"He Helped Everybody"

Category: Obituaries

The new year has proved very painful for the Country Disc Jockey Hall of Fame, losing two members in the past two weeks.

Hairl Hensley: the "dean of Grand Ole Opry announcers" died on December 31.  He was an Opry announcer for 35 years, second in tenure only to the great Grant Turner.  In addition to his work on the Opry, he also was a beloved DJ on WSM, broadcasting both country and bluegrass shows.  For years he hosted a 15-minute morning program called "The Early Bird Gets the Bluegrass" at 5 AM, as well as a Monday night bluegrass/interview show.

Hensley had a marvelous sense of humor.  I remember hearing him play Tom T. Hall's "Ravishing Ruby" one night; and, when the trumpet part came in during the chorus of the song, Hairl slipped in a trumpet playing the "charge!" call over it.  But that wasn't his best gag, and I would be remiss if I didn't tell my favorite Hairl Hensley story.  

Massey-Ferguson Tractors sponsored a portion of the Opry at one time.  Hensley took the script book and did a little "alteration" of the script for the Massey-Ferguson ad:  he crossed out "Massey-Ferguson" and wrote, in its place, "M.F."  If you think that sounds funny, you should have heard Eddie Stubbs read it that way one night:  "These M.F. tractors are the best you can buy."  

Aside from the jokes, he was a great DJ with a vast knowledge of country and bluegrass, and he genuinely loved the music he played.

Hairl Hensley was 81.

Tom Perryman:  from humble beginnings in eastern Texas, Tom Perryman moved up to become one of the most important DJs in the 40s and 50s.  He had a keen ear for good music and went out of his way to help up-and-coming acts of the day, such as Jim Reeves and Ray Price, get their music played on radio. 

Perryman died January 11th after years of failing health.  

In addition to his eagerness to turn a song he believed in into a hit, Perryman was also a good businessman.  After Jim Reeves found success he and Perryman became business partners, buying radio stations in eastern Texas (including the one where Reeves got his start, KGRI in Henderson, Texas).  

In the foreword to Perryman's biography, Keepin' It Country, Ray Price explained his long friendship with Perryman and how the DJ worked tirelessly to get country stars' songs the exposure they deserved.  Price summarized Perryman's commitment simply:  "He helped everybody."

Tom Perryman was 90.

Farewell to these two giants of country music broadcasting.