-
Former WIVK VP/GM Bobby Denton Passes
April 9, 2014 at 7:52 AM (PT)
What do you think? Add your comment below. -
ALL ACCESS extends sympathies to family and friends of former CUMULUS (Previously CITADEL and originally DICK BROADCASTING) Country WIVK/KNOXVILLE VP/GM BOBBY DENTON, who passed away TODAY (4/9) at his KNOXVILLE home following a brief illness. He was 73.
DENTON spent 36 years at WIVK, starting as an air personality and eventually rising to the GM chair. During his leadership tenure there, ‘IVK won four COUNTRY MUSIC ASSOCIATION (CMA) Awards for "Station of the Year", plus numerous other industry accolades for its excellence.
DENTON also served as the P.A. announcer for the UNVERSITY OF TENNESSEE’s football games at NEYLAND STADIUM for more than 40 years, where UT fans anticipated DENTON’s familiar “It’s football time in TENNESSEE!” announcement prior to kickoff.
A statement from CUMULUS /KNOXVILLE VP.Market Mgr. KEN SALYER TODAY included, "Ironically, on [SATURDAY] May 3rd, WIVK will be inducted into the TENNESEE RADIO HALL OF FAME. We will accept this award on behalf of BOBBY DENTON, JIM DICK, and the many legendary figures that preceded us and made WIVK one of the most decorated and distinguished stations in AMERICA.
On behalf of CUMULUS MEDIA KNOXVILLE and our radio family, we extend our condolences to BOBBY’s family and ask everyone to respect their loss during this time.
Our stations are planning a one hour tribute simulcast on all of our stations for THURSDAY morning at 9a (ET)."
JOURNAL BROADCASTING crosstown Country WCYQ PD, MIKE HAMMOND, who previously spent 38 years at WIVK and worked closely with DENTON told ALL ACCESS his career at ‘IVK began as DENTON’s afternoon co-host. “He was a great individual, mentor and friend; WIVK is what it is today because of BOBBY. He was a marketing genius with great relationships in KNOXVILLE and on Music Row in NASHVILLE. He will be missed by the local radio community and certainly by every UT fan.”
Services are pending.

