Browse Items (74 total)
- Collection: Oral History Collection
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Reflections on Maurice "Thin Man" King, from his wife Lessie King
Richard Maurice "Thin Man" King (b.Sept. 15, 1937; d.June 17, 1980) - born in Uniontown, Alabama to mother Ora Lee Evans (her second marriage last name, not her maiden name) and father Konnie King. "Thin Man," as he was known on the air at WENN 1320…
Tommy Jackson, Oral History
Tommy Jackson (b. Nov 18, 1946) - During his part time radio announcer stint at WJLD 1400 AM in the 1970's. Tommy also taught at Ullman High School and at Miles College. Here, he reflects briefly on various colleagues at WJLD radio, in particular,…
Dave Donnell, Oral History
Dave Donnell (b. Nov.2, 1949.) Dave held many positions at many stations, starting in 1969 at WVOL AM Nashville, his birth city, then to KALO AM Little Rock and finally to Birmingham, where he spent many years at WENN 107.7 FM, at WBUL 1220, at…
Sam Frazier Jr., Oral History
Sam Frazier, Jr. (b. Aug 12, 1943) a Birmingham singer who sang the blues, RnB, gospel and country, whose career spans recording in NYC, Birmingham and Los Angeles, Sam came up in the Edgewater neighborhood of Birmingham, played a blues harp and…
Reflections on Trumon Puckett from his son, Rod Puckett
Trumon Puckett (b. Aug 2, 1917 - d. Jan 30, 1967) - one of Birmingham radio's most famous names. Trumon Puckett was well know in gospel radio circles in both the Black and white communities with his "Gospel Ship" program on WJLD 1400. Beginning his…
Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth, 2002 Oral History
Rev. Fred Lee Shuttlesworth (b. March 18, 1922; d. October 5, 2011) – Rev. Shuttlesworth, a Birmingham Baptist Minister and Pastor of the Bethel Baptist Church in Birmingham from 1953 to 1961. He was the founder of the Alabama Christian Movement for…
Reflections on Bob Umbach from Tommy Cox
Tommy Cox, a WJLD listener interviewed about Bob Umbach, WJLD Radio Announcer and originator of the Atomic Boogie Hour in 1946. Tommy began listening to Bob Umbach in 1949. Tommy called Bob Friedman in 2005 letting him know he had a Rhythm and Blues…
Paul "Tall Paul" White and Shelley "The Playboy" Stewart, Oral History
Paul White (b. Aug. 16, 1936; d. Aug. 19, 2001) a classic discussion on WATV 900 AM Radio Birmingham, between two iconic Birmingham radio announcers. Paul White, commonly known as Tall Paul, and Shelly Stewart, known as Shelley the Playboy. Paul…
Curtis Bell, Oral History
Curtis Bell (b. Jun 1, 1962), speaks about getting his start in broadcasting in Birmingham.
Bobby Smith, Oral History
Bobby Smith of the Spinners (b. April 10, 1936, Detroit, Michigan, d. March 16, 2013) principal lead singer and spokesperson for the group. Bobby and the group were in Birmingham as part of a southern tour, which also included Charlie Thomas’…