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Andrew Dawkins, 1994 Oral History
Rev. Andrew “Sugar Daddy” Dawkins (b. Feb 24, 1930, d. Dec 9, 2014), radio announcer with two seminal radio stations, the first at WBCO AM 1450 in Bessemer in 1950 and the second at WEUP AM 1600, Huntsville, the latter Alabama’s first Black owner…
Andrew Dawkins, 2012 Oral History
Rev. Andrew Dawkins (b. Feb 24, 1930, d. Dec 9, 2014), RnB announcer beginning his career early in 1950 at WBCO 1450 AM in Bessemer. BCO stood for Bessemer Cut-off. The station went all black staff in late 1951 and it was remarked locally that BCO…
Arnold Dwight “Gatemouth” Moore, Oral History
Arnold Dwight “Gatemouth” Moore - (b. Nov 8, 1913, d. May 19, 2004) one of the most daring of the radio announcers of the 1950’s, Moore was a blues singer in the 1930’s and 40’s and a gospel singer, minister and radio announcer in the 50’s, in…
Arnold Dwight "Gatemouth" Moore, Oral History
Arnold Dwight “Gatemouth” Moore - (b. Nov 8, 1913, d. May 19, 2004). Starting his career on the air at WIBW in Topeka, Kansas, his home town, in the 1930's, Moore was a major blues singer in the 1930’s and 40's and a prolific recording artist and…
Ben Franklin, Oral History (part 02)
Engineer Ben Franklin (Ben) continues in this 1993 interview recounting his stories of early Birmingham radio.
Bill Pinkney, Oral History
Bill Pinkney (b. Aug 15, 1925, d. Jul 4, 2007) born, Dalzell, NC- The original bass of the Drifters vocal group. Bill visited Bob at WJLD twice and sat down for this interview. He reflects on his early career and the creation of one of the best known…
Lora Gary, Oral History
Lora Gary (b. Jan 6, 1927, d. Mar 26, 2010) remembers the 1950’s and her time at WBCO and later WJLD, where she had a noon jazz show.
William Faush, Oral History
Reverend William Faush (b. June 28, 1925, d. Jan 30, 2003), pioneer gospel broadcaster at WBCO Bessemer, discusses his early radio career.
Ben Alexander, Oral History
Ben Alexander (b. Sept, 1927), an early arrival at WEDR 1220 AM, Birmingham, Ben spent from the end of 1949 to October of 1950 at the station and recalls personnel and personalities of the time. He became a Lt. Colonel in the army and retired to…
Joe Lackey, Oral History
Joe Lackey (b. Aug 3, 1922, d.May 29, 2009), General Manager at WENN 1958-76. Part owner, WATV Birmingham. Joe reflects on his early career and on the 1963 Civil Rights Movement.