Courter: Luther Masingill being inducted into radio hall

Sunday, January 1, 1905

The first set of honorees will be inducted into the newly formed Tennessee Radio Hall of Fame on May 5, and it should surprise no one that the city's own Luther Masingill is among the charter members.

He is, after all, the world's longest-running broadcaster, and he's done it at the same place -- WDEF -- since Dec. 31, 1940. Masingill, who recently celebrated his 90th birthday, started the job when he was 19.

Also being inducted in the hall are Ralph Emery, Gerry House, Wink Martindale, Scott Shannon, John Ward, Jack Dewitt, Grant Turner, William T. "Hoss" Allen, John "R" Richbourg, Larry Munson and Lindsey Nelson. That's pretty high cotton.

The inaugural induction banquet will be held at 7 p.m. CDT at the Embassy Suites in Murfreesboro. Anyone can attend. Tickets are $75 for individuals and $125 for couples, which gets you a membership in the hall of fame. You can become a full, voting member if you've worked in radio for at least two years, or you can become an associate member, which allows you to attend events and get regular updates on hall news and happenings.

Tommy Jett, who is, mark my words, a future Tennessee Radio Hall of Fame inductee, is still recovering from a car crash last week. When we spoke a couple of days before the accident, he was making plans to attend the banquet and for his annual Entertainers Reunion, slated for May 20 at Sugar's Downtown.

The event has been staged with a couple of years' breaks since 1993. It features a full lineup of live music, food and, of course, the reunion. Proceeds from the event will benefit Hospice of Chattanooga.

Here's hoping TJ the DJ gets better very soon and is able to attend both events.

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Camp Jordan will host the inaugural East Ridge Merchants Association Liberty Festival, featuring live music, food, fireworks and activities for the kids on June 30.

Set to perform are Cody McCarver, Roger Alan Wade, Chris McDaniel, The JoyScout Band with Emily Kate Boyd, Davey Smith, Nathan Farrow and Stratoblasters. That's a pretty strong lineup, especially for a new event.

In addition to the live music, area dance groups will perform, and there will be plenty of food, including barbecue, according to organizers.

The cost to get in will be $10 per car, and things will get under way at 11:30 a.m.

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On July 20, Aaron Tippin, in addition to a lineup of as-yet-unnamed local artists, will play at Redoubt in East Brainerd in a benefit for the Redoubt Soccer Association. Proceeds primarily will go toward fixing some field issues.

Admission will be $20 for adults and $10 for kids under 13. Kids under 3 will be admitted free.

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Opening day at the Chattanooga Market was a record setter, with total sales reaching the six figure mark. Anyone who attended can believe it.

My tip for the day is to get there early if you want strawberries.

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I've mentioned this several times, but if you haven't driven down Third Street and looked into the work being done at Engel Stadium, you should.