King Records continues to be recognized for its significance to Cincinnati through radio documentaries airing on WVXU and WMUB. The series of radio documentaries which aired in September, 2016, for King Records month have won two awards, both in the radio documentary category, the Clarion Award from the Association of Women in Communications and Ohio’s Society of Professional Journalists.
The five King Records Month specials which aired last fall featured one-hour programs on Bull Moose Jackson, Wynonie Harris, Roy Brown, and two programs about songwriter/producer Henry Glover. Legendary Blues Brothers musician Dan Akroyd contributed to the special on blues shouter Wynonie Harris. Other notables interviewed included author Tony Collins, musician Jymie Merritt, composer Artie Butler, music historian Billy Vera; blues musician Bob Margolin; and Seymour Stein, co-founder of Sire Records/VP of Warner Brothers Records.
The specials were produced by Lee Hay from WVXU and hosted by music historian Brian Powers.
Two one-hour specials for this year’s King Records celebration in September, 2017, will focus on Hank Ballard & the Midnighters (airing September 9th and 10th) and the 5 Royales (airing September 23rd and 24th). The first special will feature interviews with the two remaining members of the Midnighters, Billy Davis and Norman Thrasher, plus music from their King Records catalog. The second special is in progress.