Lowry Eugene “Uncle Ned” Stripling formed his first band while he was a student at Lanier High School in Macon. In August 1937 Stripling moved to Atlanta, and Uncle Ned and his Texas Wranglers became a part of the Cross Roads Follies on WSB radio. This program was normally heard weekdays in the early afternoon and on Saturday mornings. When the Cross Roads Follies went off the air in 1940, Stripling moved back to Macon and joined the staff of WMAZ radio. Uncle Ned and the Hayloft Jamboree performed daily on WMAZ radio for more than 18 years. For a time in the mid 1950’s, Uncle Ned also did an afternoon DJ show on WMAZ where he became famous for his conversational live commercials and product endorsements, as well as the latest country and western songs. When WMAZ television went on the air in 1953, Uncle Ned and the Hayloft Jamboree did 9 hours per week on TV, 5 hours per week on radio and a minimum of 4 live performances each week. Gene “Uncle Ned” Stripling died suddenly at the age of 42, at a performance in Hawkinsville in 1958.
© Georgia Radio Hall Of Fame Corporation, 2012
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