Oral History Collection

Title

Description

A collection of sound files, transcribed oral interviews, and images documenting Black radio in Birmingham, Alabama. Please click the link below.

Creator

Bob Friedman

Publisher

Birmingham Black Radio Museum

Contributor

Bob Friedman

Emily Bibb

and numerous student volunteers

Rights

All Rights held by The Birmingham Black Radio Museum unless otherwise specified.

Format

.jpg

.mp3

.wav

.pdf

Language

English

Type

Oral History

Ephemera

Identifier

OralHistory

Collection Items

Paul "E. X." Brown, Oral History

A pioneer of early Black radio, Paul remembers WEDR Birmingham, WERD Atlanta, and his sports broadcasting.

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.

Rick Upshaw was born and raised in Chattanooga and is a graduate of Howard School. Rick Upshaw was also a talented singer and was quite an expert at piano and organ. He began his musical studies at the Ken Keese Studios in Chattanooga and studied as…

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.

Don Solomon, Oral History

Rev. Don Solomon (b.Feb 13, 1932, d. Dec 14, 2017); on Leroy Garrett (b. Nov 26, 1913, d. Jul 21, 1980). Don Solomon, gospel promoter, Sales Director for A.G. Gaston businesses, discusses his early gospel group and their manager, Leroy Garrett, who…

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 WJLD/WERC – 1954-63/1970-90 Jesse Champion relates his history at WJLD 1400, and an incident that involved him during the Civil Rights upheaval of 1963. Jesse was well known in Birmingham,…

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

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.

View all 85 items

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