In December 2021, The Bluebird Cafe and NSAI partnered with Nan Kingsley and the estate of late radio icon Bob Kingsley to fund the preservation and distribution of historic songwriter performances. One of the goals of this partnership was to digitize historic Bluebird Cafe shows throughout the years that were captured in a variety of mediums. As The Bluebird continues to celebrate its 40th anniversary year, we are thrilled to be working with WSM radio, through the help of the Kingsley estate, to release Bluebird Archival Recordings live on Ryman Hospitality Classic Country WSM-AM/Nashville. This series, which will air every Saturday morning at 9 AM CT beginning April 1, will include memorable performances recorded live throughout the venue’s history. Following each one-hour show will be Bob Kingsley’s Countdown Classics. Future plans for the show are to incorporate audio engineering students from Weatherford College where Bob Kingsley’s infamous Bluestem Studios now reside. The Bluebird is a home to songwriters and we look forward to sharing these special recordings from our intimate venue to a new audience.
Saturday, April 1:
Ashley Gorley, Chris DeStefano and Rhett Akins (recorded 1/31/2018)
Saturday, April 8:
Kelly Archer, Adam Hambrick and Marc Beeson (recorded 9/4/2021)
Saturday, April 15:
Foster & Lloyd (Radney Foster & Bill Lloyd) and Kennedy Rose (recorded 12/31/2004)
Saturday, April 22:
Tony Arata, Annie Mosher, Craig Carothers and Dave Berg (recorded 5/6/2022)
Saturday, April 29:
Lisa Brokop, Porter Howell, Paul Jefferson & Brady Seals (recorded 5/6/2022)
Saturday, May 6:
Harley Allen, Shawn Camp, Austin Cunningham & Dean Miller (recorded 12/8/1999)
Saturday, May 13:
Scotty Emerick, Leslie Satcher, Allen Shamblin & John Scott Sherrill (recorded 1/20/2009)
Saturday, May 20:
Phillip White, Mac Davis, Bobby Braddock & Steve Bogard (recorded 3/28/2007)
Saturday, May 27:
Casey Beathard, Buddy Cannon, Marla Cannon Goodman & Mac McAnally (recorded 3/29/2019)
Saturday, June 3:
Chuck Cannon, Dean Dillon & Paul Overstreet (recorded July 29, 2004)
–Nan Kingsley
ABOUT BOB KINGSLEY
Widely acknowledged as the most listened-to radio voice in country music history, Bob Kingsley began his career in 1958 while stationed with the Air Force in Keflavic, Iceland. Upon returning to his native California, he became a disc jockey at KUTY/Palmdale in 1961, subsequently working at stations in Las Vegas, Tijuana, and Oxnard, California.
In 1964, Kingsley joined KEEN/San Jose, where he honed his interviewing skills. Two years later, he moved to KGBS/Los Angeles, where he became the station’s program director and won the first of three Academy of Country Music Awards. He later worked at Los Angeles stations KLAC and KFI, while also establishing a national reputation as the programmer and voice of Drake-Chenault’s Great American Country format.
In 1974, Casey Kasem and Tom Rounds hired Bob to produce their new syndicated series, American Country Countdown. In 1978, Bob began a 28 year run as host; during that time, he received 16 consecutive Network/Syndicated Program of the Year awards from Billboard.
In 2006, Kingsley left Countdown to launch Bob Kingsley’s Country Top 40 with his wife and partner Nan. He has received three Country Radio Broadcasters (CRB)/Country Aircheck awards, the CRB President’s award and the Grand Ole Opry Living Legend Award. He was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 2016.
Bob Kingsley passed away on October 17th, 2019.
