Post by bruiser on Feb 7, 2011 16:30:00 GMT -5
I noticed on the front page, that when WKLO changed to an all rock format in '59, they kept Tommy Downs and Jimmie Lloyd Logsdon on the overnight shift. Seeing as how both came from the old school of the singing DJ, and both were country singers and recorded country music, I wonder if they were allowed to play country music? Before the format change, I'm fairly sure WKLO played "hillbilly" music most of the time, but would play rock and roll when school let out in the afternoons.
A little more about Jimmie Lloyd Logsdon. Although Logsdon recorded mostly country music, he did dabble in rockabilly, under the Jimmie Lloyd name. Although he never had a hit record, one of his recordings, that he also wrote, was featured in the box office smash "The Right Stuff". The song was "Rocket In My Pocket", and if you saw the movie, then you heard it. Jimmie died in 2001.
The only singing DJ, who had any national success, was Jimmy Osborne, who's been discussed here before. He only had three songs make the national country charts, but all three went top 10. These tunes were:
1. My Heart Echoes, reached #10 in '48
2. The Death Of Little Kathy Fiscus, reached #7 in'49. This song was based on the true story of Kathy Fiscus, a little girl who fell into a well and died there. Osborne gave most of the royalties to the Fiscus family. I think this became the first national TV story. as TV was new, and a local TV station provided 24 hour coverage of the rescue attempt, and this was picked up nationwide. Lots of info on the web about this, and Osborne.
3. God Please Protect America, reached #9 in '50.
Jimmie made lots of appearances on The Louisiana Hayride, WLS National Barn Dance, and The Grand Ole Opry. He was riding high back in the day.
A little more about Jimmie Lloyd Logsdon. Although Logsdon recorded mostly country music, he did dabble in rockabilly, under the Jimmie Lloyd name. Although he never had a hit record, one of his recordings, that he also wrote, was featured in the box office smash "The Right Stuff". The song was "Rocket In My Pocket", and if you saw the movie, then you heard it. Jimmie died in 2001.
The only singing DJ, who had any national success, was Jimmy Osborne, who's been discussed here before. He only had three songs make the national country charts, but all three went top 10. These tunes were:
1. My Heart Echoes, reached #10 in '48
2. The Death Of Little Kathy Fiscus, reached #7 in'49. This song was based on the true story of Kathy Fiscus, a little girl who fell into a well and died there. Osborne gave most of the royalties to the Fiscus family. I think this became the first national TV story. as TV was new, and a local TV station provided 24 hour coverage of the rescue attempt, and this was picked up nationwide. Lots of info on the web about this, and Osborne.
3. God Please Protect America, reached #9 in '50.
Jimmie made lots of appearances on The Louisiana Hayride, WLS National Barn Dance, and The Grand Ole Opry. He was riding high back in the day.