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Roscoe Robinson, Oral History
Roscoe Robinson (b. May 22, 1928) Roscoe Robinson, sometimes called "Scoe" is continuing to sing and record at 92. Born in Dermott, Arkansas to a musical family, Robinson's father was a minister and his mother sang spirituals and he had sisters, one…
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 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…
Rhythm and Blues Jazz Handbook, edited by Thurston Moore
Box 2 Folder 33: "Now this one, which is number 33, is a gem. It is the actual 1952 Rhythm and Blues Jazz Scrapbook edited by Thurston Moore. Published in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1952. Copywrited and patented, but we still copied every page - all 43 -…
James Freeman, Oral History
James Freeman, a Birmingham radio deejay who worked at WJLD 1400 and WEDR 1220 on and off for some 17 years. He spent some time in Columbus, Georgia and in Dayton, Ohio as a gospel announcer and then returned to Birmingham. He recalls his time on…
Manuel Fitch, Oral History
Manuel Fitch, long time gospel announcer currently on WJLD Radio AM 1400 and 94.1 FM, on Saturday mornings from 6-8AM. Manuel began working in Birmingham radio in the 1970’s and shared his recollections and stories from his scrapbook pictures. His…
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…
Ruth Brown, Oral History
Ruth Brown (b. Jan 12, 1928, d. Nov 17, 2006), a leading RnB vocalist with major hits in the early 1950's for Atlantic Records. Tony award winner for her performance on Broadway with the play, "Black and Blue." Host of the early 1990's RnB Revue on…