Broadcasters from across the Volunteer State gathered Saturday (5/2/2015) evening at Murfreesboro's Embassy Suites Hotel and Conference Center for the 4th Annual Tennessee Radio Hall of Fame dinner and induction ceremony. Former Grand Ole Opry announcer Keith Bilbrey and well known syndicated country music host Nan Kelley emceed the gala.
There were six LEGACY inductees. These individuals all are deceased and have had a dramatic impact on radio broadcasting in Tennessee. In addition,there were seven CAREER inductees named. All are living and they were voted on by the membership as having done much for the industry and their communities.
Murfreesboro Connection
An honoree with ties to WGNS was in each category Saturday night.
Lebanon's Bill Barry was a LEGACY inductee. He got his start at WGNS in the late 1940's, and went on to own Nashville's only FM station in the late 50's (WFMB) and later Big Band WAMB. He also was instrumental in starting WPLN, the library's FM station, along with WZEZ, now known as Mix 92.9, and stations in Lebanon, Murfreesboro, Springfield and others. In 1994, he received the Tennessee Association of Broadcaster's highest honor, the Distinguished Service Award. And in 2012 Barry received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Tennessee Radio Hall of Fame. Barry had another WGNS connection. He gave Bart Walker his first job in radio and served as a mentor and close-friend up until his death in 2013. When the WGNS' tower was downed by a tornado on Easter Sunday, 2001, Barry was here within minutes to help.
The other honoree was in the CAREER category: John Young also started at WGNS and went on to WLAC, WMAK, and WSM in Nashville, along with, KILT-FM in Houston, Z-93 in Atlanta, Ted Turner's "super station" and the voice of many radio and TV stations across the nation, including NewsChannel 5 in Nashville for almost a quarter of a century. John also has another strong connection to the 'Boro. He married the late Grady Hayne's daughter, Marlene.
Young has a burning passion for broadcasting, and an unending desire to truly help others. He is truly a Good Neighbor. And when you look back over the life of Bill Barry, he too possessed those mission minded traits.
Other CAREER Inductees
Keith Bilbrey, who is best known with the Grand Ole Opry and WSM, got his start at WHUB in Cookeville.
Johnny Dark (aka Dude Walker) started at WMPS in Memphis and introduced the Beatles to the Bluff City. He later went to Tupelo, Louisville, Chattanooga and Toronto.
Spider Harrison was at WLAC, also in New York state, LA, Ontario, and other markets. He does the popular syndicated feature "Whatever Happened to..." and is on Hippie Radio.
Stacey Mott's career spanned 56-years at WHUB in Cookeville.
Jack Parnell was in Milan, Jackson, Memphis, William B. Tanner Company and nationally as a voice over artist.
Al Voecks started in Sioux City, Iowa and came to WSM in Nashville where he became a household word in radio and TV.
Plus, John Young--whom we spoke about earlier.
LEGACY Inductees
In addition to Bill Barry (1925-2013), other LEGACY inductees includes,
Lowell Blanchard (1910-1968) First gig was an emcee at the 1933 Chicago World's Fair. He worked radio in Indiana, Iowa and Michigan before moving to WNOX Knoxville, which was the first radio station in Tennessee. Many don't realize, that station came on-the-air just a few days after KDKA in Pittsburgh. His radio show launched many country music legends. He also served on the Knoxville City Council.
Bobby Denton (1941-2014), best remembered at WIVK in Knoxville. He was on the air and later in management at WIVK. Denton started the phrase "It's football time in Tennessee", still used in UT football coverage.
Jill Green (1945-2011) who began her career at WKDA in Nashville, but served all area broadcasters with decades of service at the Tennessee Association of Broadcasters. Her big smile and huge amounts of enthusiasm enabled the TAB to reach goals that were never previously achieved.
John McDonald (1909-1983) was nationally known as the farm director at WSM. He was remembered for the farm reports and Noontime Neighbors over 650-AM, the Air Castle of the South.
Nat D. Williams (1907-1983) from Memphis was an acclaimed WDIA announcer, who also served as an educator, promoter and other skills during his life. B. B. King and Elvis visited his home.
