Radio Personality. He was a legendary Gospel music radio host and concert promoter in Atlanta, Georgia who had literally had been in the homes of African-Americans in Metro-Atlanta for over 50 years. He had earlier jobs as a paperboy, mail carrier, insurance and furniture salesman before he began his radio career in 1955 at radio station W.E.R.D. (the first African-American owned radio station in the country). In 1963 he started his career with radio station W.A.O.K.,which lasted for 38 years where Patterson hosted his 4 a.m. weekly "Sunrise Morning Gospel" radio show. He also hosted a Sunday show from 6 a.m. till noon. Over the years the popular radio host was known for giving names to many of the local and national ministers. Patterson coined Reverend Jasper Williams, Jr. "Son of Thunder", Doctor Johnny L. Jones "The Mighty Hurricane" and Reverend Timothy Flemming "The Little Man with the Big Voice." He also gave names to Gospel superstars Dorothy Norwood "The World's Greatest Storyteller" and Dottie Peoples "The Songbird of the South". His honors include a 1996 Stellar Award-the Gospel equivalent of a Grammy and a 1992 videotaped interview of himself placed in the Smithsonian Institution Archives. He died in Atlanta at age 75.
Radio Personality. He was a legendary Gospel music radio host and concert promoter in Atlanta, Georgia who had literally had been in the homes of African-Americans in Metro-Atlanta for over 50 years. He had earlier jobs as a paperboy, mail carrier, insurance and furniture salesman before he began his radio career in 1955 at radio station W.E.R.D. (the first African-American owned radio station in the country). In 1963 he started his career with radio station W.A.O.K.,which lasted for 38 years where Patterson hosted his 4 a.m. weekly "Sunrise Morning Gospel" radio show. He also hosted a Sunday show from 6 a.m. till noon. Over the years the popular radio host was known for giving names to many of the local and national ministers. Patterson coined Reverend Jasper Williams, Jr. "Son of Thunder", Doctor Johnny L. Jones "The Mighty Hurricane" and Reverend Timothy Flemming "The Little Man with the Big Voice." He also gave names to Gospel superstars Dorothy Norwood "The World's Greatest Storyteller" and Dottie Peoples "The Songbird of the South". His honors include a 1996 Stellar Award-the Gospel equivalent of a Grammy and a 1992 videotaped interview of himself placed in the Smithsonian Institution Archives. He died in Atlanta at age 75.
Bio by: Curtis Jackson
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