Biography:
"Uncle" Billy Dunbar was born in Dallas, Texas, the son of Arkansas and Oklahoma mountain folk, who descended from Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee Scotch/Irish stock. He cut his teeth on old-time country and Bluegrass music, so, it's no wonder he's been playing old-time country and Bluegrass music for over thirty years. "Uncle" Billy's broadcasting began on Armed Forces Radio and Television Service (AFRTS) while serving in the United States Air Force and stationed in southeast Asia, in the late 60's. While a D.J. for AFRTS at Clark AFB, in the Philippines, he would air pre-recorded country music shows from Nashville, Tennessee, and would listen to all of the great old-time country and Bluegrass performers like Bill Monroe and Flatt + Scruggs. His childhood memories include riding in his Dad's car, during the 40's and 50's, listening to the same music. In 1974, "Uncle" Billy took Bluegrass music to the radio airwaves in Nebraska and the central Midwest, via a small market station outside of Omaha, Nebraska. From 1975, until he left the area in 1990, his shows covered the central Midwest, with the only Bluegrass music in the area, on Power House Country WOW AM/FM, a part of the Great Empire Broadcasting group out of Wichita, Kansas. "Uncle" Billy was a Charter Member and on the Board of the Great Plains Bluegrass Association, for ten years. In 1990, "Uncle" Billy moved his show to Des Moines, Iowa, where he worked part-time at the oldies rock n roll station, KIOA. A long-standing friend asked "Uncle" Billy to include his Bluegrass music show prowess at a station in Osceola, Iowa, and he began doing a two-hour Sunday Bluegrass show there in the mid-90's. "Uncle" Billy also included a short tour at a little AM station which was in Indianola, Iowa. Another of his accomplishments was at an Osceola, Iowa, classic country station, where he successfully did both, a Bluegrass show and a gospel Bluegrass show. Five years later (with the help of some shady managers) the station owner was in bankruptcy and, in a few months, the station went "dark" (that's radio-lingo for "out-of-business"). After "Uncle" Billy "retired", a deal was made to produce a two-hour Bluegrass show for a station in Stuart, Iowa, which also airs from a station in Jefferson, Iowa. When you are in the central Iowa area, please tune in to 107.9 KKRF-FM on Sunday mornings from 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM. Promoting and assuming the responsibilities of the Master of Ceremonies at various Bluegrass Music Shows around the Midwest have also been enjoyed during his "retirement.." Now, we have the great innovation called Internet Radio, where you can hear your kind of music 24/7 and "Uncle" Billy's "retirement" also includes playing Bluegrass on the internet at WorldWideBluegrass.com. His show, "Country Unplugged" offers a wide variety of times for your listening pleasure. Please select any of these days and times: Sundays from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM EDT; Mondays from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM EDT; Tuesdays from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM EDT and; Thursdays from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM, as you plan your schedule. For these past few years, "Uncle" Billy's Bluegrass music broadcasts of "Country Unplugged" have been heard around the world. The bragging rights of many broadcasting field awards still remain elusive, but he is extremely pleased to be the recipient of his Texas Proud Hillbilly Heart Plaque as favorite Medium Market Country D. J., and prizes his induction into the National Traditional Country Music Association's Midwest Country Music Hall of Fame. As if all of the above is not enough, "Uncle" Billy has acted in the movie "Where The Red Fern Grows", which included Bluegrass music and old-time Buck dancing in it. Bluegrass music has been near and dear to "Uncle" Billy for numerous years and will remain there, as long as he can play Bluegrass music, for those who love Bluegrass music as much as he does.

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