AFKN Tony Booth 1969

 

Booth, has been galvanizing radio listeners since before the Beatles invaded America. "The Southern Gentleman" was spinning discs for troops in Korea and was a major voice in the Top-40 format; once the announcer for the Texas Rangers baseball team, Starting out in broadcasting at the tender, voice-changing age of 13.  In 1962, TONY BOOTH started to work as a DJ at KFTV RADIO in Paris, Texas. By '65, he was Music Director of the station besides his afternoon drive shift.  After that a run at some really great stations..

But now, it's Yongsan and Tony Booth:

AFKN Tony Booth 1969

Tony Booth AFKN 1969

Tony in Stars and Stripes

It's always great to hear the stories.  Tony Booth shared his:

My time doing "Good Morning, Korea" from 1968-1970 are some of my most fond memories of my 51+ years in broadcasting.  Just so happened I was lucky enough to have Lt. Col. Frank Tennant as the CO at AFKN when I arrived and his support of the entire unit was a credit to his career. (Just so happens that tomorrow 10/28) is his birthday so Happy Birthday, Colonel.)

The unit had some of the best talent probably assembled in the Army at the time except in Vietnam since so many of us were drafted.  I volunteered for the draft so I could get AFRTS (remember the MOS? 71Q and 71R).

To those who served with me in those years regardless of what you did or where you were stationed, let me say "Welcome Home."  I heard that for the first time about 5 years ago.

Today in addition to hosting my afternoon show at Big Oldies 107.3 in Richmond, Va (Bigoldies1073.com on the web), I do about 35-40 hours a month at the USO/Richmond International Airport.  The rewards are endless. Someone asked me recently if my dedication to those in uniform today had anything to do with the way we/I was treated when I came back home from Korea and the Vietnam War was still the hot topic, I said, "maybe a little but, honestly, I like the fact I get a new audience about every hour and can tell my jokes and stories and the only ones bored are the other volunteers...LOL"

Here's Tony at AFKN

Tony Booth

More Tony Booth

AFKN Tony Booth 1969

Tony Booth went on to big things after spending 1969 rocking Seoul.  then Dallas, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, Richmond and Charlotesville.

AFKN Tony Booth 1969

More Tony Booth

AFKN Tony Booth 1969

Wouldn't this be the career that we've always wanted.  Tony Booth was at Yongsan in 1969 with "Tempo"

He has a pretty decent career.

KAYC [Beaumont TX] 1966
AFKN Good Morning, Korea [Seoul, Korea] 1968
KDOK [Tyler TX] 1970
KLIF [Dallas TX] 1970
KBBC [Phoenix AZ] 1974
WFBG [Altoona PA] 1977 - Nat PD, Gilcom Corp
WLEE [Richmond VA] 1984 - GM
WHJB [Pittsburgh PA] 1990 - GM
WLEE [Richmond] 1992 - GM
WRCL [Richmond] 1999-2002
WCHV [Charlottesville VA] 2004
WBBT [Richmond] 2007-date

So from September 1969 (OJ Simpson is still in the AFL) AFKN presents "Tempo"



AFKN 1969 Tempo - Tony Booth

If you're in Richmond hear Tony Booth on WBBT.

Tony Booth - 50 years of radio

Tony Booth has spent over 50 years in radio.  In 1969 mornings at AFKN.  I had a chance to talk with Tony...

Tony Booth - 2014

Tony on AFKN

Hear Tony stream live on Big Oldies 107.3 afternoons

Good Morning Vietnam - the real story

Paul Bottoms  let me know about this:

"Adrian Cronauer, Tony Booth who was at AFKN in Korea and I gave a presentation in February 2011 for two days at the Virginia War Memorial in Richmond."

Here's the first part:

Tony Booth - now

Former AFKNr Tony Booth is celebrating 50 years in radio

Tony rocks Richmond with the greatest hits of forever.

Read his story:

Click here

Hopefully we'll be hearing more from the AFKN years soon!