<p>Hank walks us through what country swing means to him in this conversation. We also learn about his opinions of country music at the time, discovering Wanda Jackson, his love for Oklahoma, along with his opinions on some of his closest peers.</p>

Hank walks us through what country swing means to him in this conversation. We also learn about his opinions of country music at the time, discovering Wanda Jackson, his love for Oklahoma, along with his opinions on some of his closest peers.

Hank Thompson

Lee Arnold was the best known air personality at WHN, New York, the most listened to Country music radio station of all time. After working at WSCR in his hometown of Scranton, he continued his broadcasting career at WAVY radio/TV and WNTA AM/FM/TV, both in Norfolk, VA. Lee became Music Director and Air Personality at Country formatted WJRZ, Hackensack, NJ (1965-1971), which served the New York City metropolitan area. Lee also tried his hand at music, creating a few singles from 1968 through the seventies. He recorded a few popular singles, “A Trucker’s Christmas” and “Mama Sang a Song”  (https://open.spotify.com/track/6jBZSgTgG9446rHga0Scrc . He joined WHN radio (1971-1988), an Adult Contemporary radio station which ultimately evolved into to a Country format in 1973. While at WHN, Lee hosted the weekly nationally syndicated shows "Country Cookin” and "Country Line" (1972-1976). Later, he hosted the Mutual Broadcasting System's "On A Country Road" (1981-1991) and was the voice of "Country In The Air," an in-flight airline Country Music channel. He was honored by Billboard Magazine, The Country Music Association (1976) and The Academy of Country Music (1983) as Major Market Country Disc Jockey of the Year. Lee Arnold appears as announcer on two landmark live Country albums, "Buck Owens and The BuckeroosCarnegie Hall Concert" and "Country Comes To Carnegie Hall." Lee subsequently joined Country formatted WYNY, NY (1991-1993). Lee Arnold was inducted into The Country Music DJ Hall of Fame in 2002. He joined the Sirius Satellite Network in 2001, hosting both Country music and American Standard shows simultaneously. He also was a co-anchor analyst for both ESPN and Animal Planet's dog show series. In July of 2002, he debuted a new syndicated weekly show as host of "Country CloseUP" on Triumph Radio Network. He retired from the business to spend time with family in 2010. Today Lee lives in Chester, NJ with his daughter and her wife and his five grandchildren. Lee is actively involved with animals today. He has two French bulldogs, Mr. B an Puzzle, who are his constant companions and can sometimes be heard on his latest venture, his podcast, that takes us backwards and then forwards in time through amazing conversations with Country artists of the past. Lee looks to not only tell the lost stories of some of the great artists of our time, but also to bring a perspective to listeners about reflection and change. He shares his opinions of today’s Country music, discusses being in his nineties and dealing with the loss of a spouse, as well as being active and an important part of an energetic and modern family. Join Lee as he shares conversations and country music with his friends.

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Music Interviews

Music History

Lee Arnold was the best known air personality at WHN, New York, the most listened to Country music radio station of all time. After working at WSCR in his hometown of Scranton, he continued his broadcasting career at WAVY radio/TV and WNTA AM/FM/TV, both in Norfolk, VA. Lee became Music Director and Air Personality at Country formatted WJRZ, Hackensack, NJ (1965-1971), which served the New York City metropolitan area. Lee also tried his hand at music, creating a few singles from 1968 through the seventies. He recorded a few popular singles, “A Trucker’s Christmas” and “Mama Sang a Song” (https://open.spotify.com/track/6jBZSgTgG9446rHga0Scrc . He joined WHN radio (1971-1988), an Adult Contemporary radio station which ultimately evolved into to a Country format in 1973. While at WHN, Lee hosted the weekly nationally syndicated shows "Country Cookin” and "Country Line" (1972-1976). Later, he hosted the Mutual Broadcasting System's "On A Country Road" (1981-1991) and was the voice of "Country In The Air," an in-flight airline Country Music channel. He was honored by Billboard Magazine, The Country Music Association (1976) and The Academy of Country Music (1983) as Major Market Country Disc Jockey of the Year. Lee Arnold appears as announcer on two landmark live Country albums, "Buck Owens and The BuckeroosCarnegie Hall Concert" and "Country Comes To Carnegie Hall." Lee subsequently joined Country formatted WYNY, NY (1991-1993). Lee Arnold was inducted into The Country Music DJ Hall of Fame in 2002. He joined the Sirius Satellite Network in 2001, hosting both Country music and American Standard shows simultaneously. He also was a co-anchor analyst for both ESPN and Animal Planet's dog show series. In July of 2002, he debuted a new syndicated weekly show as host of "Country CloseUP" on Triumph Radio Network. He retired from the business to spend time with family in 2010. Today Lee lives in Chester, NJ with his daughter and her wife and his five grandchildren. Lee is actively involved with animals today. He has two French bulldogs, Mr. B an Puzzle, who are his constant companions and can sometimes be heard on his latest venture, his podcast, that takes us backwards and then forwards in time through amazing conversations with Country artists of the past. Lee looks to not only tell the lost stories of some of the great artists of our time, but also to bring a perspective to listeners about reflection and change. He shares his opinions of today’s Country music, discusses being in his nineties and dealing with the loss of a spouse, as well as being active and an important part of an energetic and modern family. Join Lee as he shares conversations and country music with his friends.

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Hank Thompson

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