Lee Masters is one of the most durable DJs in Birmingham. Born and raised in Birmingham, Lee got interested in radio when, as a young teenager, walked into WAQY studios, near his home, one day. There he met station owners, Tommy Charles and Doug Layton. That quick meeting led to Lee working at the station doing odd jobs for TC and Doug. He got the bug for radio and started his own radio career in 1973 at WERC. He then left the state for a few years and worked in Nashville, Memphis and Corpus Cristi. However, he returned to Birmingham in 1981 and worked for Kicks 106 as Rock and Roll Jones. In 1983, he moved over to WYDE and helped to start the Oldies format working with ARCA. Also in ’83, Lee and Bill Lawson were connected with a local show that featured Arthur Alexander. It was Lee who presented Arthur with his ARCA Honorary Membership, at that show.
He worked at WVOK from 1986 to 1990. In 1986 he was asked by the PD to develope a Sunday night program. Lee had always been a fan of local music and Birmingham and the surrounding areas had tons of it, so Lee started a program called, “Whatever Happened To….?” Each week would have a different guest who was in a local band in the 50s and 60s. Guests included Henry Lovoy, Bo Reynolds, Bobby Marlin and Rooster Gallagher. The show only ran for fourteen weeks, but it helped to spotlight some great musicians that had otherwise might have been forgotten about.
The next year, 1987, Lee developed and then emceed the “Reunion of Sons and Daughters of the 60s” concert which featured local bands like the Distortions, Rockin’ Rebellions, Rooster and the Townsmen, The Hard Times and many others. The benefit helped to raise money for children of slain police officers.
For the next several years, after leaving WVOK, Lee moved around, since radio was becoming more and more automated and fewer and fewer DJs were needed. Lee’s most recent stint on the air was a four-year run at WAFN, Fun 92.7 in Arab, AL, before deciding to retire.
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Lee Masters aircheck composite
Me too!… Thank you Rhonda!
Lee, I am proud to know you my friend, my buddy, and pal. We have been keepers of the peace together and even captured a opossum together. Our time spent together was a brief moment in time, but it was intense and memorable. 1987 was the first time we didn’t meet. I was attending, “The Children of Slain Police Officers,” inaugural ball, little did I know, it was organised by you. It’s always good to see you when I see you. I know that radio and music has always been your passion, and I would love to see you recognized for the contribution, and the impact you have had on everyone from the good old days until nowdays. May God Blessings be upon you.
Robin, that is so nice of You! We definitely have shared some good times. Thank you for the kind words and more importantly, thanks for your friendship, my friend! God Bless you also!
Those were the “Good Ole Days”. Miss those days.