Bill Mack
Encyclopedia
Bill Mack is one of the most recognizable voices in country music
radio. For many years, Mack was best known as the host of The Country Roads Show, (later U.S. 1 Trucking Show, and later still, Midnight Cowboy Trucking Show) the overnight country music show on WBAP, a clear channel station in Fort Worth. Mack's show catered primarily to truck drivers who traveled during the late-night hours. Its opening theme music was an instrumental rendition of Orange Blossom Special, performed by Felix Slatkin
and his orchestra.
Because of WBAP's clear channel signal range via skywave
at night, Mack's show was heard over most of the continental United States. Mack began his show in 1969. He briefly took his show to Mexican
"border blaster
" station XERF, but returned to WBAP when an agreement for Mack to do his show from his Fort Worth home fell through.
In addition, Mack hosts the syndicated radio show Country Crossroads, heard on more than 800 stations across the country, and a similar cable television
show on FamilyNet
. He also hosts the Overdrive Top Ten Countdown, a weekly one-hour country music
countdown geared toward truckers, in syndication.
Mack left WBAP to join XM Satellite Radio
on its Open Road
channel (XM 171). Ironically, two of the other main personalities on Open Road, Dave Nemo
and Dale "The Truckin' Bozo" Sommers
, were Mack's primary competitors before all three left their AM radio stations to join XM. Mack's radio program was heard weekdays on XM channel 13 from 12 Noon to 3 PM Eastern, and rebroadcast from Midnight to 3 AM Eastern.
On April 29, 2011 Mack announced that Sirius/XM had terminated his contract to make room for a merger of two of the channels The Roadhouse and Willie's Place into one channel and that this was his final show.
Mack was succeeded on his WBAP show by Eric Harley
, and the show has since been renamed the Midnight Radio Network
.
In the country music industry, Mack is known as a top songwriter and promoter. His best known song is "Blue
," one of LeAnn Rimes
' biggest hits. The song won Mack the Grammy Award for Best Country Song
in 1997. Mack also wrote "Drinkin' Champagne," which has been recorded by numerous artists. The song was a hit for Cal Smith
in 1968, and again for George Strait
1990 on his album Livin' It Up. Some of his other songs have been recorded by Dean Martin
, Ray Price
, Jerry Lee Lewis
and George Jones
.
In 2000, Mack won the media category award given by the Grand Ole Opry
. He was named to the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame
in 1999, and the Country Music DJ and Radio Hall of Fame in 1982.
Bill Mack and his wife, Cynthia "Sweet Cindy" make their home in Fort Worth, Texas. They have three children from their marriage, Misty Dawn, Billy Mack III, and Sunday Renee. They have several grandchildren. Bill Mack has a daughter named Debbie from a previous marriage.
Bill Mack Smith III ("Billy") and his wife April broadcast "The Saturday Show" on XM 171.
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
radio. For many years, Mack was best known as the host of The Country Roads Show, (later U.S. 1 Trucking Show, and later still, Midnight Cowboy Trucking Show) the overnight country music show on WBAP, a clear channel station in Fort Worth. Mack's show catered primarily to truck drivers who traveled during the late-night hours. Its opening theme music was an instrumental rendition of Orange Blossom Special, performed by Felix Slatkin
Felix Slatkin
Felix Slatkin was an American violinist and conductor.-Biography:Slatkin was born in St. Louis, Missouri to a Jewish family originally named Zlotkin from areas of the Russian Empire now in Ukraine. He began studying the violin at the age of nine with Isadore Grossman...
and his orchestra.
Because of WBAP's clear channel signal range via skywave
Skywave
Skywave is the propagation of electromagnetic waves bent back to the Earth's surface by the ionosphere. As a result of skywave propagation, a broadcast signal from a distant AM broadcasting station at night, or from a shortwave radio station can sometimes be heard as clearly as local...
at night, Mack's show was heard over most of the continental United States. Mack began his show in 1969. He briefly took his show to Mexican
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
"border blaster
Border blaster
A border blaster is a licensed commercial radio station that transmits at very high power from one nation to another. Border blasters should not be confused with international broadcast stations...
" station XERF, but returned to WBAP when an agreement for Mack to do his show from his Fort Worth home fell through.
In addition, Mack hosts the syndicated radio show Country Crossroads, heard on more than 800 stations across the country, and a similar cable television
Cable television
Cable television is a system of providing television programs to consumers via radio frequency signals transmitted to televisions through coaxial cables or digital light pulses through fixed optical fibers located on the subscriber's property, much like the over-the-air method used in traditional...
show on FamilyNet
FamilyNet
FamilyNet is a broadcast television network owned by ComStar Media Fund and based in Atlanta, Georgia. The network was founded in 1979 as the National Christian Network, and took the name FamilyNet in 1988 under the ownership of Jerry Falwell. The channel was acquired by InTouch Ministries in...
. He also hosts the Overdrive Top Ten Countdown, a weekly one-hour country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
countdown geared toward truckers, in syndication.
Mack left WBAP to join XM Satellite Radio
XM Satellite Radio
XM Satellite Radio is one of two satellite radio services in the United States and Canada, operated by Sirius XM Radio. It provides pay-for-service radio, analogous to cable television. Its service includes 73 different music channels, 39 news, sports, talk and entertainment channels, 21 regional...
on its Open Road
Open Road (XM)
Road Dog Trucking is a trucker's talk radio channel on the Sirius XM Radio service. The subjects cover those relevant to the trucking community, be it politics, economics, or social issues. On 2009-02-17, the Sirius channel's programming merged with the programs heard on XM Radio's Open Road...
channel (XM 171). Ironically, two of the other main personalities on Open Road, Dave Nemo
Dave Nemo
Dave Nemo is an American radio personality, currently hosting a show on the Road Dog channel 171 on Sirius-XM Satellite Radio. Nemo's show is geared toward entertainment and news favored by truck drivers....
and Dale "The Truckin' Bozo" Sommers
Dale Sommers
Bruce Dale Sommers , known by his nickname "The Truckin' Bozo", is an American radio personality, best known for his long-running country music show geared toward truck drivers...
, were Mack's primary competitors before all three left their AM radio stations to join XM. Mack's radio program was heard weekdays on XM channel 13 from 12 Noon to 3 PM Eastern, and rebroadcast from Midnight to 3 AM Eastern.
On April 29, 2011 Mack announced that Sirius/XM had terminated his contract to make room for a merger of two of the channels The Roadhouse and Willie's Place into one channel and that this was his final show.
Mack was succeeded on his WBAP show by Eric Harley
Eric Harley
Eric Harley is the host and producer of The Midnight Trucking Radio Network. He first began his radio career in September 1984 in Wichita Falls, Texas. Harley now hosts the show The Midnight Trucking Radio Network along with Gary McNamara, who has been with the show since 2005. Harley has been with...
, and the show has since been renamed the Midnight Radio Network
Midnight Radio Network
The Midnight Trucking Radio Network is a talk radio program currently hosted by Eric Harley and Gary McNamara...
.
In the country music industry, Mack is known as a top songwriter and promoter. His best known song is "Blue
Blue (LeAnn Rimes song)
"Blue" is the title of the debut single released by American country music singer, LeAnn Rimes, released in 1996 from her debut album of the same name . The song propelled Rimes to fame at thirteen years old....
," one of LeAnn Rimes
LeAnn Rimes
LeAnn Rimes is an American country/pop singer. She is known for her rich vocals and her rise to fame as an eight-year-old champion on the original Ed McMahon version of Star Search, followed by the release of the Patsy Cline-intended single "Blue" when Rimes was only age 13, resulting in her...
' biggest hits. The song won Mack the Grammy Award for Best Country Song
Grammy Award for Best Country Song
The Grammy Award for Best Country Song has been awarded since 1965. The award is given to the writer of the song.There have been several minor changes to the name of the award:...
in 1997. Mack also wrote "Drinkin' Champagne," which has been recorded by numerous artists. The song was a hit for Cal Smith
Cal Smith
Calvin Grant Shofner , known professionally as Cal Smith, is an American country musician, most famous for his 1974 hit "Country Bumpkin."-Career:...
in 1968, and again for George Strait
George Strait
George Harvey Strait is an American country music singer, actor, and music producer. Strait is referred to as the "King of Country," and critics call Strait a living legend. He is known for his unique style of western swing music, bar-room ballads, honky-tonk style, and fresh yet traditional...
1990 on his album Livin' It Up. Some of his other songs have been recorded by Dean Martin
Dean Martin
Dean Martin was an American singer, film actor, television star and comedian. Martin's hit singles included "Memories Are Made of This", "That's Amore", "Everybody Loves Somebody", "You're Nobody till Somebody Loves You", "Sway", "Volare" and "Ain't That a Kick in the Head?"...
, Ray Price
Ray Price (musician)
Ray Price is an American country music singer, songwriter and guitarist. His wide-ranging baritone has often been praised as among the best male voices of country music...
, Jerry Lee Lewis
Jerry Lee Lewis
Jerry Lee Lewis is an American rock and roll and country music singer-songwriter and pianist. An early pioneer of rock and roll music, Lewis's career faltered after he married his young cousin, and he afterwards made a career extension to country and western music. He is known by the nickname 'The...
and George Jones
George Jones
George Glenn Jones is an American country music singer known for his long list of hit records, his distinctive voice and phrasing, and his marriage to Tammy Wynette....
.
In 2000, Mack won the media category award given by the Grand Ole Opry
Grand Ole Opry
The Grand Ole Opry is a weekly country music stage concert in Nashville, Tennessee, that has presented the biggest stars of that genre since 1925. It is also among the longest-running broadcasts in history since its beginnings as a one-hour radio "barn dance" on WSM-AM...
. He was named to the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame
Texas Country Music Hall of Fame
The Texas Country Music Hall of Fame/Tex Ritter Museum, located in Carthage in Panola County in East Texas honors those who have made outstanding contributions to country music and were born in the state of Texas. This includes singers, songwriters, disc jockeys and others.A museum, a large...
in 1999, and the Country Music DJ and Radio Hall of Fame in 1982.
Bill Mack and his wife, Cynthia "Sweet Cindy" make their home in Fort Worth, Texas. They have three children from their marriage, Misty Dawn, Billy Mack III, and Sunday Renee. They have several grandchildren. Bill Mack has a daughter named Debbie from a previous marriage.
Bill Mack Smith III ("Billy") and his wife April broadcast "The Saturday Show" on XM 171.