R.I.P.: Legendary Country Programmer Les Acree

Les Acree

Country Radio Hall of Fame member Les Acree has died.  He was 72.

He suffered a stroke Sunday afternoon and died Tuesday afternoon.  He had suffered another stroke in 2007. 

Acree was a mentor of talent that includes multi-year CMA Personalities of the Year Wilhite and Wall, Carl P. Mayfield and Country Music D J Hall of Fame member Dr. Bruce Nelson.

Consultant Jaye Albright states: "Les was a pioneer in so many ways, instrumental in pioneering and maintaining many great radio stations.  The number of people he mentored would fill a convention center."

He began his radio career at KDKD Clinton, Missouri from 1961 through 1964. He then worked at WKRM Columbia, Tennessee in 1964, WTUP Tupelo, Mississippi in 1964-1965 and WRBC Jackson, Mississippi in 1965 and 1966. He returned to WTUP as Program Director from 1966 to 1967.

He began working full time in Country radio as Program Director at WMQM Memphis, Tennessee from 1967 to 1969, then was Music Director at WUBE Cincinnati, Ohio from 1969 to 1971, before returning to WMQM as Program Director from 1971 to 1973.

WMQM was the first major market Country station to conduct fundraisers for St. Jude.

In 1973, WMC Memphis, TN went Country and he was the first employee hired. He remained WMC Music Director for three years until joining WKDA Nashville, TN as Program Director from 1976 to 1977. He then returned to WMC as Program Director from1978 to 1984.

He was Program Director of WGKX KIX 106 Memphis, Tennessee from 1984 to 1985, WTQR Greensboro-Winston Salem, North Carolina from 1985 until 1990 and WIVK Knoxville, Tennessee from 1990 to 1998 before establishing Hill-Acree Consulting in 1998 which changed the format on WKDF Nashville, Tennessee from rock to Country.

He was named Program Director of WNOE , New Orleans, Louisiana from 1999 to 2003 and most recently served as Program Director of KRMD Shreveport, Louisiana.

He was named Program Director of the year by Billboard in 1991, 1995 and 1997 and by the Gavin Report in 1998. He has served on The Country Radio Seminar Agenda Committee as well as on The Country Radio Broadcasters' Board of Directors.