Classic Country Radio – Highlights - 1995-2015
June 1995 – Town and Country Broadcasting, Inc., is chartered with the state of Ohio, Joe Mullins, President; acquires license and assets of WBZI.
July 4, 1995 – Classic Country Radio debuts at WBZI AM 1500, Xenia, OH.
1995 – Veteran broadcaster, bluegrass musician, and promoter Paul “Moon” Mullins joins son Joe at WBZI AM 1500, Classic Country Radio, in Xenia, OH where he continued to be known for his knowledge of the classic country and bluegrass music industry, as well as his down-home personal style of advertising.
1995 – High School Junior Roy Hatfield provides a Saturday morning broadcast of Xenia High School sports news.
1996 – WBZI opened new studios and offices on West Second Street in Xenia.
1998 – Joe and Tammy Mullins open the Classic Country Connection adjacent to the radio studio, offering the region’s top retail selection of classic country and bluegrass recordings.
1998 – Legendary steel guitar player and broadcast veteran Chubby Howard joins the on air staff.
2000 – Paul Mullins wins IBMA (International Bluegrass Music Association) Distinguished Achievement Award.
2000 – Paul Mullins wins IBMA Broadcaster of the Year Award, also.
2001 – Roy Hatfield joins the on air and production staff at Classic Country Radio.
2002 – WBZI receives the Retail and Service Business of the Year Award from the Xenia Area Chamber of Commerce.
2003 – Joe purchases WKFI AM 1090, Wilmington, OH. 2003 – Joe begins producing the Southern Ohio Indoor Music Festival at the Roberts Convention Centre in Wilmington, OH.
2004 – Veteran broadcaster Bucks Braun joins the Classic Country Radio team as morning man.
2004 – Promotions and Sales Director Megan Brugger and air personality Greg Gabbard join the Classic Country Radio team.
2005 – Bev Bodine joins Classic Country Radio as accountant.
March 2005 – Paul and Joe Mullins are featured in Ohio Magazine for their bluegrass radio programming.
March 4, 2005 – Paul Mullins retires from Classic Country Radio after nearly 45 years of broadcasting.
July 2005 – Joe purchases WEDI AM 1130, Eaton, OH.
2006 – Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers begin entertaining listeners at events throughout the region.
July 2007 – Paul Mullins receives the Ohio Heritage Fellowship Award for Performing Arts.
2010 – Joe adds FM 100.3 to the Classic Country Radio network.
2010 – Daniel Mullins debuts “Bending the Strings” each weekend.
2010 – Joe Mullins is the recipient of the Outstanding Musician Award granted during the 14th Annual Appalachian Unsung Hero Ceremony presented by Sinclair Community College’s Appalachian Outreach Committee Friday, May 14.
2010 - Joe is nominated for SPBGMA’s (Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music of America) Broadcaster and Promoter of the Year.
2010 – WBZI is nominated for SPBGMA’s Bluegrass Radio Station of the Year.
2010 – WBZI begins broadcasting Greene County High School Sports featuring live play-by-play coverage.
2011 – Joe is honored with SPBGMA’s Broadcaster of the Year Award.
2011 - Bucks Braun is inducted into the Dayton Area Broadcasters Hall of Fame.
2011 – WBZI begins broadcasting Wright State Men’s Basketball.
2012 – Classic Country Radio smartphone app goes live, expanding myclassiccountry.com.
2012 – Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers win IBMA’s Emerging Artist of the Year Award.
2013 – Cedarville University graduate Shawn Rifner joins the staff as full-time IT Director and Engineer. 2013 – Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers make their Grand Ole Opry debut on July 27, 2013.
2014 – Vietnam Veterans of America makes Bucks Braun an Honorary Member for Life.
2014 – Country artist Wyatt McCubbin joins the Classic Country Radio team as co-host of the “Chubby Howard Show” and host of “Wednesdays with Wyatt.”
2014 – Outdoorsmen Dave Linkhart and Larry Moore take over “Classic Country Outdoors” for the retiring Calvin Pyle.
2015 – Bucks Braun receives proclamation from the Senate of the 130th General Assembly of Ohio congratulating him on being named a National Honorary Member for Life by the Vietnam Veterans of America.
2015 - Chubby Howard inducted into the Steel Guitar Hall of Fame.
Fundraising efforts benefitting: Red Cross Xenia Rotary Guitars 4 Vets Shriners Hospitals Area Food Pantries Patriot Guard Miami Valley Hospital Breast Cancer Fund International Bluegrass Music Museum Muscular Dystrophy Association Greene County Community Foundation Scholarship Fund Greene, Clinton, and Preble County Fairs Matt Maupin Scholarship Fund Tornado Relief West Liberty, KY Wildlife Conservation Fund Honor Flight Cedar Cliff School District Music Boosters