Perspectives: Sam’s Perspective – The Call

In my line of work, you meet a lot of people. Leaders and followers. Heroes and just plain folks. There have also been a few legends. Some of those, became friends. One is on my mind and I want to tell you a little bit about him.

I knew about Billy Parker from his KVOO days. Used to listen to him on the radio in my home town of Ft. Smith, Arkansas. KVOO, 50-thousand watts of clear channel and back in the day, it was known as a flame thrower meaning because of its strength, you could easily pick up the station’s signal just about anywhere in the Nation’s breadbasket. In fact, if you bought a radio anywhere in western Arkansas, KVOO was usually marked on the tuning dial. At night, the station could be heard coast to coast. Truck drivers and their families knew KVOO well. The truckers could call in from a pay phone, request a song and pass along a message to the family back home. Both would be broadcast. The family could do the same. This was long before cb radios and cell phones. KVOO was the trucker’s friend in the night. Billy Parker was right in the middle of it all.

But there is more to it than that. You see, just about anybody can sit behind a microphone and talk and call themselves a disk jocky. Over the years, Billy rose above that. A gifted broadcaster with a love of country music carried him to the level, of legend. A few days before Christmas, I got a call from my friend with news of a big change in his life. He said it was time to sign off and Sunday night, December 27th, 8p.m. would be his last broadcast. My first reaction was to say, “Hey Billy, I’d like to be there when you tape your last show” but I didn’t say that. No,… I wanted to be with Billy the way I’d first come to know him. Sitting beside a radio listening as he made magic over the airwaves. That’s exactly what I did.

It was 8:00p.m. Sunday night and his theme came on and Billy Parker’s Country Junction was on the air, on Big Country 99.5. A few minutes later, there it was,… that voice came over the speaker and once again, he made me feel like a member of the family. Only someone with passion for what he’s doing can pull that off. It was no surprise when he announced his first song on his final radio show, would be an idol of his, Ray Price. All of a sudden, I was transported back to the 1970s. Through all of the songs that followed, Billy kept up the flow in between, thanking sponsors who’d been with him, some for 20-and 30-years. Unheard of this day and age. They were loyal and so was he.

For his good work, he was rewarded time and time again, nationally, regionally and locally, all of it well deserved. After a few minutes I told my wife, “I’ll bet that control room was crowded when they taped this show.” She smiled and nodded because she understood what I was talking about. Yea there were some folks there, those sponsors I mentioned and a reporter and photographer from the Tulsa World and a few friends. There were others there too,… But only Billy could see them.

The first one through the door was Ray Price. Then came Willie, Hank and HankJr., Roy, George, Bob and the Playboys, Johnny Lee came in late. He stood next to Leon. Tammy, Patsy, Dolly, Wanda, Barbara. Soon the line stretched down the hall and out the door. Merl, ‘Whispering ‘ Bill and the Man in Black were there too. All of them came to say Thanks Billy. They all smiled when Billy announced his regular ‘Song of Inspiration’,… an oldie,… “Sweet Beulah Land”. They all knew what he had done over the years for all of them. The long hours behind the mike, working concerts and shows with many of them and with his own band, raising money for charities, giving his time when he really didn’t have it to give. Billy Parker lived it. He knew many major stars on a first name basis, the big names of country music. Several, he’d worked with at one time or another. He understood them and he brought that understanding to his microphone.

The listeners reaped the benefits. The same way I did during his last broadcast as his passion washed over me like warm, holy waters. I knew broadcast history was being made and I was witness to it. And when his last broadcast was over I also knew those unseen friends followed him to the parking lot. I knew too that before he got in his car, he turned and waved,…. and said, “Hey,.. Thank yall.” Then he drove away.

In closing, there are three things I want to say about Billy Parker:
1. I’m taller than Billy, but he casts a much longer shadow. Legends are like that. And to be real honest with you, I’m a better man and a better broadcaster for having known him.
2. We’ll never again see his likes on the air. Its over. He was the same on the air and off. And I never heard him say anything mean about another human being.