William Faush, Oral History
Title
William Faush, Oral History
Subject
Broadcast History
Description
Reverend William Faush (b. June 28, 1925, d. Jan 30, 2003), pioneer gospel broadcaster at WBCO Bessemer, discusses his early radio career.
Creator
Bob Friedman
William Faush
Publisher
Birmingham Black Radio Museum
Date
10 November 1997
Contributor
Adam Beebe
Emily Bibb
Format
MP3
PDF
JPG
Language
English
Identifier
WFaushOH
Interviewer
Bob Friedman
Interviewee
William Faush
Transcription
Transcription of audio snippet:
Bob Friedman: Louisville. That’s what he said. Right. But maybe you could start by just letting us know how you got started in radio. How that actually happened.
William Faush: Well I got really started at WEDR. It was of a short [inaudible]. I just happened to have been there one day talking to a friend of mine whose name eludes me at the moment.
B: Who worked there?
W: Yes.
B: Well I can tell you because I’ve spoken to most of them.
W: Yes.
B: So would it be Ben Alexander? Or Frank Smart? Or Wiley Daniels? Those are some of the earliest. E.X. Brown?
W: It might have been Wiley Daniels.
B: Mmhm. Lived out in Titusville.
W: Yes. It might have been he. Anyway, there was a parade going down 4th Ave. And he’s looking out of the window, describing the parade. And that was enough of that I was standing there with him, he gave me the mic and told me to describe what I saw and I did that and I stayed there for about 5 months. 5 or 6 months. And Jess Lenier (2:12) who was then the mayor I believe of Bessemer converted a hillbilly station there in Bessemer overnight into black radio.
B: Do you know how long it had been hillbilly?
W: No I do not. I would think not too long. But Larry McKenzie out of Chicago and Eddie Castleberry out of New York and myself. We were the 3 who started up WED – I mean WBCO
B: So Eddie Castleberry worked at BCO?
W: That is correct.
Bob Friedman: Louisville. That’s what he said. Right. But maybe you could start by just letting us know how you got started in radio. How that actually happened.
William Faush: Well I got really started at WEDR. It was of a short [inaudible]. I just happened to have been there one day talking to a friend of mine whose name eludes me at the moment.
B: Who worked there?
W: Yes.
B: Well I can tell you because I’ve spoken to most of them.
W: Yes.
B: So would it be Ben Alexander? Or Frank Smart? Or Wiley Daniels? Those are some of the earliest. E.X. Brown?
W: It might have been Wiley Daniels.
B: Mmhm. Lived out in Titusville.
W: Yes. It might have been he. Anyway, there was a parade going down 4th Ave. And he’s looking out of the window, describing the parade. And that was enough of that I was standing there with him, he gave me the mic and told me to describe what I saw and I did that and I stayed there for about 5 months. 5 or 6 months. And Jess Lenier (2:12) who was then the mayor I believe of Bessemer converted a hillbilly station there in Bessemer overnight into black radio.
B: Do you know how long it had been hillbilly?
W: No I do not. I would think not too long. But Larry McKenzie out of Chicago and Eddie Castleberry out of New York and myself. We were the 3 who started up WED – I mean WBCO
B: So Eddie Castleberry worked at BCO?
W: That is correct.
Duration
Full interview: 38 minutes
Audio snippet: 2 minutes
Audio snippet: 2 minutes
Files
Collection
Citation
Bob Friedman and William Faush, “William Faush, Oral History,” The Birmingham Black Radio Museum, accessed September 19, 2024, https://thebbrm.org/item/10.
We welcome your comments! Please do not include private or sensitive information as your comment will be made public. BBRM will keep your email on hand so that we can stay in touch with future plans and programs of the BBRM.