Trouble in the Trailer

Apparently all is not well within the narrow confines of the WDVX (89.9 FM) trailer/studio. A dispute over the station's business management has resulted in the exit of several volunteers, DJs, and a board member.

Grievances were first aired with the station's board of directors in a meeting last October. Since then, the exiting parties claim that nothing has been done to remedy the situation. "Last October at the meeting we just said, 'We're here because we like the station and we want to be sure it continues,'" says ex-volunteer Howell Doka. "If they had taken our concerns into consideration there wouldn't be a problem now. It's just the strangest thing with this board because they only seem to get selective feedback—feedback from Tony Lawson's people."

The dispute essentially boils down to a number of accusations of mismanagement by WDVX DJ, program director, and board member Tony Lawson. Ex-volunteers Howell and Holly Doka have alleged that Lawson has engaged in a number of iffy underwriting deals for personal gain instead of the station's gain. The Dokas claim that Lawson has traded radio announcements on the station in exchange for (among other things) free lodging and use of a vehicle. Lawson is also alleged to have reneged on several verbal agreements with station employees and local musicians.

In the last two weeks the station has experienced a domino effect as key constituents opted out of their involvement with the station. A major blow came with the exit of longtime key players Benny Smith and Shane Tymon, hosts of the long-running bluegrass program, Soppin' The Gravy.

"I put in what I hope will be a temporary leave of absence from the station—temporary because I still have hopes that all this will be resolved," says Smith. "I decided to leave because I can't risk my reputation or the reputation of my show. We expressed that there were serious problems in October and nothing has been done since then. It just seems like I was running in a crazy circle and I wanted to get out of it. I hope we can eventually work all of this out.

"I want to make it clear that I took a leave of absence because the board hasn't dealt with problems we brought up last October, not because of underwriting policies," Smith continues. "In October, we were assured that these problems would be resolved and so far nothing has been done about them."

The internal structure of the station was further weakened by last week's resignation of board member Jack O'Hanlon. "I think the board lost a lot of credibility when Jack O'Hanlon left," says Smith.

Asked for his take on the loss of volunteers and O'Hanlon's resignation from the board, Lawson was somewhat evasive but upbeat. "We need all the help we can get right now—the right kind of help," says Lawson. "All I want to say about the resignation is that I'd like to thank Jack O'Hanlon for his contribution to the organization."

Lawson says that the station will come through the controversy and keep the music coming to the Knoxville environs. "We're just going to continue to provide the best music that we can and we're going to work through these problems. I feel very good about the station and what we're doing here. We're working on a lot of positive things, and if anybody has a complaint they can just call us."

(More) Radio, Radio.

Just in case anyone felt like there were not enough rock stations in Knoxville, in comes yet another. A small demographic of females somehow escaped representation on Knoxville's "extreme" airways and, fortunately, capitalism does not allow this sort of oversight for long so Mix 95.7 was created.

The station's programming is aimed at females between the ages of 25 and 34, says program director Gary Blake. It plays 20 percent current, 20 percent '80s, and 60 percent hits from the last five years.

The market was open for this format, he says. And, he claims, there is not much competition for this under-served demo since 93.1 and 97.5 appeal to different audiences. Plus, "every song that we play is a hit," he says. "You know every single song."

The station's selling point is that it plays a wide variety of music, hence the name "Mix." Elton John, Joan Jett, and Whitesnake (yes, Whitesnake) can all be heard together. Apparently, females in this demographic like Whitesnake. Who knew?

Do Something. Anything.

Thursday: One Riot One Ranger at Bird's Eye View. 1R1R plays indie-rock roots music, doesn't use drums or amplification, and is afeared of sitars.

Friday: Later Life at Oak Ridge Community Playhouse. It's an angst-filled drama about being white, upper-class, and middle-aged, but funny and charming.

Saturday: Ray Charles with KSO Pops at the Civic Coliseum. I got Georgia on my mind.

Sunday: It's Valentine's Day. Go get some.

Monday: Wisdom Shawls and Guardian Clothing at Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalists Church. Has nothing to do with President's Day, but pretty cool nonetheless.

Tuesday: Gaelic Storm at Bird's Eye View. Remember the band from the party scene in Titanic? This is them. No, really. And, no, Leo will not be there.

Wednesday: Lula Washington Dance Theatre at Clarence Brown Theatre. Portraits in movement of the African American experience, and gorgeous to boot.

—Zippy "Whitesnake Rulezz!" McDuff