Larry James
August 30, 1943 — December 26, 2010
Larry Arthur James, 67, former radio personality on stations WDAK, WCLS, WPNX and WHYD died Sunday, December 26, 2010 at Columbus Hospice House in Columbus, GA.
A memorial service will be held at a later date according to McMullen Funeral Home 3874 Gentian Blvd. Columbus, GA 31907.
Mr. James, affectionately known as LJ the DJ, hosted the highly popular Late Date Show on WDAK right out of Jordan High starting in 1961. He was born on August 30, 1943 in Columbus, GA son of the late Hardy C. and Mattie Pearl Nichols James. In 1964, he took over at WCLS and switched them to a top 40 format in the heyday of the British Invasion and Motown. Larry later left Columbus to hone his skills in Mobile, AL and Jacksonville, FL and at WIVK Knoxville. In 1975, he joined the 50,000 watt WBT in Charlotte, NC where his night show was heard in 22 states, from Nova Scotia to The British West Indes.
One of his proudest moments came in 1978 when Johnny Cash announced on CBS that Larry had been awarded the Country Music Association Air Personality of the Year. Larry had the good fortune of emceeing shows with stars ranging from Dolly Parton and Willie Nelson to Johnny Cash and Conway Twitty. He was first to play a record by a young 18 year old singer in Charlotte named Randy Traywick. Larry urged him to move to Nashville in order to get discovered. He did that and changed his name to Randy Travis. Larry also worked hard to help his friend Randy Owen and the group, Alabama, get signed in Nashville. Randy later said â
A memorial service will be held at a later date according to McMullen Funeral Home 3874 Gentian Blvd. Columbus, GA 31907.
Mr. James, affectionately known as LJ the DJ, hosted the highly popular Late Date Show on WDAK right out of Jordan High starting in 1961. He was born on August 30, 1943 in Columbus, GA son of the late Hardy C. and Mattie Pearl Nichols James. In 1964, he took over at WCLS and switched them to a top 40 format in the heyday of the British Invasion and Motown. Larry later left Columbus to hone his skills in Mobile, AL and Jacksonville, FL and at WIVK Knoxville. In 1975, he joined the 50,000 watt WBT in Charlotte, NC where his night show was heard in 22 states, from Nova Scotia to The British West Indes.
One of his proudest moments came in 1978 when Johnny Cash announced on CBS that Larry had been awarded the Country Music Association Air Personality of the Year. Larry had the good fortune of emceeing shows with stars ranging from Dolly Parton and Willie Nelson to Johnny Cash and Conway Twitty. He was first to play a record by a young 18 year old singer in Charlotte named Randy Traywick. Larry urged him to move to Nashville in order to get discovered. He did that and changed his name to Randy Travis. Larry also worked hard to help his friend Randy Owen and the group, Alabama, get signed in Nashville. Randy later said â
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