George D. Hay

George D. (The Solemn Ole Judge) Hay. Born: November 9, 1895 - Died: May 8, 1968. Inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame (1966). Member of the WLS National Barn Dance and the WSM Grand Ole Opry. Credited with launching countless country music greats' careers and with the establishment of country music as a radio medium. In Memphis, Tennessee, after World War I, he was a reporter for the Commercial Appeal, and when the newspaper launched its own radio station, WMC-AM, in January 1923, he became a late-night announcer at the station. In 1924, left for WLS-AM in Chicago, where he served as the announcer on a program that became National Barn Dance. In 1925, moved on to WSM-AM in Nashville. Grand Ole Opry starring George D. Hay was released on June 25, 1940. Hoosier Holiday starring George D. Hay was released on September 13, 1943. In 1945, wrote A Story of the Grand Ole Opry, and he became an editor of Nashville's Pickin’ and Singin’ News in 1953.