KWEM Radio

KWEM Radio was set up by the KLXR-Razorback Network in 1946, in West Memphis, Arkansas. Efforts were made to get the radio station on air before the end of 1946, but equipment problems delayed the opening. Tests were made during the second week of January 1947, and the station's formal opening was held on February 23, 1947.

Their studios were at 231 Broadway Street in West Memphis, in the west side of the Merchants and Planters Bank Building, now the Regions Bank building. In 1954 a second studio was added at 64 Flicker Street in Memphis, Tennessee. The tower and transmitter were south of the viaduct between the Harahan Bridge and the U.S. Engineers Office. KWEM was a daytime station with 1,000 watts on 990 kHz.

George Mooney, sportscaster for the Razorback Network, was the manager. Other staff members were Bill Trotter, commercial manager; Frank Keegan, program director; Vernon Dillaplain, chief engineer; Erie Cutrer, salesman; Bill Garrett, announcer; Hal Hill, announcer; Douglas Clark, announcer; Johnny Kenlo, announcer; James Klaser, in charge of production; Betty Dabbs, receptionist; Jean Mooney, traffic director; and Ed Beck, engineer. Later, Franklin Page of Little Rock was added as an announcer. Officers of KWEM included, J. O. Johnson, president; J. W. Rich, vice-president; J. C. Mccaa, secretary; Melvin Dacus, director; and John Cooper, director. KWEM was later sold, and in 1960 would officially become KWAM.

KWEM Radio featured live music performance in the years from 1947 to 1955, a pay to play method generating revenue for radio stations who could not make enough money from conventional advertising sponsors and the spinning of records. Unknown artists who appeared on KWEM during the late 1940s and early 1950s were B.B. King,Howlin' Wolf,Ike Turner,Scotty Moore, Stan Kessler,Warren Smith, Paul Burlison and Joe Hill Louis. All of these artists performed live on KWEM, and for many it was their first radio exposure. Listening to KWEM Radio would inspire another young West Memphis area youth, Albert King, to learn to play and he appeared to support his band at the T-99 Club in Oceola, Arkansas. He would launch his career and become a major influence on Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughan.

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