock Steve Norris.

Long time jock Buddy Latham with a great board shot.

WTOB promotional materials. I wonder what that record is.

Thanks again to Wayne Ashworth, WTOB News Director, seen here from 1969.

SM95 WSM-FM Hall & Oates Photo 1982

Thanks to Donna Brake for this grip & grin shot from the early 80s. Donna was Program Director for SM95, WSM-FM in Nashville. Click to enlarge.

SM95 The Music FM Nashville 1976-1983

SM95, WSM-FM Nashville, was a unique station for the late 70s and early 80s, blending a mixture of pop, west coast rock, oldies, light jazz, and even contemporary Christian music into a format that captured young adult listeners for years. John Young was the first program director, followed by Mary Catherine Sneed, Donna Brake, and Bruce Sherman. Here's a group shot from the 80s.

Back row is newsman Mike Donegan, jocks Gary Beaty and Karen Gerson, Gary Wright, Iris Wray, and jocks Bruce Sherman, Donna Brake, Steve Henderson, unknown, and Andy Pearson. Front row CBS promo guy and jock Kris Bradley. Click here to hear a 5 minute aircheck of Steve Henderson on SM95.

Several years ago there was an SM95 reunion party in Franklin, Tennessee. Jock Skip Woolwine edited this video of the event:

Roseanne Cash at SM95 WSM-FM Nashville 1982

Here's a shot of Roseanne Cash in the SM95 news booth. Donna Brake is doing the interview. This is a rare shot of the newsbooth, which was remodeled and then destroyed when the station left the Knob Hill location of WSMV-TV. Thanks to Donna for the photo, click to enlarge.

Harry Chapin at WKQB Nashville Oct 1978

Harry Chapin made a Nashville appearance in October 1978. He had a concert at Vanderbilt's Memorial Gym, and did a press conference at the Exit-In on behalf of world hunger. He also found time to play us in softball. In the photo along the back row are WKQB staffers Susan Stone, the KQBee, Nick Archer, PD Ron Lake, and DJ Jones. Harry Chapin used a pickup team of Vandy cheerleaders that you see in the pic, and beat us severely. Click pic to enlarge.

Harry made the cover and inside of our next WKQB Street Sheet. See below. Click here for the audio version.

Peter Noone at WKDA Nashville 1965

From the nashradio group at Yahoo: