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BIFF COLLIE ALL-AMERICAN VIDEO GAME FEVER: Two classic video features were etched on film when dozens of stars converged on the Opry House and Tennessee Performing Arts Center to whip up 3 /12 hours of TV entertainment. "Ernest Tubb: An American Original" and "Coun- try Comes Home" are the two special results of those two nights of tap- ing, with enough superstars in each to create a "Who's Who of Country A Music" in 1965; and yet there they were, dozens of giants on the same stage at the same time. Somethin! • .. Dolly Parton emphatically denied National Enquirer reports that her 16-year by 200,000 people in five years, and last marriage to Carl Dean is in trouble. "They week that huge 5-panel oil mural called WHO YOU CALLING DUMMY? When KSD/St. Louis's 'Wilkie in the Morning" was chosen to don't check the facts and they obviously "The History Of The Grand Ole Opry" was represent the station for promotiona at Disney World, the accomplished ventriloquist agreed don't print the truth," Dolly said through hung in the (the old to make the trip as long as he could take along his traveling companion "Bsrt" 55K SD, biting Beverly Magid, her West Coast press rep. Opry House), sponsored by the the good sport that is,it complied with the request by buying two round-trip tickets so "Bert" "If these reporters are waiting for Carl and Child Abuse Foundation & WSM. Mitch's could travel first-class (or at least coach). While the two were in Florida they also cut some commercials for the station, and rumor has it that several passengers who spent the flight me to divorce, they have a very long and new album of songs "Tennessee Heroes and conversing with "Bert" have since gone on the wagon, so maybe the trip was worth the ex- sad wait. We're happier now than we've Other Tall Tales" is up for the highest bid- pense, ever been." . . Nashville's CBS Recording der to market at Knoxville's World's Fair Studio will close in June. The storied Owen this year, and Alabama football fans will be Bradley Studio, built by Owen and his buying a beautiful mini-mural on Coach brother Harold in the early 1950's, was sold Paul "Bear" Bryant, the prints of which WUBE Tops Ratings to CBS Records, which built an office com- will be on sale this football season. Continued from Page 31 plex around it. It was the birthplace of what Mitchell's just finished writing and started we know today as the "Nashville Sound." recording a new album of topical songs, give their time a lot on things that they but don'tI like that title. When listenI to The actual original quonset hut still stands, most of which have TV commercial titles. don't get paid for, but they do it." new records for addition to the playlist, I inside the CBS building on 16th Avenue One of the most talented people in Music Ci- Part of the reason they do it is the "family don't listen to who the artist is or what the South (now called Music Square ty. atmosphere" Duke feels the station has, song is but the overall sound of it whether.. East). Owen Bradley is currently something that has been instilled from the rebuilding Bradley's Barn, studioa he built top on down. "Bob English, our General in nearby Mt. Juliet after he sold the 16th Manager, is a tremendous person. He "My own personal opinion on Avenue facility to CBS. The Barn burned to knows how to surround himself with the the older, traditional- the ground last year, taking with it many right people and has put together a staff sounding is mementos and artifacts of stars who "cut here at WUBE unlike any other I've seen in their teeth" on hit-hunting in that room. this business. The sales people know what that it's very easy to overdo Loretta Lynn recorded her early hits the programming side of things are, how we it on the air." there.. The first annual Jerry Reed Bass want the radio station to sound, and will sell Fishing Seminar will be held early next it that way. We know that we have to put a I feel it will fit the airsound that we're try- year in Tennessee, and will help raise real good product out to facilitate the sale of money for scholarships at Memphis State the radio station on the street. So there's a ing to achieve. That's how determineI what crossover type music we'll play too. It University. He's a fishing nut!... good camaraderie of all the people here at MITCHELL TOROK is the Stephen F. Chet Atkins (left) and Mitchell Torok are the radio station, and attributeI lota of that depends though on who your competition is Austin University football star of the 50's shown standing in front of one section of to our management. Those listeners can tell in your marketplace. A lot of our women au- Torok 's 85 foot-long oil mural depicting the dience is shared with an A/C station, which who wrote 's first big hit "Mex- if 'That guy really likes where he's working' highlights of Elvis Presley's life. ican Joe," and his first big hit "Caribbean" or 'These people really get along well,' and plays a lot of the same things we do, so you almost have to play certaina portion of that (which was a hit more recently by Sonny AIRLINES: Nene Mandrell testing for a I think that's real important." James.). He & his wife Ramona Redd weekly situation comedy series ...Sheb kind of music to maintain some listeners cowrote his pop hits "Pledge Of Love" and Wooley's Nashville Productions has six Labelless WUBE that you. have. You have to be competitive "Pink Chiffon," 's giant "Open animated TV specials on the boards. Sheb's Although many Country stations classify without being abrasive about it. Up The Door And Let The Good Times In," alter-ego Ben Colder has been fairly inac- themselves as either traditional or contem- "As far as oldies go, we're not playing as Jerry Wallace's Top Ten "This One's On tive since he quit drinking... The loud- porary, Duke does not like to put a label on part of our regular gold file the real tradi- The House" in'68, three songs in Glen mouth who bad-mouthed from the front of what WUBE is. As he explains, "I think of tional type country artists, such as Hank Campbell's movie "Norwood" including the the theater was squelched when star Tam- us as a good Country radio station. We do Williams or Webb Pierce. To supplement title tune, and Vernon Oxford's Top Ten my Wynette introduced her daughter lean more toward the contemporary side, that, because feelI you have to play those "Redneck National Anthem" about five Jackie in the audience, right next to the songs to be a Country station, we have a years ago, which should give you some pic- loudmouth...Reba McEntire took time off program on Sunday morning where we'll ture of his songwriting prowess. Few know from touring to make the Fat Stock play three hours of the real old country that Mitch majored in art, but it shows in Show & Rodeo with her husband Charlie, Country Closeup music. The ratings have shown that it's a those fine paintings on glass at Nashville's who's three times IRA World Champion very highly-listened to show. The people Continued from Page 31 Country Music Wax. Museum of Dolly, Bulldogger (1970-'72) ... that want to hear that particular style of Conversions country music are getting enough of it Waylon & Willie, Crystal Gayle and Kenny signed with NBC to headline a weekly TV WMIL/Milwaukee (WOK Y's sister station, variety series??? Maybe to replace Bar- without us having to filter it in during the Rogers, and the now-famous Elvis mural on which has been dark for 3 /12 years) signed on week. My own personal opinion on the Music Row. That 85' x 10' bigger-than-life bara Mandrell ...T.G. Sheppard's hosting February 14 as Countrya outlet. Mike St. James, older, traditional-sounding country music is 4 experience with 22-minutea spotlight show, of that "Country Jamboree," pilot-spinoffa former MD at WBCS, is station PD. New lineup as that it's very easy to overdo it on the air. which Dick Clark introduces, has been seen for a syndicated TV series??? follows: 5-9am Bill Bennett (from KKXUGrand Forks, ND), 9am-noon Mike St. James, noon- "I think we're getting back a little bit to SONNY COMES TO SYRA- 4pm John Rausch (from WMYX/Milwaukee), our roots in country music right now via ar- tists like John Anderson, Ricky Skaggs, CUSE — WRRB/Syracuse's re- 4-8pm Greg Scott (from WJE7JChIcago), 8pm- George Strait...some of the newer artists cent concert, featuring Waylon midnight Chuck McKinley (from WBCS/Mil- Jennings, Sonny Curtis, and who have more of a country flavor in their waukee), midnight-5am Steve Hogan (from Jessi Colter, will be one that tunes. The dust has kind of settled around WZUU)Mllwaukee) KIKKIHouston shifted its Sonny will no doubt remember us, but the best thing that came out of the Country format to a format the station is calling for a long time since he now is whole 'Urban Cowboy' craze was that Coun- the pround owner of an official "Classic Country" on February 25. The FM has try radio is now seen as viablea format and WRRB jacket He's shown not changed, as was inadvertently reported in is now respected as much as it should modeling his latest attire with Street Talk (R&R 3-5) WEET/Richmond always have been. We've been here for station "Cowgirl" Becky Pal- changes from Country to Religion, while WTVR- many years, and we're going to be here mer. FM in same market makes the move from many years, so right now the key is con- Beautiful Music to Country. Former WEETies Tim sistency. We've already sent our message Timberlake and Bob Bauder have relocated. Tim to the listening population." - to WRNL in town and Bob to WPVA/Petersburg Coors Country News as ND WEFMIChicago now Countrya facility This Week's Guests: with station PD Dan Walker still at the helm (R&R 2-12). Station to be known as US99 in conjunc- GEORGE STR AIT gity KIN VASSEY tion with call letter change to WUSN New staffers Plus Various Guests include Nikki Courtney (from KFMK/Houston) as Country Radio's Most Accurate MD and evenings, Al Carson (from KOPAIPhoe- 4 Call Pete Howard or Kirt Daniels (213)392-8743 Music Information nix) doing lOpm-2am, and Nick St. John (from 228 Main St., Suite R Venice, CA. 90291 Begins on Page 50 WBBM/Chicago) handling overnights.