The Sam Hale Collection

[Description by contributor Sam Hale] I regret terribly not having a decent air check from WKDA. They were lost somewhere along the way and I was only able to recover snippets from the only tape I have found from that era. WKDA was such a classic example of Top 40 and remained number one in the market for several years. Jack Stapp was the hands-on general manager and everyone who passed through there learned enormously from him. As a young man he went from Atlanta to CBS in NYC. But WSM soon recruited him to come to Nashville. There he produced and directed numerous feeds to the NBC network, including, of course, The Grand Ole Opry. He “discovered” many great talents, including Dinah Shore, Kitty Kallen and Snooky Lanson, as well as many of the famous names of country music. Younger people might never know that WSM was a power house in big band music but hundreds of hours of programming with the likes of The Owen Bradley Orchestra originated there. As a young farm boy I listened studiously to the great announcers, David Cobb, Ott Devine and Jud Collins. Leaning to pronounce the vowels and no confusing the short “E” and “I”, I overcame my “southern accent”. Jack also got involved with music publishing along the way. Music publishing became such an important part of his life that WSM gave him an ultimatum to divest those interests or leave. He befriended many performers and out of gratitude one gave him “The Chattanooga Shoe Shine Boy”, a song that became one of the all time classics of country music. If you see a copy, you will see it was written by Jack Stapp. Now you know! Jack left WSM and took the helm of WKDA and turned it into a phenomenal success. He also expanded his publishing interests and hired Buddy Killen, a staff bull-fiddle player on the Opry to manage his catalog . With the hits of Roger Miller, and scores of others, Tree Publishing became the publisher of the year, time after time, after time. Tree Publishing, became Sony-Tree, when Buddy, long after Jack’s death, sold it to Sony. Jack was posthumously inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame by Chet Atkins. John Kluge (yes, THE John Kluge — Metromedia) bought WKDA while I was there and called a staff meeting. While I was impressed with him and his extremely likeable manner, I had no idea I was sitting at the feet of a man who would become one of the richest in the world. Hairl Hensley and Sam Hale backstage at The Grand Ole Opry. Hairl is dean of WSM and Opry announcers. Hairl is heard on the WKDA snippets with Terrell Metheny (“Wheel For A Day”) and doing the Amoco spots in the news. Aside from me, the voice that is heard most often on this tape is Hairl Hensley. He was doing the all night show at the time. He later switched to country and has become the dean of announcers at WSM and The Grand Ole Opry – still going strong. The two-voice promotion is Hairl and Terrell L. Metheny, Jr. At the time his air name was Ronn Terrell. He later used the name Mitch Michael and recently retired after programming and, then, managing radio stations for several years. His son Kevin has also developed an outstanding career in broadcasting. At the end of a jock’s air shift, the jock would be responsible for the newscast preceding the next jock’s record show. In this case, I’m completing my shift by doing the news preceding Ronn’s show. Ronn had been responsible for the newscast during my show. We worked back then!

[Description by contributor Sam Hale] I found a reel of tape that must have been throwaway quality even in 1959 but I was able to capture a few minutes of (almost) listenable audio. I tried to get as many jingle examples as I could but some were just impossible. Here’s what I did get: A snippet from an Army Recruiting Station remote in Times Square Snippets from my 9-11 and 1-3 show. Quickline 60 – News Intro – and a few seconds of Jack Powers. The Bartell family purchased WOV in New York and on November 1, 1959 signed on from the transmitter site in Secaucus, NJ as WADO. WOV had been block programmed from studios in Manhattan. It had featured a heavy Italian schedule with Gospel, Rhythm and Blues (Jocko Henderson & Jack Walker) and Jazz (Symphony Sid) through the night. Fred Robbins was perhaps the most famous air personality playing standard popular music in an afternoon show. Of course, Bartell wanted to introduce their Top 40 format and, I presume because of promises to the FCC to continue to satisfy the established public interests, the modern format only ran from early morning until 7:00 PM. Italian programming was then scheduled until 10; then, the rest of the previous lineup. Alan Fredericks did his “Night Train” show also, but I think they may have only been on the weekends. My understanding was that a primary motivation in establishing the transmitter site studio in NJ was to allow the extremely talented Harry Martin (“Happy Hare”) to operate the turntables with his cut-ins. Harry had scored large ratings at KCBQ and National PD Al Heacock brought him along to NY. He also hired Mort Crowley and gave him the air name Johnny Holladay. Apparently there was some sort of contract problem involving the third DJ hired and a frantic call went out for air checks from within the chain for a replacement. Al selected me and when I got off the plane he greeted me with a, “Hi Charlie”. As if the culture shock were not enough, I also had a new name — Charlie King — simply because he already had stagings for a Charlie. Whatever the problem with the other hire, it was resolved within a few weeks and I returned to WYDE. However, another problem developed and I was quickly summoned back to NY until they selected someone else. I later realized the importance of getting me back to WYDE was to get (keep) the ratings up; They were in negotiations to sell WYDE to Mr. & Mrs. Ira Herbert. That deal went through within a few months and I was soon off to do the morning show at WJJD for Dick Deason, who had been PD at WYDE when I joined them. In spite of the talented Al Heacock, Harry Martin, Mort Crowley, Jack Powers news, and others, WADO was unable to gain a foothold. By 1963 the Bartells had shifted to Hispanic programming and later sold the station. My understanding is that WADO was the premier Hispanic station in NYC for several years.

[Description by contributor Sam Hale]  (16:32) This Exhibit SCOPED The music has been removed for a ‘scoped version of this aircheck. The most unpleasant memories of my radio career are from WJJD — the exception being that I enjoyed working with Jack Spector, with whom I did some hops. Jack did afternoon drive. At the time of this air check the studios were in the Union Carbide building at 230 N. Michigan Avenue. The main broadcast studio was suspended so the vibrations from the underground rail would not be a problem. It must have been built in the ’30s or early ’40s as the studio was large enough to accommodate an orchestra and studio audience. I don’t think it had ever been repainted. The colors were drab to begin with and the lighting was poor. The announcer’s desk was in the center of the studio and way over in the left corner were the turntables, records and transcriptions (commercials). At this time, the musician’s union still provided the musician to operate the turntables. My guy hated top 40 music and would show his displeasure with grimaces and by actually plugging his fingers in his ears. The (older) engineer who controlled the mike and volume levels was up in the control room several yards away, and was smoking his pipe and reading the morning paper. Plus, after signing on at 4:00 or 5:00 AM (I’ve forgotten which); we signed off for 15 minutes at 7:00 AM to allow some station out West to sign on. This tape begins after we’ve signed back on. My charge was to do a light and happy show under these conditions. Embarrassing as these early air checks are, they are part of my Top 40 radio history. By the way, the “image” voice was the newest PD, Stan Major, heard on all the promos and intros. The short period that I was there was too long. I was later able to introduce newsman Cy Nelson, who was incredulous with those news stagings, to a job with Bartell at WOKY in Milwaukee. He was a quality gentleman. Interestingly, when I returned to Bartell later in ’61, Chris Lane was PD and his charge was just the opposite – straight ahead “tuff” manly radio. It was only a short time until Chris went to Bartell’s KYA. Later he became one of the giants with his country format. He actually put WJJD on the map for a few years later with country. Chris was post-humously inducted into the Country Music DJ Hall of Fame in 2001. Although he was a native of the mid-west, Chris’ radio career had begun in my little hometown of McMinnville, TN and we meet up again in Milwaukee! As they say, “it’s a small world, after all”.

[Description by Uncle Ricky, contributed by John Quincy] It wasn’t too difficult to date this one. In addition to lots of classic PAMS, there’s a custom jingle for the date! It’s the first working day of the New Year of 1965, and Sam Hale is playing the hits on Quixie in Dixie while taking votes for the Housewives’ Hit Parade. George T. McIntire offers sports and news. There are a couple of musical rarities and the aircheck concludes with the perfect “last word”. WQXI is giving away an outhouse, but there are two additional contests underway, a New Year’s Resolution contest, and a Money Match game. $79 seems like an appropriate prize from Audio 79. And it’s a shame that cigarettes turned out to be so deadly. There are two Winston spots and that jingle is one of the best, ever. Sam was a 2010 Career Achievement Inductee at the Georgia Radio Hall of Fame. He passed away in August, 2015. He was 78. Two songs were restored.

[Description by Uncle Ricky, contributed by John Quincy]It wasn’t too difficult to date this one. In addition to lots of classic PAMS, there’s a custom jingle for the date! It’s the first working day of the New Year of 1965, and Sam Hale is playing the hits on Quixie in Dixie while taking votes for the Housewives’ Hit Parade. George T. McIntire offers sports and news. There are a couple of musical rarities and the aircheck concludes with the perfect “last word”.

WQXI is giving away an outhouse, but there are two additional contests underway, a New Year’s Resolution contest, and a Money Match game. $79 seems like an appropriate prize from Audio 79. And it’s a shame that cigarettes turned out to be so deadly. There are two Winston spots and that jingle is one of the best, ever.

Sam was a 2010 Career Achievement Inductee at the Georgia Radio Hall of Fame. He passed away in August, 2015. He was 78.

Two songs were restored.

[Description by contributor Sam Hale]  (16:32) This Exhibit SCOPED The music has been removed for a ‘scoped version of this aircheck. The most unpleasant memories of my radio career are from WJJD — the exception being that I enjoyed working with Jack Spector, with whom I did some hops. Jack did afternoon drive. At the time of this air check the studios were in the Union Carbide building at 230 N. Michigan Avenue. The main broadcast studio was suspended so the vibrations from the underground rail would not be a problem. It must have been built in the ’30s or early ’40s as the studio was large enough to accommodate an orchestra and studio audience. I don’t think it had ever been repainted. The colors were drab to begin with and the lighting was poor. The announcer’s desk was in the center of the studio and way over in the left corner were the turntables, records and transcriptions (commercials). At this time, the musician’s union still provided the musician to operate the turntables. My guy hated top 40 music and would show his displeasure with grimaces and by actually plugging his fingers in his ears. The (older) engineer who controlled the mike and volume levels was up in the control room several yards away, and was smoking his pipe and reading the morning paper. Plus, after signing on at 4:00 or 5:00 AM (I’ve forgotten which); we signed off for 15 minutes at 7:00 AM to allow some station out West to sign on. This tape begins after we’ve signed back on. My charge was to do a light and happy show under these conditions. Embarrassing as these early air checks are, they are part of my Top 40 radio history. By the way, the “image” voice was the newest PD, Stan Major, heard on all the promos and intros. The short period that I was there was too long. I was later able to introduce newsman Cy Nelson, who was incredulous with those news stagings, to a job with Bartell at WOKY in Milwaukee. He was a quality gentleman. Interestingly, when I returned to Bartell later in ’61, Chris Lane was PD and his charge was just the opposite – straight ahead “tuff” manly radio. It was only a short time until Chris went to Bartell’s KYA. Later he became one of the giants with his country format. He actually put WJJD on the map for a few years later with country. Chris was post-humously inducted into the Country Music DJ Hall of Fame in 2001. Although he was a native of the mid-west, Chris’ radio career had begun in my little hometown of McMinnville, TN and we meet up again in Milwaukee! As they say, “it’s a small world, after all”.

[Description by Uncle Ricky] Paul Drew grew up in Detroit. His first radio gig was at Wayne State University in 1953. He moved to Atlanta in 1957 to work at WGST. By 1961, Mr. and Mrs. Bill Drake had moved into his apartment complex. In a 1977 interview with Radio and Records, Drew described how he left his job at WGST to work at WAKE: Bill Drake (top left) and Paul Drew (2nd from right) are shown at the YMCA (with three unidentified WAKE Hitparaders) for the WAKE Olympics promotion. “So Bill and I, one morning, just the two of us in my apartment over probably the best cup of coffee I think either one of us have ever had, something in the water and something in the coffee that day, and we talked about it, and then I went to work at WAKE

[Description by contributor Sam Hale]Studios were located at the transmitter site at WOKY during this era. Engineers manned the turntables and controls and they were on rotating shifts. Some were “with it” and some were not. There are several instances on my WOKY airchecks that highlight the frustrations of not being “in control”, as I was, for example, at WQXI.

However, my years with Bartell were among the most satisfying of my relatively short radio career. At this time, I was Music Director/Gavin Reporter and afternoon drive host.

Bill Taylor, who is heard as the WOKY Question Man and on Headline News, was still at WOKY as of 2004. He was in the Northwestern University graduating class with Ann Margaret. Although it isn’t represented here, he was a very talented voice mimic.

Don Phillips followed me at 7PM. Don was later hired by Gene Taylor at WLS. Years later, when I arrived on the floor of the Chicago Board Options Exchange to become a market maker in IBM options, I encountered Don on the floor. He was trading General Motors and Eastman Kodak. Don was building a yacht from concrete at the time. I had never heard of a boat built of cement, but I’m told he completed his project, and a few years ago, I heard he was retired and at sea.

Record Hops were tremendously popular during this period in Milwaukee. I had CYO hops just about every Friday night and, being ecumenical, I often did a Bar Mitzvah or Bat Mitzvah on Saturday night.

[Description by contributor Sam Hale]This Exhibit ‘SCOPED (16:05)
If all you want is the jings and the jock and the news and the spots, this version’s for you! Please remember that in addition to music licensing fees for the mostly UNSCOPED version, there are bandwidth and hardware costs for this ‘SCOPED version, and anything streamed from REELRADIO. We welcome your support.

This aircheck was given to me by the late Steve Farrington with expressed permission to submit it as part of my REELRADIO Collection.

Tony “The Tiger” Taylor came to WQXI replacing Rod Roddy who had followed my regular 9-12 slot. Tony and I did numerous two-voice spots for an extended period. Additionally, Tony was the original voice for the Home Depot commercials.

After success in New York at WOR-FM, WNEW and WNBC, Tony returned to Atlanta and then headed a boutique ad agency for which Atlanta’s premier Mercedes Benz dealer was his number one client.

Tony Taylor passed away Sunday, June 18, 2017. He was a 2008 Career Achievement Inductee into the Georgia Radio Hall of Fame.

COMMENTS (below) reveal this recording was actually a RE-CREATION, broadcast on April 1, 1985.

[From Uncle Ricky: The Music on this exhibit was restored by REELRADIO, first for the July 31, 2005 debut, and again on August 3, 2005.]

regarding TONY TAYLOR, WQXI ATLANTA, APRIL 1965

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