Truck Driving Radio Personalities - Charlie Douglas, Bill Mack, Dale Sommers, Larry Scott

Bill Mack's Memories from the Trenches of Broadcasting


Inducted into Country Music Disc Jockey Hall of Fame in 2002, Billy Cole spent over 40 years in radio including a decade as host of all night trucking shows at WHO in Des Moines, IA during the 1970's and 1980's. After spending 8 1/2 years in the military, the meteorologist set his sights on radio and took his first paying job at a 100 watt station in Attica, NY. The former host of Cross Country America could be heard most recently as host of Billy Cole's Classic Country on KMGO FM in Centerville, IA. Billy passed away after a long illness on March 8, 2007.


Inducted into the Country Music Disc Jockey Hall of Fame in 1994, the father of overnight trucking radio began his broadcasting career four decades earlier at KLIC in Monroe, LA. In 1970, Charlie Douglas and His Road Gang beamed to truckers nationwide over WWL in New Orleans, LA. Then, in 1983, Charlie moved to Nashville to replace Chuck Morgan as host of Music Country Radio. In 1995, he left WSM to operate Compact Disk Xpress.


Inducted into the Country Disc Jockey Hall of Fame in 1995, Mike Hoyer began a 45 year on air career at 17. Following stints at KEVE in Minneapolis, MN & KMA in Shenandoah, IA, Mike started Country Music U.S.A. over WHO in Des Moines, IA in 1965. In 1971, Mike left the all night grind & continued broadcasting through 1990 at KWMT in Fort Dodge, IA, KBUL in Wichita, KS, & KFGO in Fargo, ND. The co-writer of Lookin' At The World Through a Windshield died on February 1, 1999.

Inducted into the Country Disc Jockey Hall of Fame in 1982, Bill Mack has been involved in broadcasting for over a half a century. In 1969, Bill Mack began his long running trucking show over WBAP in Fort Worth, TX. The accomplished songwriter has written "Drinkin' Champagne" and "Blue". The former host of the Midnight Cowboy Trucking Network and the US 1 Trucking Show is now the Satellite Cowboy on XM Satellite Radio's Open Road.


After holding a part time job at WWL in New Orleans during his final year of college, Dave Nemo hosted Nemo's Nitebeat on the Armed Forces Korea Network. When he returned back to America, Dave began a 30 year association with the Road Gang first as a second host and then succeeding Charlie Douglas. Today, Dave is heard exclusively on XM Satellite Radio's Open Road.

Inducted into the Country Music Disc Jockey Hall of Fame in 1991, Billy Parker began his radio career in 1959. After stints in Tulsa, Wichita, & Oklahoma City, the multi talented singer-songwriter joined the Texas Troubadours. In 1971, Billy returned to the airwaves on KVOO AM in Tulsa. Shortly thereafter, the Billy Parker Big Rigger Show became a mainstay for eight & one half years. Currently, Billy can be heard in Tulsa on KVOO FM (Sunday nights) & on KCKI FM (Saturday mornings).

Inducted into the Country Music Disc Jockey Hall of Fame in 1993, Larry Scott commenced his radio career in Neosho, MO in 1955. From 1982 through 2002 hosted the Interstate Road Show, first from KWKH in Shreveport, LA and then KVOO in Tulsa, OK. A former owner of a hot shot trucking business in Texas, Larry can be heard Sunday mornings on KWKH hosting Singin and Swingin' as well as The Glory Road.

Dale Sommers, also known as the Truckin' Bozo, started has radio career as a teenager. In 1984, Dale developed an all night trucking show for WLW in Cincinnati which has evolved into the Truckin' Bozo Radio Network. After 45 years in radio, Dale handed the reins of the overnight program to his son Steve Sommers in April 2004. Dale now hosts a three hour program on XM Satellite Radio's Open Road.

Inducted into Country Music Disc Jockey Hall of Fame in 2007, Big John Trimble started an overnight trucking show on KMO in Tacoma, WA back in 1972 and brought his audience to KGA in Spokane, WA two years later. After three years of broadcasting from Kelly's Truck Stop over KWKH in Shreveport, LA, the native of Paintsville, KY began an 18 year association with WRVA in Richmond, VA with a show originating from Jarrell's Truck Stop. Big John hosts a classic country and bluegrass show from 5:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. weekdays on a pair of stations in Virginia -- WCLM in Richmond & WHAP in the Tri-Cities area. The show can also be heard online at bigjohntrimble.com.

ENTERING TRUCKIN' RADIO

The Personalities

BILL MACK, DAVE NEMO, CHARLIE DOUGLAS, & MORE


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