My Life With Luther: A Glimpse of a Legendary American Broadcaster

by James Howard, Holly Abernathy

My Life with A Glimpse of a Legendary American Broadcaster is an intimate and fascinating look into the life and career of one of radio's greatest icons, Luther Masingill. Luther Masingill was the legendary morning radio host of WDEF in Chattanooga, Tennessee. A radio personality since he was a teenager, he occupied the same time slot since the station’s creation in 1941 and has a lifetime of stories and experiences. Told through the eyes of long time co-host James Howard, this book tells the story of one of the original legends of radio through interviews, experiences, stories, and first-person accounts. James Howard has partnered with friend and writer/photographer Holly Abernathy (who also worked with Masingill) to create My Life with A Glimpse of a Legendary American Broadcaster. Geared toward broadcast enthusiasts and up-and-comers, the book is unique in its wide appeal to anyone who has experienced the joy that is broadcasting and Masingill. Whether it’s native Tennessean listeners, broadcast students, or everyday enthusiasts, this book is a must read for anyone with even a passing interest in the broadcast industry. My Life with A Glimpse of a Legendary American Broadcaster tells Luther’s story through the eyes of his co-host, James Howard, allowing an intimate look into the minds of both broadcasters. As an authoritative compilation consisting of over 180 images, the book possesses longevity that will ensure its place in the history of broadcasting. A vital piece of radio history, this story is a must read for anyone with a passion for broadcasting.

272 pages, Paperback

First published February 14, 2013

About the author

Librarian’s note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Reviews

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just want to thank James Howard and Holly Abernathy for this book. Like so many Chattanoogans I grew up listening to Luther Masingill on the radio while my mom drove us to school. What an amazing look into the man known as Luther. If you are a human being who wants to know how to be a good person then read this book. Luther was the model Christian. If he was driving by a business and their weeds were too high, he would get his weed trimmer and do the job himself. If he saw a neighbor's grass was getting high, he would mow it himself. A coworker asked Luther if he could take him to pick up his truck at the shop so Luther did. He walked in, went to the counter, and paid the coworker's bill. While he was shooting a commercial he overheard someone saying they had just adopted some kids so Luther went over and handed a complete stranger a couple hundred dollars. Every person who came into contact with Luther said it was his generosity that they will remember most. What an amazing legacy.

My husband worked in radio and ending up working at WDEF-TV for a few years and still gets calls to help out at the station from time to time. I never did end up meeting Luther. I saw him around town though. I went to Notre Dame High School and Luther lived across from it so I would see him across the way. I lived off of Highway 58 where Luther went to church so some Sunday mornings on our way to church we would see Luther in his truck heading to his church.
I always thought he was older than dirt when I was a child and I thought at his funeral all of Chattanooga would show up. Chattanooga would have to close down that day. Sadly that did not happen. I know his funeral was on a weekday afternoon, but all of Chattanooga should have been there. Luther was on Chattanooga radio for over 70 years! 70 Years! He was the voice of Chattanooga! He received offers of course to move to bigger markets, Boston, LA, New York, Atlanta, but he loved his job and Chattanooga too much to leave. Most up and coming radio and TV personalities would jump at the chance to move up in the world for more money, but not Luther. He was a very humble man. The kids at church just knew him as the garbage man because he would collect the garbage in the Sunday school rooms every Sunday. I think that was just great. To the rest of Chattanooga he was a celebrity, but to those kids he was the garbage man. That story is not in the book but it was told at his funeral.

While I was sitting at his funeral I wondered what it was like for his children. Did they hate growing up with a celebrity father? Everywhere he went people would stop and talk to him and you think that would be annoying for his family, but apparently not. The stories from his children are wonderful. They say what a great man and amazing role model their father was. His son does admit that he did not appreciate being called Luther Junior (his name is Jeff) but he understood why he was called that. Luther’s daughter got out of a speeding ticket so I guess there were some perks being his daughter.

I had no idea how much I would love reading this book. I would give it ten stars if I could. Chip Chapman said, “I have never heard anyone say a bad word about Luther Masingill. I think that is quite a legend in itself.” I completely agree! Luther’s principal at Central High School gave him some advice as a student: “Do what’s right because it’s right and not because you are compelled to do it.” Luther always did things because it was the right thing to do. I wish I could be half the person Luther was.

[Clint · Rating 4 out of 5]

Estate sale pick-up was a quick read, with many photographs, on Chattanooga's beloved and now-departed Luther Masingill, and was written two years before his death by his longtime radio partner James Howard. Howard also includes his own rise in the radio world and includes commentary on various subjects by his idol, Luther, himself. It's gooey puffery, but it will go down easily for longtime Chattanoogans and Luther fans.