Music

The 2023 Country Radio Hall of Fame Induction Dinner and Awards were held Monday (July 10) at the Virgin Hotel Nashville in Music City’s famed Music Row area, as music industry members gathered to celebrate the induction of six new inductees into coveted institution.

This year’s on-air inductees were Trish Biondo and “Dollar“ Bill Lawson, while the off-air honorees were Pam Green, Charlie Morgan, John Willyard and Wade Jessen.

The Country Radio Hall of Fame was founded in 1974, and fetes those who have made significant contributions to country music and the country radio industry. Among the many sterling radio executives in attendance was one of the Country Radio Hall of Fame’s founding fathers, Chuck Chellman, who recently turned 90. Chellman was honored with the CRB’s inaugural president’s award in 1998.

WSM’s Bill Cody and Country Radio Broadcaster executive director RJ Curtis led the festivities.

Barbara Mandrell was honored with the 2023 CRB artist achievement award, which was presented to her by Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood. The Country Music Association’s CEO Sarah Trahern called Mandrell a “groundbreaker for our format,” noting that Mandrell became a member of the Grand Ole Opry at age 23, is a three-time CMA Awards host, and is the first artist to win the CMA’s entertainer of the year in two consecutive years, in 1980 and 1981.

Mandrell is an accomplished multi-instrumentalist, singer, entertainer, dancer, actor and author. She earned six No. 1 hits on Billboard‘s Country Songs chart, including “Sleeping Single in a Double Bed” and “One of a Kind Pair of Fools.” With her sisters Louise and Irlene, Mandrell hosted the popular television series Barbara Mandrell and the Mandrell Sisters from 1980-1982. Mandrell announced her retirement in 1997, and was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2009.

Yearwood also performed in Mandrell’s honor, offering a rendition of Mandrell’s 1979 hit “If Loving You Is Wrong (I Don’t Want to Be Right),” which had previously been a 1972 pop and R&B hit for Luther Ingram.

The performance took a cue from Barbara Mandrell’s enduring performance of “I Was Country When Country Wasn’t Cool” at the 1981 CMA Awards, when George Jones left his seat in the audience to join Mandrell in song. During Yearwood’s performance, Brooks “spontaneously” stood up, walking through the audience and joining Yearwood onstage to finish the song.

Yearwood honored Mandrell, saying, “You are a rock star and a pioneer and a bada–, and every male and female singer that has come after you owes you a debt of gratitude.”

Mandrell took the stage, and thanked country radio for the career-shaping impact it has had on her life.

“My whole career, it’s because you made it for me,” Mandrell said. “I did a lot of other things, too, but radio, in my life, the music business comes from radio. You don’t ever forget how important you on-air radio personalities are. I know there are people like me that entertain, but there was twice in my life and career that I was invited to go on-air for an hour and play like I was a radio personality. That is the hardest thing on earth. I have such high respect for all of you, but you just went to the moon — you have to constantly think of like five or six things at one time and you have to pay attention to anything that is going on in the world… I hold you in such high esteem and for you to feel positive about what I did means the world to me. You made my career and I love you with all my heart.”

CRB/CRS board president Kurt Johnson honored Scott and Julie DeVos (of De Lux Productions) with the CRB Presidents Award. The pair have helmed the musical performances that attendees see at the annual Country Radio Seminar for over 25 years.

“It all boils down to teamwork, and nowhere is that more true than in the world of event production,” Julie said. Scott agreed, telling the audience that accolade honors everyone they have worked with over the years to bring performances to life.

“We want to create events you speak of, the ones you had to be there for,” Scott added.

The late Wade Billboard in December 1994 as a senior chart manager, overseeing Billboard’s country, Christian, gospel and bluegrass charts, and playing a key role in developing the Hot Country Songs chart, which melds airplay, sales and streaming data. Prior to his work at Billboard, Jessen held a on-air role at KSOP Salt Lake City, before taking on the role of music director at WSM-AM in Nashville, the home of the Grand Ole Opry. After joining Billboard, Jessen also continued to work as a radio personality for the SiriusXM’s classic country channel, Willie’s Roadhouse. Jessen passed away after suffering a heart attack in 2015.

Members of Jessen’s family attended the Country Radio Hall of Fame ceremony to accept the honor on his behalf.

“He had a voice that was just made for the radio,” Jessen’s niece Courtney said in recalling her uncle. “He had a sense of humor like none else. We loved to listen to him tell stories in his ‘radio voice,’” his niece, Courtney said, recalling how Jessen made time to emcee their junior prom. “On behalf of the Jessen family, we would like to thank the Country Radio Hall of Fame for bestowing such an honor on our uncle. His accomplishments and his career will now be legendary…To our uncle, we love you and we miss you.”

Jessen’s spouse, Corey Jones, said, “While it has been eight years since we lost Wade, we remember the many heartfelt condolences we received from people throughout country radio and the country music industry … Thank you again to the Country Radio Hall of Fame for ensuring that Wade will forever have a place in the history of country radio.”

Ed Salamon honored Green, who was known as one of country music’s first female music directors, and saw career acceleration during a 13-year run as music director at WHN in New York. Green also worked with Joel Raab’s consulting company and served as sr. director of artist relations at United Stations Radio Networks, continuing in that role when the company was absorbed by Westwood One.

Willyard makes history as the first Country Radio Hall of Fame inductee to be honored primarily for voice acting/imaging. He has become one of country music’s most recognizable voices, having handled the voiceover work for the Country Music Association Awards for two decades. In 1991, he caught the attention of country radio consultant Rusty Walker, who recommended Willyard to his clients for imaging voice work. Willyard’s client list grew to more than 100 country outlets in all market sizes.

Willyard thanked those who have been instrumental to his career, and succinctly summarized the mission of both country radio and voice imaging—reaching the audience. “Touching a heart is golden — something no AI can do,” he said.

Marci Brown honored Biondo, who first interned at MTM Records before joining WUSN Chicago. Biondo first began in research and promotion at the station while still in college, before taking on board operator duties and eventually adding on-air work and ascending to the music director position. As a music director, Biondo earned the Billboard MD of the year honor in 1988. Biondo spent 14 years in mornings at WUSN, before taking on the midday role in 2006.

Biondo noted how much Mandrell’s hit “I Was Country When Country Wasn’t Cool” resonated with her, and how country radio first appealed to her with its themes of family and kindness. She also stressed the importance of “soaking up every moment.”

Bob Richards and Dave Kennedy honored Morgan, who previously served as a board president for Country Radio Broadcasters and currently serves as board chairman of the Country Music Association. Morgan began his career as an on-air personality at WFMS in Indianapolis, where he rose to handle mornings and programming/operations. In 2000, he became VP/market manager for the Susquehanna cluster, which became a Cumulus property. He took on Sr. vp, market manager duties for the Emmis/Indianapolis cluster (including Hank FM) in 2009. In 2015, he added market manager duties for the Emmis New York station group. In 2019, Morgan was named as Apple Music’s Global Head of Radio and Music Programming.

Morgan shared stories from many of his career triumphs and missteps over the years, before noting, “This journey has been filled with so many stories and memories,” Morgan said.

Tom Hanrahan introduced honoree Lawson, known for his 18-year role at WZZK in Birmingham, Alabama, as well as his work in the a.m. daypart at WDXB since 2002. Lawson was previously awarded the Tom Rivers Humanitarian Award during Country Radio Seminar in 2019, for his ongoing work in support of charities including St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Lawson praised country radio, country music artists and the music listeners during his Country Radio Hall of Fame acceptance speech, noting the “personal relationship between stations, artists and listeners. Your audience in country music lets you into their lives.” He also thanked the country radio industry, saying, “Thank you for a defining moment of my life.”