BROADCASTING
of
Charlie Matkin

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I was in broadcasting for approximately 20 years, alternating with various sales endeavors. While still in high school, I visited several radio stations in Mobile but was always told to come back when I had some broadcasting experience. When I asked how I could gain experience if no one would hire me the response was, "That's your problem". I did finally get hired at a new station in nearby Foley, Alabama. I was only there a short time, though, because my cousin Al Goree (a student at the university, sold me of an opening at WUOA-FM, the campus station. So I enrolled as a Broadcasting major. I soon found, however, that experience at commercial stations would be more valuable, so I moved to WNPT in Northport, a town across the river from Tuscaloosa (where the university is located). From there I went to WTBC (back in Tuscaloosa) and eventually to the NBC affiliate, WJRD. A couple of years later I was living in Birmingham, working at WCRT, an "easy listening" station and selling advertising at the CART agency. While making sales calls, I was asked to come to work at a piano company. This lasted until I was called by WBRC, the CBS affiliate.

I was hired as a news reporter, but often filled in as a disc jockey. I moved to WGCM in Gulfport, Mississippi as Program Director, in 1960 but was only there one month when I was accepted at WALA-TV in my hometown of Mobile, Alabama.

I might still be there, except for the fact that I received an offer from the CBS station, WKRG. I did not take the offer, but was fired from WALA-TV a short time later when the Program Director learned that I had been talking with the competition. Naturally, when I contacted WKRG they would not hire me because I had earlier turned them down. I got on at WABB, doing a late-night record show from a bowling alley. That was one of my shortest radio jobs; they said I was too laid back. I decided to go to the west coast and try a singing career, but only got as far as New Orleans. When I arrived there in 1961 I was hired at WWOM, "The Wonderful World of Music", a daytimer.

After about a year, the Sales Manager left to manage a 24 hour station and took me along as Music Director. All this time I had been singing in several venues. Played the husband in "The Marriage" by Martinu at Tulane; I became paid soloist at Trinity Episcopal Church and a member of the New Orleans Opera Chorus. At night, I would sing in various French Quarter clubs and on various television programs (on both WWL-TV and WDSU-TV).

I was approached by the manager of WDSU Radio to do an overnight shift, which I accepted. One day I met the General Manager in the hallway. He remarked that he didn't care for "facial adornments" and wanted to talk with me in his office. I pointed out to him that I had grown a beard in Mobile at the time of the centenial of the Civil War, liked it and didn't care to shave it off. I also respectfully submitted that I was working late at night on the RADIO and no one would know I had a beard. He gave me an ultimatum, so I told him I had been thinking of going to New York to pursue a singing career. I gave notice and was soon on my way north.

OnTheRoad

My Connections

New Orleans Radio Theatre, Inc.

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