By RODNEY HO/ rho@ajc.com, originally filed Tuesday, June 2, 2015
Two local radio legends with very different styles were picked as potential inductees into the 2015 Georgia Radio Hall of Fame: enthusiastic good ol' boy "Southside" Steve Rickman of Rock 100.5 and smooth-as-silk V-103 jock Larry Tinsley.
Mary Catherine Sneed, creator of the first Atlanta hip-hop station Hot 97.5 (now Hot 107.9) two decades ago, was also nominated.
The winners will be announced at the 9th Annual Induction Awards Ceremony October 24 at the Earl Smith Strand Theatre in Marietta. (Tickets are $55 to $110.) For a $25 single lifetime fee, you can join the Hall of Fame and be eligible to vote.
Credit: Rodney Ho
Credit: Rodney Ho
The tireless Rickman has been in radio in Atlanta for nearly 25 years, starting first at Album 88, followed by a dozen years with the now defunct 96rock, briefly with former country station Eagle 106.7 and then Rock 100.5 since 2008. (I profiled him in 2008.) Once known as a lothario who proudly slept with more than 400 women, he is now a married man. His promotional prowess is hard to match in this town. He is part of the station morning show.
"I felt honored," Rickman texted today. "How lucky I am and how hard I've worked. Just to be nominated in the same state I've worked my entire career in and the same state I was born in gives me a sense of pride and accomplishment in my career choice. Georgia Boy Done Good! Ha! Yeah c'mon!"
Tinsley is a legend in the black community, a must listen on Sunday mornings with his highly-rated gospel Sunday Morning Praise show. Current V-103 GM Rick Caffey hired him two decades ago. s
"I am extremely delighted to have served 47 years in the broadcasting industry," Tinsley said. "I'm very appreciative and thankful for this nomination."
In an interview I did a couple of years ago, he said, "My goal is always to use my gifts to glorify God. He's given me this gift of broadcasting which allows me to reach many people."
The Georgia Radio Hall of Fame is dependent on nominations by members. I don't think Larry Wachs or Eric Von Haessler, Rickman's former Regular Guys colleagues, have ever been nominated. And as for V-103, several potential Hall of Fame candidates such as evening jock Greg Street, former morning host Frank Ski and morning host Wanda Smith have yet to be nominated.
The banquet this October will be emceed by Randy Cook and Spiff Carner, formerly of Fox 97.
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