Programmers
PROGRAMMERS
Thursday Night 1 - 3:00 AM (at least)
The King Daddy Show
Listen up! I love my God,my country,my Harley and my people.I play my rock & roll 'cause that's what I like and what my listeners want. I'm retired in Jenkins,Ky with a heart condition and sure could use a registered nurse for my "Doll Baby". I may talk too much but that's how the man above made me. Thanks so much to WMMT and APPALSHOP for my opportunity as a DJ. Carl(King)Addington.
The Lost Kittens Broadcast
Sundays from 7:00 - 9:00 PM
A child of poverty, Tom was born on a sailing ship. His first glimpse of light came pressing through an ice field in a storm. He was took for dead when sailing home wasn't seen for 10 years. A missionaries voyage found the ship bound in the weeds of the Sargasso sea, from there he was taken to a Church located in an unspecified region of Central America. Find Lost Kittens on My Space ~ www.myspace.com/lost_kittens
Bluegrass Patches
Linda Bartley
(Barefoot Nellie)
Bluegrass Patches
Wednesdays 10am to 1 PM
Linda Bartley, Barefoot Nellie, is originally from VA but lives now in Pike County KY. She has been a volunteer at WMMT for over 3 years and currently is co-host of Bluegrass Patches with Jukebox Charlie & their Jack Russell “Patches”. She is also an extremely valuable sub for such shows as The Sunny Side up Bluegrass Gospel Show, Weekend Wakeup and Silver Fox. In addition to sewing and cooking, Linda loves music, DJ’ing, and WMMT radio. She says, “It’s a wonderful feeling to hear my listeners call in and request songs, without them my shows would be very dull.” Nope. Not a chance. She loves the music and her listeners too much. We don’t believe there’s any way her shows could be dull.
Wendell Bartley
(Jukebox Charlie)
Bluegrass Patches
Wednesdays 10am-1 PM
Wendell Bartley, aka Jukebox Charlie, lives in Pike County KY and, in addition to his yeoman’s work for WMMT, is a long time musicianer and member of one of our area’s finest groups, The Bluegrass Reflections. Jukebox Charlie has been playing Bluegrass, Gospel & Old Time on the air waves of 88.7 for over 3 years and is co-host of Bluegrass Patches with Barefoot Nellie and their Jack Russell “Patches”. In addition to making music and DJ’ing, Wendell enjoys camping and meeting our listeners at WMMT’s Bluegrass Express & other live shows. Jukebox Charlie enjoys all the calls and says about our listeners, “I wish to thank them for their nice comments about my shows.” And so do we.
Crossroads
Fridays 10am to 1 PM
Joe Burke is WMMT’s Renaissance Man. The title for his show Crossroads did not come “out of thin air.” Joe has been doing Crossroads for over 5 years and describes it as “a diverse intersection of musical genres that take listeners on the ride covering classic rock, modern country, classic country, blues, R & B, soul, pop, and just about anything else I can get my hands on.”
He also is a musician with a couple of ambient new age CD’s to his credit, performs with his family in the gospel group “The Singing Burkes”, and plays the piano for his church. Joe dabbles in graphic design, audio engineering, video production and mastering and is a computer whiz. He has developed the fan base web site for The Blue Man Group (check it out: www.bluemanfans.com) and does the official weekly Blue Man Group Fan Community pod cast, “Switchback”,on iTunes. That’s not all, he also builds computers and, it’s true, makes Turkey Calls by hand in the summer months.
Joe “would like to thank all the listeners who faithfully call in on my show each week. It keeps me on my toes, encourages me to continue on with the show and gives me huge smiles. Three things you won’t hear on Crossroads are: “Pretty Polly”, “White Oak on the Hill” and “Daddy’s Old Dinner Bucket." I mean come on guys! Expand your horizons, and explore new music.”
Also check out his personal web site at: www.JosephBurke.com
E-mail me: joe@appalshop.org
Lost Kittens Broadcast
Sundays from 7:00 - 9:00 PM
Mikie Lee Burke's the name.
I'm a 17 year old feller from a small KY coal town by the name of McRoberts.
My buddy Dean Stacy calls me "Sawmill". I dunno why and neither does he.I have
been around the Appalshop for many years. I started going to Youthbored shows when I was around the age of 9 or 10. But now I have grown older and I work with the Appalachian Media Institute. I have made only one film so far called "Say It Louder" that has made a great impact. I also put on local shows and take part in a few local punk bands...Mikie Burke. Find Lost Kittens on My Space ~ www.myspace.com/lost_kittens
Weekend Wakeup Show
Saturdays 7-10:30 AM
Tony Burke (AKA: Big Mouth) was born in Detroit Michigan on November 6, 1957. Being from the era of classic rock & roll hits, I immediately took a great interest in music and radio. I developed a wide range of musical tastes, and by age 12 could play guitar and piano. I sung for many years with my mom, dad, and brothers. We were known as “The Original Burke Family”. We recorded 4 albums together, one of which was on the original June Appal record label, up until the time mom and dad retired from the road. Tony & family then took over the singing ministry as “The Singing Burkes.” Tony, wife Sondra, and son Joe, recorded 7 albums and were very successful in gospel music.
In the early days, Tony, his mom and dad, had their own radio show called “Gospel Time” on WJEH Radio, in Gallipolis, Ohio during the early ‘70’s. The Burkes moved back to Kentucky, and Tony finished high school at Wheelwright High, Wheelwright, Kentucky. During Tony’s high school days, he did numerous radio spots for WDOC radio in Prestonsburg, Kentucky. The family, being radio savvy, went live on WLSI in Pikeville, Kentucky. This show, again called “Gospel Time”, ran for about 5 years every Sunday live.
Tony’s love for radio continues to this day. In October, 2001, Tony became part of the wonderful world of WMMT. Tony is currently the host of “The Weekend Wake-Up Show,” that runs from 7 to 10:30 a.m. every Saturday morning. Tony is assisted by his son Joe and wife Sondra, when he can get them out of the bed early!! As we continue on this journey, we hope that music can be a part of your life, the same way it has been a part of mine. A good song can lift the spirit, ease the mind, and make the world go away!!!
Your Friend…
Tony Burke
The Evershow
Tuesdays 11 PM - 1 AM!
After living in Lexington for eleven years, and various college dorms and apartments for five years prior, I moved back to my native Jenkins, Kentucky. One of my first stops after moving back was WMMT, with the goal of having my own show. Over the years I have collected a ridiculous amount of music, and am always on the hunt for the next cool band or song. Having the opportunity to share that music on WMMT as well as the knowledge and positive personalities of all the programmers is a rare treat in these times and I'm proud to be a part of it. I live in Jenkins with two stray cats and assist in running a family business, among other things. I enjoy playing guitar, catching up with friends, going to concerts, wandering through the woods, a good cup of coffee,and most of all riding my Suzuki SV650S (51 mpg & a panoramic view!).
Check out the Evershow on My Space -www.myspace.com/evershowrocks.
Long live Rock & Roll!
From the Roots
Saturdays 12:30 – 3 PM
Zelma Forbes (Sweet Tater) is Professor of Mathematics with the Kentucky Community and Technical College System. She lives in Neon, Kentucky with her eleven year old child William and five cats. Zelma likes to play the banjo, dance, sing, and grow plants.
aka Woody Goodman
“Piece of the Rock” - Wednesdays 7 - 10 PM
“First Note” – Saturdays 10:30 AM -12:30 PM
(with Bronx Barney & Otis Ray)
Woody Goodman, has been one of the hosts of “The First Note”, playing Big Band, Show Tunes, Swing & other music from the 20’s thru the 50’s, since 1990. On Wednesday nights he also hosts “Piece of the Rock”, a classic rock show featuring music from the mid 50’s to the mid 70’s. Each show focuses on an artist or group as well as rock from a certain time period. On both shows, Woody encourages his listeners to request tunes. He comes in armed to the teeth with music.
Woody lives in Letcher County in an 1870’s Log Cabin, his wife’s ancestral home. He is a very active member of the community, and in addition to his volunteer work for WMMT, enjoys being involved in issues such as recycling, solid waste, water, coal, oil, gas, forestry, governance & economic development. He loves local politics and hates local politics. His hobbies include refereeing soccer & basketball, Native American artifacts, gardening and stone sculpting.
His comment to his listeners: “ Live life simply; don’t waste time, natural resources, or energy; don’t litter or dispose of things improperly; know the issues & how your candidate stands on them; vote early & vote often; end the war, stop the killing.”
The Lost Kittens Broadcast
Sundays from 7:00 - 9:00 pm
Eli Gover, 17. I guess you could call me a dreamer with no particular future in mind. I have sort of a "'Dylanesque', no direction or home" view of life. I don't talk much, I'm not very good at it.
So for the most part I keep to my own. I do love radio however.
Reading is freedom, and life is an art. I would like to be better at both. Find Lost Kittens on My Space ~ www.myspace.com/lost_kittens
aka Willard, Angie, and Lil' Willard; The Hall Family
Big Willard, Angie, & Lil' WIllard
Scuttlehole Gap Get-Together
Tuesdays 10 AM to 1:00 PM
Willard Hall (Big Willard), from Knott County KY, has been the host of The Scuttlehole Gap Get-Together, featuring Big Name & Local Bluegrass & Claw Hammer Banjo, for 19 years and counting. He is a veteran, a pilot, an avid Bluegrass music collector, and a mainstay at Bluegrass Festivals throughout the region. He is even featured in Herb E Smith’s Appalshop Film “The Ralph Stanley Story” and has emceed Ralph’s Hills of Home Festival for 31 years. He has also brought us his young’uns, Angie & Little Willard of WMMT’s Bluegrass Express on Thursday nights. And, of course, Blue Highway’s & everybody’s favorite “Mom”, the legendary Big Weezie.
Willard says, “If you like the music I play for you, then spread the word!”
Big Bills Country
This program actually began in 1994 when the late Buck Maggard made the acquaintance of Big Bill Harris, an avid devotee of old-time country music from Nebo, North Carolina. Bill started sending WMMT “Shaking Down the Possums,” a 30-minute show featuring string bands, brother duets, early bluegrass, country/western, honky-tonk and more. Buck ran that show as part of “Deep in Tradition” for nearly two years. Recently Rich Kirby started playing some of these tapes on DIT. One day he wondered out loud where Bill might be these days. Redoubtable listener Miley Twyman got busy on the internet and before the end of the day we were in touch with Bill again.
Bill writes, “I want to thank you for running my programs again. I have been on many stations since 1988. The longest running program was on a station in Waterford, Ireland, 8 years. I went to electronic school in Columbus, Ohio for three years to study radio and TV, received my broadcast permit in 1964 at East Tennessee State in Johnson City. I started on a station WMCH in Church Hill, Tennessee in 1956. They taught me how to cue and set the volume and all the ins and outs. … I do this just for the fun of it and keep the old time music going so the new generation can hear what real music should sound like. One station said he enjoyed my music but did not like my voice. Well I may not have a good voice for broadcasting but I think I have the best and greatest dog gone country and western music around. I attended voice school in Asheville, North Carolina, there were around 20 members and I never finished. Our instructor wanted us to talk like we were from the north. Well, I tried. I could not get this southern accent out of my heart.”
First Generation Bluegrass
Wednesdays 1:00 - 4:00 PM
Well, I was born way back in the hills of Concord, Massachusetts, in 1955
I come from a musical family, we all play stringed instruments of one kind or another, piano, guitar, pipe organ. And of course, lots of group singing 'round the Steinway piano with our mother, Hope pounding on the horse teeth!
My sister Anne and I sang in the church choir. It was there I learned proper breathing techniques, and how to read music. But I prefer to play by ear.
I remember vividly as a kid listening to the radio in the kitchen. In those days it was still AM, but boy howdy! The variety of music that came through the air was priceless. I soaked it all up like a sponge. The Beatles had just performed live on Ed Sullivan, I was enraptured by them. They looked like they were so happy, and having so much fun, and were very cute too! I wanted to be a part of something like that!
It was one of those fateful March mornings, in 1963, that I heard live coverage about the plane crash that Killed Patsy Cline, Cowboy Copas, and the pilot as well. I was really affected by that. I knew and loved her music, it was on all the time. I felt like I knew her personally, through her music.
As time went on, TV became a familiar part of my everyday life. The B&W set was big and boxy, wrapped around metal that was painted to look like wood grain, with buttons to push on and off, and a big green picture tube that glowed in the dark when you shut it off at night.
It was while glued to the tv that I had my first bluegrass music experience. I loved to watch the Andy Griffith Show every night, particularly when the Dillards came on. I knew right then and there, I was destined to live in the south. that was the kind of life I dreamed of, in Mayberry, NC.
"The Beverly Hillbillies, Petticoat Junction, and Green Acres, all solidified into my soul. I could relate to all of it, to one degree or another. I felt as if I belonged there.
As a teen, I liked to listen to the WCOP Hayloft Jamboree, a country/bluegrass variety show that aired on Saturday nights, from an FM station in New Hampshire.
I attended Emerson College in Boston in the '70's graduating from there in 1978 with a Bachelor's Degree in Mass Communications.
During college, I became an active volunteer at The Boston Area Friends of Bluegrass, which later on became the Boston Bluegrass Union.
It was then I heard my first live bluegrass show, in Cambridge, MA. Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys performed in a small church in Harvard Square, and afterwards, I was hooked for LIFE!
I play upright bass, self taught since 1979. I purchased the bass from a town drunk in Stonington, CT for fifty bucks. Since then I have acquired a Gibson Epiphone Guitar, Art's Kentucky mandolin, and a beautiful new Deering Good Times Banjo!
Bluegrass music was hard to find in and around New England. But when we DID, it was a spiritual out of body experience! Believe me, the artists were well aware of the Boston area, and its core of devoted, rabid fans, eager to listen intently, and then applaud wildly after every song; plus we were generous with the $$$ up there, lining up 3 deep just to catch a glimpse of our heros, and buying every record, tape in sight
I met my future husband, Art Menius in 1986 at the Winterhawk Bluegrass Festival, [now called, Grey Fox] in Acramdale, NY. He was promoting a new trade organization for people in bluegrass music, called the IBMA, or International Bluegrass Music Association.
I was a volunteer in the Performer's Tent. I made it my business to meet everyone in Bluegrass music there was to meet. I still do this to this day. They have become my family of choice.
Throughout all of this, I was becoming a photojournalist, capturing bluegrass music on 35mm film with my Uncle Fred's Pentax Camera.
My dreams came true on XMAS day in 1989, when I moved with Art's help to his small house in Pittsboro, NC. We lived there for the next 15 years.
Whilst living in Pittsboro, I put together my first picture book. It's called "Inside Bluegrass". It was published in 1998, and sold out in early 2005. Copies are still available on EBay.
I was the Official Photo Archivist for the IBMA's annual World of Bluegrass for 12 consecutive years.
In 1994-96, I was the Staff Photographer for the Folk Alliance's annual conference.
In 2005, we moved north to Wilkes County, NC, where Art was Director of Merlefest, at Wilkes Community College.
I became Staff Photographer there for the next 15 years.
As of July 2007, Art accepted the Directorship of Appalshop, Inc. in Whitesburg, KY.
I moved to our lovely new home in September of 2007
By November I was training and then filling in on bluegrass shows on WMMT. I did this throughout the holidays, always happy and eager to be a DJ. It came very easily to me.
And now, to be offered my OWN bluegrass show is quite an honor indeed!
I have found my home. And more importantly, I have found my own voice.
Chuck Johnson
Back Tracks
Backtracks
Thursday 10:00 PM - 1 AM
Chuck Johnson, host of Backtracks, has been entertaining listeners on Thursday nights after The Bluegrass Express for over 6 years. A musician himself, Chuck has produced many of our local musicians in his home studio and has also done several of the promo’s and jingles you’ve heard on WMMT. A Virginian, he now resides in Letcher County and is a mainstay in the local music scene. In addition to music, Chuck enjoys gardening, fishing and a good jar of kraut. On Backtracks you’ll hear Classic Country & local musicians spiced up with Chuck’s exuberant wit & style as well as occasional guests. Chuck welcomes e-mail: cjwmmt@yahoo.com and says, “Thanks especially to the folks who regularly listen to Backtracks!”
Deep in Tradition
Thursdays 4:00 -6:30 PM
Rich Kirby Rich Kirby has been following traditional mountain music for over forty years. His roots lie in eastern Kentucky; he has lived in Scott County, Virginia since 1973 and learned music from family, neighbors, and “old masters” of the tradition across the region. He plays banjo, fiddle, mandolin and guitar. Rich performed for many years with Tom Bledsoe; Rich and Tom joined with John McCutcheon to create the popular band Wry Straw. Rich has worked at WMMT since 1990. He took over “Deep in Tradition” when Buck Maggard passed away in 1999. He currently performs with Rich and the Poor Folks. www.myspace.com/richandthepoorfolks
Pine Mountain Mornings - Stay Human Radio
Fridays 1-4:00 PM
E-mail Scott: wmmtscott@gmail.com
Originally from northwest Indiana, Scott Lucero moved to eastern Kentucky in the early 1990s. After having completing his Master’s Degree in English Literature at the University of Kentucky, he took a job at Hazard Community & Technical College. He’s been teaching there ever since.
The first summer he lived in eastern Kentucky, he stumbled across WMMT. He got to hear Curt Henderson play songs he grew up with and had the good fortune to hear Starvin’ Marvin play “Achy Breaky Heart” three times in a row because Marvin liked it so much. Soon thereafter he placed a call to Jim Webb to ask about becoming a volunteer himself.
At first, Scott subbed for some shows and after a bit of time was given a slot on Sundays. He alternated every other week with Alligator John. Once Gator took his leave, Scott’s show “No Depression” alternated with the “Spaceship of Fools” and, later, “The Nyt Kitchen.” As his family grew, it became more difficult for Scott to continue his Sunday night show. As soon as a slot opened, Scott took the Friday morning spot and “Stay Human Radio” was born. Now Stay Human has moved to Friday afternoons at 1:00 PM
Stay Human Radio, every Friday afternoon from 1:00 until 4:00 am plays a pretty eclectic mix of music. The first half of the show is almost entirely classic and neo-soul and funk. And the first Friday of every month is dedicated entirely to this type of music. You’ll hear the likes of Spearhead, Mary J Blige, Anthony Hamilton, and The Spinners. The other three weeks or so a month, he shifts gears about half way through. He plays a substantial set of Bruce Springsteen and bands like Steely Dan, Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins, Nick Drake, and the Weepies.
A teacher and writer, Scott’s work has appeared in Skylark, Kudzu, The Heartland Review, memoir (and…), VerbSap, and in PLUCK! The Journal of Affrilachian Arts & Culture. He lives in Breathitt County, Kentucky, with his wife and their two children.
From the Roots
Saturdays 12:30 – 3 PM
Beverly May (Sally Goodin - along w/Johnny Appalseed, the Dutchman, the Blue Warbler) has been one of the voices you hear on From the Roots for 12 years. She lives in Floyd County and is an old time fiddler who also teaches at the Cowan Creek Mountain Music School. From the Roots features mountain music in all its glory including many artists from the listening area, vintage recordings, up & coming young artists and occasional Live performances from the studio or Appalshop Theater. All the programmers of FtR are musicians themselves and enjoy keeping the listeners up to date on festivals, concerts, dances and other happenings in this neck of the woods.
Bev says, “Old Time music is great to listen to but it’s even more fun if you’re playing it yourself. The FtR programmers hope you’ll join us for Appalshop’s Old Time Jam at 1pm the First Saturday of each month, October through May.”
From the Roots
Saturdays 12:30 – 3 PM
Art Menius (the Lazy Farm Boy)is the newest FtR programmer. Director of Appalshop since July, he has been active in the old-time music community since seeing Joe & Odell Thompson play in 1978. Menius was president of the Old-Time Music Group, publishers of the Old-Time Herald, from 1991 through 1998. He spent 18 years with MerleFest, the festival hosted by Doc Watson, and dearly loves 78 rpm records. His many articles and reviews include pieces about Tommy Jarrell, the Thompsons, Dellie Norton, and Charlie Poole.
Larry Mullins
From the Roots
Saturdays 12:30 – 3 PM
Larry Mullins (Black Jack Davy) retired from teaching in Wise County, VA in 2002 and began taking old-time music classes at Mountain Empire CC. He immediately fell in love with roots music. Although his musical tastes are broad, traditional mountain music is now Mullins’ favorite genre. When the opportunity to volunteer at WMMT became available, he welcomed it with open arms and has loved every minute. With his wife Janet (Tiger Lilly), Larry also alternates as a host of The Honky Tonk Jukebox on Saturday afternoons.
Awesome Americana
Saturdays 5 – 7 PM
A Harlan County native, Jessie Pauline's earliest memories include listening to her cousin Frank Creech's Saturday radio show on the Cumberland station. Afer her family moved to Michigan, her favorite way to spend a Saturday was in a record store listening to new releases. Owning them was an allowance priority. The love of music continued throughout her life and after she moved to Letcher County in 1998, she became a WMMT DJ on the Mid-day Music Extravaganza. A new job forced her to switch the mid-day show for a weekender and the Awesome Americana Show was born. She has done the show every Saturday from 5 - 7 PM for several years now .... except when she flips into her "Gypsy Pauline" mode.
aka Love Tractor
The Zen Arcade
Alternating Tuesdays 8-11 PM
Jonathan has many interests including writing about music, medicine, politics, and what have you at The J Train and he is an accomplished chef (he too has been a guest chef on WMMT’s What’s Cooking? and specializes in food from Italy, Louisiana and Latin America.) By day he’s an internist in Hazard. But music is his passion. “I don’t collect it so much as hoard it, digitally, on CD, and on the one true format – vinyl. I play guitar and hand drums, though unfortunately not as much as I used to.”
The Zen Arcade flies way out past the familiar, out to where it’s all about the music. The Space Wrangler and LooseLucy bring the jam, with a heavy dose of the Panic, the Dead, the Truckers and anybody else who knows how to lay it down live. Jonathan, the Love Tractor, brings the best from the new, the independent, the underground, and the emerging, with rare tracks and dozens of chances to hear the Next Great Band.
Each show also features a segment called “Three Songs”. Musicians and/or music lovers pick 3 songs to play and join the show by phone to talk about them. Past guests have included Matador recording artist Jennifer O’Connor, Herald-Leader Pop Culture writer Jamie Gumbrecht, Pandagon blogger Amanda Marcotte, and music blogger Matt Jordan of You Ain’t No Pic.asso.
Jonathan says, “My goal is for people to call in and say, “Wow! I’ve never heard of that band before – who was that?” So if you hear something you like, call! And if you hear anything you’d like to pass on, send it to thejtrain@gmail.com.”
aka The Silver Fox
The Honky Tonk Jukebox Saturdays 2:00 - 5:00 PM
Bill Reno, aka The Silver Fox, lives in Perry County, is retired, and has been volunteering at WMMT for 5 years. He truly enjoys this “job” of playing music for you fine folks and feels it’s the best job he’s had in a long time. Bill reads a lot including war history and western classics and loves to listen to the music he plays. He is an alternating host of the new Honky Tonk Jukebox on Saturday afternoons from 2:00 to 5:00 PM
The Silver Fox Show features Bluegrass, Classic Country and Gospel and he feels a lot of listeners enjoy the old style country and find the Gospel music uplifting. He certainly does. Bill says, “You folks make my day. I hope you will think about the station and my show and how much you like or dislike it. If you like it, think about sending the station a pledge. It takes a lot of money to operate a 24 hour a day station and we don’t have commercials to pay the bills. Think about it. If you like my show, show it with a pledge. Thanks for the many good years and thanks for reading this little message.”
Aka: Bubbalo
Lost in the Woulds
Alternating Tuesdays 8-11 PM
& Atomic Fireball Hour
Saturdays 8-11 PM
Tim Surer is married, the father of two, and comes from Leslie County. Bubbalo, heading into his third year at WMMT, is one of our fine Rock & Roll programmers and is a true music lover. In addition to playing guitar, he enjoys high school sports and learning new things.
Lost in the Woulds is a classic rock show concentrating on the 70’s that “allows listeners to enjoy what I consider to be a lot of the best music ever created.” Bubbalo welcomes requests and alternates this time slot on WMMT with The Spaceship of Fools.
On Saturday night’s Atomic Fireball Hour he plays Rock, Country, Pop & Soul oldies from the 50’s to the late 70’s. Tim loves music & DJ’ing so much that he has also become one of WMMT’s most valuable “Firemen” and fills in on numerous shows when the need arises. Bubbalo says, “WMMT is the best little radio station on this or any other planet.”
Little Debbie
The Hillbilly Hayride
Thursdays 10 AM – 12:30 PM
Little Debbie is a fresh Bluegrass voice on WMMT and also, as part of WMMT’s staff, helps manage the new bluegrass music coming into the station. She began alternating hosting The Hillbilly Hayride with Gary Joseph in 2006 and assumed the reins when his work schedule caused him to have to give it up. She thanks him for entrusting the show to her and says “Thanks, Gary.”
Little Debbie plays 3 hours of Hard Drivin Bluegrass & Bluegrass Gospel and mixes it up really well. She features the classics but also is proud of giving the new crop of musicians a chance for air time. You’ll hear Blue Highway, the Grascals, Alecia Nugent, and the ever popular Minnie More. She also features local groups as well as the Old Masters of Bluegrass and is happy to take requests, especially for new music. It is indeed a ride worth taking if you’re a bluegrass fan. And even if you’re not.
Little Debbie was raised up on Bluegrass and has been going to festivals since she was 6 years old. In fact,
she and her banjo playing husband Scott are raising the next generation of bluegrass fan, Skyanna, a wonderful 6 year old. She & Scott (The Snuff Dipper) are members of Ramblin Grass, one of our finest area bands, and they even host an Annual Ramblin Grass Bluegrass Festival in Leslie County. Debbie plays the bass (acoustic, electric & doghouse) as well as guitar & banjo. They reside in Knott County and if you’d like more info on the band you’re invited to visit their web site www.ramblingrass.com.
Or check them out on MySpace - myspace.com/HillbillyHayride
She welcomes comments from her listeners and her e-mail address is Littledebbie88.7@gmail.com. Her comment is “Broaden your horizons. Love that old stuff, that’s what made Bluegrass what it is today, but also give the new stuff a chance. And also, support your local bands and Bluegrass music, and support WMMT! Keep the music alive and Take a Kid Pickin!”
This is Skyanna. She is 7 years old and is our youngest DJ in training here at WMMT. You might hear her voice on some of the bluegrass shows. Sky is interested in radio and thinks she is such a big girl when she gets to do promo spots for WMMT’s Bluegrass shows including The Hillbilly Hayride. Skyanna’s other interests are cheerleading, little league baseball, and yes, bluegrass music. And she’s learning the mandolin. Rhonda Vincent “Look out!”
My name is Debra Sutton other wise known as (little Debbie)
Comment to the listeners
Broaden your horizons’ love that old stuff, that’s what’s made bluegrass what it is today but also give the new stuff a chance. And also support your local bands and bluegrass music and support WMMT! Keep the Music alive and "Take a Kid pickin!"

Show is Bluegrass/Country every Monday from 1-4pm
We play Bluegrass and Classic County Music. My hobbies are Fishing, Hunting, Golf, and Bluegrass Music. I am a retired police officer, and been a DJ for over 5 years and has listen to bluegrass music all my life. To all fans of bluegrass music: set your dial to 88.7fm Turn up the radio, Take the knobs off the radio and sit back and enjoy the programs!
The Country Gentleman
The Cumberland Sunrise Show
Mondays thru Fridays 5 - 8:00 AM
The Country Gentleman, Ancil Trivette, is an early riser & plays Bluegrass, Classic Country and local favorites for folks getting up and about, truckers and everyone else traveling the early morning roads in the mountains. Ancil lives in Letcher County and is a veteran, plays the guitar and loves building & remodeling. As the Country Gentleman, he is now in his fourth year as the get up, wake up voice of WMMT. In his own energetic, enthusiastic words: “Tune in – Turn it up – Rip the knob off!”
The Sports Roundup
Monday Mornings - 9:10 AM
Jim Ward was born in Paintsville, KY in 1958, but has lived in the Washington, DC/Northern Virginia area most of his life. He came back to Eastern Kentucky two years ago after his parents passed away. He has been involved with public access radio for a few years doing a Saturday afternoon sports talk show on WEBR in Fairfax, Virginia, talking about NFL, MLB, NBA, NASCAR and others such as the PBA tour and college sports. He now does the Sports Roundup on WMMT Monday mornings at around 9:10 am, as part of the Monday addition of Pine Mountain Mornings. To contact Jim with a question or comment the email is sportsroundup@lycos.com.
Wiley Quixote aka Jim Webb
Ridin’ Around Listenin’ to the Radio
Wednesdays 4-6 PM
WMMT went on the air around Thanksgiving 1985. Wiley Quixote began his radio version of tilting at windmills a couple of weeks later. We’d like to say the world is a better place for it but we’re not sure. And since we are Real People Radio, we wouldn’t want to prevaricate. Commutation ain’t likely for the likes of us. A native Letcher Countian by way of the proverbial stint in Ohio, a tour of duty in Hazard and a lifetime in Almost Heaven Mingo and Pike Counties, not to mention northern Michigan and New York City, Wiley has seen some of the whirled. This predicated his prescription to the Weakly Whirled News and his sharing it with listeners up until the last year or so. There is some talk of bringing it back. Your vote will count. His quest to find the pulse of the neighborhood, if not the planet, has also led to the wildly and extremely popular segment of his show, Speak Your Pieces, gleaned from one of the best newspapers in the nation,The Mountain Eagle. (Ed. Note:The Eagle was started by Nehemiah Webb, his Grandmother’s brother.) Your vote may or may not count here but you can always call Speak Your Piece and read it in next week’s< Eagle and you may hear it on next week’s Ridin’ Around Listenin’ to the Radio.As for music, Wiley plays it. From Americana to Zydeco you’ll hear it on RALTTR. He features music you’ve heard before and music you’ve never heard before with some Bob Dylan thrown in for good measure. And of course you’ll always hear a polka. Nothin beats a polka in the eye. Occasionally the crack investigative staff will get him a whether report and he also proudly presents 2 of WMMT’s sterling features, The Coal Report, The Regional Roundup. And if that’s not enough, he also proudly follows up The Hightower Report, 3 of the best minutes in radio, with a catchy, appropriate tune each week. And then there’s the Peace de Resistance,The Byrd’s Eye View from Georgia, the weekly commentary from an incisive, brilliant, nailonthehead, veteran common tater from the Peach State.As for real work, Wiley (who is from a long line of Quixotes) runs the paddle boat concession at his primitive campground on top of Pine Mountain, Wiley’s Last Resort.www.wileyslastresort.com. He is also a poet, playwright and swarper who, in those guises, laments the destruction of our mountains, one of the greatest forests of the world. Paddle boats ain’t much use if there’s no water except in the grocery store.
Wiley invites everyone to tune in and invites suggestions for the Bob Boom Box, (3 or 4 of your favorite Dylan songs) He’ll play’em. He also invites commentaries from anyone, common taters or not.
Honky Tonk Jukebox
Ramblin' Ray (aka Mike York) has made the journey from Logan County, West Virginia, to help out at WMMT since early in 2005 when he started the Ramblin' Road Revue Show as well as producing eclectic Patchwork programs. A native of Bell County, KY, he has done some hard traveling having had driver's licenses (legally) in seven states.
Ramblin' Ray is an alternating programmer on the Honky Tonk Jukebox Saturdays 2:00 - 5:00 PM with rotating hosts the Silver Fox, Gentle Ben, and Blackjack Davey & Tiger Lily, a show which explores the diverse country music landscape with early classics in country, country blues, Cajun, and western swing.




