From Russ (Joe Dennessey) (Feb 2000):

I have had a good life in radio and have made many friends who, like I, miss good Top-40 radio. There were at least 6 Russ Knights on WSGN. My short stint was in 1967. I helped Jim Taber out while his broken arm healed and he was looking for someone. I was Program Director at another station in town and my voice sounded like the other good guys at WSGN and no one ever knew. I laugh about that all the time.

A friend of mine bought the old WCRT 1260 (Birmingham) in the early 1980s and ran a Christian format until the different faiths could not get along and turned it around in to Oldies in 1986.

After over a year of begging and placing me on guilt trips, I agreed to bring back the Russ Knight show for one year. This was November of 1987 and I said good bye in November of 1988. The most humbling part of all this was that on Sunday afternoon during my time slot WMJJ was the only higher rated station. I did not think anyone would remember "Good Guy Radio" but I was wrong. WCRT was sold around a year later and is now WLGS and is owned by Crawford Broadcasting.

Again pressure came from the Alabama Record Collectors and the Birmingham Record Collectors to do the Russ Knight Show. This time Suzi, my wife, pushed me as well, so I built a small low-power station on 1610, WSGN (one six ten) and an Fm at 100.1. Each tuesday night from 7-10 pm (September to May) we do the show. The station is solid for around 8-10 miles and the clubs head out to Shoneys at Eastwood Mall and relieve the good old days.

I have given notice that this September (2000) is going to be it. I have sold my home in Mountain Brook and presently am building a retirement home on Neely Henry Lake in East Alabama.

It's funny how things work out. Neal Miller called last week to remind me of Ben McKinnon's retirement as president of the Alabama Broadcasters. Dave Roddy is in Columbia South Carolina and has done very well in the ad business. Walt Williams' oldest son lives down the street from me and is our communications attorney. Walt senior lives in Leesburg on Weiss lake and has radio interest there and in other states. Herb Steadman owns a radio station in Sumiton, Alabama. Jim Taber died in 1992 (what a loss to radio). I have lost contact with the rest.

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