Browse Items (62 total)
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Paul "E. X." Brown, Oral History
A pioneer of early Black radio, Paul remembers WEDR Birmingham, WERD Atlanta, and his sports broadcasting.
Tags: 1940s, 1950s, Baseball, Eddie Castleberry, Frank Smart, Paul E.X. Brown, WEAS, WEDR, WERD, WJOB
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.
Tags: 1950s, Eddie Castleberry, Jazz, Jesse Champion, Johnny Jive, WBCO, William Faush, Willie McKinstry, WJLD, WYAM, WZZK, Zack Allen
Rick Upshaw, Oral History
Rick Upshaw remembers his early career at Birmingham radio stations in the late 1960’s. Discusses simulcasting between WJLD and WENN radio.
William Faush, Oral History
William Faush (b. June 28, 1925, d. Jan 30, 2003), pioneer gospel broadcaster at WBCO Bessemer, discusses his early radio career.
Tags: 1940s, 1950s, Bessemer, Eddie Castleberry, Gospel, WBCO, WEDR, William Faush, Willie McKinstry, WJLD, WLOU
Don Solomon, Oral History
Don Solomon, gospel promoter, Sales Director for A.G. Gaston businesses, Discusses his early gospel group and their manager, Leroy Garrett, who went on to found WEUP Huntsville, the first Black owned radio station in Alabama
Tags: 1940s, Don Solomon, Gospel, Huntsville, Leroy Garrett, Music, The Heavenly Four, Truman Puckett, WBCO, Willie McKinstry, WJLD, WVOK
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…
Jesse Champion, Oral History
Jesse Champion (b. Aug 27, 1927, d.Nov 2, 2007), announcer and jazz broadcaster, teacher and singer at WJLD, 1954-63. Later, newsman at WERC Birmingham, 1970-90. Jesse shares reflections of his early career in the 1960's
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.
Zack Allen, Oral History
Zack Allen (b.Jan 16, 1936, d.Nov 2, 2010), radio broadcaster with WJLD, interviewed about music played during his time as a DJ in the 1950s
Tags: 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, Bessemer, King Porter, Lora Gary, Madison Night Spot, Music, Roy Wood, Shelley Stewart, Tall Paul White, WJLD, Zack Allen
James Bevel, Oral History
Interview with Rev. James Bevel (b.Oct 19, 1936, d. Dec 19, 2008), major leader of the 1960 Civil Rights Movement in Birmingham, Lieutenant of Dr. Martin Luther King, Interviewed live in the WJLD studios by Bob Friedman