texas bill strength - Inducted 1990

Texas Bill Strength (born August 28, 1928) was a performer and songwriter who made the transition as one of country radio's first important dee jays when live music on the radio was replaced by records. Strength started at KTHKT Houston TX (1944) then moved to KSOO Sioux Falls, SD. In 1946, he was heard on KFEQ St. Joseph, MO then WHHD and KMYR Denver, CO and back to KSOO, followed by KMA Shenandoah IA and KRLD Dallas, TX. In September of 1949, he did daily programs at WRBC, which were also aired on a network of 37 stations throughout Alabama. In 1950, he was heard on radio transcriptions syndicated by the CIO labor organization. By 1951 he had a daily disc jockey show on KTAL Houston, TX. He also broadcasted on Houston stations, KLEE and KNUZ.  Strength appeared on KWKH's Louisiana Hayride and five times on the Grand Ole Opry with his friend Ernest Tubb. He was making records for Capitol at this time. He moved to Georgia, where he was seen on WAGA-TV Atlanta and by 1954 had a daily show on WEAS Decatur and worked at KWEM Memphis, TN before returning to KEVE. In the December 1956 issue of Country & Western Jamboree, Strength finish third (behind Don Larkin and T. Tommy Cutrer) as "Favorite Local Disc Jockey".  He then worked at KFOX Long Beach CA (1958) and KTCR Minneapolis MN (1962). Strength died October 1, 1973 from injuries received in a car accident two months earlier while on a promotional tour.  Strength was inducted into the Country Music DJ Hall of Fame in 1990.