Around The Block: WKDA Radio History. Newspaper Articles.

Hudson Alexander III at the WAKM Studio.

Added: 7.30.2010

Added 7.29.2010

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************ HERE'S THE LATEST!! **************

MOST FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTION:

Question: "When will Bobby Langley be returning to the studio with you for a segment on local history?"

Answer: "I'd love to have Bobby in Studio "A" at AM-950 every week! However, that is not possible due to a lack of studio availability. Thankfully, most of WAKM's Hometown Radio Shows are sold out to local sponsors, and those shows originate at the site of the sponsor. Most of the time, we feature our local history segments only in the event that there is an opening....i.e. when there is no sponsorship lined up for the Hometown Radio Show. And that brings me to the next point: If you know of a local business that is willing to spend some advertising dollars....very wisely.... in return for some great local exposure...not to mention the tie-in with our rich local history...please let us know!! We'd love to secure a sponsor and make this type program a regular weekly feature!!"

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A WORD ABOUT MY SITE COUNTER:

You might have noticed that we use the terminology "Unique Visits" at our site counter. There is a big difference in the number of visitors recorded this way, as opposed to a counter that counts everytime the website is accessed. Here's what it all means: No matter how many times you visit the site, you will only be recorded once! If you visit every week....or several times each week....you will still be counted only once. For this reason, our counter is truly keeping tabs on the number of "unique visits." So what's the bottom line: (1) We feel like our visitor totals are much more accurate than those you'll find at many websites; and, even more importantly, (2) you are always welcome at this site!

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NOW SOME INTERESTING NUMBERS:

I have recently completed a review of the raw data for this website, and I need to pause right here and say: "Thank You" to everybody who visits our website!!

Whether you are here to listen to the latest local programming from AM-950 WAKM, to revisit the past with historical information about WKDA-WKDF radio in Nashville, or whether you're here to read one of my "Around The Block" columns previously published in The Williamson Herald....Thank You so much for your patronage! It is amazing to analyze the numbers for this site and I want to thank my son, Hudson IV, for providing the data.

Just for the record, it appears that the most popular Hometown Radio Shows posted to the site are:

(1) The HTRS for February 11, 2010; where we spotlighted the Franklin High School band. The guest-list for that show included: Bobby Langley, Wayne Simpson, and Mary Frances Ligon. On this show, almost half of the visitors (49.6 percent) listened to the full hour-long show in its entirety!! This is an amazing statistic!! But it shows the interest in FHS in general & in the FHS band, in particular. Of course, we have aired many programs on WAKM to honor the 100th anniversary....the Centenniel Celebration...of Franklin High School. It opened its doors in the fall of 1910 and, since then, thousands of Franklin's finest have walked through her doors and gone on to leave their mark on life in Williamson County, Middle Tennessee, and the Mid-South!!

(2) The HTRS for March 11, 2010; where Loy Hardcastle was my special guest and we spent the hour talking about the old days of Franklin.

(3) The HTRS for Feb. 5, 2010; where we put the Franklin High School Sports Hall of Fame in the spotlight. My guests for that program included: Bobby Langley, Bobby T. Ladd, and Coach Bob Hardison.

(4) The HTRS for Nov. 11, 2009; where my guests were Bobby Langley and Jim Hayes. On this show, we took a trip down Memory Lane and revisited the Franklin and Williamson County that now resides in the fond memories of so many people. By the way, overall, this is still a consistent favorite show!! It has been visited almost 200 times a month for each and every month since it aired live on AM-950. And finally...

(5) all the HTRS segments where Bobby Langley was in the studio with me. There have been many of these shows!! Recently, I was telling Bobby that we now have about 12 hours of our memories recorded for posterity...so maybe future generations of Franklin residents will appreciate these glimpses into the past.... someday!!

On another note: My interview with Franklin Mayor John Schroer, in the aftermath of the recent historic floods (it aired on the Friday after the floodwaters had finally crested), has been accessed by hundreds of website visitors, too. Many were visiting the site from locales across the United States! Apparently, the news of the floods brought some folks to the site for a better understanding of the depth of this crisis. I appreciate the time that Mayor Schroer spent with the listeners at AM-950. I was truly impressed with his knowledge and his overall understanding of this crisis......all city and county emergency personnel worked heroically throughout this stressful time.

Finally: Our newest feature at AM-950 is the Real Estate Roundtable, which aires...live... every Thursday morning between 7:30 AM and 8 o'clock on WAKM.
Every week, Loy Hardcastle joins me in Studio "A" and we discuss all aspects of the real estate market. We also spice it up a bit with bits & pieces about the rich history of Franklin and about our memories of growing up in Franklin. I have been friends with Loy my entire life! We literally grew up in the same neighborhood and spent more than half a decade together in the car business at Hardcastle Motors!
As a special bonus, I always try to steer some conversation toward one of my favorite party bands of all time....The Exotics! As most everybody knows, Loy Hardcastle is one of the founding members of this historic local band.....he has always played drums....and it's interesting to hear the latest news from the band. After all, they are more popular now than ever...and their music covers an era when it was simply the best music ever written and performed! Period!

By the way... I always try to upload the audio from AM-950's Real Estate Roundtable to this website....my goal is to have it online by late the same afternoon and no later than the following morning. Already, the response to this program, judging by the "hits" to the website, has been very satisfying. Again, the numbers simply surpass all previous expectations! Thanks for your patronage!!

It goes without saying that I treasure the time I get to spend on-the-air at AM-950. The first time I ever worked in Studio "A," it was in the summer of 1975...I believe...and Don Freeze taught me how to produce a local radio show, from start to finish. Don was a real professional and I was lucky to learn this end of broadcasting while at his side. Don passed away in November of 1995, but I still take a little bit of his memory with me into Studio "A" everytime I report for work....I guess I always will!!

WAKM is a very unique radio station. It is not owned by the large chains, but continues to be the voice of hometown radio. We hope it will always stay that way! So stay tuned....it's only gonna get better. Thanks for listening!!

WAKM is Franklin's oldest radio station.

Affiliations at WAKM include:
*CNN Radio 
*Tennessee Radio Network 
*NASCAR Racing through MRN and PRN 
*Tennessee Volunteers Radio Network 
*Tennessee Titans Radio Network.

For local advertising information on WAKM AM-950, call: (615)794-1594.

"Support HomeTown Radio!"

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Former WKDA "Good Guy" Lee Dorman has released his long-awaited book, detailing the history of broadcasting in Nashville. It gives primary focus on the early days of Nashville broadcasting, from about 1920 up until the early-70s. He has also set up a fantastic website, in conjunction with the release of this great book,at www.nashvillebroadcastinghistory.com

Please check out this website! And feel free to contact Lee Dorman.

The History Of Broadcasting In Nashville was released in April 2009, so be sure and look for it...and Buy It!!

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If you have any old radio memorabilia from WKDA-AM, WKDA-FM, or WKDF, please share it with me- so I can share it with the many people who come to this website! I am especially interested in old photographs and any old airchecks out there. In the coming months, I hope to be adding some airchecks to the site & I hope these will feature some of your favorite personalities.

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Lastly, I am constantly amazed by the number of people who still view this website on a regular basis and write to tell me how much they enjoy the "trip down memory lane." Two of the most recent comments came from two legends of Nashville radio: Allen Dennis, who once had a very popular radio show at WMAK; and Sam Hale, who had a highly-rated show at WKDA. As always, I welcome your comments and suggestions!! Thanks for stopping by the website...and be sure to tell your friends about us!

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****WE ALWAYS WELCOME YOUR COMMENTS!!****

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Unique Visits
Copyright, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 Hudson Alexander III.
Website Designed and Maintained by Hudson Alexander IV: webguy (at) aroundtheblock.us

Hudson Alexander III at the WAKM Studio.

Added: 7.30.2010 Added 7.29.2010

Unique Visits Copyright, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 Hudson Alexander III.Website Designed and Maintained by Hudson Alexander IV: webguy (at) aroundtheblock.us

Added: 7.30.2010

Added 7.29.2010

Unique Visits
Copyright, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 Hudson Alexander III.
Website Designed and Maintained by Hudson Alexander IV: webguy (at) aroundtheblock.us