Our Era - Movies, Music, Radio and TV, 6th Edition

Our Era - Movies, Music, Radio & TV, 1950‟s and 1960‟s.Courtesy of The Courier-Journal, June 1, 2008, Byron Crawford:1958 & moreThe Duke‟ is back where he belongs, on WAKYThe legendary "Duke of Louisville,‖ Bill Bailey, is back on the radio from hisroom at Friendship Manor nursing home in Pewee Valley.Bailey, who during the late 1960s and early ‗70s reigned as king of morningradio on what was the WAKY-AM and before that on WKLO, now is doingrecorded brief drop-ins during morning and afternoon drive time on the newWAKY (103.5) FM.―I think I‘d be full-time at a radio station somewhere…..if I hadn‘t had thatstroke,‖ said Bailey, now in his mid-70s. The stroke in 1999 affected his leftarm and leg.Bailey‘s unmistakable voice and delivery—a cross between Ralph Cramdenand Walter Matthau, with a hint of Fred Flintstone—is still essentially intact.And his golden laugh has withstood time like an Elvis record.Crowned the "Duke of Louisville" by former Kentucky governor and U.S. Sen. Wendell Ford, Baileywas born William Boahn in New Bern, N.C.He was only 3 when his father was accidentally killed. His mother died of cancer several years later. Byage 6, one of Bill's heroes was a disc jockey named Bill Bellis on WPTF in Raleigh.―He was so personal about everything,‖ Bailey said "He talked to people on a one-to-one level." Besidesan interest in radio. Bailey showed an early aptitude for art."When I was 7 years old, I could draw anything I could see, so I had a great interest in art— and shootingmy mouth off," he said. He later would become an accomplished artist in both oils and pencil.At age 17, he persuaded his guardian uncle to sign for him to join the Air Force, where he stayed fiveyears and served an a "communications expert" on the DEW Line in Alaska.He hosted "The Far North Jamboree" on KBYR in Anchorage after the Air Force The rest of his broadcastcareer would be a blur of road signs and station call letters from Idaho to Utah to Texas to Maryland.from WKLO in Louisville to giant WLS in Chicago and back to WAKY."Two things made WAKY the legendary station that it became. The people that worked there, and thepeople that listened to if," said Bailey. "The people that listened to it were so dedicated God, they lovedthat station And you couldn't help but love them."Johnny Randolph, the program director who hired Bailey at the old WAKY and who now is an afternoonon-air personality at the new WAKY, remembered that Bailey, though lacking the classic DJ voice andproduction skills, was "one of the great communicators, ever, and latched on to the audience, and they absolutelyloved him That's why the guy became a legend."Len Cook, the current WAKY program director and morning on-air personality, said Bailey still getsloads of listener mail, and that '"The Duke" is planning to make an appearance this July 4 when WAKYresurrects its free picnic celebration in the Churchill Downs infield, with appearances by some of Louisville'sown great bands from yesteryear, as well as many former WAXY on-air personalities.―We plan to have a place for him to sign autographs." said Cook. "And we plan to have him upon stageto say a few words."If you'd like to send Bill Bailey a note, visit the WAXY Web site at vow WAXY 1035 corn.