Rodger's Country Gems

Rodger's Country Gems Thank. You.

01/11/2026

Thank You.

01/06/2026

We say farewell this Saturday morning. We have reached the goal of retirement, after some 54 years in local radio. Our classic country shows since 1996, have been a main focus for Angie and me. We sure hope we have brought you the country music you love, and perhaps introduced you to some new favorite classics. Featured this Saturday: A listen back to the first show in 1996, how it started with Mr. Gary Dawson.We will feature Gems Iconic songs including Folsom Prison Blues, Coat of Many Colors, Coal Miners Daughter, He Stopped Loving Her Today…and more extremely popular tunes. Thanks to all of our sponsors:
Wabash General Hospital
Shular Homes
S.K. Smith Electric
White Family Trust
Big R Farm and Home
and Siemer’s Glass!
Thank you for listening. Thanks for the requests and show suggestions. Thank you to Country music expert extraordinaire Bill Yarbor for your contributions. Thanks to Kevin and Randy for the green light to do the show. Randy’s jingles added super class. It all starts Saturday morning, just after 7 AM. We hope you can tune in to 100.5. Let’s do it one more time!

12/30/2025

Join us for our next to last Gems show, this Saturday morning! Memories abound…including keepsake interviews with legends like Tom T. Hall and Marty Robbins. Spotlight too on Gary Dawson’s illustrious career! We’ll rebroadcast a visit with Gary’s former bass player, the late Wayne Seacrest, who eventually co-founded Confederate Railroad. Gary also reminisces about his late son and former drummer, Todd Dawson and his association with longtime legendary local entertainer the late D**k Richardson. Also from the archives: Bill Yarbor paints the word picture of Patsy Cline’s first album. Plus we will relive a morning spent with Billy Grammar…famous for the song Gotta Travel On …and co-author of the song -Detroit City. We do have a special show for you. Join us just after 7 AM…on WSJD, as we set the stage for Rodger’s retirement!

12/23/2025

It’s traditional: We note mileposts in our final Gems show of the year. We bid farewell in 2025 to popular classic country stars: Jeannie Seeley, Helen Cornelius, Melba Montgomery, Johnny Rodriguez, Sonny Curtis of Buddy Holly’s Crickets, and prolofic Songwriter Troy Seals. We salute these talented musicians. Gary Dawson presents one of his last Gary’s picks and who knows what we may pull out of the archives as we get ready to close down the show January 10th. Join us Saturday morning, just after 7 AM, for Rodger’s Country Gems…only on 100.5 WSJD and online at wsjd.fm

12/16/2025

We have compiled a music-filled Christmas themed show this Saturday on Gems. We’ll bring you the best of all the Christmas shows we have produced thru the years. Co-hosts include Bill Yarbor and Gary Dawson! You’ll hear the can’t miss classics like Old Christmas Card and The Christmas Guest…plus more rare Yuletide from Sonny James, Marty Robbins, and Bill Anderson. Come Two Step Round the Christmas Tree and Lasso old Santa Claus…this Saturday! Great memories are awaiting, beginning just after 7 AM!

12/10/2025

It’s a super combination of Country Christmas favorites and all time classics this Saturday morning on Gems! We’ll kick off the show with a cut from Hank Thompson’s Christmas album….and head to an all time favorite from Eddy Arnold! Hard Candy Christmas, Christmas in My Hometown, and If Everyday Was Like Christmas are all on the Yuletide playlist. We’ll hear the first number one song by Merle….Johnny and June’s Jackson…Lefty’s I Never Go Around Mirrors….and Set ‘Em Up Joe by Vern! From our archives: Bill Yarbor brings us Buck Owens sings Harlan Howard…and Gary Dawson has a brand new show of his picks!
Join us this Saturday, beginning just after 7 AM, on 100.5 WSJD!

12/02/2025

Six shows to go…before Ol Rodger heads to the radio sunset and retires. So, this Saturday, we not only begin presenting some awesome Country Christmas music….we begin giving songs most dear to us: One More Spin. Evergreens like : Kiss An Angel Good Morning, Country Bumpkin, Hello Love, Silver Wings, Old Lamplighter, and Soul Song…among tunes most requested. Yuletide faves like Santa Looked A lot Like Daddy, Christmas Cookies, Bad Little Boy, and Meet Me Under the Mistletoe are on the playlist! From our archives: Bill Yarbor features Johnny Horton and Gary Dawson has his picks of the week! Don’t miss Gems this Saturday morning, beginning just after 7 AM….only on 100.5 WSJD!

11/24/2025

No genre of music tells stories like Country. Angie nailed this week’s theme: Story songs. We’ll kick it off with a set by the Old Storyteller himself: Tom T. Hall…including two he wrote—Harper Valley PTA and Margie’s at the Lincoln Park Inn.
That’s My Job…Conway…and a set by George and Tammy with a Grand Tour of the Two Story House.
Yes , you have to have some Cash…with Ragged Old Flag and Oney!
Epic stories in song also with El Paso and Ode to Billy Joe. Join us just after 7 AM Saturday morning for Gems on 100.5 WSJD!

11/21/2025

SAD NEWS TO REPORT!!!

Singer/songwriter Walt Aldridge has died at the age of 70. The Muscle Shoals, Alabama star was the lead singer for the band "The Shooters" in the late 80's, and he has written some tremendously huge country songs over the decades. Here's just a sample.

Among his best-known songs are “I Am A Simple Man” by Ricky Van Shelton, “I Loved Her First” by Heartland, “Modern Day Bonnie And Clyde” by Travis Tritt, “She Sure Got Away With My Heart” by John Anderson, “She’s Got A Single Thing In Mind” by Conway Twitty, “Some Things Never Change” by Tim McGraw, “The Fear Of Being Alone” by Reba McEntire and “‘Till You’re Gone” by Barbara Mandrell. “(There’s) No Gettin’ Over Me” by Ronnie Milsap was the 1982 ASCAP Country Song of the Year. “Holding Her And Loving You” by Earl Thomas Conley was the 1983 NSAI Song of the Year.

Rest in Eternal Peace, Walt Aldridge. You'll always have a home on Country Legends Jukebox with Jay Dean.

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331 Market Street
Mount Carmel, IL
62863

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7am - 9am

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+16182634300

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