Stars of WDIA, Memphis
Title
Stars of WDIA, Memphis
Description
Box 1 Folder 55: "This is box number one number 55. It is a replica of the staff at WDIA Memphis, the first all black-staffed radio station in the United States. Which depicts 5 of its most popular disc jockeys at the time, including who would become a very famous recording artist, Rufus Thomas. Of course WDIA has a tremendous history; there is a publication you can buy, a book, on the history of WDIA - "Wheelin on Beale" - by Louis Cantor, with a forward by B.B.. King - which is a great book, written by one of the children of the founders of WDIA. If it was all black-staffed doesn’t mean it was all black-owned. The first black-owned station was in Atlanta -WERD - in 1949 as well. And WDIA went on the air about 8 months before WEDR here in Birmingham. Many people appeared on WDIA including BB King and Elvis Presley."
Files
Collection
Citation
“Stars of WDIA, Memphis,” The Birmingham Black Radio Museum, accessed September 7, 2026, https://www.thebbrm.org/item/166.
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Anthony Andrews
Willa Monroe was my Grandmother's Sister (Awilda Woods). My name is Anthony Andrews. Please contact me so that we collectively can help keep this broadcasting history alive. I have a lot of knowledge as to the history of radio station WDIA Memphis. Thank you.