J.R. Cobb Honored at Ga. Tech

Last Saturday, April 7, local, legendary musician J.R. Cobb was honored at a presentation hosted by the WREK Van Leer Chapter celebrating 50 years since they started the student managed and operated radio station located in the student center at Georgia Tech.

In 1968, student Larry Griggers decided the first record he would broadcast would be “Spooky,” a song co-written by local Jasper County resident and legendary musician, J.R. Cobb. Fifty years later, Mr. Griggers met the man who wrote the song that started it all.

Mr. Griggers explained why he chose the song. He said, “I thought starting this station was a “spooky” thing and wondered if we would get it off the ground. Which we did and 50 years later it is more than any of us could imagine. The song, “Spooky” inspired me and so I chose it as the first song to broadcast.”

Sheena Gunja, General Manager of WREK, accepted a framed and autographed photograph of The Classics IV who recorded “Spooky” in 1967.

Mr. Cobb was treated to a tour of the radio station including the vinyl and CD vault and the improvements made over the years. Afterwards he spoke to an enamored crowd about composing the song, writing songs, and being a member of The Classics IV, Atlanta Rhythm Section, and The Highwaymen. .

The presentation was part of a two-day festival, WREKtacular, which included concerts by many local bands held at The Bakery near downtown Atlanta.

WREK began as a 10 watt station capable of broadcasting up to 10 miles from campus. Today, the station is 100,000 watts and can be streamed world wide on WREK Atlanta 91.1FM – Georgia Tech’s Student Radio .The station now is totally digital and operated 24/7 by students.