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Weeknights
7pm - 12 MidnightWhat are your "All Time Favorite" songs?
Click the link below and send me an email.
I may surprise you one night with one of YOUR
"All Time Favorites!"
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I grew up in
Tryon, North Carolina and graduated from Tryon High School before they consolidated it with Polk Central (our arch rivals!) and graduated from Furman University in 1979. Like most college grads, I needed a job. Having worked at WTYN in Tryon, I thought I would try radio until I could find a "real job." I came to WESC as a part time announcer in the Fall of '79 and started full time in January '81. After a few years, some "manager type" decided I needed a nickname. I was known as "Big John" until during an interview with Barbara Mandrell she said, "You sure are a long drink of water." The nickname "Long John" stuck, so I don't know whether to blame Barbara, or thank her!
I've worked with a lot of great people over the past 30 years, but I have learned that the listeners make WESC what it is.....and not the personalities on the air. Thanks for listening!
How about some pics!
Good buddy Kenny Chesney
Couldn't pass up the opportunity to have this picture made with Deana Carter!
Brooks and Dunn on a hot night in Charlotte.
A Back Stage Interview with Ronnie Milsap in "1980 Somthing."
Trace Adkins in St. Paul, MN
...and one of MY All Time Favorites, Martina McBride
Rascal Flatts on their 10th Anniversary.
Remember Mid Atlantic Wrestling?
Charlie Munson texted me the other day wanting to know the name of the guy who did the "Wrestling Show" on WESC in the early 1980's. The host was the late Fred Nabors and former wrestler Danny Miller was the Promoter. Fred would go to the old Greenville Memorial Auditorium and do play by play....or blow by blow of the Main Event that night. Then, he would bring his tape back to the studios and play it along with interviewing the winners, or at least some of the bigger names on the card that night. Danny would promote the upcoming events and matches.
The show aired at Midnight and it was not really what you hear today on WESC. I was lucky enough to be hired while the "Wrestlin' Show" was still on. Had a chance to meet Andre The Giant, Jimmy Valient, all the new names..... and of course Ric Flair. (I need to say that Andre The Giant was truly larger than life)
Charlie Munson was thrilled that I remembered that.
Would love to hear your favorite moments from Mid Atlantic Wrestling at the Greenville Memorial Auditorium. Post below so your friends can see.
You Know What I Think Is Cool?
Having been with WESC for "just a few years," I've had some great opportunites to meet people who are considered celebrities. Most of them have been Country Music artists, but occaisionally there was the Governor, or a celebrity, and even Rick Dees who is from North Carolina and went on to become a popular radio personality and the voice behind the Pop Hit..."Disco Duck." Remember that one?
What is cool to me are friends of mine who run into celebrities on their regular jobs. A buddy of mine where I buy gas just last night met Kenan Thompson from Saturday Night Live who was in town to perform at Furman. He stopped in to buy some gas. Just a regular guy. He's also met Rene Zellweger, Lou Holtz and others.
I'd love to hear who's you've met by accident on the job or just out and about. You can comment below.
Are You Ready?
It's hard to believe we're in the middle of "Speed Weeks" already, but we are. Seems like yesterday that we were wrapping up the 2012 season.
I hope you have the same excitement I do leading into the Daytona 500 Sunday. It's a new year, a new car, some new full time drivers, and even a new high-tech track drying piece of machinery. Hope they didn't show it to Juan Pablo! ;)
Whether you're a NASCAR fan or not, you've got to appreciate a sanctioning body that cares about the fans. Let's face it, some of the racing last year was "Ho-Hum" if not boring. I'm a race fan and caught myself not caring who won or how they won last year.
With the Daytona 500 Sunday, the beginning of a new year, the anticipation of warmer weather and tail-gate parties followed by great racing....why shouldn't we be excited?
Make sure you're signed up for the Kevin Whitaker Fantasy Racing League. Sign up before Sunday. You might win a Myrtle Beach vacation for two. Great weekly prizes all season long.....and we'll crown another season's point winner with a $1,000 Ingles Markets Gift Card. Good Luck!
