He took over the Sky Castle Serenade show that was broadcast live from a small, remote glass-enclosed studio located above the Hickory Hut Bar-B-Que drive-in at the Five Points West Shopping Center. He was an immediate hit with the teenage audience, and soon was moved to the night slot of 7:00 p.m. This however, was the first and only time Tommy Charles was speechless behind a radio microphone. According to Ben McKinnon who was there at that time, when he first went live on the air, Tommy “froze” and someone else had to take over for him. His first day with WSGN was December 18, 1956, and he was given the midnight to 5:00 a.m. Tiring of the constant travel necessary on the night club and supper club circuit, Tommy accepted an offer from legendary radio station general manager Ben McKinnon to be the overnight DJ for WSGN radio in Birmingham. In 1956 he appeared as himself, along with other rock and roll stars, in the American International Pictures film “Shake, Rattle, and Rock” singing “Sweet Love on My Mind” and “Rockin’ on Saturday Night.” This success was followed by touring the night club and supper club circuit in the south and southeast, and appearing locally at Mike’s South Pacific Club in Homewood. He soon signed a recording contract with Decca Records shortly thereafter and recorded an album entitled “Our Love Affair.” The title song of the same name received regional air play and became his signature radio song over the years. While with the Heidt Band, he sang on a number of CBS Radio Network shows. He first was a vocalist with the Horace Heidt Orchestra. However, when Tommy left Chattanooga in 1955 to pursue his singing career, the big band era was ending. But he also was an important part in the early days of “rock and roll” radio in Birmingham.Ī native of Chattanooga, Tennessee, Tommy wanted to be a big band singer like his favorite male singer, Frank Sinatra. Tommy Charles and his partner of almost 22 years, John Ed Willoughby, are often remembered as the “Godfathers” of talk-radio in Birmingham.
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