This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: debijon1 Surnames: Belcher, Smith, Rogers, Gill, Pride, Acuff, Walker, Greene, Pearl, Rabbitt, McEntire, Van Shelton, Seals, Gosdin, Cramer, Atkins Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.henderson/5692.1.1.2.1.1.1.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Dad was born in the village of Hundred, West Virginia on November 14, 1919 and spent his childhood in Waynesburg, Pennsylvania (near Pittsburgh). Details are sketchy about his early years in music, but at one time he and his younger brother Jack toured the country as "The Sunshine Brothers" with very little success. Then somewhere along the way, Dad broke away from Jack and went on the road alone, bouncing from one radio station to another. In late 1943 he landed at KWTO in Springfield, Missouri, a well-known haven for live talent, and Dad joined the daily "Red Belcher Show" as a featured singer. Also at the station was a sister act called "The Smith Sisters" (consisting of my mother Wanda Smith and her older sister Helen). Mom (born October 1, 1927) spent her childhood on a farm in Dallas County, Missouri (40 miles north of Springfield), and the KWTO job was her first time on radio. To make a long story short (well, I guess it's too late for that) Dad saw her and liked what! he saw! They married April 29, 1944, left KWTO and headed to at station in Jackson, Tennessee for their first job as a duet act. Then it was on to KTHS Hot Springs, Arkansas, WVOK Birmingham, WLW Cincinnati, WNOX Knoxville, and several others before finally finding a home at WLAC Nashville for about 5 years. After retiring from the music business in the early '50s, my parents settled in Dallas County, Missouri (the area where Mom grew up and where she still lives to this day). I was born there in '55, graduated from high school in '73, left for radio jobs in Pittsburg, Kansas, Winter Haven, Florida and finally Nashville before coming home to roost in '81 to accept a staff announcer/deejay position at KWTO Springfield, Missouri (sound familiar? yep, the station where my folks met!) I haven't deejayed since '92, but am still at KWTO working as a studio engineer (the station is now "news talk"). When I was involved in country radio, I did have a chance to interview many of th! e biggest country stars of the day. Among them: Kenny Rogers, Vince Gi ll, Charley Pride, Roy Acuff, Billy Walker, Jack Greene, Minnie Pearl, Eddie Rabbitt, Alabama, Reba McEntire, Ricky Van Shelton, Dan Seals, Vern Gosdin, many others. The highlight for me though, would have to be the interview I did with my all-time favorite performer Floyd Cramer, whom I had a chance to chat with backstage at the Grand Ole Opry House in May of 1980 just before the taping of the TV special "A Tribute To Chet Atkins". I never learned to play music, but if I had, it would have been to play piano like Floyd, the absolute best! He was a nice guy too. If you would like to send Mom a letter, I'm sure she would love to hear from you. Her mailing address is P. O. Box 786, Buffalo, Missouri 65622. Wanda, thanks again for giving me this opportunity to reminisce a little bit. It's been fun! Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.