Real Radio: Steve McCoy and The WORD Years

I still find it hard to believe that I am broadcasting my KUDZOO Radio Hour from a laptop computer. I mean, I am from the old school of radio. When I started out. AM radio ruled the airwaves, and the only decent thing on FM was Monty Dupuy’s morning show on WFBC-FM out of Greenville. (Yes, the very same Mr. Monty that was a part of many of our childhoods with his “Monty’s Rascals” TV program.)

Steve McCoy arriving at WORD.

I know I said in my book that my biggest influence that made me want to be a “disc jockey” was a Spartanburg, SC jock named Danny Dyer. It’s true, Danny had a great country show on WASC “Top Gun” 1530, and when he invited me over to give me some pointers at the age of 16, I was amazed to find that he was blind. I got bit by the radio bug that day, but I must admit, there was another guy who made me and my old friend Tony Pearson decide to pursue the broadcasting dream - Steve McCoy.

Steve's Mustang 

Steve was the morning man at WORD 91 radio here in Spartanburg when I was in high school. Tony and I both joined the Junior Achievement Radio Club and we did a live show every Saturday morning at the station under the watchful eye of Steve.  It was great fun, to be sure.

I became a real fan of Steve. He was the first DJ I ever heard that did a “character” on the air. A voice he called Fred. For the longest time we thought Fred was really another person. Well, what can I say.

I guess I really was 17 once. Me doing the DJ thing.

I have nothing but fond memories of WORD over the years - Ronnie Ronnie Brandon, Billy Mac, Allen Bolten (Big Al), Sgt. Rick McAlister, Bill Christie. Always fun. I had one of the Panasonic radios that was shaped like a ball. It was blue and came with ‘70s flower, smiles, footprint, etc stickers to plaster all over it. Oh yeah. Real hip. But I heard all the new music on that radio via WORD. Everything from “The Joker” to “Frankenstein.” In full, glorious AM mono!

Steve was really kind to us, and Tony and I watched as most of the JA radio club dwindled while he and I stayed the course. All the while, we were doing a weekly show downtown at WSPA with Mel Black, and Tony and I were the last ones standing after a couple of months there as well. We really wanted it.

My old pal Tony (RIP) hammin at WORD. We sat in Steve's
seat and took pics while he was in the bathroom.  Shhh! Don't tell him.

Both of us ended up working in radio. Him more than me, as I also went into newspapers and magazines and later music.

I remember when McCoy was doing this charity thing where he sat outside Westgate Mall in a camper and didn’t sleep for several days. We visited him several times, and after four days or so of sleep deprivation he looked truly wired. I was amazed he could still make sense when speaking. It was a great promotion though, and gained a lot of interest.

Steve McCoy.

Over the years, I lost track of Steve him until I saw him on Facebook a few weeks ago, and decided to dig out these pictures I took back in the day. I also borrowed one from Steve’s Facebook page.

Great memories. Great fun.

-Michael Buffalo Smith

The WORD Staff I remember, pose with "one hit wonder"
Cledus Maggard. Steve in the middle, Billy Mac beside
him to his left, then Ronnie Brandon and Big Al.
(From Ron Brandon's FB Page)