Did you work on the air at WCSC Radio?
Drop us a
line. Please include your airname,
shift(s) worked, title (if any), time of WCSC employment, and what you did
before and after WCSC Radio, including what you're doing these days.
Thanks!
Terry Allen
[Real name: Terrell Leff] Weekend/vacation relief DJ.
Previously worked at
WTMA,
WKTM and WQSN. Later worked at WXTC and
WSSX. Now retired from a tourism career and living in Charleston.
Scott Ashley
[Real name: Gerry Cunningham] Came to WCSC from nights at
WTMA where
he used the airname Robert E. Lee. Originally from Kentucky
where he worked at
WVLK
and WKLO. Left
WCSC to go to KITE in San Antonio. Later worked at Charleston's WKQB
and
WKTM as well as Z100 in Charlotte
in the early 80s as Panama Jack. Today he's a
Web positioning
consultant based out of California.
Chris Bailey [Real name:
Donald McTyre] DJ. Chris writes on December 8, 2008 to say, "I
live in Virginia Beach, and for the last 14 years I've owned and
operated three cosmetic surgery clinics: Virginia Beach, Richmond
and Washington D.C."
Gary Baize DJ in the 1970s.
Robert Braddock reports: "Gary Baize left WCSC for 15Q (WQSN). After
that he was in a band for a few years before returning to radio at
Q107 in St. George. He moved to WCBD-TV 2 as a news videographer for
a number years. Gary passed away in 2006."
Tom Bootle Did middays for a
short period around 1979-80. Also worked for WKDA and WKDF in
Nashville. Deceased (2006).
Buzz Bowman
[Real name: Ronald Bowman] Morning DJ, sometimes in tandem
with CJ Jones or Booby Nash. Worked in radio last as Program Director/PM Drive at
Cumulus Broadcasting's
102.1 The Fox
in Florence, SC.
Jim Bradley [Real name: Jim Kuhns] Late evening and
overnight jock 1978-1981
Jim writes on November 19,
2008:
I came to
'CSC from evenings at WFLI and Q102 in Chattanooga (I grew up
in Cleveland, TN and Latrobe, PA) to do late evenings and
overnights from 1978-81 working with CJ, Buzz, Randy, Bob,
Booby, JJ, Madeleine, Terry, Chris and others. It was an
amazing time to be in radio in Charleston. The competition was
fierce and we worked and partied hard. The impromptu "rooftop
parties" were legendary.
Jim Bradley (1980)
One of my jobs as the overnight
jock was to go downstairs at 5:15 and wake up Buzz, who slept
on the couch in the lobby at 485 East Bay Street, so he could
go into the men's locker room, shower and get ready to do his
show at 6.
After leaving WCSC I went to work for Storer Cable in
Charleston. Staying in the cable industry, I made moves to
Atlanta, Charlotte and finally Detroit working for operators
Comcast and Continental. In 1998 I moved to the vendor side of
the broadband industry managing field engineering and trade
shows worldwide while working for Terayon. After a brief stint
as Senior VP and CTO of a small cable operator, I moved to
BigBand Networks.
Along the way I also found
time to serve six years on the board of directors of the
Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers (SCTE),
including two years as vice-chairman and two years as
chairman. In 2002 I had the honor of becoming only their
eighth Fellow and being inducted into their Hall of Fame. I
remain active in the Society even today.
Jim Kuhns (2008)
Currently I'm working as a
Senior Project Manager for BigBand, and although still
Detroit-based, I'm living in Seoul, Korea overseeing switched
digital and IP video deployments in Asia. When not in Korea I
divide my time between corporate headquarters in Redwood City,
CA, manufacturing in Westborough, MA, R&D in Tel Aviv, Israel,
and kids and grandkids in California and Michigan.
Unfortunately, since leaving Charleston in 1985, I've only
been back once and have long since lost touch with everyone
there. The site's great and brings back a lot of great
memories. Rock on!
January 2,
2017 update:
I did some
weekend vacation relief work for 96rock in the mid 80s when
I was in Atlanta and the same for WLLZ in the late 80s/early
90s after I moved to Detroit but haven't been in front of a
mic since then. Currently living and working in Melbourne,
Australia for the last several years as an HFC OSP engineer/SME
for the NBN, the Aussie government's nationwide high speed
data initiative.
John Burwell Midday DJ in
the first half of 1981. Previously worked as DJ/Production Director
at WTMA. Left WCSC to go to seminary and enter full-time ministry.
John is currently the head minister of Orangeburg's
Church of the
Redeemer.
Ted Byrne DJ, play-by-play.
Last worked for Kirkman Broadcasting in Charleston. Deceased.
Edwin
"Ted" Byrne Obituary
MT.
PLEASANT - Edwin V. Byrne, 71, of Mt. Pleasant, SC died
Saturday, November 30, 2019. "Ted" died in a fatal
automobile accident. He was born May 15, 1942 in Daytona
Beach, Florida. He was the son of Billie and Ted Byrne.
He resided in Mt. Pleasant for the last twenty years and
attended church at Sea Coast Church in Mt. Pleasant.
He was
a long time radio personality with many stations
including local WCSC, WQNT, WQSC, as well as ESPN Radio.
He was the Voice of the Citadel Football, the Voice of
Georgia Southern Basketball, the Sports and High School
Play by Play at WSYL in Sylvania, GA.
In 1999
he started at Kirkman Broadcasting and was the PA
Announcer for the Stingrays Hockey Team, Play by Play
for Summerville High School Football, Operations Manager
at Kirkman Broadcasting, talk show host with Bobby
Hartin and the Voice of the Citadel Basketball. He was
radio host for the Charleston RiverDogs Baseball games,
the Play by Play for the College of Charleston and NAIA
National Basketball Championship for the College of
Charleston.
He is
survived by his wife, Kathy Sheffield, two sons, Brian
and Bradley Byrne, two grandsons, two granddaughters,
two step-sons, Brooke & Daisy Sheffield and Todd & Dina
Sheffield, one step-daughter, Shannon & David Owens, one
grandson, five granddaughters and nine
great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his
father and mother.
Bob Casey
[Real name: Robert Owens] Program Director, DJ. Still lives
in Charleston.
Debi Chard Joined WCSC radio's
news department in 1976. Now
Managing Editor and a news anchor at
WCSC-TV.
Debi writes on January 29,
2008:
I came
to WCSC radio as news director in April of 1976 and started
splitting my time between radio and TV shortly after. I can't
remember when I moved full time into TV, but I believe it was
around '78 or '79. I started doing news when Mike Hiott
was the morning disc jockey, and I would often swap stories
with Aussie Geer who was working in radio in
Spartanburg. She and her husband, David, now live in
the Charleston area.
Before CSC, I worked in Columbia at
WCOS as reporter, then news director for a couple of years. I
worked in Columbia while my husband was in law school. Before
that, I worked as a student at WSUI in Iowa City, Iowa, so I
had done radio news before hitting the airwaves in SC.
Venyke Cleveland
Newsperson around 1980. Later worked as Andee Cleveland doing
news at WTMA. She also worked in radio and TV in Spartanburg, SC,
her hometown. Now lives in Cincinnati, where she's employed in HR by
the Cincinnati city government.
Janet Conklin (Now Janet
Walsh)Morning traffic reporter in the mid-80s. Also served as
WCSC's Continuity Director. Later part of the morning shows at WXTC,
WEZL, WXLY, WIWF and WIWK. Last worked for Kirkman Broadcasting. Now
retired from radio.
Ken Crook
DJ circa 1970.
Ken Crook writes on
April 2,
2013:
I moved from
Charleston to WBML in Macon, Georgia after doing a stint
at WWWZ as PD and morning guy. Then I headed to Saginaw
to program WKNX, an AM contemporary station that had
fallen on hard times. Following the advice of Charlie
Van Dyke who was consulting the station, I started to
use the air name "Ken Morgan", which I still use to this
day. Then, it was off to Detroit to program WDEE AM, a
country outlet.
After leaving the motor city, I came back down to
Charleston for about a year and did mornings at
WKTM.
Then I got the call to go to Cleveland to do mornings
and stayed there for over 17 years, working at three
different stations and doing TV work. Finally, the snow
got to me and I moved to Phoenix, Arizona, where I now
live and do a morning show on a money/business news
radio station.
By the way, what a great website you've put together and
it’s great to read about all the alumni.
Charlie Davis
Newsman (and eventually news director) in the
early and mid-80s. Tennessee native who previously was on the air in
Knoxville and Chattanooga. Later worked for WFLA-FM and in the Charlotte, North Carolina market.
Do you know where he is today?
Brother Dave Derek [Real
name: Dave Vasser]
DJ,
Music Director and Program Director 1975-1977. Previously worked at
WTMA as
just "Brother Dave."
Dave writes on January 9,
2008:
I quit WTMA
and went to WCSC as music director as the station was coming
off the Drake Chenault Hit Parade automation format in 1975.
At that time WCSC had Mike Hiott doing mornings. After
mornings on WCSC he went downstairs and did the "Scene at One"
on Channel 5 and then did the evening weather and came back
again to do the night weather at 11, so Mike had enough to do
without radio.
I did afternoons on WCSC as Brother Dave Derek. Kent
Burkhart was hired as a consultant and we went full blown
Top-40 live 24 hours a day. When Burkhart was signed up, Mike
Hiott moved to the TV side exclusively and they made me PD. I
didn't ask for it and didn't expect it. I left WCSC in 1977
and went to WQSN instead of taking a job offer from KIOA in
Des Moines. I didn't want to move again and figured I could
get a better job in Charleston eventually or move to Charlotte
which I did where I worked at Z-100 FM, WROQ-FM and then did
14 straight years at Magic 96.1 which turned out to be a great
job for me.
At WCSC shortly after I was hired by Tony Warren,
Gloria Wilson took over as GM of both the AM and FM. Tony
came from WKIX in Raleigh and I think he went back to Raleigh.
I don't know why he left and I've never heard from him again.
One day he was just gone. Gloria Wilson was a real neat
lady...first class in every regard. Tony wasn't there long
enough to get to know really well but he had some great ideas
that never came to be.
After I got to be PD I hired Buzz Bowman out of
Harrisburg, PA, plus locals Gary Baize, Dave Turner
and Herb Carson. A guy named Bob Casey was hired
upon "strong recommendation" from Kent Burkhart who came from
Nashville to do middays and wound up replacing me as PD. I
think the company found my free spirit attitude not to their
liking. But I gotta be me! And back then I was very immature
and saw myself as a rock and roll animal. I was in my early
20s.
Monty Jett was the production director at that time but
didn’t do an airshift. Sales people I can recall right off the
top of my head were Hugh Jett (Monty's brother), Pam
Darlington and Jenny King. John Dozier did
the news.
I do remember that right after the 6 o'clock news wrapped up
there was usually a few TV technical people and sometimes some
radio people on the roof of the building having an
"after-party." John Rivers, Sr. was still alive then but John
Rivers, Jr. was running the AM-FM and TV. I remember that
Junior bought a new Ferrari while I was there. He didn't keep
it long as I recall. Dang, that was a beautiful car.
I'm now Assistant
Director/Training Officer at the Stanly County, North Carolina
E-911 Communications Department. I also play bass and sing in
Kollection Band, which is a Beach/Classic Rock band based
in Albemarle, NC.
Richard Dey
[Real Name:
Richard Reep] Worked weekends at WCSC radio in early
'66 and recorded the WCSC-TV Sunday weather. After leaving
Charleston, where he was stationed at the Air Force Base, he was
sent to Thailand as an information specialist with Armed Forces
Radio. When he got out of the service, he worked for KSOP, Salt Lake
City; KRAM, Las Vegas; and KLAC, Los Angeles (weekends). Received
his bachelor degree in communications from Southern Utah University
in 1988 and his masters from Azusa Pacific University in 1990.
Taught school for nine years and now owns a fire protection firm in
Las Vegas and one in Utah. Currently living in St. George, Utah.
John Dozier News Director in
1974 and 1975. Was also News Director at
WTMA in the late '70s. He
is retired, after managing several public radio stations and being a
university professor and department head. He lives in Columbia,
South Carolina where he imports fine walnut for gunstocks and
restores old French shotguns.
Bill Gray Overnight DJ in
the late '70s. Later worked at WWWZ, Charleston's Storer (now
Comcast) Cable, Blackbaud and Whole Foods. Now retired in Columbia,
SC
Harrigan Hart [Real Name:
Harry Gindhart] 7-midnightDJ June 1971 to October 1973.
Did the "Underground Charleston" show, the first to play all album
cuts in Charleston. Before coming to WCSC he worked at WSBF-FM,
Clemson; KSBK, Naha Okinawa; and WWMC-FM, Moncks Corner. After WCSC
he did on-air gigs at WINH AM/FM, Georgetown; WBML, Macon; WGMB-FM,
Myrtle Beach; WDXY, Sumter; WGCA, Charleston; and WTMA, Charleston.
He also worked brief periods at WWWZ, Summerville, and at Charleston
stations WQSN, WNCG, WFXR and WXLY-FM. Following radio he had a
20-year career in the construction business, with his last position
as President of Dolphin Building Systems, a division of Dolphin
Architects/Builders in Charleston. Presently a United Methodist
Minister in Indian Land, SC (BS from Charleston Southern University
1973; Master of Divinity from Emory University Atlanta 2006). Other
airnames included Harrigan, Ron Gindy, and Steve Harrigan. Deceased.
Harry
Gindhart Obituary
JOHNS
ISLAND - Harry K. Gindhart, Jr. entered into eternal
rest surrounded by his family Tuesday, August 23, 2022.
The relatives and friends of Harry K. Gindhart, Jr. are
invited to his Funeral Service 11:00 AM Thursday,
September 1, 2022 at John Wesley United Methodist
Church, 626 Savannah Hwy., Charleston.
Harry (Gindy)
Gindhart was born in Cleveland, Ohio June 3, 1947, the
son of Harry K. Gindhart, Sr. and Jeanne Fisher
Gindhart. He attended Clemson University before serving
in the US Navy, then went on to work in radio, which led
to a lifelong love for music and jingles. From there,
Harry began a successful 20-year career in construction,
retiring as President of Dolphin Building Systems, a
division of Dolphin Architects and Builders in
Charleston, SC.
Harry
had a calling to serve the Lord and, after receiving his
Master of Divinity from Emory University, went on to
serve as a United Methodist minister in the South
Carolina Conference. Over his 18 years of ministry he
served 9 churches across South Carolina.
As an
avid boater, his love for sailing started at a very
young age while summering every year with his family on
the Chesapeake Bay. He is a former member of the
Charleston Yacht Club and United States Power Squadron,
where he proudly served as a Commander.
Harry
was well known for his corny jokes and jovial
personality. He truly loved life and always put his
family first. To know him was to love him.
Harry
is survived by his beloved wife of 52 years, Marsha
Young Gindhart; daughters, Lovelynn (Jacob) Bradford,
Meggan Gindhart, and Emily (Colin) Landrith; and 5
grandchildren: Ethan, Grace, Ellie, Evelyn, and Fisher.
He is also survived by his brother, David (Katherine)
Gindhart and their children, Pete and Sara, along with
many beloved cousins and great-nieces and nephews.
Herbie [Real name:
Stephen Whitlock] Weekend DJ.
Stephen writes on June
22, 2009:
I
did weekend part time on air work at WCSC in 1977-78 under the
name of Herbie. It was a major thrill to be an AM radio
DJ while a senior at Middleton High School. "1390 CSC" -- that
tag HAD to be the first words out of your mouth every break
between songs. The good old Burkhart/Abrams format. And how
they ran the turntables 2% fast to give the tunes a little
more "upbeat" sound. Jeez.
I went on to do full time on air work
at WWWZ, WTWF (Moncks Corner), and later WQSN.
On being let go from WQSN, I found my
best calling was in electronics engineering and left the
business in 1980.
I worked as a technician and engineer
for different cable TV companies around the country for 15
years, a 5 year engineering stint with MCI, a year with Cisco
Systems, and am now employed supporting a new USCG emergency
radio communications network in Charleston.
Bob Nash was one of my
inspirations to get into radio when I met him at a remote WTMA
was doing at the Tri State Store on Meeting Street Extension
back in the early '70s.
The other huge influence on my radio
career was Bill Grey (mid-6 at WCSC in the late '70s;
and later 7-mid at 3WZ). He was a roommate of Randy Scott
when Randy was still DJ-ing 7-mid at CSC.) Through working
with Bill at 3WZ, I met Randy, and flew out of the Johns
Island airport MANY a time with him doing his reports. Shocked
as I was by his death, I was not surprised. (May he rest in
peace.) I saw how he did his pre-flight check as he was going
down the runway.
I recall spending WAY too many hours with Jerry Smith
doing engineering work. Jerry took me along to do some
overnight work at a Cinderella station in Orangeburg. At the
station, we played a game called, "Name that Cue Burn". Jerry
said he could name that tune JUST with the cue up. He was 100%
correct in maybe 20 times; except when I cued up the B side of
a 45. (The B side was also popular, but not a Top 40 hit.)
Dang, he was good.
John, thank you for giving me the opportunity to stroll
through memory lane. I do miss the OLD radio days. That was a
fun time in the industry. And yes, most everything you heard
about 3WZ was true. We were all a full bubble off level out
there on the Rock n Roll Farm.
Mike Hiott Morning DJ in the
1970s. Had a long career at WCSC-TV hosting the "Midday" show and
doing weather. Worked for a short time at WCIV-TV after leaving
Channel 5. Now retired in Colleton County, South Carolina.
Harve Jacobs News Director
1979-1987. Born in Brooklyn, New York. Left WCSC Radio to be a news
reporter at Charleston's WCBD-TV. Later worked in the North
Charleston mayor's office. Currently is a reporter for
WCSC-TV.
Jay Jay Jaxon [Real name:
Jason Andino] DJ. Also worked at
WKTM and WKQB, along
with stations in the Columbia, SC and Jacksonville, FL markets.
Deceased.
Jason
Andino Obituary
COLUMBIA - A visitation with family and friends of Jason Bond
"Jay" Andino will be held 3-5 p.m. Sunday, August 22, 2010, at
Dunbar Funeral Home, Devine Street Chapel. Following his
wishes to be cremated, a memorial service will be held at a
later date.
Mr. Andino died August 15, 2010. Born August 4, 1952, in
Miami, he was a son of the late Jose and Margarita Navarro
Andino. Jay grew up in Miami and graduated from Miami Lakes
Technical College with a degree in Broadcasting. He worked in
various radio markets including Charleston, S.C., and
Jacksonville, Fla., before coming to Columbia.
Jay spent over 25 years in the Columbia area in the
broadcasting industry, including working as a radio
personality known as "Jay Jay Jaxon." In 2003 he opened his
own production company, providing voice-over talent for radio
and television stations nationwide. Jay loved life and
especially his children. He was an avid golfer and loved
music, travel and the Gamecocks.
Surviving are his daughter, Lauren Ashley Andino of Brooklyn,
N.Y., son, Michael Chase Andino of Charleston, S.C., their
mother, Marci Barker Andino of Columbia, and long-time family
friend, David Sage of Charleston.
Monty Jett Production Director and Midday Jock in the
mid 1970s.
Originally from Bamberg, SC. Went on to a long career in Hilton
Head, SC radio. Died October 27, 2024, He was 76.
CJ Jones [Real name:
Conrad Jerome Jones, Jr.] Executive VP/GM and
Air Personality Late 1978-1982. Died January 29, 2019 at the age of
76.
CJ writes on January 8,
2008:
During my years as Executive
Vice President and General Manager of WCSC and WXTC we
delivered spectacular radio for the market. With a great team
we created legendary radio. Such great talent as Program
Director Bob Casey, Madeleine (Disco forever!),
the fabulous "Booby" Nash, John Burwell,
Chris Bailey, Terry Allen, Steve Russell and
"CJ & Buzz" all worked together to create the most
listened to radio station in the region for years.
When I arrived to take over
the management of the station it was rated #7 in the Arbitron
ratings, within three months WCSC was #1 and growing hourly.
The Rivers family allowed me to spend their money and create a
great team, improve the signal, promote with big cash
contests, launch "Skywatch Traffic" first with Sgt. Darrell
Sanders and later with my great friend Randy Scott.
Gus Bailey was Vice President and General Manager of
WCSC-TV and he and I become great friends and we were allowed
to promote WCSC RADIO on CHANNEL 5 all the time. It drove our
competitors at the other radio stations in the market nuts. It
was all great fun.
Who can forget WCSC INSTANT MOBILE NEWS with Patrick Joyce,
L.J. Lancer, Harve Jacobs and Don Morgan?
Not only did we create a fun radio station we sold a lot of
advertising on it. I brought Howard Keller in as
General Sales Manager and he built a great sales organization.
I could go on and on because this radio station was special.
Thanks for making the memories real on this new site. This is
a great historical site for Charleston and the Low Country.
Pat Joyce News, sports,
traffic in the 1980s. Deceased.
Edward
Patrick Joyce Obituary
ASHEBORO, NC -
Edward Patrick Joyce, age 75, of 156 E. Academy St., Apt. 113,
Asheboro died Monday, May 30, 2011 at Randolph Hospital in
Asheboro. A memorial service will be held on Thursday, June 2,
2011 at 6:00 PM at the Pugh Funeral Home Chapel, 437 Sunset
Avenue, Asheboro with Rev. Warren Lee Domenick, Jr.
officiating.
Pat was born in Washington, DC, reared in
Berryville, VA, and graduated from the Richmond Professional
Institute of the College of William and Mary. A life long
Washington Redskin and Senator Fan, he was a journalist and
radio broadcaster.
He worked at the Richmond Times Dispatch,
was Sports Information Director at Virginia Military Institute
(VMI), was a Sports Writer with the Charleston Post and
Courier, and was a long time radio broadcaster in the
Charleston, SC area.
He is survived by his daughters, Ayn-Martha
Joyce of Jesup, GA, Julia Domenick of Jesup, GA; son, Mark
Joyce of Asheboro, NC; the mother of his children, Faith Joyce
of Jesup, GA; grandchildren, Collin Joyce of Asheboro, NC,
Hannah Joyce of Asheboro, NC, and Taylor Domenick of Jesup,
GA.
Pat was a great dad and was always there for his kids. We miss
him. Pop would never say goodbye, and with love and in tribute
to him, his obituary closes with his famous tagline "... And
that's the way the ball bounces."
Ted Kelly [Real name:
Theodore Kypris] Midday and evening DJ between 1977 and 1978.
Came to WCSC from WTOC in Savannah. Left to go to WAYS in Charlotte. Later went to work in Miami, Pittsburgh,
Dallas, Seattle and Las Vegas. He currently owns a production
company (TK Productions) in Miami.
Robert J. Kight WCSC
announcer from February 1972 to December 1973 and again from June
1974 to approximately June 1975, when he transferred to the WCSC-TV
Production Department where he worked until June 1977. Previously
worked at WTMA as Jim Diamond and at WQSN as RJ the DJ.
Still lives in the Charleston area.
More about
Robert J. Kight
Bob Kight writes on
December 22, 2008:
Glad you were able to use the "colorized" version of Jim
Vann and Buzz Bowman on the TV set. From what I
remember, the set that they were using was the same set that
Stacie and Charlie Hall used each weekday afternoon.
(That's how I know that the cushions in the chairs were red.)
From about early August of 1976 until early June of 1977,
every Tuesday after Stacie and Charlie's Show, we'd strike the
set and I'd get my "Super Guy" outfit on and the cameras would
be trucked into Studio A where the set was and we'd put
another show in the can for the upcoming Saturday.
Seeing the photos on the WCSC
Radio pages brings back a few memories too. For example:
seeing the Labor Day 1976 photo with Sally Graham
reminds me of the time when I was working a sign-on shift at
Channel 5 as a switcher. It seems that Channel 5 had just
started to transfer their billing accounts via computer line
to a server in Memphis and Sally had been keying them in, one
line at a time on a dedicated program. Apparently, she had to
fill a RAM buffer with so much information before she could
transfer it via Telco line to the main server in Tennessee.
Unfortunately, after working for about 5 or 6 hours, SCE&G had
a power bump and the system reset itself and Sally finally
realized that EVERYTHING WAS GONE. She came down to the TV
area, almost in tears, and relayed her story. But it seems
that by Monday, one of the engineers put in some kind of a
battery backup system to keep that from happening again.
Seeing those photos in the
WCSC-FM area also brings back a lot of warm and positive
feelings too. According to Rod Bullard himself, he is
responsible for coming up with the new WCSC-FM call letters:
WXTC. He told the powers-to-be that the music sounds like
ECSTASY, hence the call letters: X T C. Cute. Plus -- seeing
the photo of Robert Braddock changing tape. Don't know
if you know about the "background music service" that WCSC had
back then too. It was called M-I-A -- which stood for Music IN
the Air. Those two reels were in the same photo on the extreme
left side of where Braddock was working. The tapes ran at 3
3/4 ips and when one ran out the other took over and at the
same time, a small alarm sounded. So whoever was responsible
for changing the tapes had quite a while to do the job since
each tape ran for several hours.
Seeing the photo with "Captain
Madness" and Schaffer automation system reminds me of all
the times when it was my job to "feed the monkey" -- put in
updated weather information and new commercial carts, etc.
Plus seeing the Captain on the air; that particular control
board had a bad reputation for "eating" indicator lights.
The original WCSC-AM control
room was located centrally and had an RCA control board. (Wish
I had taken a photo of it back then.) Eventually -- I believe
that Jim Whitaker pushed to get a new control board and
the control room was moved to another area -- that's where the
Dave "Captain Madness" Turner on the air (1976) photo shows.
Then the old production area -- which was where the Schaffer
system was put -- was moved to the old control room area. All
this then gave the sales department a new area for their staff
and desks.
Seeing the Dave "Captain
Madness" Turner on the air (1976) photo reminds me of a two
things in the shot. One: the program binder for that day and
the other binders for the rest of the week that I wrote on it
using a regular ink pen with the "SUN" on it. And the "tape"
repair segment on the front of the control board; that area
seemed to be used the most by the guys and so it cracked open
first and I put a few strips of electrical tape on it.
That room was a little bigger
than a broom closet. If you notice in the shot I gave you of
Mike Hiott and Monty Jett, that was in the same
room but with a glass window behind them. I guess the new guys
put something over the window for privacy or sound?
My
name is Dave Lubeski. I worked at the Associated Press for 35
years, the last 28 as sports director of the radio network. I
am now the Sports Information Director at The George
Washington University in Washington, D.C.
LJ Lancer was my best friend.
He passed away October 1, 1995 in Pomona, California.
I first met him in 1974 at the AP. We both were hired as
original employees of the AP's radio network that went on the
air October 1, 1974.
Bob Benson, LJ's old boss at KOIL in Des Moines, was
our boss at the AP.
I know that before he came to the AP, he had worked as a
record producer and promoter and worked at several radio
stations, I believe in Detroit and Cleveland.
After a few years at the AP, LJ got a promotion and went to
New York and worked at AP headquarters. He left the AP to
manage a station in Appleton, Wisconsin. He also worked in
sales for UPI and AFP. He moved to Hawaii and worked in
publishing, before returning to the mainland working in sales
in California.
He fought cancer successfully several times. His first bout
with the disease was in about 1992. I visited him in
California right after he learned his latest bout with cancer
was terminal. It was the summer of the O.J. Simpson trial,
which is how I remember the time frame.
With his sister's blessing, I wrote his obit for Broadcasting
magazine.
Jack Lundy [Real Name: John
Meehan] DJ. Also worked at
WTMA. Reported to be doing radio in
Cleveland, Ohio in the early '80s.
Do you know where he is today?
Madeleine [Last name
Lanoue then, now Thomas]DJ in the late
'70s and early '80s
Madeleine writes on
November 24, 2008:
I came to WCSC radio by way of Brunswick, Georgia in January
1979. Jay Jay Jaxon told me about an opening at WCSC,
where he was working. We both were products of WLRN in Miami,
a public radio station that gave eager broadcasting students
the chance to be a star. Little did I know that the move to
Charleston from my first 'gig' at WGIG/WSBI in Brunswick would
have me playing DISCO! Back then as an AOR DJ I, along with
many at the time, thought that "disco sucked". It was a week
before my move when Program Director Bob Casey said the
format for the soon-to-be-mine nighttime shift changed to
disco. What could I do? My bags were packed, so I decided to
give it a try.
For almost 3 years I worked with some great people and
wonderful friends. My best friend, Cindy Smith (WHERE
ARE YOU???); Harve Jacobs, a top-notch news reporter
and shoulder to cry on; the best engineer ever, Bruce
Roberts; Buzz Bowman, famous for fun like the Big
Buzz Bash on Folly; Randy Scott (we'll always miss you)
and crazy Edd Salen, who taught me how to splice tape
the right way (but who cares today?). Jim Bradley could
get me to laugh on the air when I didn't want to. The best PD
I ever had, Bob Casey, put up with a lot of my antics. There
was Ron O'Brien (real name Gregory Dale Pittman)
who had no choice but to have that air name because that was
the only one left after Chris Bailey (a.k.a. Don
McTyre) chose his name. You see, CJ Jones had some
jingles already made with those names so whoever got hired
next had virtually no choice as to what they'd be called on
the air.
Well, disco was good to me. I had a lot of fun, but it ended
when CJdecided to let a bunch of us go: Patrick
Joyce, someone else whose name I can't remember, and
myself were gone because of the infamous 'budget cut'.
Well thank you CJ, that's exactly what I needed to finally
make the move on to Atlanta (WLTA, WARM 100), and Charlotte
(WLVV) and -- what do you know -- back to Charleston in 1985
to 96 WAVE for two years. Then came Honolulu (KQMQ) and again
--back to Charleston -- working for CJ and Bob Casey at WWHT.
I also did some weekend
weather at WCBD-TV. I moved on to WDXZ and then found a home
at
WTMA for
14.5 years (PD, Producer, News Anchor). While there I also
found the time to produce a syndicated show heard on public
radio stations around the country and the Armed Forces Radio
Network called
The
Parent's Journal with Bobbi Conner which I still do
to this day. Along with that, my husband and I have a company
called
All-Mist which provides much-needed outdoor cooling for
the Charleston summer heat.
God is good. He has blessed
us, and the kids are all doing well.
This article
appeared in the Charleston Post & Courier Saturday, February
16, 1980
Music Is A Favorite For WCSC's Madeleine
By Anne Barnes, Entertainment Editor
Recognition is important to
WCSC-AM Radio's Madeleine, but sometimes the lady "wants to
be alone."
Thus the instance on a first name-only identity.
Explaining that radio personalities are harassed at home by
the public -- both fans and foes -- she says, "My private
life is separate from my radio life. It's nice to be
recognized, but sometimes I want to be alone. I enjoy my
privacy."
A native of Montreal, Canada, the 20 year old spent most of
her childhood in New York City and later moved to Florida.
"About age 15, my ears turned to radio," she says. "But I
wasn't listening to the music; I was paying attention to the
announcers. I never thought I'd be able to be one, though."
After high school, she took a one-year course in radio
broadcasting at Miami Lakes Technical Education Center. "In
addition to the books and courses, we learned by doing," she
says. "We were on the air two hours a day on public radio.
'The Learning Experience' was the names of the show."
Becoming an American
citizen in 1978 -- a necessity for obtaining a third-class
Federal Communications Commission license -- Madeleine got
her first job in Brunswick, Ga.
At WCSC for a little more than a year, her show has changed
from strictly disco to a Top 40 format, combining disco,
rock 'n' roll and soul.
"My radio personality is similar to my own," she says in a
husky voice. "It's positive and happy -- up. I think I bring
that across on the air."
"On thing I learned at broadcast school was to smile," she
says. "Even if people can't see you, if you smile it comes
across."
Listeners meeting the brunette at a remote broadcast think
she ought to be a blonde. "My voice sounds very sexy," she
says, "and people just associate that with blondes."
Madeleine has the air chair from 6-10 p.m. weekdays and 1-6
p.m. Sundays. In addition to on-the-air duties, she's the
station's public and service director.
Swimmy and sailing are favorite pastimes -- weather
permitting. She also enjoys photography and considered that
as a possible career. "But photography wasn't as exciting as
radio appeared to me," she says.
She'd like someday to move to a larger market. "Maybe New
York," she says, "because I grew up there. And New York is
the No. 1 market."
Patty Meeks Traffic reporter
in the early 1980s. Now lives in Conway, South Carolina where she
works for the US Post Office.
Don Morgan [Real name:
Don Hanzlik] News Director of
WCSC-AM 1979-1981. Also worked as a DJ at
WTMA in 1976.
Don writes on January 8,
2008:
What a great
group of people we had in the News Department -- from the
anchors to the street and sports correspondents and ground and
air-based traffic reporters. I am truly proud to say I was
part of the team that continually scooped others in the market
on breaking news and weather developments; Harve Jacobs,
Cindy Smith, Pat Joyce and Randy Scott
are just a few of the names.
Others in the business are amazed when they hear the story of
how the entire news department, and a few others, spent two
days in the "bomb shelter" at the transmitter site in 1979
during Hurricane David, doing phoners with the likes of the
mayor of Hardeeville just as the eye was passing by that town.
We were fortunate to remain on the air the entire time,
hopefully serving the public interest as radio stations were
expected to do "back in the day."
WCSC was one of the first affiliates of the RKO Radio Networks
(later United Stations and UNISTAR before folding in 1994) and
I was fortunate enough to have been recruited by them to go to
New York as Overnight/Foreign Desk Editor, and eventually
serving as a dayside Editor and Producer of Special Events,
including coverage of the 1986 Statue of Liberty 100th
Birthday Celebration, and the 1984 and 1988 Democratic
National Conventions.
In 1990 UNISTAR moved the entire news division to Washington,
DC, and upon accepting the transfer offer I was named Senior
Producer, responsible for coordinating hourly newsroom
operations among anchors, desk editors and tape producers.
Three years later Infinity took over operations of UNISTAR and
eventually sold it to Westwood One in 1994. Shortly afterwards
Westwood One shut down UNISTAR, putting a couple dozen class
anchors, reporters and support personnel on the street.
I eventually decided to move back into local radio, taking
over as Operations Director of WBZS-AM, a business and
financial news/talk format, in Alexandria, VA. Unfortunately,
less than a year later, Douglas Broadcasting sold the station
to Spanish broadcaster Mega Communications.
It was then on to the Washington, DC Bureau of Metro Networks
where I served as Senior News Editor for seven years until
August 2006. Just days before Metro's parent company, Westwood
One -- there's that name again -- cut hundreds of jobs across
the country, I resigned my position to become the Operations
Manager (and later General Manager) of WDMV-AM, another business and financial news/talk
format, serving metropolitan Washington, DC. I continue in
that position to this day.
Judi, my wife of almost 33 years, and I are looking forward
to moving into semi-retirement near Hilton Head in two or
three years. Anyone in that area looking for a well-seasoned
(low in sodium) media manager can
drop me a line
anytime, perhaps advancing our relocations plans!
Don writes on
April 29,
2013:
In 2011 we
abandoned plans to retire at Hilton Head choosing instead
Florida's Gulf Coast so we can spend more time on our boat.
We are now in Palmetto where Tampa Bay meets the Manatee
River and Gulf of Mexico. Coincidentally, the city was
so-named in 1868 by Samuel Sparks Lamb, who is called the
"Father of Palmetto", saying it reminded him of his home
state, South Carolina).
While making the 14-hundred mile trip from northern Virginia
to Florida aboard All Hanz On Deck we had the opportunity to
meet up with C.J. Jones and John Magliola at Hilton Head.
Booby Nash [Real name: Robert Nash]
DJ during the first half of the '80s, usually in morning or
afternoon drive. Also worked at
WTMA and
WKTM. After leaving WCSC
in 1986 he became a full-time minister at a James Island church.
Died January 18, 2017 at the age of 77 after a brief illness.
Robert
Nash Obituary
CHARLESTON - Robert J. "Bob" "Booby" Nash, 77, of
Charleston, and husband of Raetta Nash, passed away
Wednesday, January 18, 2017.
Bob was
born on May 30, 1939 in Buffalo, NY to the late Karl
Emerson Nash and Dorothy Evoy Nash. He came to
Charleston in 1966 to work at WTMA radio and stayed in
the business for many years.
He
founded and pastored Living Word Church on James Island
in 1984 and then went into missionary ministry. As much
as he loved making Charleston laugh, radio, his family
and his church, he loved his Jesus most of all and now
he's in His presence.
The
family would like to express a special thank you to the
staff at MUSC.
In
addition to his wife of 45 years, survivors include his
daughter, Lisa Nash Toxey; grandson, Tyler Toxey; his
sister, Sandy Mascia; and many other family members.
A
Celebration of Bob's Life will be held at 12 Noon on
Saturday, January 21, 2017 at McAlister-Smith Funeral
Home, James Island Chapel. The family will receive
friends 2 hours prior to the service from 10 AM - 12 PM
at the chapel.
Ron O'Brien [Real name:
Gregory Pitman]DJ who made the transition to FM when
WXTC switched from Beautiful Music to Lite Rock in 1985. Left WXTC
to go to a station in Hilton Head. Later worked in Raleigh, NC.
As of 2024, he is Studio Manager at Gateway Studios & Production
Services in St. Louis.
Steve Russell DJ. Also
worked at WTMA,
WKTM, WXTC, WSUY
and WIWF. Had a successful
production/voiceover company. Owned a mobile
DJ/karaoke company. Retired.
God, I don't remember dates.
I pulled a short airshift, and was in charge of production
back in the CJ and Buzz days. I remember doing the airplane
traffic reports for a few months. I was replaced by Randy
Scott, who as we all remember, actually flew the plane. I
was just a passenger with a microphone and air sickness.
Left town for a short time
(for Texas and Virginia) but I'm still on the radio and TV
here in Charleston. If you fall in love with the Low Country
you can never leave if permanently. Production, aha...that's
the ticket.
Most who remember me remember
the
WKTM days. I
was the voice of Gerald's Recaps (...saves dollars and that
makes cents). Sang the old "Steppin into the Windjammer"
jingle, and the "KTM is who's got cha now" jingle. Did the Rob
and Edd Radio Network for four years for 98 Rock in the '90s,
and tried to revive it in the 2000s on the "Bridge". W R O N
G.
Anyway -- I've been sworn to
secrecy and am not allowed to reveal my many stories of the
good old days. I know Mr. Moose and Uncle Booby are happy for
that.
Randy Scott
[Real name: Randall Morris; later legally changed his name to
Randy Scott] DJ, MD and news/traffic reporter/pilot. Died in in an
airplane crash while taking off to do morning traffic reports for
WCSC radio in the early 1980s. Also worked at
WTMA and
WKTM.
Bill Shoemaker
Board-op, production and announcing between 1980 and 1996. Later
worked at Charleston's WTMA/WSUY (1996-1999) and WHLM in in
Bloomsburg, PA (2004-2009). Deceased.
Bob Smith
WCSC-TV newsman between 1962 and 1979, who also did a Sunday morning
call-in talk show on WCSC Radio. Left WCSC for WCYB in Bristol,
Virginia, where he retired in 1991. Died April 18, 2009.
Robert St. John
[Real name:
Robert Wermuth] Midday and PM Drive DJ 1976-77.
Robert writes on January
6,
2009:
I came to
1390-WCSC in very late May, 1976. Gloria Wilson was GM
of the radio side of the business. I had recently sat in on an
"interview" that Charlie "Jay" (Jones) had had with
Gloria, but he decided not to pursue. Charlie (of long time
Columbia, SC fame) and I were at WDXY in Sumter, SC at the
time.
My long and meandering radio "river" of stations began in 1972
at Auburn University's campus station WEGL-FM, then the local
Auburn station, WAUD; on to WDOL, Athens, GA, WTBC, Tuscaloosa
(News Director), WBSR, Pensacola (News Director), WABB AM &
FM, Mobile (DJ), WKSJ-FM, Mobile (DJ), WDXY, Sumter (DJ),
1390-WCSC ("Robert St. John" afternoons in 1976 and eventually
middays, with a #1 share in the Spring 1977 Arbitron ratings
-- "Go figure!"). Then I went to work for a Christian FM start
up, WPJS-FM, in Orangeburg, SC, then WCOS, Columbia (with
"Charlie Jay," and eventually on to WMHK-FM on the campus of
Columbia Bible College.
Robert St. John at the Battery
(1977)
From there I moved to St. Louis in 1982 to attend Covenant
Seminary (M.A.), and became their original media director in
the mid-'80s. In 1992, I helped a former radio buddy (Don
Hughes, from WMHK, Columbia) start an all-digital 100kw
contemporary Christian FM station (KJIL) in southwest Kansas
(since recognized twice as "Station of the Year" in America in
its format).
Currently I teach ancient Latin and New Testament Greek in
both high school and university settings in the greater St.
Louis area. I've written a "book"
on Greek grammar and have two
language
blogs
that I use to teach from and a
family photo morphing site ["Great Genes" Family Photo
Morphing].
I have three school-age
children, a boy and two girls (14, 12 and 9), too! Of course,
I still dabble in media of all sorts, whenever possible, my
first love still being (editing) audio.
Frank Stevens
[Real name:
Franklin Shoemaker] DJ. Later worked at WEZL and
WTMA. Last
known to be working in the retail industry in Charleston.
Al Stone This
info was provided by his daughter, Helen in May of 2005:
Mr. Albert James Stone, or
better known locally as DJ Al Stone:
He began a career in broadcasting in Cleveland, Ohio at WGAR Radio.
(One interesting note: Al had a great start in radio as he sat next
to Alan Freed at WGAR, the first disc jockey to broadcast a
new type of music called "Rock and Roll.")
After a short career in Ohio he got a call from WCSC radio in 1952
and was asked if he wanted to relocate with his family to the Low
Country of Charleston, South Carolina to begin a career at WCSC
Radio and help develop a new media they called television. He was a
pioneer along with many other famous local broadcasting
personalities such as John Rivers Sr., Ken Klyce,
Ken Goodman, Red Evans, Adrian Munzell, Stuart
Spenser, Jim Whitaker, Bill Edwards, Carroll
Godwin, and Charlie Hall. He was the first spokesperson
for Piggly Wiggly on live television in Charleston. He had a local
show on WCSC called "Al Stone's Record Shop" that played music while
local teens danced and rated records live on the air (similar to
"American Bandstand".)
In 1960 he left WCSC to start and be the co-owner of WNCG located on
O'Hear Avenue, later in the City of North Charleston. A few years
later he moved to WCIV-TV as a broadcasting and news personality. He
later became an account executive for the station.
Al was also known for his assistance in later years with
WTMA, WPAL,
and Voice of America within various local radio and television
stations.
After a long career in broadcasting Al decided to become a real
estate broker. He also started the Lee Institute in the 1970s of
which he was instrumental in assisting numerous local realtors to
became certified from this course. He enjoyed selling homes and
particularly took great pleasure in assisting young couples qualify
for their first home.
In later years in his retirement he recorded books on tape for
Northstar Audio. He appeared with Dan Moon numerous times on
his WTMA morning talk show to reminisce of the old times and recount
memories as a living veteran of Iwo Jima for past Memorial Day and
Veteran's Day talk shows.
Dave Turner
Afternoon/evening DJ in the late-70s. Robert Braddock reports: "Dave
Turner left WCSC in early 1979. He briefly got out of broadcasting
before working at the Weather Channel. Dave is now a movie editor
for Time/Warner-Turner Studios in Atlanta." Died July 12, 2024
at the age of 71.
Dave
Turner Obituary
David
Russell Turner, Jr., 71, of Goose Creek, SC passed away
on Friday, July 12, 2024.
Born on
June 11, 1953 in Atlanta, GA, he was the son of the late
Reba Martin Turner and the late David Turner, Sr.
David passed away leaving behind a legacy of creativity,
passion, and joy. In his 20's he was a dynamic classic
rock and roll radio disc jockey before dedicating 35
years as a film editor at Turner Broadcasting.
In
retirement he built an accomplished landscape
photography portfolio. Beside his lifelong love of
photography, his hobbies also included flying drones,
following NASA updates, and telescoping the cosmos.
A devoted
community member, David served on the board of his
neighborhood HOA, was an active member of Seacoast
Church, and participated in the Seacoast Nexton small
group. He loved music, films, Jesus, his family, and
always bringing joy and laughter to those around him.
David is preceded in death by his parents. He is
survived by his wife, Patti Turner; his step daughters,
Felicia Puckett and Maria Knight; his three sisters,
Melissa Shorter, Patti Bryson, and Diann Simpson; and
many nieces, nephews, cousins, and grandchildren.
Jim Vann Operations Manager
and morning host at WXTC (WCSC's FM station) between 1974 and 1978.
Jim writes on December
16, 2008:
I was at
WXTC as ops mgr from '74-'78 (as I recall). Then we moved to
St.
Louis for a year and I came back briefly in '78 as an
announcer. In addition to managing, I was on mornings on WXTC.
I created a character named Virgil P. Suggins that
would come on with Buzz Bowman on WCSC-AM a few times a
week. Virgil got so popular, he had a fan club at MUSC and he
was even the Grand Marshall of the Hell-Hole Swamp Festival.
It was a proud moment, but I could have lived without judging
the rattlesnake roundup.
Jim Vann (L) and Buzz Bowman on
the WCSC-TV set in 1977 (photo restored by Bob Kight)
Buzz and I also hosted "All
Night Theater" on WCSC-TV. Gus Bailey told us he had
spared every expense on the movies so it was up to us if the
show was to work. We did all kind of ridiculous stuff and
would up beating Saturday Night Live in the ratings. (And
that's when SNL was funny.) We would always close the show by
thanking Channel 5 for giving us their TV station to play
with.
I eventually moved back to Atlanta where I was part of the
morning show on KICKS 101-5 for twenty years until this past
February. I am still doing
voiceovers
and have written a book called, "Who Died...and Left You in
Charge?" which is available on Amazon or at BN.com.
I have two grown daughters (both born in Charleston) and three
perfect grandchildren.
For the record I no longer look like the porn star I resembled
in the pictures on the site. But, then, Monty Jett no
longer looks like Jesus, so I guess we're even.
Thanks for going to all this trouble. It brought back a lot of
great memories.
Lisa Willis
News anchor/reporter. Worked in the
early '80s.
Lisa writes on September
23, 2008:
Harve
Jacobs hired me away from WKZQ in Myrtle Beach where I had
become their first female news anchor/reporter waking at the
crack of dawn for the morning shift. Patty Meeks worked
traffic. Yes, that was back when UPI was still in business and
we worked off a ticker-tape machine for breaking news. In the
TV station next door Charlie Hall and Mike Hiott
were still using magnetic sunny faces and frowning clouds on
the weather board.
With the help of fellow news
team members, News Director Harve Jacobs and Pat Joyce,
I won several awards for news excellence paving the way for a
news career that spanned 19 years.
From WCSC radio, I was hired
on as weekend weathercaster (another female first) at WCSC-TV.
I held both jobs for a while then moved to Alabama for a full
time career as a weathercaster.
Charleston was calling, so I
jumped at a full time position as weathercaster at WCBD-TV
when Karen McGuiness took a position as forecaster at
CNN -- a position she is now back to after receiving a degree
in Meteorology. Way to go Karen!
I eventually became a news
anchor in New York at WWOR-TV, New York market; KOMO-TV,
Seattle; WBFF-TV, Baltimore, MD; and ended my career in Miami
at WPLG-TV, Miami -- my dream job.
I have so many amazing
memories of Charleston and the people I worked with, some who
as I read up on "whatever happened to...." are sadly no longer
with us. WCSC is really where my career started and I am
grateful for all the memories and hope the young reporters of
today have as much fun as I did, way back then.
I am an artist now. I always
was, but the life of a anchor/reporter was way more exciting
back then. I live in Florida and in the Bahamas with a
wonderful guy who thinks I'm pretty cool. (No kids.)
Good to see the history of
WCSC in writing. It's a great walk down memory lane.
s
Did you work on the air at WCSC Radio?
Drop us a
line. Please include your airname,
shift(s) worked, title (if any), time of WCSC employment, and what you did
before and after WCSC Radio, including what you're doing these days.
Thanks!