Remembering Ralph Epperson, Founder of Bluegrass And Old-Time Music Station WPAQ

This week would have marked the 100th birthday of Ralph Epperson, who was born on April 5, 1921. In the 1930s he left behind the tobacco fields near Mount Airy for college where he studied radio technology before returning to build that area's first radio station, WPAQ, in 1948. It continues to bring live church services, bluegrass, and old-time music performances to the Piedmont and southern Virginia. Epperson's son Kelly Epperson auditioned for a job at WPAQ in 1977 and has helped keep the tradition alive ever since. He spoke with WFDD's David Ford.

Interview Highlights

On building the radio station in 1948:

There was a really funny story my dad would tell about when they were trying to put the tower up. They had a tower company from Petersburg, Virginia, and they came along, and they were trying to build that tower and there were men up the tower and on the ground. And my dad was on the ground and there was a minister that wanted to purchase time — airtime to be on his radio station, which wasn't even on the air yet. And while this preacher was talking to my dad about purchasing time, the tower directors were shouting back and forth onto the ground up the tower. And they were using quite a bit of profanity and a lot of it. And the preacher was overhearing all this. And my dad wasn't giving the preacher much attention. He was trying to get the station built. Finally, the preacher just out of frustration said, "Well, I'll tell you what, Ralph. If you ever do get this place going, it's going to take about a six month's revival to get things right around here."

On what he misses most about his father:

I miss just being able to go to him for advice on anything. He knew the bible so well. I used to teach Sunday school quite a bit and I could just call him up and ask him questions about the bible to help me in my teaching. I can't do that anymore. And he always had a calming effect on me and anyone else. I went to a doctor's appointment in Winston-Salem one time, and he asked what kind of profession I was in and I mentioned WPAQ. And he said "WPAQ. There was an Epperson that had a program on Saturday afternoons. I didn't really care a lot for the music that he played, but I just loved to hear him talk. He just had a way of relaxing me and I enjoyed tuning in just to hear what he had to say."