Country Radio Hall of Fame Ceremony
The Country Radio Broadcasters have announced the Class of 2021 Country Radio Hall of Fame inductees. The inductees are made up of on-air and off-air personalities. The Country Radio Hall of Fame Induction and Dinner will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2021, at the Westin Nashville. Tickets will go on sale on September 8th.
CRB’s Country Radio Hall of Fame Committee Chairman, Joel Raab, commented, “Country Radio should be extremely proud of this year’s 2021 Hall of Fame Inductees. They represent the best of the best from a large group of excellent nominees.”
Off-Air Personalities
Bob Call has been directly involved in the Country music format as an air personality. Call was the first-ever Program Director at KYGO/Denver, signing on the station in 1980. KYGO has earned numerous industry honors during Call’s tenure, including CMA and Marconi Station of the Year honors.
RJ Curtis is a 41-year Country radio/Music Row executive whose career has impacted nearly every aspect of the format. His resume features 30 years in major market radio. In addition, he spent 13 years providing insight, analysis, and commentary on the Country music industry. Also, he wrote and reported for Radio & Records Magazine, Billboard, Country Aircheck, and All Access Music Group.
Bill Hagy has been instrumental in launching the careers of artists like Kenny Chesney, Brad Paisley, Montgomery Gentry, and many others. He also maintained WXBQ’s dominance and influence in the promotion of live and local music in the Tri-Cities. Even in retirement, Hagy continues to serve as a programming consultant for Bristol Broadcasting Company. His influence continues to lead WXBQ to market success and national prominence.
Norm Schrutt joined Capital Cities in 1963 as WKBW/Buffalo Account Executive. In 1980, Capital Cities sent Schrutt to manage the company’s two Los Angeles-based radio stations – including KZLA, which he flipped from AC to Country, making it the first FM Country station in the market. He retired from radio in 1996 as Capital Cities/ABC Pres./Owned Radio Stations, where his corporate responsibilities included supervision of the company’s stations in Chicago, Washington, Dallas, Atlanta, and Minneapolis.
On-Air Personalities
Heather Froglear has been an important member of the KFRG/Riverside on-air and programming team since 1993, currently serving as APD/MD/West Coast Talent, co-hosting a nationally syndicated afternoon show for Audacy. She has received multiple Best Radio Personality honors in the Riverside-San Bernardino market.
Buzz Jackson is the longtime PD/afternoon personality for KIIM/Tucson, where he has enjoyed consistent ratings dominance, and garnered national industry recognition, winning ACM (2009) and CMA (2014) Broadcast Personality of the Year honors, in addition to CRS/Country Aircheck Awards for both PD and Air Personality of the Year.
Bob Pickett helped lead the KASE station to four CMA Station of the Year trophies before transitioning back to KVET in 2011. Pickett began his radio career in Sweetwater, TX in 1977 at KXOX. Nowadays, he hosts the “Tales of the Broken Spoke” podcast.
Angie Ward the famous APD/Midday personality for WUBL/Atlanta, moved in 2009 following success at WTQR/Greensboro, NC, where she served as MD/middays and morning drive. In addition to her day-to-day duties in Atlanta, Ward voice tracks shows for ten iHeartCountry sister stations, including WKKT/Charlotte, KVET/Austin, WFUS/Tampa, and WESC/Greenville, SC.
For a list of past inductees, please visit https://www.countryradioseminar.com.