Early 60s Soul Out of Nashville

[Retired W4]

Growing up in Tullahoma, TN between 1960 and 1965 I had the opportunity to watch Night Train at midnight on Saturdays, broadcast out of Nashville. It was hosted by Nobel Blackwell and had many great music acts live on the TV. One of the regulars was a guy named Ironing Board Sam who would describe his unusual ax, a keyboard mounted on a Sears Roebucks ironing board with a home made amp and speaker cabinet. When Sam got wound up playing "Can I Get A Witness" he got that ironing board rocking back and forth and you could hear the girls in the studio swooning.

Their regular sponsor was some beer brand, that I can't remember, but it came in the "party Keg". About two gallons of Draught beer that Nobel would start the show with, giving a demonstration of how it worked. Between each band he would draw himself another mug, just to show how it worked. By the end of the show he was pretty well lit.

Blackwell would have many greats from the Chitlin circuit, including Jimi Hendrix. At the time I had no idea who Jimi was but by 1966 it all came home to me. That was my introduction to Soul music that was really brewing at the time.

I hope I got all the details correct. It was a long time ago.

 

[fiasconva]

I remember if we were lucky enough we could get "Cousin Brucie's Solid Gold Soul Show from Nashville, Tenn." late at night on AM Radio Station WLAC (?) once in a while if the conditions were right. I loved that show and he played all the best soul music back then. Hard to get that station in central NC but when we did it was a hoot.

 

[Mule Packer]

Speaking of "Ironing Board Sam," here he is giving his version of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow." Maybe it's just me, but I'm thinkin' Judy Garland's version probably still holds the top spot.

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4YtKwWOtRI"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4YtKwWOtRI[/ame]

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Many a time I've been driving through the night listening to Hoss Allen.
Heard him on a 50,000 Watt Clear channel station out of Nashville.
Bill Allen was an American radio disc jockey who attained fame from the 1950s through the 1990s for playing rhythm and blues and black gospel music on Nashville radio station WLAC. Allen was the youngest of a quartet of disc jockeys known as "The 50,000 Watt Quartet".

 

[5-Shot]

Pilgrim,
I grew up listening to Gene Nobles, DJ on "The Dance Hour" on WLAC in the 50's. He preceded Hoss Allen. It was a steady stream of Little Walter, Howling Wolf, Muddy Waters etc.
Ed

 

[Retired W4]

Dick Biondi out of Chicago, late at night on that little transistor radio. For a while, all top three requests were the Beatles.

Ironing Board sure has gotten fancy years later, and he's sitting down.

 

[Rustyt1953]

In the 60's I listened to WCIN "Soul Motivation in Cincinnati".

R&B, Motown and funk 24/7.

I also had WEBN with "Jelly Pudding" and the "King Biscuit Flower Hour".

 

[Cdog]

I came in a bit later than you others, late 60's early 70's. 15 WLAC was a preset on everything that had them. WLS out of Chicago was an after dark regular too. During daylight hours we had WQXI 790 and WVOK 690 playing top 40 pop and WPLO 590 playing country music at the time I started listening. Skinny Bobby Harper was a very entertaining DJ on several am and fm stations during my youth.

I love the Motown sound. I don't understand how the market for it died such a death. Give me the Supremes, The Staple Singers, Aretha, Etta, and of course Reverend Al Green over most anything post 1973 or so.