The Winston-Salem Journal has a brief feature on yesterday’s passing of legendary radio man Ralph Epperson, who launched WPAQ in Mount Airy, NC back in 1948. This station, along with another Epperson property, WBRF in Galax, VA, have been a consistent voice for bluegrass, old time and traditional string music in the VA/NC regions for more than 50 years.

The Journal’s web site also carries Mr. Epperson’s obituary from yesterday’s edition.

Rounder Records released a compilation CD of live recordings from the early days of WPAQ back in 1999. The CD, WPAQ: The Voice of the Blue Ridge Mountains, is still available with audio samples online.