Writer: Tony Perry

A pioneer in Crossville radio broadcasting has passed.  Fred Warren Dean Jr.  moved from Georgia to Crossville in the late 60s where his father had opened a cannery, Monticello Canning Company.  Warren was approached by local investors to manage a radio station in Georgia – which he did.  Eventually they sold the radio station and Warren returned to Crossville in 1971 after the investors also bought WAEW-AM/FM.  Warren was given part ownership in the stations if he would also take over as  General manager. Warren and his wife Jessie ran WAEW-AM/FM together until 1982 when they sold the stations. Warren had taken over WAEW AM/FM before FM was popular-hardly anyone had an FM radio. In 1973 Warren began putting emphasis on the FM station as more and more people were getting FM radio. WAEW-FM was the only FM station in Crossville.  Radio broadcasting was at a  peak during the 70’s and Warren hired several local young people as disc jockeys – including this writer at the young age of 16. Warren gave me the chance to pursue my dream-which I did for the next several decades.  Warren also hired another young man named Steve Norris, who would go on to do weather forecasting on radio for Crossville over the next 46 years. Warren hired a very young  Kirk Tollett, who eventually created 102.5 Wowf-FM (now Wow- country) and now has five radio stations in Crossville. Warren hired a local boy named Moby – who went on to become a major national disc jockey. To say Warren Dean had a major impact on radio in Crossville would be an understatement.

Warren Dean created a very unique radio format called “All Hit Radio” which included a mix of Country and Pop music. He also put a lot of emphasis on local news and weather.  Warren had a night time radio show called the All-Request show for many years.  He would let people call in their requests and Warren made it his job to play all the peoples favorites. Warren’s brother Earl also was an announcer on the station for a while. Earl eventually became Crossville Mayor and managed the Cannery.  In 1980 Warren separated the two stations and changed the call letters of the FM to WXVL-FM.  WAEW-AM remained strictly country music and gospel while WXVL-FM became Adult Contemporary or Pop music. Warren also began broadcasting local high school sporting events at night-a first for Cumberland County.   After Warren sold the stations in 1982 he moved on to help manage Monticello Canning Co. before retiring.

Warren’s wife of 60 years Jessie, who was very much a driving force in his success, died in 2019 at 78.  Warren had moved to Georgia to live with his son Bryan in the last several years.  He passed away at 7:50pm Wednesday Sept 3rd at 89-years-old from complications of congestive heart failure.   I am going to miss him.