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Al Isaac, Oral History
A flashback to the 1950's New York City days of Jocko Henderson, Birmingham born and raised Al Isaac had a special connection with his RnB and Blues listening audience at WATV 900 AM in Birmingham. His laugh, his character voices they were clearly a…
Arnold Dwight “Gatemouth” Moore, Oral History
Arnold Dwight “Gatemouth” Moore - (b. Nov 8, 1913, d. May 19, 2004) one of the most daring of the radio announcers of the 1950’s, Moore was a blues singer in the 1930’s and 40’s and a gospel singer, minister and radio announcer in the 50’s, in…
Billy Evans, Oral History
Billy Cliff Evans (b. Dec 12, 1924, d. Apr 5, 2004), announcer at WJLD in the mid 1940’s. Billy shares recollections of early broadcasting from Bessemer radio stations. Became treasurer of the Bessemer History Center.
Rick Upshaw, Oral History
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…
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.
Brian Ward, Oral History
Interviewed on the air at WJLD. Author, “Radio and the Struggle for Civil Rights in the South” (University Press of Florida, 2004).
Bruce Payne, Oral History
Bruce Payne (b. 1930, d. October 6, 2005) Birmingham Broadcaster from the early 1950's. Born in Jackson, MS and began his broadcasting career briefly at WVIM Vicksburg and then moved to Bessemer at WBCO. He made the transition to early WENN Radio in…
Carolyn "Michelle" Shivers, Oral History
Carolyn “Michelle” Shivers (b. Sept 21, 1954). Michelle was an on air personality and, for a time, Music Director, at WJLD in the late 1970's. In this interview, she shares some of her recollections of the period that encompassed the 1976 WENN…
Curtis Bell, Oral History
Curtis Bell (b. Jun 1, 1962; d. Aug 25, 2020), speaks about getting his start in broadcasting in Birmingham.