Ken Tanner

Ken says "I did the Morning show at WROV for Burt Levine from 1956 to about 1960. I was hired by Burt to replace Sid Tear who left for WRIS. I also worked with Jerry Joynes on the High School Football Broadcasts on WROV, mostly Jefferson although we did some Lucy Addison games as well. Jack Allyn (Jivin Jackson) and I teamed up to do "Sock Hops" in the parks in the summertime for Coca-Cola. They would be on the air about an hour from 8 'till 9 on Saturday nights.

We also brought a great number of R&B Artist to the Valley over the years, including Little Richard, Chuck Berry, Fats Domino, The Clovers, Drifters, Platters, Joe Turner and many more including the Count Basie Band. Mostly to the old American Legion Auditorium, then next to the N&W Roanoke train station. I could go on for days!"

Ken now lives in Cary, NC. For twenty-three years he did the farm news reports for WRAL-TV 5 in Raleigh. Today he does play-by-play for the Durham Bulls baseball games and, occasionally, the N.C. State Wolfpack. He's the backup PA announcer for the Carolina Hurricanes hockey games and is frequently heard on other area sports shows. We'll be adding more of his recollections to the site in the future.

Hear Ken!

Ken Tanner 1959   (5.1M)