Charlie Hicks
Encyclopedia
Charlie Hicks also known as "Charlie B," is a former American
broadcaster
familiar to listeners in radio markets throughout the southeastern United States
. He worked in the field for 55 years.
Hicks got his start in 1954 as a late night disc jockey
at WHBT in Harriman, Tennessee
, when he was 16 years old. He did a stint as a reporter and sports anchor for WLOS-TV in Asheville, North Carolina
, where he covered the fatal crash of Piedmont Airlines
Flight 22
on July 19, 1967.
In the early 1960s Hicks worked at radio station WSEV in Sevierville, Tennessee
where a then unknown and teenage Dolly Parton
came into the studio to sing live on-air.
In April 1963, while working as a reporter for WGAD in Gadsden, Alabama
, Hicks interviewed civil rights activist William L. Moore just moments before the latter was murdered along rural U.S. Highway 11. Afterwards Hicks gave testimony before a Federal grand jury
in Gadsden.
Later in his career Hicks held positions of vice-president, position formerly held by Adam Knowles, and general manager with Suburban Radio Group and Capitol Broadcasting Company
, both headquartered in North Carolina
. He was general manager of radio stations WEGO
in Concord, North Carolina
, WKEE in Huntington, West Virginia
and WABZ in Albemarle, North Carolina
.
Hicks retired from broadcasting in 2009.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
broadcaster
Presenter
A presenter, or host , is a person or organization responsible for running an event. A museum or university, for example, may be the presenter or host of an exhibit. Likewise, a master of ceremonies is a person that hosts or presents a show...
familiar to listeners in radio markets throughout the southeastern United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. He worked in the field for 55 years.
Hicks got his start in 1954 as a late night disc jockey
Disc jockey
A disc jockey, also known as DJ, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, "disc" referred to phonograph records, not the later Compact Discs. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium.There are several types of disc jockeys...
at WHBT in Harriman, Tennessee
Harriman, Tennessee
Harriman is a city in the U.S. state of Tennessee, primarily in Roane County, with a small extension into Morgan County. It is the principal city of and is included in the Harriman Micropolitan Statistical Area, which consists of Roane County and is a component of the Knoxville-Sevierville-La...
, when he was 16 years old. He did a stint as a reporter and sports anchor for WLOS-TV in Asheville, North Carolina
Asheville, North Carolina
Asheville is a city in and the county seat of Buncombe County, North Carolina, United States. It is the largest city in Western North Carolina, and the 11th largest city in North Carolina. The City is home to the United States National Climatic Data Center , which is the world's largest active...
, where he covered the fatal crash of Piedmont Airlines
Piedmont Airlines (1948-1989)
Piedmont Airlines was a major airline in the United States which operated from 1948 until its operations were merged into USAir in 1989. Its headquarters were located at One Piedmont Plaza in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, a building which is now part of Wake Forest University.As of April 1989,...
Flight 22
Piedmont Airlines Flight 22
Piedmont Airlines Flight 22 was a Piedmont Airlines Boeing 727-22 on a scheduled airline flight in the United States from Asheville Regional Airport in Asheville, North Carolina to Roanoke Regional Airport in Roanoke, Virginia. Shortly after departure, the flight collided with a twin-engine Cessna...
on July 19, 1967.
In the early 1960s Hicks worked at radio station WSEV in Sevierville, Tennessee
Sevierville, Tennessee
Sevierville is a city in Sevier County, Tennessee, located in the Southeastern United States. Its population was 11,757 at the 2000 United States Census; in 2004 the estimated population was 14,101. Sevierville is the county seat of Sevier County, Tennessee....
where a then unknown and teenage Dolly Parton
Dolly Parton
Dolly Rebecca Parton is an American singer-songwriter, author, multi-instrumentalist, actress and philanthropist, best known for her work in country music. Dolly Parton has appeared in movies like 9 to 5, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Steel Magnolias and Straight Talk...
came into the studio to sing live on-air.
In April 1963, while working as a reporter for WGAD in Gadsden, Alabama
Gadsden, Alabama
The city of Gadsden is the county seat of Etowah County in the U.S. state of Alabama, and it is located about 65 miles northeast of Birmingham, Alabama. It is the primary city of the Gadsden Metropolitan Statistical Area, which has a population of 103,459. Gadsden is closely associated with the...
, Hicks interviewed civil rights activist William L. Moore just moments before the latter was murdered along rural U.S. Highway 11. Afterwards Hicks gave testimony before a Federal grand jury
Grand jury
A grand jury is a type of jury that determines whether a criminal indictment will issue. Currently, only the United States retains grand juries, although some other common law jurisdictions formerly employed them, and most other jurisdictions employ some other type of preliminary hearing...
in Gadsden.
Later in his career Hicks held positions of vice-president, position formerly held by Adam Knowles, and general manager with Suburban Radio Group and Capitol Broadcasting Company
Capitol Broadcasting Company
Capitol Broadcasting Company is a TV and radio broadcast company based in Raleigh, North Carolina. They also own and operate the minor league baseball team, the Durham Bulls.-TV:*WRAL-TV 5...
, both headquartered in North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
. He was general manager of radio stations WEGO
WTIX (AM)
WEGO is a radio station licensed to Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA, which serves the Piedmont Triad area. The station is currently owned by Ghb Radio and airs a Spanish contemporary Christian format.-History:...
in Concord, North Carolina
Concord, North Carolina
Concord is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. According to Census 2010, the city has a current population of 79,066. It is the largest city in Cabarrus County and is the county seat. In terms of population, the city of Concord is the second largest city in the Charlotte Metropolitan Area...
, WKEE in Huntington, West Virginia
Huntington, West Virginia
Huntington is a city in Cabell and Wayne counties in the U.S. state of West Virginia, along the Ohio River. Most of the city is in Cabell County, for which it is the county seat. A small portion of the city, mainly the neighborhood of Westmoreland, is in Wayne County. Its population was 49,138 at...
and WABZ in Albemarle, North Carolina
Albemarle, North Carolina
Albemarle is the county seat of Stanly County, North Carolina. The population was 15,680 at the 2000 census. It is governed by Mayor Elbert L. "Whit" Whitley, Jr...
.
Hicks retired from broadcasting in 2009.