Post by bme on May 15, 2007 22:37:20 GMT -5
My name is Bruce Miller Earle. I lived in Louisville on Algonquin Parkway between the years of 1958 - 1964. I attended elementary school at McFerrin and 7th and 8th grade at Suda E. Butler Jr. High. I vividly remember when WGRC was transformed into WAKY radio that took Kentuckyanna by storm. I remember during my parents stormy divorce that my father took up residence at an apartment complex on Manslick Road. In this same apartment unit lived Jim Brand and Jerry Barr. It was at a pool side blow out that I met "El Jump" Jack Sanders in the summer of 1962. At the tender age of 11 I was introduced to the most energetic and dynamic guy I had ever known.
I had already built a bootleg radio station in my room and practiced running radio programs on a home brew transmitter loaded into the clothes line. I was hooked and wanted to be in radio from that time on. By the time I met Jumpin Jack I already had determined that he was my favorite DJ on WAKY. What I did not know until we met was we both shared Texas roots. I think he was a it surprised that a young kid knew of some of the stations he had worked at in the Lone Star State. I let him know that I wanted to be in radio more than anything in the world. I impressed him enough I guess that he told me I could come visit him sometime at the studio in the Kentucky Home Life Building during his Saturday afternoon program.
For the next year I would not only visit him, but I would steal away from home on Saturday evening by myself and go to a movie downtown. As my parents divorce raged I more or less fell through parental cracks and was on my own. After the movies I would make my way to the Kentucky Home Life Building and hang out with Dick the old retired night watchman. On a few times I was lucky enough to convince the all night man to let me hang out overnight at the station. I remember that Floyd Thackery (Jack Daniels) was the all night guy during this time, or at least he was on all night Saturday - Sunday morning. I remember it was during this time that I met Ben Pflederer who would hang out during Jack Daniels all night show.
I contacted Tom (Bob) Watson a few years ago after I found the 79WAKY.com site about Jack Sanders. I do recall the vivacious young woman who Jack Sanders was involved with. I was probably 12 at the time and my hormones were beginning to pop. I was later told that this young lady was maybe 15 or 16 at the time. I remember that she looked much older and was drop dead beautiful, built like a bombshell. If my memory serves me correctly she attended a Catholic School because of the blue skirt/white blouse uniform she wore once when I saw her there.
During several Saturday afternoon visits El Jump and this young woman would take a powder somewhere in the station for what seemed like a long while. During his absence a young friend of Jacks would run the board and overlay carted voice drops with excellent perfection. The guy was a whiz bang and no one would know that jack was off of the scope doing light construction, or something. Forty five years can do a lot to dim a mans memory, but I recall this young mans name was J.L. Embry. At this time he was like a Senior in High School somewhere across the river in Indiana. I remember he was real tight with Jack and maybe did some sort of leg work for him later at SAMBO productions. I do know that Jack had landed J.L. a summer gig running the board all night at WMAK in Nashville, covering full timers vacation shifts. J.L. returned after the summer gig with a briefcase full of tapes of all the WMAK Pams jingles. Through all of this I recall that J.L. always had a tape running recording jack's program. I recall that J.L. always dressed well and seemed to be from a well off family. In fact he had the first Norelco three inch reel 7.5 ips portable tape recorder I had ever seen. If anybody would have air checks or voice drops of Jack Sanders, it would be J.L. Embry. I mentioned his name to Tom Watson and it did not register with him.
Maybe someone out there remembers the guy I am talking about. Then again after the underage girl scandal this fellow may not be up for any comment regarding this period in Louisville rock and roll history. Nonetheless I hope this information may be of use. I really enjoy the WAKY site and will continue to visit it often.
B M E
I had already built a bootleg radio station in my room and practiced running radio programs on a home brew transmitter loaded into the clothes line. I was hooked and wanted to be in radio from that time on. By the time I met Jumpin Jack I already had determined that he was my favorite DJ on WAKY. What I did not know until we met was we both shared Texas roots. I think he was a it surprised that a young kid knew of some of the stations he had worked at in the Lone Star State. I let him know that I wanted to be in radio more than anything in the world. I impressed him enough I guess that he told me I could come visit him sometime at the studio in the Kentucky Home Life Building during his Saturday afternoon program.
For the next year I would not only visit him, but I would steal away from home on Saturday evening by myself and go to a movie downtown. As my parents divorce raged I more or less fell through parental cracks and was on my own. After the movies I would make my way to the Kentucky Home Life Building and hang out with Dick the old retired night watchman. On a few times I was lucky enough to convince the all night man to let me hang out overnight at the station. I remember that Floyd Thackery (Jack Daniels) was the all night guy during this time, or at least he was on all night Saturday - Sunday morning. I remember it was during this time that I met Ben Pflederer who would hang out during Jack Daniels all night show.
I contacted Tom (Bob) Watson a few years ago after I found the 79WAKY.com site about Jack Sanders. I do recall the vivacious young woman who Jack Sanders was involved with. I was probably 12 at the time and my hormones were beginning to pop. I was later told that this young lady was maybe 15 or 16 at the time. I remember that she looked much older and was drop dead beautiful, built like a bombshell. If my memory serves me correctly she attended a Catholic School because of the blue skirt/white blouse uniform she wore once when I saw her there.
During several Saturday afternoon visits El Jump and this young woman would take a powder somewhere in the station for what seemed like a long while. During his absence a young friend of Jacks would run the board and overlay carted voice drops with excellent perfection. The guy was a whiz bang and no one would know that jack was off of the scope doing light construction, or something. Forty five years can do a lot to dim a mans memory, but I recall this young mans name was J.L. Embry. At this time he was like a Senior in High School somewhere across the river in Indiana. I remember he was real tight with Jack and maybe did some sort of leg work for him later at SAMBO productions. I do know that Jack had landed J.L. a summer gig running the board all night at WMAK in Nashville, covering full timers vacation shifts. J.L. returned after the summer gig with a briefcase full of tapes of all the WMAK Pams jingles. Through all of this I recall that J.L. always had a tape running recording jack's program. I recall that J.L. always dressed well and seemed to be from a well off family. In fact he had the first Norelco three inch reel 7.5 ips portable tape recorder I had ever seen. If anybody would have air checks or voice drops of Jack Sanders, it would be J.L. Embry. I mentioned his name to Tom Watson and it did not register with him.
Maybe someone out there remembers the guy I am talking about. Then again after the underage girl scandal this fellow may not be up for any comment regarding this period in Louisville rock and roll history. Nonetheless I hope this information may be of use. I really enjoy the WAKY site and will continue to visit it often.
B M E
It's great to have someone from the era of the origin of WAKY! And if you know Ben/Rudy, you've got to have a wealth of knowledge alot of us young'ns can benefit from! Your initial post is proof. 
.
I believe Jack worked there for a short time. How is the "Duke of Earle"? If I can remember, didn't we do some fun things together in those days?