Around The Block: WKDA Radio History. Newspaper Articles.

Added: 2.08.2010

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The big news right now at AM-950, WAKM: Tom Lawrence is back from China!

We are so thankful that Tom is back home, safe & sound, from his recent trip to teach English to college students in China. Tom has long been a fixture in local broadcasting: he launched his career, while still attending school as a teenager, at the old WFLT-FM, back when the studio was located atop the Sewell Electric Comapny on Fourth Avenue South in downtown Franklin, Tennessee. In 1969, some major changes came to Franklin radio when WIZO AM-1380 took to the airwaves at Melody Acres, just southwest of Franklin on Carter's Creek Pike. The AM station took as its sister station the former WFLT-FM 100, which changed call-letters to WIZO-FM. Tom was an integral part of that broadcasting team, along with a group which included: Jim Hayes, Judy Hayes, Charles Dibrell, Darrell Williams, Linda Carden, Dan Rogers, Joy Rogers, Mike Smiley, and others (I know I am probably leaving some people out here...and I apologize).

In 1982, WIZO-AM and WIZO-FM were sold: the AM station continued to broadcast from the Melody Acres studio under the leadership of a businessman from Birmingham, Alabama; the FM station was later moved to Nashville, where it continues to broadcast today as Lightning 100.Following this sale, a group of the old colleagues from WIZO decided to purchase AM-950 in Franklin, which was broadcasting at that time under the call-letters of WTJT. It was owned by a group of local businessmen: Tom T. Hall; Tandy Rice; and John Lentz. AM-950 had gone on the air as WAGG in the spring of 1953 under the local ownership of Bill Ormes. The local group that purchased AM-950 in the latter part of 1982 included: Jim Hayes, Tom Lawrence, Charles Dibrell, Darrell Williams; and Bill Ewing. Shortly after taking over at AM-950, the call-letters were changed to the present call-letters: WAKM. IN all the years since that time....almost 28 years....Tom Lawrence has been a mainstay in morning radio at WAKM.

Now that Tom has returned from China, he will be gradually adjusting to life back in Franklin...and that means more airtime on AM-950!

For now, WAKM Program Director, Darrell Williams, has announced that I will continue to be a part of the WAKM broadcast team. I will continue to handle the morning show from the studio on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. And I plan to continue my duties at WAKM each Sunday morning. As regular listeners already know, WAKM places special emphasis on their Hometown Radio Show, which primarily broadcasts during the 8 o'clock hour each morning. Look for Tom to be more active during this segment & it is my hope that WAKM will also continue to allow me to broadcast historical programs from time to time, as we have done on several occasions during Tom's absence.

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

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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