Curly Howard (DJ)
Encyclopedia
Howard Sisk known on the air as Curly Howard, was a disc jockey
on several North Carolina
(United States
) radio stations.
When Howard joined WKMT
in Kings Mountain, North Carolina
in 1992, he had spent more than 30 years in radio. 18 of these were at WKBX
in Winston-Salem, North Carolina
. He married Jerri September 26, 1966, and had a son Gregg, who was 21 when Howard joined WKMT.
with Don Gibson
, the country music
performer best known for Oh Lonesome Me
and the writer of I Can't Stop Loving You
. He and Gibson went to country music concerts at the National Guard armory, and when he heard Red Foley
sing Peace in the Valley
, Howard cried. He dreamed not of becoming a cowboy
or a firefighter
, but of being able to sing in such a way that he could touch people the way Foley did.
At 15, Howard saw an ad in Billboard
for a guitarist and singer for "a small-time traveling tent show", and he went to Greeneville, Tennessee
and asked for the job. He was offered the job because his parents, believing he would get homesick, didn't try to stop him. Howard ended up spending fourteen years on the road. He ended up performing alongside Lash LaRue and Fuzzy St. John
and "hayseed comics".
with Faron Young
and Webb Pierce
, Howard met Hank Williams Sr. and Elvis Presley
. Howard shook Williams' hand, and he observed how the audience loved Williams so much he received a standing ovation before he had even sung.
Howard's own career wasn't going anywhere, but he was making $50 to $60 a week, good money at the time. Later he decided to go into radio in eastern North Carolina. He eventually moved to WKBX. While he was at WKBX, Howard told his friend Roger Stockton, who worked for WSJS
radio, that WSJS-FM should switch to country music. Stockton listened and WTQR
became the number one station in the market.
In addition to his on-air duties, Howard served as a master of ceremonies at country music shows. Soon, his career at WKBX ended, because the 10,000-watt daytime-only station could not compete with WTQR, and the station dropped country music.
Howard moved to WCGC
in Belmont
for five years, then to WSVM
in Valdese
, then back to WCGC for three and a half years, when he was told they could not afford him. Four months after leaving WCGC, Howard was back on the air as morning host at WKMT in Kings Mountain, run by his old friend Jonas Bridges, who had worked with him in the early 1950s on a Shelby radio station. The station's format of country, bluegrass and gospel music
had not changed in years.
By 1993, Howard was paired with Tobie Sawyer. In 1995, Tommy Faile
, formerly of Arthur Smith and the Crackerjacks, was his partner.
Howard's last broadcast was September 28, 2001 from the Shelby Fair
. At the time he was doing a "Swap Shop
" program on Piedmont Super Station
, selling commercial time, and doing remote broadcasts. He died October 1 at 71.
, because he talked "directly and personally" to his listeners. He described his voice as "cultivated ... sometimes it even sounds like it's plowed under." He would hang out at the stores he did commercials for, and he would talk to the people there just like he was one of them. On the air he would tell stories about his days as a performer, let people call in to tell what was going on in their lives, and play records. In one commercial, he talked about the 11-pound turnip
he saw.
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...
on several 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...
(United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
) radio stations.
When Howard joined WKMT
WDYT
WDYT is a silent radio station licensed to Kings Mountain, North Carolina, serving the Charlotte, NC area. The station is currently owned by CRN Communications, LLC. According to an FCC filing, Iglesia Nueva Vida is buying the station...
in Kings Mountain, North Carolina
Kings Mountain, North Carolina
Kings Mountain is a small suburban city of Gastonia and Charlotte in Cleveland and Gaston counties, North Carolina, United States. The population was 9,693 at the 2000 census....
in 1992, he had spent more than 30 years in radio. 18 of these were at WKBX
WSMX
WSMX is a radio station broadcasting a Religious format. Licensed to Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA. The station is currently owned by Gospel Media, Inc..-History:...
in Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Winston-Salem is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina, with a 2010 population of 229,617. Winston-Salem is the county seat and largest city of Forsyth County and the fourth-largest city in the state. Winston-Salem is the second largest municipality in the Piedmont Triad region and is home to...
. He married Jerri September 26, 1966, and had a son Gregg, who was 21 when Howard joined WKMT.
Early life
Howard grew up in Shelby, North CarolinaShelby, North Carolina
Shelby is a city in Cleveland County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 19,477 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Cleveland County.-Geography:Shelby is located at ....
with Don Gibson
Don Gibson
Donald Eugene "Don" Gibson was an American songwriter and country musician. A Country Music Hall of Fame inductee, Gibson penned such country standards as "Sweet Dreams" and "I Can't Stop Loving You", and enjoyed a string of country hits from 1957 into the early 1970s.-Biography:Don Gibson was...
, the 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...
performer best known for Oh Lonesome Me
Oh Lonesome Me
"Oh Lonesome Me" is a popular song written and recorded by Don Gibson with Chet Atkins producing for RCA Victor in Nashville in 1958. The song topped the country chart for eight non consecutive weeks, in addition to reaching #7 on the Billboard Hot 100...
and the writer of I Can't Stop Loving You
I Can't Stop Loving You
"I Can't Stop Loving You" is a popular song written and composed by country singer, songwriter and musician Don Gibson, who first recorded it on December 30, 1957, for RCA Victor Records...
. He and Gibson went to country music concerts at the National Guard armory, and when he heard Red Foley
Red Foley
Clyde Julian Foley , better known as Red Foley, was an American singer, musician, and radio and TV personality who made a major contribution to the growth of country music after World War II....
sing Peace in the Valley
Peace in the Valley
"Peace in the Valley" is a 1937 song written by Thomas A. Dorsey, originally for Mahalia Jackson. The song became a hit in 1951 for Red Foley and the Sunshine Boys, reaching No. 7 on the Country & Western Best Seller chart. It was among the first gospel recordings to sell one million copies...
, Howard cried. He dreamed not of becoming a cowboy
Cowboy
A cowboy is an animal herder who tends cattle on ranches in North America, traditionally on horseback, and often performs a multitude of other ranch-related tasks. The historic American cowboy of the late 19th century arose from the vaquero traditions of northern Mexico and became a figure of...
or a firefighter
Firefighter
Firefighters are rescuers extensively trained primarily to put out hazardous fires that threaten civilian populations and property, to rescue people from car incidents, collapsed and burning buildings and other such situations...
, but of being able to sing in such a way that he could touch people the way Foley did.
At 15, Howard saw an ad in Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
for a guitarist and singer for "a small-time traveling tent show", and he went to Greeneville, Tennessee
Greeneville, Tennessee
Greeneville is a town in Greene County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 15,198 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Greene County. The town was named in honor of Revolutionary War hero Nathanael Greene. It is the only town with this spelling in the United States, although there...
and asked for the job. He was offered the job because his parents, believing he would get homesick, didn't try to stop him. Howard ended up spending fourteen years on the road. He ended up performing alongside Lash LaRue and Fuzzy St. John
Alfred St. John
Al St. John in his persona of Fuzzy Q. Jones basically defined the role and concept of "comical sidekick" to cowboy heroes from 1930 to 1951. St...
and "hayseed comics".
Career
Later, Howard performed on a national radio show, Virginia Barn Dance. At Louisiana HayrideLouisiana 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...
with Faron Young
Faron Young
Faron Young was an American country music singer and songwriter from the early 1950s into the mid-1980s and one of its most successful and colorful stars...
and Webb Pierce
Webb Pierce
Webb Michael Pierce was one of the most popular American honky tonk vocalists of the 1950s, charting more number one hits than any other country artist during the decade. His biggest hit was "In The Jailhouse Now," which charted for 37 weeks in 1955, 21 of them at number one...
, Howard met Hank Williams Sr. and 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"....
. Howard shook Williams' hand, and he observed how the audience loved Williams so much he received a standing ovation before he had even sung.
Howard's own career wasn't going anywhere, but he was making $50 to $60 a week, good money at the time. Later he decided to go into radio in eastern North Carolina. He eventually moved to WKBX. While he was at WKBX, Howard told his friend Roger Stockton, who worked for WSJS
WSJS
WSJS is a radio station based in Winston-Salem, North Carolina that broadcasts at 600 AM. It has a news/talk radio format and its slogan is "The Triad's News Radio", where "Triad" refers to the Piedmont Triad.-Programming:...
radio, that WSJS-FM should switch to country music. Stockton listened and WTQR
WTQR
WTQR is a country music station licensed to Winston-Salem, North Carolina and serves the Piedmont Triad region, including Greensboro and High Point. The Clear Channel Communications outlet broadcasts at 104.1 MHz with an ERP of 100 kW...
became the number one station in the market.
In addition to his on-air duties, Howard served as a master of ceremonies at country music shows. Soon, his career at WKBX ended, because the 10,000-watt daytime-only station could not compete with WTQR, and the station dropped country music.
Howard moved to WCGC
WCGC
WCGC is a radio station broadcasting a Christian radio format. Licensed to Belmont, North Carolina, USA, it serves the Charlotte/Gastonia area. The station is currently owned by WHVN Inc. The station is simulcast onto WHVN at 1240 AM.-History:...
in Belmont
Belmont, North Carolina
Belmont is a small suburban city in Gaston County, North Carolina, United States, located about west of uptown Charlotte, North Carolina and east of Gastonia. The population was 8,705 at the 2000 census. Once known as Garibaldi, the city named in honor of August Belmont, a prominent New York banker...
for five years, then to WSVM
WSVM
WSVM is a radio station broadcasting a classic hits format, Licensed to Valdese, North Carolina, USA, it served Burke and Caldwell counties...
in Valdese
Valdese, North Carolina
Valdese is a town in Burke County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 4,485 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Hickory–Lenoir–Morganton Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Valdese is located at ....
, then back to WCGC for three and a half years, when he was told they could not afford him. Four months after leaving WCGC, Howard was back on the air as morning host at WKMT in Kings Mountain, run by his old friend Jonas Bridges, who had worked with him in the early 1950s on a Shelby radio station. The station's format of country, bluegrass and gospel music
Gospel music
Gospel music is music that is written to express either personal, spiritual or a communal belief regarding Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music....
had not changed in years.
By 1993, Howard was paired with Tobie Sawyer. In 1995, Tommy Faile
Tommy Faile
Tommy Faile was an American songwriter and singer best known for composing "Phantom 309" and singing "The Legend of the Brown Mountain Lights"...
, formerly of Arthur Smith and the Crackerjacks, was his partner.
Howard's last broadcast was September 28, 2001 from the Shelby Fair
Fair
A fair or fayre is a gathering of people to display or trade produce or other goods, to parade or display animals and often to enjoy associated carnival or funfair entertainment. It is normally of the essence of a fair that it is temporary; some last only an afternoon while others may ten weeks. ...
. At the time he was doing a "Swap Shop
Tradio
Tradio is the name given to a type of talk radio show format where listeners call in to buy or sell items. The concept of is analogous to classified ads in local newspapers....
" program on Piedmont Super Station
WCSL
WCSL is a radio station broadcasting a Southern Gospel format. Licensed to Cherryville, North Carolina, USA. The station is currently owned by Hrn Broadcasting, Inc. and features programing from Jones Radio Network.The station has obtained a construction permit from the FCC for a power increase...
, selling commercial time, and doing remote broadcasts. He died October 1 at 71.
Style
Howard's style was compared to that of Grady Cole of WBT (AM)WBT (AM)
WBT is a radio station in Charlotte, North Carolina, broadcasting on the AM dial at 1110 kHz. A 50,000-watt clear-channel station, it can be heard across most of the eastern half of North America at night. It simulcasts on WBT-FM, at 99.3 MHz in Chester, South Carolina. It is owned by Greater...
, because he talked "directly and personally" to his listeners. He described his voice as "cultivated ... sometimes it even sounds like it's plowed under." He would hang out at the stores he did commercials for, and he would talk to the people there just like he was one of them. On the air he would tell stories about his days as a performer, let people call in to tell what was going on in their lives, and play records. In one commercial, he talked about the 11-pound turnip
Turnip
The turnip or white turnip is a root vegetable commonly grown in temperate climates worldwide for its white, bulbous taproot. Small, tender varieties are grown for human consumption, while larger varieties are grown as feed for livestock...
he saw.