The Big Story, The Blevins Aggregation

The Big Story, The Blevins Aggregation

Box 1 Folder 28: "Ok this is box 1 folder 28. It contains a number of pictures of the Blevins Aggregation broadcasting on WSGN along with a partial biography called “The Big Story” by Christine Stewart, which describes part of William Blevins’s history. And William Blevins of course was known as the South’s first race radio announcer. We received this booklet (incomplete) from Annie C. McCray of Birmingham, his daughter; She also provided the picture of the small aggregation which would appear to be from 1946. The large grouping was gathered at the Smith and Gaston Funeral Home Chapel which was located at 5th Avenue and 16th Street North. That information was supplied to us by Rev. Don Solomon. A.G. Gaston can be seen on the lower right at a microphone. That large group picture may be from the late 1930's when Gaston was known to have helped sponsor gospel singers. An article in a radio mag for the industry, known as "Coast to Coast," from January 12, 1938, mentions Blevins and the Booker T Washington Insurance Company, which was owned by AG Gaston, as his sponsor. The group pix was part of a collection of AG Gaston related photos of which we asked retired Birmingham News photographer, Bill Ricker, to photograph. We approximate that session to have taken place somewhere between 2000 and 2005."