Birmingham Black Radio Museum

06/23/2025

Our student intern for the summer is Ms. Ashley Estelle, a Collegeville native studying at Notre Dame:

Posted on June 22, 2025June 22, 2025 by thebbrmBirmingham Black Radio Museum welcomes Ashley Estelle for summer internship A rising Senior from the University of Notre Dame, Ashley Estelle has dove in head first, working as a Summer intern, developing a finding aid for unprocessed ephemera and updat...

04/24/2023

Last week, the BBRM was honored to receive the Best Digital Large Collection from the Alabama Historical Society! Alabama Historical Association

04/04/2023

Today's featured oral history is for James Freeman, a Birmingham radio deejay who worked at WJLD 1400 and WEDR 1220 on and off for some 17 years. He spent some time in Columbus, Georgia and in Dayton, Ohio as a gospel announcer and then returned to Birmingham. He recalls his time on the air and his recollections of the civil rights struggles in Birmingham. Hear and read his story here! https://www.thebbrm.org/item/105

Image: Announcers Larry Levan and James Freeman (L - R at center back) with fans, at WJLD
remote broadcast circa 1974.

03/20/2023

We have a lot of new followers recently and we would like to highlight our story of how we got here! Click the link below to learn how the BBRM got to where it is today!

Chronicling and cataloging the history of Black radio in Birmingham from the mid 1930’s through the 1980’s

03/10/2023

To celebrate here is a feature on Dr. Lenora Fulani's (April 25, 1950- )oral history!. Dr. Fulani, a developmental psychologist from New York City, a major leader of the Independence Party of New York, who in 1988, became the first woman and the first African American to gain access to the presidential ballot in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. She also became the first African American woman to qualify for federal primary matching funds during that campaign and again in 1992. Dr. Fulani is the founder of the Allstars Talent Show Network, a very successful anti-violence model reaching youth ages 5-25, in several U.S. cities. Here, Dr. Fulani explains her movement’s relationship with the then mayor of New York City, Michael Bloomberg, including Bloomberg’s move to become an independent, and she takes questions from the WJLD radio audience. Check out her oral history here https://www.thebbrm.org/item/107 and join us as the month continues to learn about more amazing women!

02/21/2023

Bobby Smith of the Spinners (b. April 10, 1936, Detroit, Michigan, d. March 16, 2013) principal lead singer and spokesperson for the group. Bobby and the group were in Birmingham as part of a southern tour, which also included Charlie Thomas’ Drifters. In this oral history, he and Bob Friedman (Bobby D at the time) reminisce about the current group members and their early history in the late 1950’s as student singers at Ferndale High School near Detroit. https://www.thebbrm.org/item/110

Image: The Spinners in 1965. From left to right: Billy Henderson, Edgar Edwards, Bobby Smith, Henry Fambrough, and Pervis Jackson.

02/07/2023

Gary Richardson (b. Feb 18, 1957) Born to a coal mining family in Praco, Alabama, Gary spent some early years with childhood friends rummaging through junk yards, experimenting with discarded electrical components and such, and evolved into owning WJLD Radio and hosting the longest running talk show in Birmingham radio history, (1989 - ) the Gary Richardson Morning Show. The four term mayor of Midfield, Alabama and Director of Technology Services for the Bessemer, Alabama school system, Gary took time for the following interview, one which should appeal to radio aficionados, tech heads, and the like, as well as how one man with a love for the field weathered many storms. Bob Friedman, his long-time employee and friend successfully coaxed him to the office of the Alabama Historical Radio Society (AHRS) in Birmingham for this presentation. Hear his story here https://www.thebbrm.org/item/548

01/26/2023

Please join us in honoring the life of Ed and read about the fascinating things he did in his lifetime. https://www.thebbrm.org/item/547
Ed Boutwell (b. June 21, 1937 - d. January 25, 2023) founder of Boutwell Recording Studios in Birmingham, Alabama. Nephew of Albert Boutwell who was mayor of Birmingham from 1963 to 1967, Ed recounts numerous memories of growing up on Birmingham's southside and his initiation to the politics of the times as well as his illustrious career as both a radio man at WAPI and as the owner of Boutwell Recording Studios.

Pictured: Left Bob Friedman, Right Ed Boutwell

01/15/2023

Today we celebrate the birthday of Martin Luther King Junior and tomorrow we celebrate the life and future he has given all of us. On this long weekend please take a couple minutes to hear this truly great speaker and join us in the comments to wish him a happy birthday!

01/06/2023

A flashback to the 1950's New York City days of Jocko Henderson, Birmingham-born and raised Al Isaac had a special connection with his RnB and Blues listening audience at WATV 900 AM in Birmingham. His laugh and his character voices were a hit with his call-in listeners. Unlike others on the air, Al took listener calls while the music played on. A popular platter party man with local clubs and community groups, Al Isaac made a point of not identifying his music or his artists, and his listeners still loved his show as you can hear from the September 2, 2001 clip we've provided. check out this link https://www.thebbrm.org/item/545 for the audio clip and to read the oral history he shared with us!

12/25/2022

Happy holidays from the BBRM!

1st picture: Lora Gary (b. Jan 6, 1927, d. Mar 26, 2010), receptionist, announcer, and Jazz DJ WBCO/ WJLD, pictured in 1956
2nd picture: Paul E.X. Brown (b. Dec 20, 1910, d. Aug 2, 2007) announcer at WEDR 1950-51
3rd picture: Honey Brown (Willa Lee Davis) (b. approx 1930) a broadcaster with early WBCO (1951-1952)
4th picture: Heavenly Four in 1945. Don Solomon (b.Feb 13, 1932, d. Dec 14, 2017) at far right.

12/13/2022

What can you say - what a staff at WBCO in 1951: Gar Grace, Honey Brown, Erskine Faush, Lora Walker, Fletcher Kolb and Bruce Payne. Switiching from country to RnB in 1951, folks would say WBCO stood for "Became Colored Overnight!"