Driver Lifestyles

Trucking Radio Legends

This isn’t your father's trucking radio anymore!

It used to be that to hear trucking news, information and country music targeted at truckers, a driver would have to tune into one of the many AM radio stations that dotted the nation. 

Then, depending upon that station's signal strength, the driver could chew up the miles while listening to some of the original trucking radio personalities.

Of course, those good ole days are gone, but some of the names and voices from trucking radio's early years are still going strong. Through the power of satellite radio, a few of trucking radio's originators are reaching even wider audiences than before and bringing their trucking message to new listeners.

So, where are they now?    

Billy Cole
From his first paying job at a 100 watt station in Attica, NY, Billy Cole spent over 40 years in radio including a decade as host of all night trucking shows at WHO in Des Moines, IA during the 1970's and 1980's.  Cole was inducted into the Country Music Disc Jockey Hall of Fame in 2002.

Mike Hoyer
Mike Hoyer began a 45 year on-air career at 17.  Following stints at KEVE in Minneapolis, MN & KMA in Shenandoah, IA, Hoyer started "Country Music U.S.A." at WHO in Des Moines, IA in 1965. 

In 1971, he left the all night grind & continued broadcasting through 1990 at KWMT in Fort Dodge, IA, KBUL in Wichita, KS, & KFGO in Fargo, ND.   The co-writer of "Lookin' At The World Through a Windshield" died on February 1, 1999. Inducted into the Country Disc Jockey Hall of Fame in 1995.

Billy Parker 
Parker began his radio career in 1959  and after stints in Tulsa, Wichita, & Oklahoma City,  he returned to the airwaves on KVOO AM in Tulsa.  Shortly thereafter, the Billy Parker Big Rigger Show became a mainstay for over eight years.  Parker is still active in radio, hosting a Sunday night show in Tulsa on KVOO FM He was inducted into the Country Music Disc Jockey Hall of Fame in 1991.

Big John Trimble
In 1972, Trimble started an overnight trucking show on KMO in Tacoma, WA and brought his audience to KGA in Spokane, WA two years later.  After three years of broadcasting from Kelly's Truck Stop on KWKH in Shreveport, LA, the Paintsville, KY native began an 18 year association with WRVA in Richmond, VA with a show originating from Jarrell's Truck Stop.  Trimble can be heard weekdays on WCLM 1450 in Richmond, VA.

Charlie Douglas
Considered by many to be the father of overnight trucking radio, Douglas began his broadcasting career at KLIC in Monroe, LA.  In 1970, Charlie Douglas and His Road Gang debuted over WWL in New Orleans, LA.  In 1983, he took over the hosting duties of Music Country Radio.  In 1995, he left WSM to operate Compact Disk Express.  Douglast was inducted into the Country Music Disc Jockey Hall of Fame in 1994.

Dave Nemo
Open-Road", Channel 171
XM Satellite Radio
Weekdays 7am - 12Noon ET

One of the pioneer broadcasters involved in the business of trucking radio, Dave Nemo is also a country music purist who still plays the music from the early days of, and many would say, the golden days of country.

Regarding his move from terrestrial broadcasting to satellite radio in the early part of this decade, Nemo says, "Not many folks get the chance to stay in the same job for over 30 years, yet at the same time launch a 'new' career as exciting as this."

A graduate of Loyola University with a degree in Communications, Nemo was one of the first people with a degree in that area of study. In his senior year in college, he landed a part time job at radio station WWL in New Orleans.

However, it was at that time that the US Army beckoned and sent him to South Korea where he was assigned to the Armed Forces Korea Network (AFKN).

During Nemo's stint in the Army, WWL air personality Charlie Douglas and his program director John Pela had developed the concept of radio programming focused on the professional truck driver. They took a chance on the format that they called the Road Gang and it was immediately successful.

When Nemo returned to work at WWL after his time with Uncle Sam, he and Douglas developed a friendship.  Nemo says, "Charlie needed a second host for the show and we began a working relationship that lasted for 13 years, until I took over the full time duties in 1984."

"Charlie has to be credited with inventing trucking radio; we were probably one of the first programs to do live remotes and promotions."

Nemo's program continues to this day to be a mix of classic country music and truckin' tunes, along with the occasional new artist who catches his ear.  There's plenty of trucker talk and information as well, with Nemo providing a regular stream of experts in all matters trucking.
www.davenemo.com
 
Bill Mack
Open-Road, Channel 171
XM Satellite Radio
Weekdays 12Noon - 4pm ET

Bill Mack has been the recipient of every award in the country music broadcasting field, including a Grammy Award, Country Music D.J. of the Year and in 1982 he received the greatest honor of all when he was placed into the Country Music Disc Jockey Hall of Fame in Nashville.

Mac has been written about in more magazines and newspapers than any other country D.J. and has been voted "One of the 13 most powerful people in Country Music" by country artists, songwriters, agents, etc.

Now billing himself as the "Satellite Cowboy", Mack began his radio career in the early 50's and worked in various markets throughout Texas.  He began his first radio program targeted to truckers in 1969 with "The U.S. 1 Trucking Show" on WBAP 820.

Mack has been hosting “Country Crossroads” on radio (now heard on over 800 outlets) since it began in October, 1969 and has been hosting “Country Crossroads” on FamilyNet Cable TV since 1993.
 
He has been honored as the “Country Music DJ.. Of-The-Year”, “Mr. DJ.. USA”, “Texas’ Number One Country DJ..” (for over 30 years) and the super honor:  He is a member of the “Country Music DJ.. Hall-Of-Fame” in Nashville.

Mack is also recognized as one of the better songwriters in the nation.  His compositions have been recorded by over 60 artists including Dean Martin, Ray Price, Jerry Lee Lewis, George Jones and dozens of other top names in country music. 

His biggest moment in music came in 1997 when his song, “Blue”, made LeAnn Rimes a star and he won a Grammy when it was voted “The Country Song Of The Year”, the highest honor that can be bestowed on a songwriter. In 2003, "BLUE" was selected as one of the TOP 100 Country Songs of-all-time by Country Music Television.

www.billmackcountry.com

Dale "The Truckin' Bozo" Sommers
Open-Road, Channel 171
XM Satellite Radio
Weekdays 4pm - 7pm ET

Dale "The Truckin' Bozo" Sommers began his radio career in 1959 as a 15 year-old Cincinnati, Ohio high school student. But Sommers says his truly "big break" came in 1977 when he went to work hosting an afternoon program for WDAF in Kansas City. 

A few years later, Sommers moved back to Cincinnati and launched a new all-night show targeted to truckers on the 50,000 watt WLW  On March 26, 1984 "The Truckin' Bozo Show" was born.

The successful "Truckin' Bozo Show" was syndicated to a much wider audience via numerous radio stations across the U.S.A. In 2001, Sommer's program reached even greater heights when his show became the first to be broadcast on XM Satellite radio's new Open Road Channel.

Sommers hosted his highly rated all-night program for over 20 years but the intense pace eventually took its toll and in April 2004 ill health forced him to leave his network in the hands of his oldest son Steve.

After taking five months off to recover, "The Truckin' Bozo" returned to the Open Road schedule with a three hour afternoon show from his home studio in Citrus Hills, Florida.

“I feel privileged to be able to make the transition from one form of radio to the new technology that XM offers,” Sommers states. “I am excited about the prospect of being able to chat, inform and entertain my audience that has now migrated to XM Satellite Radio.”