Lester and Earl! The rich history of bluegrass and early country music is what WSVS is about. We promote local and regional talent to drive the future and respect the history of this fine music we love so dearly.
Sounds Like
Classic Bluegrass! Or, as the folks back home call it, REAL country music!
On April 6th, 1947, WSVS AM commenced broadcasting from Crewe, Virginia. WSVS began as the American economy and population grew in a post World War II society. Radio was the top media of the age and stations were springing up in every community to provide information to the citizens on an immediate basis.
In the late 1940’s and 1950’s with the growing popularity of live music and live broadcasts being produced, WSVS worked to keep up with the growing musical trends of the age. Musicians were brought in to perform live country music and a popular growing form of country music called bluegrass. In the early 1950’s Charles Johnson, otherwise known as Little Jody Rainwater, was the promoter and bassist in the bluegrass group Flatt and Scruggs and The Foggy Mountain Boys. When Jody (as he was known to all) decided to leave the Foggy Mountain Boys and settle down, he chose WSVS and Crewe as his home. Jody’s programming became extremely popular with the listeners and Jody’s ongoing support of the bluegrass movement endeared listeners to him.
In early 1954, Flatt and Scruggs, then sponsored by Martha White Mills, decided to change location and moved from Nashville, TN where they performed on WSM’s daily, early-morning broadcast, to WSVS in Crewe. Starting daily in September of 1954 until January of 1955, the Foggy Mountain Boys played a daily show on WSVS from the studios on Melody Lane. During this time, with the help of budding technology, Lester and Earl and the Foggy Mountain Boys taped all of their Grand Ole Opry broadcasts and performed on the local Old Dominion Barn Dance on WRVA in Richmond, Virginia.
Curly Seckler, who played in the Foggy Mountain Boys during their time at WSVS remembers the show and studio. “After moving to Nashville in June of 1953, the Foggy Mountain Boys were sponsored by Martha White Mills on a daily morning radio show for many years. During our time in Crewe, thanks to the wonders of budding technology, we were able to tape all of our Martha White shows in the studio at WSVS and send them back to Nashville to be aired. Thus we not only performed our daily noontime show on WSVS, but we were able to maintain our presence on Nashville’s WSM throughout the period we spent in Virginia.”
In 2006, the Flatt and Scruggs studio was revitalized and opened up again to record and produce live shows. The studio was completely restored to the original luster that the Foggy Mountain Boys had in 1954! WSVS now uses the studio for live performances very much as it did in 1953 and 1954. The staff and management respect and maintain the history provided with a room that has hosted some of the world’s greatest musicians and stars. Shows like High Noon Hoedown feature and record many musicians of local and regional prominence to this day.
We encourage listeners of all ages to listen in and support the music of WSVS’ grand heritage. It is indeed a joy to stand in the studios that hosted many of the greats and to relive the moments that made the radio medium so popular. Tune in and enjoy!
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I had a great time on the radio show on May 30th. I was very excited to be there, and i hope to see you again! Thanks, Jessica(Made From Scratch. "Fiddler")
Hi Guys, Thanks for a great experience on the High Noon Hoedown Saturday, it was a blast! You really made us feel like family. Thanks also for spinning my originals on the show. Looking forward to coming back.
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