Tag Archives: WPAQ

Christmas Recordings From WPAQ

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WPAQThe Holiday Season is upon us again. The SFC’s Ralph Epperson Collection holds several recordings from WPAQ Radio that are related to, or were recorded on, Christmas Day.

FT-8006 “Christmas Time is Coming”, WPAQ Merry-Go-Round Jam Session. (Glen McPeak, Rex Hodges, Walter McMillian, Amos Dawson, and Clyde Johnson.)    December 19, 1981:

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FT-9745 “Ballad Of The Lawson Family”, WPAQ Merry-Go-Round, Kinney Rorrer and Sweet Sunny South from April 21, 1984:

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Other notable recordings include FT-8074-FT-8076 – the WPAQ Merry-Go-Round on Christmas Morning  Jam Session that took place December 25, 1982, with a variety of WPAQ area favorites:

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Clyde Johnson On WPAQ

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Recently found in the Ralph Epperson Collection, from the recordings of WPAQ Radio in Mount Airy, NC, was a delightful tape of Clyde Johnson and the Stringdusters from the June 15, 1985 broadcast of the WPAQ Merry-Go-Round, a weekly live radio program for local musicians. The Stringdusters had a rotating membership that always included Clyde Johnson, host of the Merry-Go-Round for 47 years (until his death in 2007). Highlights include two songs sung by Rafe Brady, “Take A Drink On Me” & “Waltz Across Texas With You”. Rafe’s unique blend of character and warmth in his aging voice helped give the  program it’s usual down home feel.

The entire Ralph Epperson Collection has now been digitized for preservation and access. This work was made possible though support from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

“Take A Drink On Me”:

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“Waltz Across Texas”:

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