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 Ted Richards has, in his own words, come “full circle.”
Born in Florence, South Carolina, the oldest of three brothers, Ted’s intrigue with radio began in high school. As a star athlete, he was invited in his senior year to take part in a Saturday morning radio show covering school news and sports information. He was fascinated and decided then and there to pursue a career in broadcasting.
Upon graduation in 1965, he attended and graduated from The Career Academy of Broadcasting in Atlanta. He landed his first stint in radio at WBLR in Batesville, S.C. From there, he served in the Air Force where, among other official duties and placements, he joined Armed Forces Radio and TV. After his 4 years with the Air Force, Ted landed a job at the powerhouse WAPE in Jacksonville, Florida. Many of us remember listening to our transistor radios to this station at night! It was there at “Big Ape” that he was nicknamed “Ted the Bear”, a moniker he uses still today. He later moved to CKLW in Windsor, Ontario located just across the river from Detroit. Several wonderful things happened in his life while at this station…he met and married his wife Nancy and he was voted “Personality of the Year” by Detroit listeners in 1979 as part of a PEOPLE’s magazine feature. His next move was to Detroit doing mornings for Greater Media, then to Raleigh on WTRG, and in Denver at Jones Radio Networks where he was heard on 140 stations via satellite across America. Then it was back to Detroit at WOMC. He joined 94.9 The Surf in September 2009.
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 Ted Bell knew at age 11 that he wanted to be a radio broadcaster. It was either that, or a city bus driver. Born and raised in Lynchburg, Virginia, Ted, an only child, and his mother and father used public transportation as their main means of getting around…not unusual for a family in the 40’s and 50’s. He laughs when recalling his escapades of telling his mother that his buddy’s parents were taking them somewhere, when, in fact, he was headed lickety-split to the local radio station, WWOD 1390 AM. Ted was fascinated with radio and in particular, a show called “Night Train” which aired nightly from 8 – 11. Jim Wilkie was the host of the pop-music show and would become a personal and professional mentor to Ted. Ted’s family moved to Orangeburg, SC when he was 15. His dad’s new boss knew the manager of a local radio station, WORG 1580 AM, and Ted began working on Saturday and Sunday afternoons at the station. Ted loved the rhythm and blues artists of that time, including Jackie Wilson, and never particularly “got into” the British Invasion (Beatles, Rolling Stones etc). He recalls that national stars, Gladys Knight and the Pips and Ben E. King to name a few, would drop in at the station when they were in town for a concert. As thrilling as that was for a young broadcaster, Ted regrets that there was no modern-day-technological sophistication, so he had no way to record their interviews. |
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 Ray Scott was born in Gary, Indiana. He moved to Monroe, NC when he was 3 years old. Although he considers Monroe his “hometown”, he actually lived in High Point, NC and Goldsboro, NC before returning to Monroe to attend and finish high school. He and his older sister Claudia can relate to Mike Schermer’s hit song, “My Big Sister’s Radio”! Ray comes from a family with a musical background. His mom sang in a USO band during WW II. Her friend and trumpet player in the band, Bruce Snyder, eventually left that band and joined Tommy Dorsey’s Orchestra. He was the roommate of another rather famous voice…Frank Sinatra! Years later, Ray’s grandmother Blanche received a lovely framed photograph from Mr. Sinatra penned with “Happy 100th Birthday Blanche, from Ole Blue Eyes”. Ray says the other accolades she received, from Willard Scott, The President of the United States, and the Governor, paled beside Frank’s gift! Ray sang in school glee clubs and church choirs. There’s no wonder why he loved music at an early age. |
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 94.9 the Surf is pleased to announce our new Sunday morning show! Airing from 8 A.M. – 10 A.M. and hosted by Joey Warren, THE GOSPEL TRAIN features old and new gospel shag songs.
Many of you already know Joey, "The Little Man of Beach Music". You may have seen him spinning records at Fat Harold’s Beach Club right here in North Myrtle Beach. You may have seen or heard him (on www.949thesurf.com) worldwide on the Internet at 94.9’s remote beach party locations recently at Pete’s Landing on Wednesdays or Filet’s on Sunday evenings. You may have enjoyed him on WCLN 1170 AM in Clinton, North Carolina which was simulcast on WBLA 1440 AM as well. The Carolina Beach Music Awards nominated Joey for AM Radio DJ for his broadcasts on these stations in 2005, 2006, and 2007. |
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