Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Bill Whyte. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Bill , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?
When I was 16. I had learned to play guitar and knew I wanted to play music for the rest of my life. And then at age 18 I knew I wanted radio to be a part of my life as well after landing my first on air job at a small market radio station.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I started writing songs when I was 16 and started a country band at about the same time. At the age of 18 I got my first radio job at a one bedroom trailer in Bowling Green Missouri. KPCR…which stood for Kowpasture Country Radio. And since that time I’ve always been on a performing stage or behind a microphone at radio stations doing morning shows. My radio stops included WUBE in Cincinnati. WMIL Milwaukee. WFMS Indianapolis and WSM Radio in Nashville.
In 2012 I was inducted into the Country Radio Broadcast Hall of Fame. And I received a CMA Award for Best Large Market Radio Personality in 1991.
I landed a song on the Love Remains Album by Hillary Scott & The Scott Family that won two Grammy Awards for Best Contemporary Christian Album. That song is “Love Remains”. I’ve had over 150 of my songs recorded by various artists.
I currently write songs for Billy Blue Publishing In Nashville. And I perform shows constantly across the country.
I’ve released two comedy song CD”s “Off The Wall” and “Leave Em’ Laughing”.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
I love getting up every day and trying to create something new…like a song. When I’m not on the road performing I’m usually in a co-writing session with another songwriter or two. I love walking in with a blank page and a thought or two and then turn that into a song. And then if I’m lucky an artist will record the song and put it out to the world. That never gets old.
When I play road shows a. lot of times I play in a trio format. One of those trios features Grammy winner Linda Davis and her husband Lang Scott. The other is “Hits & Grins” a true songwriters trio. My role in both trios for the most part is providing laughter. And it’s a true joy to sing a funny song and hear the audience laugh at something you created from nothing one day.
One of the great things about being a creative is the fact that your songs, your writing, your records are something that you get to leave behind that may live on for a very long while.
Have you ever had to pivot?
I played in a band on the road for a long time when I was young full time. Our band played in Cincinnati for four years and at a house gig for the last two years. I had been out of radio several years during this period of time. When the owner of the club I was playing at decided he wanted to make a change it meant going back on the road again, which I didn’t want to do at that time because I had met my wife in Cincinnati and we had a young daughter.
So a friend I had worked with at my first small market radio station in Missouri was the Program Director at the big country radio station in Cincinnati and he brought me back into radio. Part time at first but it eventually led to a long and prosperous morning radio show career.
And when my last radio contract ran out in Cincinnati I pivoted once again and went back into music writing songs and performing which I’m still doing today.
It doesn’t hurt to have more than one talent allowing you to pivot if you need to.
Contact Info:
- Website: billwhytecomedy.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bwhytecomedy/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bill.whyte.58/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/bwhytecomedy/status/1730220953085362193
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBopcEQ_lSJxFVBG2AiNJgg
Image Credits
Bill Whyte Linda Davis & Lang Scott in the trio picture