(Nashville) Four legendary Memphis radio personalities will be inducted into the Tennessee Radio Hall of Fame next month.
Rick Dees, George Klein, Dewey Phillips and Rufus Thomas are among this year’s 16 inductees.
Dees became nationally known in the late 1970’s while working at WMPS Radio, when he wrote and recorded the novely hit “Disco Duck”. Dees also worked at WHBQ Radio before moving to Los Angeles.
Klein, best known as being one of Elvis Presley’s closest friends, has spent the last 50 years on radio and television at several Memphis area stations.
Phillips was the Mid-South’s most popular radio personality in the 1950’s — hosting his “Red, Hot and Blue Show” on WHBQ. He was also the first DJ to play an Elvis Presley record on the air.
Until his death in 2001, Thomas spent more than 50 years on the air at WDIA — the nation’s first radio station programmed by African-Americans.
WDIA is also being honored at this year’s induction banquet as this year’s Legendary Station.
The banquet will be held on May 4th at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Murfreesboro.