Randy Bell featured in PBS documentary on legendary Mississippi radio station

A PBS documentary on a legendary Mississippi radio station features an appearance from Boswell Media’s Randy Bell.

“WZZQ the Movie” recently debuted on Mississippi Public Broadcasting and other PBS stations across the United States.

The one-hour documentary, directed by Ann Ford and produced by Robbie Fisher, highlights the popularity and influence of the legendary rock station during its peak years of 1971 – 1981.

“For a brief shining moment (the 70’s!), this free form, counterculture, FM radio station in Jackson, Mississippi rocked the mid-South. With no playlists, no rules, and very few inhibitions, the legendary WZZQ represented a way of life for its young listeners. Hear the story from the DJs who ran it and the fans who loved it, along with original on-air recordings. Rock me all night long, ZZQ!”

That’s the official description from the movie’s website.

Bell began working at WZZQ in 1974 as a news anchor/reporter. He then became the station’s news director in 1978.

In the documentary, Bell discusses how the station began selling FM converters due to most vehicles at the time having radios that would only receive an AM signal.

He also mentions his time playing with the WZZQ Q-Ballers, a basketball team made up of station personnel that would travel the state playing high school and community college teams.

The complete documentary can be viewed online at www.pbs.org/show/wzzq-the-movie.