LOUISIANA HAYRIDE

LOUISIANA HAYRIDE In its heyday second only to THE GRAND OLE OPRY, the Hayride was one of the most influential of all country-music radio programs, launching the career of HANK WILLIAMS. The show was born in 1948 when Dean Upson , onetime member of THE VAGABONDS and a former talent coordinator for the Opry, joined forces with the management of Shreveport, Louisiana's, clear-channel station, KWKH, to break the Opry monopoly. Opening with a cast that included THE BAILES BROTHERS , JOHNNIE AND…