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“font-family: Verdana; line-height: normal;”>Without the black radio disc jockeys in the 1950s to the 1970s, many R&B and gospel records would not have hit the airwaves. National organizations and acclaimed musicians would not be where they are today without those DJs who spun without earning a working wage.
On June 8,
three of these radio personalities – Doug Eason, Gentleman Jim
Gates and Columbus Gregory – will be inducted into the St. Louis
Media Halls of Fame, along with media members in newspaper and
television.
The
induction ceremony for the 2011 honorees is set for 5:30 p.m. to 8
p.m. at Gio’s Ristorante & Bar, 7th and Market in downtown St.
Louis. The event is open to the public, with cash bar.
All three
disc jockeys know each other well. With only a few stations for
African Americans to work at, they stuck together in the good times
and the bad.
“font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;”>“We were one little band working for separate stations,” said Bernie Hayes, a longtime radio personality,
“mso-bidi-font-style: normal;”>St. Louis American and author of Death of Black Radio. “Blacks that were on the air were a family, even though we had competing time slots.” “font-family: Verdana;”>
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“font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;”>Doug Eason “font-family: Verdana;”>
“font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;”>Within this community, Doug Eason, “The Leprechaun,” was known as an approachable person who would make things happen. After working as a broadcast specialist for the Armed Forces Radio and Television Service, Eason made his mark in commercial radio in a career that spanned more than 40 years. Though he left for stints to go to California and Alabama, the majority of those years were spent in St. Louis radio. And listeners looked forward to hearing the gentle-voiced disc jockey with a strong presence in his community.
“font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;”>As vice president and general manager of KATZ and WESL, he opened doors for many aspiring radio personalities, Hayes said. His degree from SIU–Carbondale opened doors for him later in his life. While teaching full-time and mentoring high school students, Eason also hosted a daily show on WGNU. “font-family: Verdana;”>
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“font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;”>Gentlemen Jim Gates “mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;”>
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“font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;”>The career of Gentleman Jim Gates began at KATZ in 1968. After three years, he moved to KWK, followed by WESL, where he was co-owner of the station and served as general manager. In 1986 he returned to KATZ as general manager. Known as “The Brown-Eyed Scorpio,” Gates earned more than 40 Gold Records from the music industry.
“font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;”>He also worked at KXOK in 1993 and then KMJM where his show was the highest-rated on the station. In 2000 Jim had a show on the Peabody Award-winning KZJZ, and he also worked at WFUN-FM. The NAACP presented Jim Gates with its Legend Award in 2008. “font-family: Verdana;”>
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“font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;”>Columbus Gregory “font-family: Verdana;”>
“font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;”>What began as a part-time job in 1959 turned into a lifetime career for Columbus Gregory. He began working as a remote engineer at KATZ while attending Hubbard Business School; his duties expanded to include work in the station’s promotions and marketing departments. Four years later he was hired as an announcer at KXLW, where he stayed for 19 years. Gregory was always an authority on gospel music. Soft-spoken, listeners knew him for offering great advice.
“font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;”>Shortly after he moved to WGNU-FM, the station was sold to a national chain, and Gregory moved to KIRL in 1979. That station was sold in 2005, and Gregory was soon working for KXEN/WGNU as an announcer and senior account executive. He appeared as the announcer in the movie “Say Amen Somebody” and was named one of America’s Top 25 Disc Jockeys by Dollars and Sense magazine in 1986.
