DJ Fired for Playing Presley Record
Portland’s KEX Radio banned Elvis Presley’s recordingof “White Christmas” from being played on the air. One popular deejay at the radio station ignored his boss and it cost him his job. When radio station KEX received a copy of “Elvis’ Christmas Album” in 1957, the management made the decision not to air the “White Christmas” cut. Disc jockey Al Priddy figured station manager Mel Bailey wouldn’t be listening late on a
Sunday night, so he gave it a spin. Unfortunately, Bailey was tuned-in and he promptly
called the station and told Priddy to finish his show and then look for a new job. “The record was banned because it is not in the good taste we ascribe to Christmas music,” he
told the Oregonian. “Presley gives it a rhythm and blues interpretation. It doesn’t seem to me to be in keeping with the intent of the song,” he added. Al Priddy returned to the work at the station several weeks later and all was forgotten. In 1987, at age 78, he was invited to be a guest disc jockey at KEX so he could play Elvis’ “White Christmas” one more time.
Mike’s Fun Facts (2014-2015) were produced monthly by Mike Ryerson and Tanya Lyn March PhD partners of Mike’s History Tours.