tom perryman - Inducted 1988

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 full-time country radio stations. Perryman started in country radio KEBE Jacksonville, TX (1947-1949) 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 DJ Hall of Fame in 1988. Perryman currently plays classic country music in east Texas on "The Ranch" (KKUS Tyler TX/KKFO Longview TX/KOUL Marshall TX).