1980 in Tennessee Radio

The clock turns back to 1980. Ronald Reagan was elected President of the United States. An LCD pendant watch in 1980 was $34.95. The average monthly rent in 1980 was $300. And the average income per year was $19,500. And in Tennessee, Johnny Majors was in his fourth year as Tennessee's head football coach while Tennessee's population was at 4.591 million that year.

While 1980 started a brand new decade - the 80s, local radio was evolving to suit the listener's needs. Whether it was country music or rock music, your favorite radio station was carrying it. Let's travel back in time to 1980 as we feature some radio lineups from that year.

(Lineups courtesy of the Fred 1980 annual as featured in the American Radio History website)

WKGN-AM 1340/KNOXVILLE
Jim Donovan 12-6am
John Payne 6-10am
Stewart Clark 10am-3pm
Keith Lambert 3-7pm
Jennifer Lear 7pm-12am

WREC-AM 600/MEMPHIS
Joseph Hargraves 12-6am
Steve Butler 6-10:30am
Allan Tynes 10:30am-2pm
Rick Kaucher 2pm-12am
Larry Anthony and David Anthony (weekends)

WKIR-FM 104.1/JACKSON
Mark Ward 6-10am
Suzzane Craig 10am-2pm
Jim Seech 2-7pm
Brian Davis 7pm-12am
Tony King 12-6 am
Bill Charity and Mike Brown (weekends)

WNOX-AM 990/KNOXVILLE
James Maurice 2-5:30am
Dave Dunaway 5:30-10am
Phil Williams 10am-2pm
Mike Beach 2-6pm
Scott Majors 6-10pm
Tom Michaels 10pm-2am
Joey Burchfield (weekends)

WRJZ-AM 620/KNOXVILLE
CP and Walker 6-10am
Rick Kirk 10am-2pm
JJ Scott 2-6pm
John Isley 6-10pm
Adele 10pm-2am
Mark Thompson 2-6am

WKDA-AM 1240/NASHVILLE
Jim DeMarro (mornings)
Al Risen (middays)
Dale Turner (afternoons)
Bill Hudson (evenings)

WLAC-AM 1510/NASHVILLE
Pat Reilly and Dick Kent 6-9am
Chuck McCartney 9am-1pm
Mark Damon 1-3pm
Allen Dennis 3-6pm
Smokey Rivers 6-10pm
Spider Harrison 10pm-1am
Shadoe Bailey 1-6am

WMC-AM 790/MEMPHIS
Les Tivers 12-5am
Hal Jay 5-9am
Les Acree 9am-12pm
Jackie Strickland 12-3pm
Phil Conner 3-7pm
Larry Nobles 7pm-12am
Robin Scott (weekends)

WMPS-AM 680/MEMPHIS
Bill Murray 6-10am
Kevin Murphy 10am-3pm
Walt Jackson 3-7pm
Jaybird Marvin 7pm-12am
Sid Wood 12-6am
Paul Watt and Carol Williams (weekends)

WMQM-AM 1480/MEMPHIS
Jim Corbitt 6am-12pm
Sam Felts 12-3pm
Pete Thomas 3pm-signoff

WMTS-AM 810/MURFREESBORO
Dan Jaynes 6-9am
Gary Rivers 9am-1pm
Ron Scott 1pm-signoff

WMTS-FM 96.3/MURFREESBORO
Bill Jones 5-9am
Roy Mecke 9am-1pm
Annie Stewart 1-5pm
Dave Countess 5-9pm
Alan Freeman 9pm-1am

WQUD-FM 104.5/MEMPHIS
Greg Hamilton 6-9am
Bill White 9am-2pm
Paul Selph 2-7pm
Debbie Clark 7pm-12am
Larry Cotlar 12-6am.

WSIX-AM 980/NASHVILLE
Gerry House 5:30-9am
Dave Hutcheson 9am-12pm
Jay Franklin 12-2pm
Dennis John Cahill 2-6pm
Vern Robinson 6-11:30pm
Ray Wiggins 11:30pm-5:30am

WSKZ-FM 106.5/CHATTANOOGA
David Carroll 6-10am
Chris Thomas 10am-2pm
Buster Bradley 2-6pm
Ron Richardson 6-10pm
Tim Cunningham 10pm-2am
Gary Beach 2-6am

WSM-AM 650/NASHVILLE
John Young 6-9am
Ralph Emery 9-10am
Gary Beaty 10am-1pm
Charlie Chase 1-5pm
News 5-6pm
Tony Lyons 6-9pm
Hairl Hensley 9pm-12am
Coyote McCloud 12-4am
Chuck Morgan 4-6am

WSM-FM 95.5/NASHVILLE
Dave Nichols 6-10am
Keith Bilbrey 10am-2pm
Donna Brake 2-6pm
Kris Bradley 6-10pm
Bennie Ray 10pm-2am
Mike Donegan 2-6am

WVOL-AM 1470/NASHVILLE
Jeff Mathey 6-10am
Brother Dave 11am-3pm
Fast Freddy 3-7pm
P.J. Carter 7pm-12am
Vic Watkins 12-5am

WWKX-FM 104.5/NASHVILLE
Drew Pearson 12-6am
Darrell Douglas 6-10am
Michael St. John 10am-12pm
Jeff Baker 12-3pm
Jon Anthony 3-7pm
The Unknown Disc Jockey 7pm-12am

WZDQ-FM 102.3/CHATTANOOGA
Dale Anthony 6am-3pm
Anne McCartney 3-9pm
Lana Bazemore 9pm-12am
Stanley Hall 12-6am

This has been a look at what radio in Tennessee looked like in 1980.