Post by Max Highbaugh on Sept 30, 2022 18:10:10 GMT -5
Was pleasantly surprised this afternoon to have received an unexpected e-mail from former WAKY DJ & PD Gary Guthrie, who apparently passed through WIEL's doors in the mid 60's! Read on! 
"Just happened on to your fascinating (and well researched) WIEL tribute site. I don't think we know each other, but I worked at WIEL from 1965-68 while I was in high school (LCHS) and occasionally when I came home from college. It was my first job and, without those roots, my radio career would've never had the humble reference points that I gained there and growing up in Sonora listening to WIEL.
Those included creating the Classic Hits/Classic Rock format which I consulted in 28 markets across the country (Boston, Seattle, Atlanta, Miami, Indy, Denver, Dallas, et al); honored as the "Father of the Hybrid Radio Format" at the NAB's "Breakfast of Champions;" PD @ WAKY (replacing Johnny Randolph), KTFM/San Antonio, WRNO/New Orleans, and FM100/Memphis; air talent at XEROK/Juarez, WNOE AM-FM/New Orleans, WQXE, WSAC, WDXR/Paducah (and hosting "Now Explosion" on WDXR-TV) (as well as small stations in West KY while @ Murray State); owner of KYRX/Cape Girardeau.
Forgot --
GM @ KOPA/Phoenix
CMO for Aritaur Communications (mvyradio, Net Radio Sales, Ando Media, RAIN, Accuradio, AirKast, et al)"
Thanks, Gary and welcome to our site!
"Just happened on to your fascinating (and well researched) WIEL tribute site. I don't think we know each other, but I worked at WIEL from 1965-68 while I was in high school (LCHS) and occasionally when I came home from college. It was my first job and, without those roots, my radio career would've never had the humble reference points that I gained there and growing up in Sonora listening to WIEL.
Those included creating the Classic Hits/Classic Rock format which I consulted in 28 markets across the country (Boston, Seattle, Atlanta, Miami, Indy, Denver, Dallas, et al); honored as the "Father of the Hybrid Radio Format" at the NAB's "Breakfast of Champions;" PD @ WAKY (replacing Johnny Randolph), KTFM/San Antonio, WRNO/New Orleans, and FM100/Memphis; air talent at XEROK/Juarez, WNOE AM-FM/New Orleans, WQXE, WSAC, WDXR/Paducah (and hosting "Now Explosion" on WDXR-TV) (as well as small stations in West KY while @ Murray State); owner of KYRX/Cape Girardeau.
Forgot --
GM @ KOPA/Phoenix
CMO for Aritaur Communications (mvyradio, Net Radio Sales, Ando Media, RAIN, Accuradio, AirKast, et al)"
Thanks, Gary and welcome to our site!