Curtis O. (Curt) Nunnery, the legendary radio host of Curt’s Coffee Club on Sunny 94.3, died early on the morning of May 31, 2019. He was 83 years old.
A legend in the market, Mr. Nunnery had humble starts to his radio career, but watched it blossom into a career of over 42 years with Beasley Media Group alone.
Mr. Nunnery is survived by his wife Joyce, with whom he had just celebrated their 60th anniversary. He’s also survived by four children, six grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
Services are pending at this time.
“I had a lot of admiration for Curt Nunnery. He loved the radio business. He loved being on the air,” said Beasley Regional Vice President Danny Highsmith. “He loved meeting with listeners and his clients. He was an extremely talented gentleman and I feel honored to have been associated with him off and on since the 1960s.”
Mr. Nunnery was born September 25, 1935 in Rock Hill, South Carolina. He graduated from Rock Hill High School in 1953 and the same year, he started his career in radio. As a senior in High School and during the summers and holidays while in college, he worked at WRHI AM 1390 in Rock Hill. In 1958 after graduating from the University of South Carolina in 1958 with a degree in Geology, Curt worked part time at WNOK Radio in Columbia, South Carolina and managed WUSC FM, the campus radio station at USC. He also had a classical request show on the campus station.
Uncle Sam brought Mr. Nunnery into the Army from 1958 to 1960 and he found himself here in Fayetteville, where he began his local career at WFAI AM 1230 on July 4, 1960. This is where Curt’s Coffee Club had its beginning. Mr. Nunnery also started his radio sales career at WFAI and was assistant manager when the station was sold in 1971. Former mayor, Jack Lee, sold WFAI AM to George Beasley in 1971. Mr. Nunnery continued at WFAI AM as morning show host and sales manager. WFAI AM was the third station in what was to become the Beasley Broadcast Group. Beasley sold WFAI in 1991; Mr. Nunnery’s 31st year with the station. After serving as manager and morning show host at gospel music WFLB AM 1490 in Fayetteville from 1991 to 1994, and general sales manager at WCLN FM in Clinton NC from 1994 to 1997, Mr. Nunnary was asked to come back to WFLB AM, which had been bought by the Beasley Broadcast Group. He has served as a morning show host, general sales manager, and operations manager for WFLB/WAZZ since February 1997. That same year, WAZZ FM 96.5 and WFLB AM 1490 swapped call letters. WFLB AM 1490 became WAZZ AM 1490.
“Curt’s morning show, Curt’s Coffee Club, has been a staple of Fayetteville morning radio for more than 40 years,” Highsmith said. “He leaves a lasting legacy, all of us here at Beasley will miss tremendously.”
Mr. Nunnery was devoted to his loving wife Joyce Nunnery, who recently celebrated their 60th anniversary. Curt and Joyce were faithful attendees of Arran Lake Baptist Church where they both served as Sunday school teachers.
In March of 2006, Mr. Nunnery was honored for having done 10,000 radio shows in the Fayetteville Market since July of 1960 – a milestone that few ever reach. Beasley Media Group is deeply saddened by the loss of our colleague and more importantly, our friend.
