Barney Cannon
Encyclopedia
Floyd Keith Cannon, known as Barney Cannon (October 9, 1955—April 19, 2009), was an American
radio personality. He was a DJ on radio station KWKH-AM
in Shreveport, Louisiana
, who was considered an authority on country music
. When asked to name his favorite country singer, Cannon told his listeners that he liked all of the performers. He often gave tough country music trivia quizzes for his listeners.
Cannon was born to Floyd H. Cannon (January 16, 1922—January 23, 1989) and the former Jean Campbell in New Boston
in Bowie County
in northeast Texas
. He resided in Jefferson
, the seat of Marion County
, Texas. At the time of death, Cannon served on the city council of Jefferson.
Cannon launched his radio career in 1972 at the age of seventeen as a part-time announcer in Clarksville
in Red River County, Texas. He also worked in his hometown of New Boston and landed his first programming job at KCMC
in Texarkana
, Texas. He then relocated for a time to Glasgow
in southern Kentucky
, to work at WCDS. Afterwards, he was a deejay in Wichita Falls
, Texas, and Oklahoma City
.
His last position was at KWKH, where he had worked since 1985. Cannon previously hosted the weekend edition of the Interstate Road Show, but for his last six years, he served as program director and morning show deejay. He acquired thousands of loyal listeners over the years. A former colleague, Frank Page, the first person to announce the entry of Elvis Presley
at the Louisiana Hayride
, told Shreveport Times, "I've lost a great friend, but country music has lost an even greater friend... He had a passion for country music, and he knew more about the Louisiana Hayride than even I did." KWKH was the home of the Louisiana Hayride, staged at the downtown Shreveport Municipal Memorial Auditorium
.
Cannon was an Eagle Scout
in New Boston and developed a lifelong interest in camping
.
He had a history of cardiovascular disease
and died suddenly at his home in Jefferson, Texas. In addition to his mother, he was survived by his wife, Kaye, twins Kimberly and Kyle, a soldier
with the United States Army
then stationed at Fort Jackson
, South Carolina
, and his maternal grandmother, Irene Campbell of New Boston. His maternal grandfather was the late Jesse W. Campbell. Services were held on April 22 at First Baptist
Church in Jefferson. Interment was at Red Bayou Cemetery in New Boston.
Cannon ended his radio show: "May God be with you and you be with God. And you're never fully dressed unless you're wearing a big ol' smile."
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
radio personality. He was a DJ on radio station KWKH-AM
KWKH
KWKH is a classic country music radio station serving Shreveport, Louisiana. The 50-kilowatt station broadcasts at 1130 kHz. Formerly owned by Clear Channel Communications and Gap Central Broadcasting, it is now owned by Townsquare Media....
in Shreveport, Louisiana
Shreveport, Louisiana
Shreveport is the third largest city in Louisiana. It is the principal city of the fourth largest metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana and is the 109th-largest city in the United States....
, who was considered an authority on country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
. When asked to name his favorite country singer, Cannon told his listeners that he liked all of the performers. He often gave tough country music trivia quizzes for his listeners.
Cannon was born to Floyd H. Cannon (January 16, 1922—January 23, 1989) and the former Jean Campbell in New Boston
New Boston, Texas
New Boston is a city in Bowie County, Texas, United States. It was named after an early store keeper, W.J. Boston. It is part of the Texarkana, Texas - Texarkana, Arkansas Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
in Bowie County
Bowie County, Texas
Bowie County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. It is part of the Texarkana, Texas - Texarkana, Arkansas, Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2000, the population was 89,306. Its legal county seat is Boston, though its courthouse is located in New Boston...
in northeast Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. He resided in Jefferson
Jefferson, Texas
Jefferson is an historic city in Marion County in northeastern Texas, United States. The population was 2,024 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Marion County, Texas, and is situated in East Texas...
, the seat of Marion County
Marion County, Texas
As of the census of 2000, there were 10,941 people, 4,610 households, and 3,120 families residing in the county. The population density was 29 people per square mile . There were 6,384 housing units at an average density of 17 per square mile...
, Texas. At the time of death, Cannon served on the city council of Jefferson.
Cannon launched his radio career in 1972 at the age of seventeen as a part-time announcer in Clarksville
Clarksville, Texas
Clarksville is a city in Red River County, Texas, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 3,883. It is the county seat of Red River County.-Geography:Clarksville is located at ....
in Red River County, Texas. He also worked in his hometown of New Boston and landed his first programming job at KCMC
KCMC
KCMC is a radio station broadcasting a Sports format. Licensed to Texarkana, Texas, USA, it serves the Texarkana area. The station is currently owned by Arklatex, LLC....
in Texarkana
Texarkana, Texas
Texarkana is a city in Bowie County, Texas, United States. It effectively functions as one half of a city which crosses a state line — the other half, the city of Texarkana, Arkansas, lies on the other side of State Line Avenue...
, Texas. He then relocated for a time to Glasgow
Glasgow, Kentucky
Glasgow is a city in and the county seat of Barren County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 14,200 at the 2000 census. The city is well-known for its annual Scottish Highland Games. In 2007, Barren County was named the number one rural place to live by Progressive Farmer magazine...
in southern Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
, to work at WCDS. Afterwards, he was a deejay in Wichita Falls
Wichita Falls, Texas
Wichita Falls is a city in and the county seat of Wichita County, Texas, United States, United States. Wichita Falls is the principal city of the Wichita Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Archer, Clay and Wichita counties. According to the U.S. Census estimate of 2010,...
, Texas, and Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Oklahoma City is the capital and the largest city in the state of Oklahoma. The county seat of Oklahoma County, the city ranks 31st among United States cities in population. The city's population, from the 2010 census, was 579,999, with a metro-area population of 1,252,987 . In 2010, the Oklahoma...
.
His last position was at KWKH, where he had worked since 1985. Cannon previously hosted the weekend edition of the Interstate Road Show, but for his last six years, he served as program director and morning show deejay. He acquired thousands of loyal listeners over the years. A former colleague, Frank Page, the first person to announce the entry of Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
at the Louisiana Hayride
Louisiana Hayride
Louisiana Hayride was a radio and later television country music show broadcast from the Shreveport Municipal Memorial Auditorium in Shreveport, Louisiana, that during its heyday from 1948 to 1960 helped to launch the careers of some of the greatest names in American music...
, told Shreveport Times, "I've lost a great friend, but country music has lost an even greater friend... He had a passion for country music, and he knew more about the Louisiana Hayride than even I did." KWKH was the home of the Louisiana Hayride, staged at the downtown Shreveport Municipal Memorial Auditorium
Shreveport Municipal Memorial Auditorium
Shreveport Municipal Memorial Auditorium, in Shreveport, Louisiana, is an Art Deco building constructed between 1926 and 1929 during the administration of Mayor Lee Emmett Thomas as a memorial to the servicemen of World War I....
.
Cannon was an Eagle Scout
Eagle Scout (Boy Scouts of America)
Eagle Scout is the highest rank attainable in the Boy Scouting program of the Boy Scouts of America . A Scout who attains this rank is called an Eagle Scout or Eagle. Since its introduction in 1911, the Eagle Scout rank has been earned by more than 2 million young men...
in New Boston and developed a lifelong interest in camping
Camping
Camping is an outdoor recreational activity. The participants leave urban areas, their home region, or civilization and enjoy nature while spending one or several nights outdoors, usually at a campsite. Camping may involve the use of a tent, caravan, motorhome, cabin, a primitive structure, or no...
.
He had a history of cardiovascular disease
Cardiovascular disease
Heart disease or cardiovascular disease are the class of diseases that involve the heart or blood vessels . While the term technically refers to any disease that affects the cardiovascular system , it is usually used to refer to those related to atherosclerosis...
and died suddenly at his home in Jefferson, Texas. In addition to his mother, he was survived by his wife, Kaye, twins Kimberly and Kyle, a soldier
Soldier
A soldier is a member of the land component of national armed forces; whereas a soldier hired for service in a foreign army would be termed a mercenary...
with the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
then stationed at Fort Jackson
Fort Jackson, South Carolina
Fort Jackson is a United States Army installation, which TRADOC operates on for Basic Combat Training , and is located in Columbia, South Carolina. This installation is named for Andrew Jackson, a United States Army General and 7th President of the United States.-Overview:Fort Jackson was created...
, South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
, and his maternal grandmother, Irene Campbell of New Boston. His maternal grandfather was the late Jesse W. Campbell. Services were held on April 22 at First Baptist
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
Church in Jefferson. Interment was at Red Bayou Cemetery in New Boston.
Cannon ended his radio show: "May God be with you and you be with God. And you're never fully dressed unless you're wearing a big ol' smile."