Willie Mae “Gracy” Lowry, a pioneer African-American female radio
announcer and community servant. Gracy Lowery was born in Little Rock Arkansas
on April 28, 1916. She was the first female African-American radio announcer
in
St. Louis, and was a regular radio announcer at KATZ Radio Station for twenty-five
years until her retirement. Gracy was very popular with the community. She was
very diverse towards the music industry. Gracy was an authority on popular music
and the Blues.
Gracy’s industry tip sheet Pierre’s Hit List was once the most popular local trade paper in St. Louis. Gracy owned several successful businesses in the St. Louis area. She became the first national secretary for the African-American fraternal association (National Association of Radio Announcers, which later became National Association of Radio and Television Announcers (NATRA). She was a columnist for St. Louis American Newspaper, 1961-1963.
She was the recipient of many awards, General Chairman of National Association of Radio Announcer, 1962, Harmony Grand Chapter, O.E.S. Grand Public Relations Award 1989 and a former Board Member of the St. Louis Blues Society.
INDEX
African Americans
Awards
Dave Dixon
KATZ Radio
WESTERN HISTORICAL MANUSCRIPT
COLLECTION
222 THOMAS JEFFERSON LIBRARY
UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI-ST. LOUIS
8001 NATURAL BRIDGE ROAD
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E-MAIL: whmc@umsl.edu