Tom
Perryman
Tom Perryman
was the first regular disc jockey of an all night Country
music show on WSM, and an General Manger and co-owner
of two of the earliest fulltime Country radio stations.
Perryman started in Country radio KEBE Jacksonville
TX (1947-1949) at after his high school graduation.
He then joined KSIJ Gladewater TX , and became a charter
member of the Country Music Disc Jockey Association
in 1953. He was named WSM’s Mr. DJ USA in 1954
and then joined WSM Nashville TN (1956-1958). Having
simultaneously worked as Talent Coordinator of the
Artists Service Bureau and Assistant Manager of The
Grand Ole Opry, he left radio for awhile to become
co-owner of the All Star Talent Agency (1958-1959).
Perryman became General Manager and partner with Jim
Reeves at KGRI AM/FM Henderson, TX. He then became
General Manager of WMTS AM/FM Murfreesboro TN (1967-1978),
which was named CMA Station of the Year in 1969 and
was the top ranked Country station in the Nashville
market in 1971 and 1972. In 1985 he became Vice President
of Jim Reeves Enterprises. Tom Perryman was inducted
into the Country Music D J Hall of Fame in 1988. Perryman
is currently plays classic Country music in East Texas
on “The Ranch” (KKUS Tyler TX/KKFO Longview
TX/KOUL Marshall TX).
