Whatever happened to Gary McKee? (Atlanta, Buford: 2014, to live, suburbs)

[Newsboy]

Here's the link to a fine (lengthy) blog post by the AJC's Rodney Ho on legendary Atlanta radio deejay Gary McKee. For those who don't know or are too new (or young) to remember, McKee was the No. 1 rated morning drive-time host in Atlanta for almost 20 years. He spent most of that time on 94-Q (now Star 94) and later worked at both Z-93 and WSB before retiring from the biz in the late 1990s.

The BEST thing about this story is the audio links to vintage McKee broadcasts from the 1970s. It's a fascinating thing listening to live local radio from that era, when Metro Atlanta's population was barely 1.5 million and the suburbs stopped at the Perimeter.

Anybody remember Yetta Levitt? Red Neckerson? Willis the Guard? That was radio's golden age, and they just don't make 'em like this anymore!

"Wake me up, McKee you bozo,
I am listening to your morning show-zoh,
Put on my face and my panty hose-oh,
Hope you get me to work on time ..."

Enjoy!

Catching up with Gary McKee, former WQXI/94Q host | Radio and TV Talk

[MathmanMathman]

Definitely the golden age of radio of a sorts. Radio mattered, the music mattered, the station mattered. I remember Yetta Levitt, Red Neckerson, but Willis the Guard I guess was possibly on his way out as he was often mentioned but wasn't on the air. Although I do remember his song "Buford Triangle". Radio personalities were a big part of Atlanta's pop culture.

WSB AM was a very different sounding station, eclectic.

[Newsboy]

Forgot to mention, 94-Q was the real-life inspiration for "WKRP in Cincinnati." All of the characters on "WKRP" were based on real employees at WQXI. The infamous "turkey drop" episode of WKRP was an actual station promotion stunt done by Quixi.

Here's some more on Q-94 and McKee:

Gary McKee on 79 WQXI Atlanta | 1973 - Airchexx.com

[bigstick]

Originally Posted by Newsboy

Here's the link to a fine (lengthy) blog post by the AJC's Rodney Ho on legendary Atlanta radio deejay Gary McKee. For those who don't know or are too new (or young) to remember, McKee was the No. 1 rated morning drive-time host in Atlanta for almost 20 years. He spent most of that time on 94-Q (now Star 94) and later worked at both Z-93 and WSB before retiring from the biz in the late 1990s.

The BEST thing about this story is the audio links to vintage McKee broadcasts from the 1970s. It's a fascinating thing listening to live local radio from that era, when Metro Atlanta's population was barely 1.5 million and the suburbs stopped at the Perimeter.

Anybody remember Yetta Levitt? Red Neckerson? Willis the Guard? That was radio's golden age, and they just don't make 'em like this anymore!

"Wake me up, McKee you bozo,
I am listening to your morning show-zoh,
Put on my face and my panty hose-oh,
Hope you get me to work on time ..."

Enjoy!

Catching up with Gary McKee, former WQXI/94Q host | Radio and TV Talk

Yes those were the good ole radio days.

[Iconographer]

I played in a softball league with Yetta. She was a doll.
I thought I read that the guy that voiced Willis the Guard passed away recently.

[arjay57]

I loved Willis's songs.

"I'm Gonna Drive My Truck" and "PBR and Peanuts" are two of my all time favorites.


Willis The Guard - I Drive My Truck - YouTube

[Gerrygal]

I was a longtime listener of WQXI, dating back to the mid-sixties, when Paul Drew, Pat Hughes and Tony ("The Tiger") Taylor were on the air. Gary McKee, "Willis the Guard" and Yetta Levitt were great, too. I miss those good ol' days of radio...